Saitama Driver's License Centre (Konosu)

Address	405-4 Konosu, Konosu City, Saitama
Access	From JR Takasaki Line Konosu Station east exit: about 10 minutes by bus bound for the licence centre, or about 25 minutes on foot. From Higashi-Matsuyama Station (Tobu Tojo Line): about 40 minutes by Kawagoe Kanko bus.
Booking	Document review is by online reservation only, made after all documents are ready. The knowledge check is also reservation-only and can be booked only after document review is complete; the page states a wait of about 3-4 months. The skills check is reservation-based and the method is explained only to those who pass the knowledge check. Applicants from exempt (特例) countries need no reservation for application reception.
Days and times	Reception time and place are given on the guidance sheet handed over when document review finishes. Phone enquiries on weekdays 15:00-16:00. Knowledge check: about 20 minutes of explanation plus a 30-minute, 50-question test. For exempt-country applicants the licence is issued the same day, expected around 16:00. Specific weekday schedule for the skills check is not published.
Written check languages	en, zh, th, es, pt, fa, ru, ur, tl, vi, uk, id, ne, km, mn, my, ko, ar, si, hi, ja
Driving test course	No course map is published online. Ask at the centre.
Fees	Application fee (ordinary car): ¥2,500 Licence issuance fee (licence card only): ¥2,350 Licence issuance fee (My Number licence only): ¥1,550

Documents

Valid foreign licence (original; e-licences and international permits not accepted)
Japanese translation by the issuing authority/consulate, JAF, ZIPLUS, ADAC (Germany) or the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association
Valid passport(s); older passports covering the licence period recommended, or an entry/exit record certificate where no stamps exist (to show 3+ months stay in the issuing country after issue)
Resident record (jyuminhyo) within 6 months showing the specified items (nationality, residence status, period, expiry, card number, category), no My Number, no copy
Residence card (zairyu card) shown at counter
Any Japanese licence or My Number licence held, including expired ones
3 photos 3 cm x 2.4 cm taken within 6 months
Application form and cashless payment of fees

Only one centre (Konosu) handles conversion; page states that interpreters may accompany only during the explanation of the knowledge test and that reception/explanations are in Japanese.
From 2025-10-01 a resident record is required; applicants whose residence period on the record has expired cannot be received even if the residence card is being renewed.
Knowledge check: 50 questions in 30 minutes; 21 languages listed (as of 2025-10-01).
Pay fees cashless (cards, e-money, QR payments); cash only by arranging with the licence examination division the day before.
From 2026-11-02 the pre-confirmation for medium/large (class 1) and class 2 licences and issuance of driving-history certificates will end; driving history will be checked at the reception counter instead.
Skills check venue meets at the road-test waiting room west of the main gate (from the skills-test 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