Foreign License Conversion
in Shiga Prefecture
Shiga's licensing center for foreign-license holders is administered by Shiga Prefectural Police (滋賀県警察). Below is the official source, the test center's main address, English support status, and any special notes.
- Police organization:
- Shiga Prefectural Police (滋賀県警察)
- Test center:
- Shiga Driver's License Center (滋賀県運転免許センター)
- City
- Moriyama City, Shiga (守山市木浜町2294番地)
- Access
- By bus from JR Moriyama Station West Exit via Omi Bus, approx. 20-30 min, alight at 運転免許センター; or from JR Katata Station via Kojaku/Kowa Bus, approx. 20 min. Foreign-license conversion is handled ONLY at this Moriyama center, not at the Maibara center or police stations.
- Test languages:
- 20 languages (nationwide standard since June 2024)
- How to reserve
- Reservation required by phone (no online booking). A Japanese translation of the foreign license must be prepared first; reservations are not accepted without it (翻訳文がない場合は予約を受け付けできません). Acceptable translators: a foreign embassy/consulate, JAF, Ziplus Corporation, or the Japan Visitor Driving Support Association (訪日運転者支援協会). The procedure date is assigned at booking; same-day handling is not possible (申込み当日に手続きをすることはできません) and procedures are conducted on weekdays only.
- Phone
- 077-585-1255
- Reception hours
- Reservation phone accepted on weekdays 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00; not accepted on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, or year-end/New Year (Dec 29-Jan 3).
No dedicated in-person foreign-language counter; the official page instructs that applicants who cannot speak Japanese must bring an interpreter (日本語の話せない方は、必ず通訳ができる人を同伴してください). However, the knowledge-confirmation test (知識確認) is provided in Japanese plus 20 languages, including English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai, Indonesian, Tagalog, Nepali and others.
Specific fee amounts are not stated on the official page; it advises confirming at the time of reservation (予約時に確認してください). Left unconfirmed.
The official notice states foreign-license conversion applications have increased and screening/scheduling may take a long time (審査日までに長期間かかる場合があります). A valid Japanese translation of the foreign license must be prepared before booking (no translation = no reservation).
We could not confirm the following from primary sources. Please check the official page before relying on them:
- Exact conversion fee amounts by license type (official page gives no yen figures)
- Full required-document list specifics (residence-history proof, 3-month in-country residence, etc.) not fully verified against current official wording
- Romanization/exact company name of the Katata-route bus (shown as Kojaku/Kowa Bus) not definitively confirmed
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.pref.shiga.lg.jp/police/menkyo/annai/104559.html
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.
New to the terminology? See the glossary for definitions of gaimen kirikae, knowledge confirmation test, IDP, and honmen.
Verified research compiled on 2026-06-06 from official prefectural-police and other primary sources. Test-center details, reservation methods, fees, and language support can change — always confirm on the official page before you go.