Samezu Driver's License Center - Shinagawa City

After reading the reviews I mentally prepared myself for Dante’s Inferno but actually it’s been really good so far. I’ve now been here for five hours and am waiting to collect my license. From the guards outside to the officer who processed my paperwork, everyone has been really polite and helpful. I speak next to no Japanese beyond being able to say hello and sorry but the officer had a little English and we got through it. I realise I may have been lucky or maybe it’s just others were unlucky. Knowing I was up against it I cycled here early (there is a free bike park in the building) and changed to smart work clothes. Probably no need but it gave me a little more confidence knowing that I was already pushing my luck. When you arrive, don’t queue in the main queue. Tell the guard you are doing a conversion and they will place you in a separate line. They let you in at 08.00. It’s not a scrum but instead an orderly line. Make your way to level 3 and off you go. Do your homework before you get here. The 90 days in country post test is very strict. I used degree certificates and asked for my company to stamp a letter to say I had studied in my home country. If you want to drive anything over 3.5 tonnes you have to do a bizarre eye test to line up three lines. You get two goes at it and my first go was over before I even knew it had started. I passed the second time but I’m still not sure why. Eye test for a normal car license is easy enough so don’t panic there. You will be here a long time which is why I gave this four stars. Prepare yourself for this and you should soon be driving in Japan.

I was terrified reading all the terrible reviews. Went there to convert my German license to Japanese one with a Japanese friend, to help with translation. The staff was really kind and things moved fast. I made a mistake of smiling in the photo taken in the photo-booth and had to retake it. The staff assisting me said that it is his mistake not mentioning it and issued a note asking shop to refund the 800 yen fee. You need to prove that you stayed for more 90 days in the country after you received license. Expect the entire process take around 3 hours. For me, it took 2 hours and 20 mins to get license in hand ?

Very busy and crowd. No so many empty time slot for the learner driving exam. Even you pass written exam, after 6 months you need to written test and pass again. Now I am facing this loop. To achieve driving license is very difficult.

2022/02/16 The recent reviews have been pretty on point. Samezu license centre has been very helpful and straight forward. Everything took me from 7:40 AM till 10:30 AM. I’m exchanging for a Japanese all size motorcycle license and my practical exam is in early April. I’m pretty happy with this short waiting time. Not sure how long the wait for the practical car exam is but I heard it’s gonna be at least 3 months. If you understand sufficient Japanese (I’m N5) and english well, you shouldn’t need to have an interpreter. But having one never hurts. I ran into some trouble with my じゅうみんひょう (it did not show my home country) so I was asked to go to a local office to have it printed out again. The people at Samezu gave me a map which was very helpful. Overall a memorable experience I’ll learn from when I come back to exchange my car license. (You can’t do both at the same time)

So I was also prepared for a horrific experience after reading the reviews from foreigners, but it was totally opposite. I was able to finish the first process of Gaimen kirikai in just 2 hours. Entered at 8:30 and got out at 10:30 with a driving test reservation. I recommend being first in the queue, and finish all process fast since, the driving test reservation will move by almost a week if one person walks before you to the reservation counter.

One of the best DMVs in the World. Very helpful and courteous staff. Cafeteria is not so bad either.

Process for Obtaining a New License After Completion of a Certified Driving School 1. Arrive early and wait for the center to open. The earlier the better. Really. The center opens at 8:30; we arrived at 7:45 and there were already about 20 people ahead of us in line outside. 2. Upon entry into the Center you’ll be given a health questionnaire. If you don’t read Japanese, you can obtain a translation from the Reception. Some receptionists speak English. 3. After completing the health questionnaire, proceed to Counter/Area 2 (first floor) to pay for the exam fees (¥1,750). They accept credit cards or cash. 4. After payment proceed to Area 3 (first floor; adjacent to the payment counter) for your eye test. Expect unpleasantness from the people administering the eye exam. They are processing a lot of people and seem to have very short patience. 5. After completing the eye test, take the elevator to the third floor. At the third floor near the elevators, cue to have your documents checked. Required documents are: Driving School Certificate; Completed Application Form with Picture; Completed Health Questionnaire; Proof of Payment of Test Fees; Resident’s Certificate; Learner’s Permit; and Residence Card. 6. If you’re taking the English written exam, after the document check, they will call your name out and briefly explain the test answer sheet, give you a pencil and eraser, and show you to your testing room. You will be assigned a test/desk number. 7. Wait in the testing room for the test to start. Sit at your assigned desk. 8. Take the test. 9. After completing the test, return to the same room to see the results. If you pass (minimum score of 90/100), your test number (same as your assigned desk number) will appear on the television screen at the front of the classroom. 10. If you pass, you will be asked to proceed to the cashier on the third floor where you will pay your License Issuing Fee (¥2,050). You will be given a slip with a barcode. 11. Proceed to have your picture taken. You will have to assign yourself a four digit registration number (any four numbers) before your photo is taken. When having your picture taken, you will have to scan the barcode on the slip described in the previous step. 12. Return to the classroom and wait to be dismissed. You will be informed of what time you can pick up your license. 13. Go to the second floor at the appointed time to collect your license. 14. After receiving your license, use the four digit registration number at the provided computers to confirm that all information in the system (and on your new license) is correct. 15. Leave and hope to never return. Total estimated time 5 - 6 hours.

I've been reading reviews before taking my written exam, and have already prepared myself for rudeness and such. But everyone was nice and polite actually. If you take your written exam after graduating from a driving school, come early, around 7:45. We came by car, we were able to park without any problems. Already outside, while standing in line, I have received a health questionnaire and an application number. Due to Covid19 the number of applicants is smaller than usually. So come early. Also, if something goes wrong in the morning, you will be able to take written test again in the afternoon on the same day. I passed my exam in the morning, so the whole license issue process took till around 1:30pm. I arrived at 7:45am left at 1:40pm. There were many people taking written test that day, so picture taking and license issue process took longer , as I've been told by the staff. Overall experience was pleasant enough, but prepare yourself for a lot of waiting in advance. Good luck.