Chiba Driver's License Centre

Address	2-1-1 Hamada, Mihama Ward, Chiba City
Access	About 10 minutes by bus from Makuharihongo Station, about 5 minutes by bus or 15 minutes on foot from Kaihin-Makuhari Station, about 20 minutes on foot from Makuhari-Toyosuna Station; get off at the stop named for the licence centre.
Booking	Document screening needs no reservation except for moped applicants (reservation-only since 2025-06-16 at Window 10, weekdays 14:30-15:00). Knowledge check, aptitude test and skills check are by reservation and the page says slots are booked several months ahead. Groups of 5 or more must arrange by phone at least 7 days in advance (phone 16:30-17:00 weekdays).
Days and times	Reception Monday-Friday (not holidays, year-end/New Year or weekends): 8:30-9:00 and 13:00-13:30 at Window 10 on the 1st floor. Knowledge check through skills check are normally done on the same day.
Written check languages	en, es, fa, ko, zh, pt, ru, th, tl, vi, id, km, ne, my, mn, uk, si, ur, ar, hi, ja
Driving test course	No course map is published online. Ask at the centre.

Documents

Valid foreign licence
Japanese translation by embassy/consulate, JAF, ZIPLUS or ALADDIN (Taiwan licences: Taiwan-Japan Relations Association; German licences: ADAC)
Passport to confirm 3+ months stay in the issuing country; where no entry/exit stamps, immigration records or employment proof
Resident record (jyuminhyo) generally required for all applications; for foreign nationals showing all items recorded for foreign residents; no My Number
Photo ID (My Number card, passport) and residence card for foreign nationals
Any Japanese licence held, regardless of expiry
Photo 3 cm x 2.4 cm within 6 months

Only Chiba Centre handles conversion; Nagareyama Centre does not.
Since 2025-10-01 the knowledge check is 50 text questions in 30 minutes with 45 correct needed (90%); illustrated questions were abolished.
Skills check is an in-compound drive; pass mark 70% or more.
Only people with a resident registration in Chiba Prefecture can sit the checks; short-term foreign visitors cannot, even with a booking.
Those who passed the old knowledge check but failed skills must pass the 50-question check before a skills retake after 2025-10-01.
The centre does not offer practice; contact a driving school.
Fees: the official page only says to enquire; no amount published on the conversion page.

Not checking the blind spot (turn your head) before moving off, changing lanes and turning.
Left turns: not moving close to the left edge first, then turning slowly along the edge of the intersection.
Right turns: not moving close to the centre line beforehand, or not turning just inside the centre of the intersection (wait there for oncoming traffic).
At a stop sign (止まれ): not stopping completely at the stop line, then stopping again where you can see.
Signalling late: signal 30 m before a turn, 3 seconds before a lane change.
Crossings: not slowing down or not stopping for a pedestrian who may cross.
Railway crossings: not stopping before the crossing and checking left and right with the window open.

Always check the official page before you go: times and rules change. Official page · Checked 2026-11-09