Japan Life

[bigpimpin_kairastyle]

Hey all, i was wondering about a few aspects of life in japan, i may be moving to tokyo for a year and i would like to know a few things...

do many people/shops/retailers speak english?

what are the liecensing restricions like over there...and how much would a run about 33 gts in average nick cost me ...like rego an stuff like that

any help would be greatly appriciated

[drunkenmaster]

i have been in Japan for a month now and if you dont speak Japanese, pointing and gestures are your next best best, followed by English.

International license is valid for 3months I beleive but after that you need a local license which required evidence that you have held an Australian license for two years and other various mountains of red tape.

[Demon Dave]

Dude - everything you asked has been covered a million times before - suggest you do a search

International license is valid for 3months

International driving permits are usually valid for a period of 1 year (from date of issue). If you renew the license while still in Japan, then it becomes invalid - this is done to force people staying more than a year to get a Japanese license. Don't know what you have to go through if you've got a Aussie license, but us Brits just hand over our British license and get a Jap one back.

[Rezz]

Don't know what you have to go through if you've got a Aussie license, but us Brits just hand over our British license and get a Jap one back.

Dave it's the same for us Aussies... hand over your Aussie Drivers license, application form and passport photo, and get handed back a Japanese one (after an excrutiaing 3 - 4 hour wait). I wouldn't say there was heaps of red tape...

[drunkenmaster]

Oh ok, a colleague of mine is having a bitch of a time doing it, having to get transcripts from vicroads declaring he had an australian license for 2 years or more, then once finally getting it they woudlnt except it in english untranslated.

Maybe he was unlucky.

[Rezz]

drunkenmaster: I have a WA drivers license, so those come with the "issue date" already stamped on it... easy.

[DaiOni]

the current rule is licence transcript + passport.

the licence transcript proves you have held the licence for at least three months (12 months if you want a full licence).

the passport confirms that you stayed in the country of residence for at least that amount of time.

perfect example of very silly red tape

however, if you are lucky to live near a non-fascist licence registry - probably a very easy process.