Tochigi Driver's License Centre

Address	681 Shimoishikawa, Kanuma City, Tochigi 322-0017
Access	Bus stop is on the grounds. Reachable by Re-bus from Tobu Shin-Kanuma or JR Kanuma Station, or Kanto Bus from Utsunomiya Station west exit (stop 12). Walking time and timetables not stated; check with bus operators.
Booking	Document-screening reservations by phone on weekdays 15:00-17:00 (0289-76-0110, IVR press 5 then 2); closes when capacity is reached. Say at booking if you hold a licence from a listed special-treatment country or an expired Japanese licence. Cancel if you cannot attend. As of the page update (2026-09-30), additional reservations were to resume on 1 October at 15:00 for dates from 1 December.
Days and times	Enquiries and reservations on weekdays (not public holidays) 15:00-17:00. Schedules for the knowledge and skills checks themselves are not published on the pages checked.
Written check languages	en, es, fa, ko, zh, pt, ru, th, tl, vi, id, km, ne, my, mn, uk, si, ur, ar, hi
Driving test course	No course map is published online. Ask at the centre.
Fees	Application (ordinary licence): ¥2,500 Application (moped licence): ¥1,600 Licence issuance: ¥2,350

Documents

Valid foreign licence (and all old ones if renewed)
Japanese translation (embassy/consulate, JAF, ZIPLUS or ALADDIN)
Passport (all old ones); extra proof of 3+ months abroad if stamps are unclear
International driving permit if held
Japanese licence, valid or expired, if held
Residence record (juminhyo) with specified items and residence card, for first-time Japanese licence applicants
Application form
Photo 3 cm x 2.4 cm taken within 6 months
Interpreter if you do not speak Japanese

From 2025-10-01 a residence record with specified items (nationality, date became resident, status, period of stay, expiry, card number) plus the residence card is required for knowledge/skills tests, category additions, foreign licence conversion and reinstatement.
Knowledge check for conversion is available in 20 languages; request a foreign-language paper at the counter. The pages checked do not state the number of questions.
Eligibility: valid foreign licence, at least 3 months total stay in the issuing country, address in Tochigi.
The guide page does not describe the skills check; ask the centre.
The fee table on the page says other categories cost 3,900 or 2,800 yen.

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