I Speak Japanese

great episode Kevin. Any information about the steps and costs related to getting your license in Japan if you are staying for more than a year?

Great video on driving in Sushiland, Kevin!
With high cost of gasoline, purchase of car, taxes, periodic “shaken”, and paying for parking (apartment/mansion dweller) owning a car in Sushiland is indeed very expensive. Much more so than States.
We live in a “mansion” (apartment) in the center of Himeji and pay about $140 a month for parking our car.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2022.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motor-vehicle_inspection_(Japan)
You do not see many older cars on the roads, as “clunkers” are rare in Japan.
You are very right about the narrow roads, Kevin, which wouldn`t be so bad if everyone drove “Kei”/mini cars (500cc engine), but many people have full size sedans and humongous SUV`s and vans, which makes navigating on such narrow roads pretty hairy. The thing about the roads in Japan is that they are shared by everyone, autos, pedestrians, cyclists, especially in many urban and rural areas where there are commonly no side walks. Front doors of many homes and businesses on such narrow roads are with in a few steps from passing traffic. A person on a bike or pedestrian often pops out unexpectedly. One thing which took some getting used to was referring to べんり traffic-mirrors which are situated at many blind corners, so you can see what is coming around blind corners. Kyoto is one city that is laid out in a grid street numbering system, making it easier to navigate there. Most cities, however, do not have street numbers or names, especially residential areas. Makes finding someones location especially hard in Japan.
Navigational devices (in Japanese) help, but aren`t fool proof.
Whenever I return to the States from Japan and do some driving, I comically get in on the wrong (opposite from Japan) side of the car. And when driving in the States and want to signal a turn, I usually turn on the wipers, instead. (Turn signal and wiper handles are on opposing sides on a Japanese car.)

It is ironic that while all Japanese must take an expensive/extensive “driving course” prior to taking a stringent drivers test to get their license, you would think that this would make for safe and courteous drivers. But NOT in my city of Himeji, where many drivers are often very reckless.
It`s an adventure, for sure!
タロー

hmmmm, im getting a bike when i move! XDD. But lets say u dont have an International license how would you normally get one with and without a drivers lincense in the states or anywhere else? Arigatou gozaimasu

Getting a bike in Japan is a good idea, Gordon. If you live in an urban setting, then a pedaling type (¥10,000 and up) is just fine for getting around, to the train stations, shopping, etc.
While cycling is more of a leisure/weekend sport for most Americans, it is basic daily transportation for most Japanese. If you want more speed and distance, a motor bike is even better. Small scooters (50cc) are very popular for getting about, parking and maintenance is much easier and cheaper than a car.
A motor bike over 250cc must have a bi-yearly “shaken”, but is much cheaper than a car.
Bikes are not so comfortable during the rainy or winter season, however.
But we all make do with the proper protective gear, none-the-less!
Here is a good website for car and biker license info: http://www.thejapanfaq.com/bikerfaq-menkyo.html
Related info at: http://www.thejapanfaq.com/bikerfaq-classes.html

Kevin is so right on about how good and affordable the (urban) public transport system is in Japan.
A foreigner new to Japan could start out with a decent bicycle, which is always handy to have, and then after some time graduate up to a motor bike or a car, whichever suits them. Many of my JET, ALT teacher friends, who were stationed in more rural areas of Japan, were loaned “Kei” cars by local authorities to get around in.

Was that the case when you were a JET teacher, Kevin?

Here is a great website about Japanese “Road Signs, Lines and Traffic Laws”, something every driver or motor bike rider should be knowledgeable of :
http://www.thejapanfaq.com/bikerfaq-signs.html
Scroll down a wee bit to see a Road Mirror photo which I mentioned in my earlier comment.
Never saw these mirrors before coming to Japan, having grown up driving in the PNW (USA), they are most
valuable in seeing what is around those blind corners.

タロー

Is that a Toyota Vitz you’re driving in Japan?

I just wanted to say arigatou to you guys for working so hard on the site. I know on new but I have been watching your podcasts for a while now.
Keep up the great work and expect to see a lot of me around.

Arigatou,
aoi chan

Great episode as always dude; i was actually really curious about the license switch over but more so with how different road rules are there; saying that it would be easier for me with being in the UK since we already drive on the left, wheel on the right etc, sucks to be an American i guess Lol.

One main question which i’ve meaning to ask though was about transportation on a long term basis was that If you have a car and you were traveling the distance from say Tokyo to Yamanashi (for example) would it work out cheaper to commute around by rail or by car? I’ve always tried to work out the cost of rail/bus fairs over a yearly basis and if the rail/bus works out cheaper than the tax, insurance, gas etc then i stick to the cheaper option.

どもありがとう。
ヴィン・ヒル