Your first Japanese driver’s license will be valid for around 3 years. It will expire on your 3rd birthday after receiving it, and it will be valid until one month after that. Make sure you check the date on your license. Japan is very nice in that they will send you a notification postcard to renew your license one month before it expires. However if you moved during this time and did not change the address on your license, you will not receive this postcard, so be careful. You may apply for the renewal from one month before until one month after the expiration date.

Locations:

Okinawa Driver’s License Center (沖縄県運転免許課)
沖縄県豊見城市字豊崎３番22
Okinawa-ken, Tomigusuku-shi, Aza Toyosaki 3-22
Phone: 098-851-1000

Driving School Chubu Campus (安全運転学校の中部分校)
〒904-0035 沖縄県沖縄市南桃原４丁目２７-２２
Okinawa-ken, Okinawa-shi Minami Tobaru 4-27-22
Phone: 098-933-0442

Driving School Hokubu Campus (安全運転学校の北部分校)
〒905-0021 沖縄県名護市東江５-２０-５
Okinawa-ken, Nago-shi, Agarie 5-20-5
Phone: 0980-53-1301

Driving School Miyako Campus (安全運転学校の宮古分校)
〒906-0013 沖縄県宮古島市平良下里３１０７-４
Okinawa-ken, Miyako-jima, Miyako-jima-shi, Tairashimosato 3107-4
Phone: 0980-72-9990

Driving School Yaeyama Campus (安全運転学校の八重山分校)
〒907-0003 沖縄県石垣市平得３４３-２
Okinawa-ken, Ishigaki-shi, Hirai 343-2
Phone: 0980-82-9542

Specified Police Stations (Kumejima, Kita Daito, Minami Daito, Aguni, Tonaki, Tokashiki, Zamami, Ie, Izena, Iheya, Yonabaru)

Documents:

1. Drivers License
2. Residence Card
3. Renewal Notification Postcard
4. 3 cm x 2.4 cm picture (you can get this at the location)
5. Application Form (you will receive this at the location)
6. Certificate of Residency (make sure you order the one with 本籍)
7. 3,850 yen

Hours

Application Period:
(Monday – Friday) 8:30 – 11:30 / 13:00 – 16:45
(Sunday) 8:00 – 11:30 / 13:00 – 16:45

Process:

Step 1. Turn in all the documents to the counter. You will need to answer a questionnaire regarding your health and driving history.

Step 2. After your application is in order you will go to another window to pay.

Step 3. Next is the eye check. This is the same process as when you applied for your license.

Step 4. Next you will go to counter 1 for the last check and then they will send you to finalize the license and receive a slip with information on your lecture time.

Step 5. Finally you will go to another room to get your picture taken. Afterwards they will hold onto your application while you head to your lecture.

Step 6. There are 4 different sections for the lectures so make sure you go to the right one.
– Beginners license holders – 2 hours
– Regular license holders – 1 hour
– Drivers with violations – 2 hours
– Exemplary driver – 30 min

After the end of the lecture they will call out your name to pick up your license. Check the name, address and birth date. Afterwards be sure to turn in your lecture slip and you are finished.