[GoNative]

Yeah so glad I didn't have to go through all that. I know quite a few who have though. As is normal here you have to do it precisely the way they want you to do it rather than it being any true assessment of skill and knowledge.

From what I can tell from other peoples experiences up here there is a lot of pressure to take driving lessons (which are ridiculously expensive) to at least learn the way to pass the driving test. If you don't pay out this money there's virtually no chance whatsoever you'll pass the test on your first or even second try. Friends who've been driving already for over 20 years and are very good drivers and even after plenty of coaching from Japanese friends on the things to remember to do still haven't passed on their first go (unless they paid the few thousand dollars for the driving lessons).