Niigata Prefectural Driver's License Centre (Seiro)

Address	7-1-1 Higashiminato, Seiro-machi, Kitakanbara-gun, Niigata 957-0193
Access	About 40 min by Niigata Kotsu bus from Niigata Station (bay 12).
Booking	Document review is by appointment: Skills Instruction Section, 025-256-4040 (weekdays 09:00-16:15; call again if no one answers, voicemail is not used). The venue reception page says online booking is needed for all licence types for the written test; skills tests are booked by phone by the previous day (09:00-16:15).
Days and times	Weekdays (excluding public holidays and 29 Dec-3 Jan). Document review at the 2F counters. Test reception mornings 08:30-09:00 (afternoon 13:00-13:30 added in busy periods). Skills tests run Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, with days varying by licence type.
Driving test course	Driving test course The police publish the course map:
Fees	Test fee per application (ordinary Class 1; stated on the knowledge and skills pages): ¥2,500

Documents

Foreign licence with all attachments
Residence card (foreign nationals)
All passports including expired ones
Residence certificate without My Number (foreign nationals: with nationality/status/stay period; Japanese: with registered domicile)
Japanese translation from an embassy/consulate or a designated body (JAF, ZIPLUS, ALADDIN)
After review: A4 copies of licence, residence card and passport pages, and one 3 x 2.4 cm photo taken within 6 months

Knowledge check: 50 questions, 30 minutes, pass mark 45; the result is valid 6 months, after which you restart from the knowledge check if the skills check is not passed.
Document review is free; its result is valid 6 months.
Must live in Niigata Prefecture, hold a valid foreign licence at least equivalent to the Japanese class, and show at least 3 months' stay in the issuing country after obtaining it; foreign nationals need valid status and an obtainable residence certificate.
Residence certificate must be without My Number; no document review by phone or post.
Special route (aptitude test then issuance, no knowledge/skills check) for licences from 29 countries/regions or some lapsed Japanese licence holders; the country list is not on the page.
Applicants must understand Japanese or bring an interpreter.
The official procedure page was last updated 24 Sep 2025 and does not itself describe post-1-Oct-2025 changes; the 50-question format is from the knowledge-check page.
Paid photo and copy services are available in the centre.

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