Where to take Japan's driving test in English: Tokyo, Kanagawa, Osaka and Aichi
You sit the written test at the licence centre of the prefecture where you are registered as a resident, not the one nearest your workplace. The four largest prefectures for foreign residents all run the karimen, honmen and second-class written tests in English and 19 other languages, and Tokyo also runs the foreign licence conversion knowledge check in all 20 languages. Days and booking rules differ by centre.
Tokyo (Keishicho)
| Centres | Fuchu Driver's Licence Test Centre (府中運転免許試験場), Samezu Driver's Licence Test Centre (鮫洲運転免許試験場, Shinagawa) and Koto Driver's Licence Test Centre (江東運転免許試験場). Kanda, Shinjuku, Takinogawa and Hachioji handle renewals only. |
|---|---|
| Karimen test | Fuchu and Samezu, weekdays. Age 17 years 6 months or over. Fee ¥5,800 including the provisional licence. |
| Honmen test | All three centres, weekdays. Reception 8:00 (morning) and 11:00 (afternoon) for driving-school graduates. Fee ¥4,250 including licence issuance. |
| English paper | Every weekday at all three centres for first-class, provisional and second-class tests. English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Nepali and Burmese are daily; the other 15 languages rotate (Tuesday Fuchu, Wednesday Samezu, Thursday Koto). |
| Foreign licence conversion | Applications at Fuchu, Samezu and Koto by reservation. The 50-question knowledge check runs in all 20 languages every weekday at Fuchu and Samezu, one afternoon session a day. Fee ¥2,500 to apply plus ¥2,350 for the licence. |
| Booking | All written tests are reservation-only through the Keishicho online reservation system. |
| Closed | Weekends, public holidays and 29 December to 3 January |
Kanagawa
| Centre | Kanagawa Prefectural Police Driver's Licence Centre (神奈川県警察運転免許センター) at Futamatagawa, Asahi-ku, Yokohama |
|---|---|
| English paper | First-class, second-class and provisional written tests in 20 languages since 28 June 2024. Tell the reception staff when you apply. |
| Booking | Kanagawa takes online reservations for written tests and also runs some Sunday sessions. Check the prefectural police site for the current rules. |
Osaka
| Centres | Kadoma Driver's Licence Test Centre (門真運転免許試験場) and Komyoike Driver's Licence Test Centre (光明池運転免許試験場, Izumi) |
|---|---|
| English paper | First-class, second-class and provisional written tests in 20 languages since 28 June 2024 (small special vehicle licences excluded). Moped tests in English, Chinese, Portuguese and Vietnamese. |
Aichi
| Centres | Aichi Driver's Licence Test Centre at Hirabari (平針, Tenpaku-ku, Nagoya) and the Higashi-Mikawa Driver's Licence Centre (東三河運転免許センター, Toyokawa) |
|---|---|
| English paper | First-class and provisional written tests in all 20 languages, and second-class tests in most of them. Moped tests in English, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Chinese, Nepali and Tagalog. |
| Reception | 8:45 to 11:30 at Hirabari (moped tests 8:45 to 9:45) |
| Booking | Reservation required for first-class tests at Hirabari if you graduated from a school in another prefecture or are re-taking; otherwise no reservation needed. |
Other prefectures
Most prefectures adopted the same 20-language question set during 2024, but the days on which each language is offered, and whether you must book, vary. Search the prefectural police website for 外国語 学科試験 or phone the licence centre. Bring your residence card and, for conversions, a certificate of residence issued within the last six months.
Same test everywhere
Whichever centre you use, the paper is the same: the karimen test and the conversion knowledge check are 50 true-or-false questions in 30 minutes with 45 correct to pass; the honmen test is 90 statements plus 5 illustrated questions in 50 minutes with 90 points out of 100 to pass. See the karimen test format, the honmen test format and taking the test in English.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the test at any licence centre?
No. You apply at a centre in the prefecture where you are registered as a resident.
Which Tokyo centre should I use for the karimen test?
Fuchu or Samezu. Koto runs the honmen and other first-class tests but not the karimen test.
Where in Tokyo is the foreign licence conversion knowledge check held?
At Fuchu and Samezu, in all 20 languages, every weekday, one afternoon session a day.
Do I need to book the written test?
In Tokyo, always: the written tests are reservation-only. Kanagawa offers online booking. In Aichi you need a booking only for re-takes or if you graduated from a school in another prefecture. Check your prefecture's police site.
Are the test centres open on weekends?
Tokyo's centres are closed on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays and from 29 December to 3 January. Kanagawa runs some Sunday written-test sessions.
Related guides
- Take the test in English
- Karimen test format
- Honmen test format
- October 2025 rule change
- Free online mock test (50 questions, 30 minutes)
- Conversion guide
- 10 free sample questions with answers
Practice papers written for this exam, in English
Ten topic papers, 500 true-or-false questions with answers, explanations and a Japanese term glossary. ¥500 per paper, or ¥4,000 for all ten plus ten full 50-question mock tests. Paper 07 is free.
Get the free paper Try 10 sample questionsThis page was last checked in September 2026 against the Tokyo (Keishicho), Kanagawa, Osaka and Aichi prefectural police pages on test centres and foreign-language written tests. Rules, fees and formats are set prefecture by prefecture and change with little notice, so always confirm the current requirements with your local licence centre before you book. Independent study material; not affiliated with any prefectural police, licence centre or driving school.