Shiga Driver's Licence Centre, Moriyama (First Annex)

Address	2294 Kihama-cho, Moriyama
Access	Ohmi Bus from JR Moriyama Station west exit to the licence centre stop (about 20-30 min), or Kojaku Bus from JR Katata Station (about 20 min).
Booking	Phone booking is mandatory: 077-585-1255, weekdays 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-17:00 (closed weekends, holidays, 29 Dec-3 Jan). Same-day processing is not possible and booking is refused without a Japanese translation. Applicant numbers have surged so waits for a review date can be long.
Days and times	Reception (First Annex), document review, paperwork, then on a later day the knowledge check, and on another later day the aptitude test and on-road/practical check, then photo and issue. Exempt countries can finish in one visit. If you pass in the afternoon, My Number licence processing that day is not possible.
Written check languages	ar, id, uk, ur, km, si, es, th, tl, ne, hi, vi, fa, pt, my, mn, ru, en, ko, zh, ja
Driving test course	No course map is published online. Ask at the centre.

Documents

Foreign licence (proof of issue date if not printed)
Japanese translation by embassy/consulate, JAF, ZIPLUS or the Association for Visiting Drivers Support (ALADDIN)
All passports, old ones included
Proof of stay if passport has no entry/exit stamps
Residence certificate (jumin-hyo) with domicile/nationality, status and stay period; no copies, no My Number; not accepted if the stay period has lapsed (exception: Japanese nationals with a valid licence or foreign nationals with a valid My Number licence)
Residence card or special permanent resident certificate (foreign nationals)
International driving permit, past Japanese licence, home-country ID if held
Glasses/hearing aid if needed; suitable clothes and shoes; helmet, gloves, long sleeves/trousers for motorcycles

Only Moriyama accepts conversion; Maibara centre and police stations do not.
The page says to bring an interpreter if you cannot speak Japanese.
Fees are not published on the conversion page (confirm at booking).
The page contains no statement about the 2025-10-01 changes (50 questions etc.); it does state the residence certificate requirement. Page updated 2026-04-28.

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