Most of life in Karuizawa is easier with a car, and if you intend to drive here beyond your first year you will need a Japanese licence. The good news is you usually don't start from scratch: there is a conversion process called gaimen kirikae (外免切替) that swaps your existing foreign licence for a Japanese one. Whether it's a quick paperwork exercise or involves a driving test depends entirely on which country issued your licence. This guide walks through eligibility, documents, the tests, and the day itself. If you've just arrived, see Your First Two Weeks in Karuizawa for everything else on your to-do list.
Please note: licence-conversion rules depend on your nationality and change from time to time. Treat this as an orientation, and always confirm the current requirements with the Nagano Driver's License Center before you go.
TL;DR
- You can usually drive for up to one year on an International Driving Permit (IDP) or, for some countries, your licence plus an official translation — then residents must convert.
- Gaimen kirikae (外免切替) converts your foreign licence to a Japanese one at a prefectural Driver's License Center.
- You must prove you held the licence and stayed in the issuing country for at least 3 months after it was issued — old passports are your evidence.
- Drivers from exempt countries (UK, Australia, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany and many others) skip the knowledge and driving tests; drivers from non-exempt countries (incl. the USA and China) must pass both.
- Get your licence officially translated (JAF is the usual route) and book ahead — conversion slots are limited.
Can I just use my foreign license or an IDP?
For a while, yes. As a visitor or new arrival you can generally drive for up to one year from your date of entry using an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the Geneva Convention. A handful of countries — including Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Taiwan and Monaco — don't issue Geneva-convention IDPs; their licence holders can instead drive for up to a year on the foreign licence accompanied by an official Japanese translation. Either way, this is a temporary bridge. Once you're settled as a resident, you should convert to a full Japanese licence.
Am I eligible to convert? (the 3-month rule)
The key eligibility condition catches a lot of people by surprise: you must have held your licence and physically stayed in the country that issued it for a total of at least three months after the licence was issued. This is why the licence centre asks for your passports, including expired ones — the entry and exit stamps are how you prove those three months. If you got your licence abroad just before moving to Japan, you may not yet qualify.
Do I have to take the tests?
This is the part that varies most by country.
- Exempt countries — drivers from countries and regions with a reciprocal arrangement are exempt from both the knowledge test and the practical driving test. This list includes the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and many others. You'll still do the document check and eyesight test.
- Non-exempt countries — drivers from countries without such an arrangement, including the United States and China, must pass a knowledge confirmation and a practical driving test on a closed course.
The knowledge confirmation is short — typically 10 true/false questions, with around 7 correct needed to pass — and is available in several languages. The practical test is taken on the centre's course and trips up many first-timers, so practice is worth it. Because the exemption list does change, confirm your country's status with the licence centre.
What documents do I need?
Requirements vary slightly by centre and nationality, but you will typically need:
- Your valid foreign driver's licence (and, if applicable, evidence of any renewals).
- An official Japanese translation of the licence (see below).
- Your passport(s) — current and old ones — to prove the 3-month stay after issuance.
- Your residence card (在留カード).
- A residence certificate (住民票) — usually issued within the last few months.
- A passport-style photo to the centre's specification.
- The application fee (paid in revenue stamps at the centre).
How do I get my license translated?
You need an official Japanese translation of your foreign licence — a casual translation won't be accepted. The most common route is the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), which provides certified translations for a fee; some embassies and consulates also issue them. Allow time: depending on how you apply, it can be same-day at a JAF office or take several days by post.
What happens on the day?
At the Driver's License Center, the process generally runs:
- Document screening (書類審査) — staff check your licence, translation, passports and residence documents, and confirm you meet the 3-month rule.
- Eyesight / aptitude test (適性検査) — a standard vision check.
- Knowledge confirmation (知識確認) — if your country isn't exempt.
- Practical driving test (技能確認) — if your country isn't exempt, taken on the centre's course.
- Issuance — if everything passes, your Japanese licence is issued, often the same day.
Where do I go near Karuizawa?
Driver's licence conversion is handled at a prefectural Driver's License Center (運転免許センター), not at the town hall. For Karuizawa residents that means a centre operated by the Nagano Prefectural Police. The right centre for your area — and whether you must reserve a slot in advance — is something to confirm before travelling, as conversion appointments are limited and can book up. ERISA can identify the correct centre and make the booking for you.
How ERISA helps
The conversion trips people up in predictable ways — the 3-month rule, a translation that isn't accepted, or arriving without a required document and losing the appointment. ERISA (有限会社えり紗) checks your eligibility against your passport history first, arranges the official JAF translation, assembles the document set, books the slot at the right Nagano licence centre, and — if your country requires the tests — helps you prepare for the knowledge and practical exams. We can also interpret so nothing is missed on the day.
Planning to drive in Karuizawa? Get in touch and we'll map out your licence conversion.