[Nyororin]

I never had a license outside Japan - so I attended regular driving school in Japan... By the time I took the actual test I had something like 30 hours of classroom / simulator study and 20 something of in-car practice (about half on a course, half on real roads...)

The Japanese driving test is supposed to be one of the more difficult in the world. I wouldn`t have thought of trying it without having attended the classes.

The paper exam was incredibly long and detailed, but nothing all that difficult if you had paid attention in class and actually read the textbook. The driving test was nothing difficult either - same deal, if you`d paid attention and actually remembered what you were told while practicing at the school there should have been no problems.

I passed on the first try, no problems. A lot of others who were in the same class with me didn`t, and judging by the joy shown by those who did pass (think jumping up and down with tears of joy)... I imagine it`s not all that normal to pass on the first try.