Foreign License Conversion
in Akita Prefecture

Police organization:

Akita Prefectural Police (秋田県警察)

Test center:

Akita Prefectural Police Driver's License Center (秋田県警察運転免許センター)

City

Akita City (秋田市)

Access

Located at 5-1 Niiya-Kotobukicho, Akita City (秋田市新屋寿町5番1号); the Center has operated from this new building since January 4, 2024 (formerly in Niiya-Minamihamacho). By bus from JR Akita Station West Exit (platform 8), Akita Chuo Kotsu 'Kawajiri / Wariyama' line via Omachi (routes 700/701), alight at 'Unten Menkyo Center-mae (運転免許センター前)'.

Test languages:

20 languages (nationwide standard since June 2024)

Reservation required

How to reserve

Complete appointment-only system (完全予約制). Reserve in advance by phone or in person before the conversion screening (切替え審査). Procedures are handled only at the Driver's License Center, not at police stations.

Phone

018-862-7570

Reception hours

Reservation reception: Mon-Fri (excluding holidays) 8:30-16:00

Only residents with an address in Akita Prefecture may apply, and procedures are available solely at the Akita Prefectural Police Driver's License Center in Akita City (not at police stations). The conversion screening (切替え審査) is by complete advance appointment only (reserve by phone or in person). Procedures for foreign nationals changed as of October 1, 2025: applicants without a My Number license must now present a residence card, special permanent resident certificate, or a resident-registration record showing foreign-resident information. Required documents and any fees are not fully published on the page and should be confirmed with the Center.

We could not confirm the following from primary sources. Please check the official page before relying on them:

• Exact conversion fees (手数料) in yen — not published on the Akita pages
• Language / interpreter support — no interpreter or multilingual service is mentioned on the official page
• Detailed required-documents list including photo size (3.0x2.4cm), Japanese translation, honseki resident record, and the 3-month post-issuance stay requirement — these are standard nationwide 外免切替 requirements but could not be directly verified against the Akita page content retrieved
• Whether an International Driving Permit is accepted/rejected for conversion at Akita specifically (not stated in retrievable content)
• Online reservation availability — none found; reservations appear to be phone/in-person only

Always verify on the prefectural police's official page before you go — addresses, reservation methods, and document requirements change frequently.

• Official page (Japanese) ↗ — open via Google Translate / DeepL
• Official source ↗ https://www.police.pref.akita.lg.jp/menkyo/
• Official source ↗ https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%A7%8B%E7%94%B0%E7%9C%8C%E8%AD%A6%E5%AF%9F%E9%81%8B%E8%BB%A2%E5%85%8D%E8%A8%B1%E3%82%BB%E3%83%B3%E3%82%BF%E3%83%BC

The 6-step process (eligibility → translation → appointment → document screening → 50-question test → practical test) is the same nationwide. See the main hub for the complete walkthrough, document checklist, and translation services.