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Do you own a car in Japan?

JerseyBoy

Back in town
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I noticed some Japanese don't know how to drive or don't have the driver's license (or, they are just the paper drivers) . I am sorry for many Japanese locals who have to go to the expensive driving schools to get a license.

I am a car guy (even though I live in Tokyo) as I have been driving my car (and company car) a lot in USA for many years. Back in Japan (it's been about 1.5 years), I had to get a car because of my habits (I don't really like driving much in Japan though, as it is too crowded, too small, too narrow---in terms of the width of the roads, too over-priced---price gouging by the highway authorities; it just sucks the fun out of driving in Japan big time). I am planning to go back to my adopted country USA in several weeks and I will pick up a new car again once I get settled down.

How about you? Do you own a car (and drive it) in Japan?
 
The tank .

When I was stationed in Fukuoka we had a small direction finding base about 5 miles from the main Hakata Air Base. To travel back & forth, we had a giant Ford crew cab pick-up truck about 20 feet long. The steering wheel was set up for US driving. I used to feel like I was a tank driver in that big monster. Thankfully back then(1970&71) the traffic was always light and the road almost empty.When I got in my Japanese buddies cars, I felt like I was in a shoebox with wheels. I remember driving in heavy traffic in downtown Fukuoka even back then scared the crap out of me.

Uncle Frank

☝
 
JerseyBoy said:
Back in Japan (it's been about 1.5 years), I had to get a car because of my habits
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I don't understand this at all. You have to get a license because you don't have one and you want one. Period.

As for the OP, yes, I own a car.
 
Glenski said:
I don't understand this at all. You have to get a license because you don't have one and you want one. Period.
As for the OP, yes, I own a car.
Click to expand...
It was an easy license conversion from NY license to J-license. I had to take a 10-questions test (its English translation was horrible) and a road test. I pass both with aplomb. I was with a j-license within 30 days after my arrival (I had a valid 1-year international driver's license at that time; so, I would've been able to drive car for a year without any problem, though).
 
I used to own a car, but I got rid of it some months ago. I have to say, life was much easier (albeit more expensive) with a car.
 
We have a car (toyota BB 2000), which is a lovely cool wagon. We use it almost every week, to go shopping, to go to the in-laws, etc.

But only my wife drives, so I hope to get my license next year (I don't have a Dutch license, so I have to start from 0%).
 
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FrustratedDave said:
I own three cars.
A LS600hL
A Celsior
and and IS-F.
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Those are sweat rides, man. Do you get annoyed with the low speed limits and lack of wide open roads in Japan?

You should've got your license from your home country. You would need to shell out close to USD 3000 to complete the driving school in Japan. If you can get a license in the Netherlands while you are back there, it may be better for you.
 
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