How to Get a Japanese License
Stage 1
(On-Site Training)
Stage 1 is where you learn driving basics on the driving school course. You take written and driving lessons in parallel, and advance to the next stage after passing the final evaluation.
🚗 What's in Stage 1
Written lessons
10 hours (basic traffic rules, signals, road signs, driver responsibilities)
Driving lessons
MT 15 hours / AT 12 hours (starting, stopping, curves, direction changes, hill starts)
Completion
Pass the "final evaluation" (driving completion assessment) to advance
📌 Key Points
No public roads yet
Stage 1 stays on the driving school course. You learn basic operations in a safe environment.
Evaluation → provisional license
Pass the evaluation to advance to the completion test (driving) and the provisional license written test.
Timeframe estimate
About 1 week at a training camp, 1–2 months for commuter students. Written and driving lessons run in parallel.
FAQ
What is the "final evaluation"?
It is the concluding assessment of your driving lessons. It confirms whether you have acquired the driving skills of Stage 1 and determines if you can proceed to the completion test.
How many driving hours for AT?
Because there is no clutch operation, AT is shortened to 12 hours compared to 15 hours for MT.
What topics are covered in written lessons?
Basic traffic rules (signals, road signs, driver responsibilities, etc., the first half of the Rules of the Road) are the focus. You can preview and review them directly in the early chapters of MenkyoQuest.
The 10 hours of written content can be previewed directly in the early chapters of MenkyoQuest. Use it to prepare for the school's achievement tests and the provisional license written test.
If you come across an unfamiliar term, check the 📖 glossary for full definitions.
Last updated 2026-06-04. Costs, durations, and rules vary by driving school and season. Always confirm the latest conditions with each school's or prefecture's official information.