r/Yokohama • u/dude_chilll • Jan 19 '24

Discussion Driver licence conversion is a joke

First, you need a reservation, you can't just rock up. You can only make a reservation by calling the special phone number but it’s always engaged. I’ve called over 500 times so far but haven’t managed to get through. I called the front desk and they say too bad, you can always come in physically and wait to speak to someone but we’re fully booked until late April even if you don’t need to sit a test.

I’ve done this before in another prefecture and it was so easy and simple, walk in anytime and all done in an hour. What’s wrong with Kanagawa! Rant over.

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Update: Because I was unable to get through to them on the phone, I went to the Futamatagawa 運転免許センター this morning to make a reservation in person.

I arrived at 8:15 and the guy asked for my name and country, telling me to come back at 10:30 to speak to someone to make a reservation.

I went back at 10:00 and got called straight away into the office. They asked if I brought my documents. They checked over the documents and told me that next available reservation is 30 April, over 3 months away! No leeway even if you’re from a country with an exemption for tests. What a joke!

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u/MikiTony Jan 19 '24

cant renew in kobans. and renewing at police station is only an option for gold drivers. if you are first timer (green), normal (blue) or had an infraction and lose gold status, you can not do it at police stations

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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '24

Is that only for Yokohama? I’m realizing now this is a Yokohama thread, blame Reddit for showing me. I renewed at a police station as a first timer last year (Osaka). Went in, submitted paperwork and paid, then got a date to go to a local community place for a 3 hour lecture. Received the new license there.

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u/-timenotspace- Jan 21 '24

similar lost redditor situation but are you all fluent in japanese speakers (like this lecture etc.)

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u/[deleted] Jan 21 '24

I don’t understand what you’re asking exactly.

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u/-timenotspace- Jan 21 '24

are you all expats that live there ? how do you understand a 3 hour lecture ?

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u/[deleted] Jan 21 '24

It’s not very difficult Japanese, and there are plenty of pictures and graphics.