Procuring Automobiles?

[MWThomas]

How would a tourist go about obtaining a vehicle in Japan?

 

[budd]

Koyama Driving School
ttp://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=japanese+license

 

[GaijinPunch]

I highly recommend the "conversion" process:
http://www.koyama.co.jp/e3.htm

Note: You must score 90% or higher on your written exam, and the English is SO bad, that you will miss questions because they're mis-asked, for lack of a better word. Tripple negatives, poor article usage, etc. It's all there. The Japanese test is equally tricky, but with proper grammar, and with a lot of vocabulary you won't know if you've never driven in Japan.

The driving test you'll probably have to take a couple of times... they rarely let people pass the first time. Even stricter for motorcycles.

 

[budd]

hahahaha! my bad! i left out that i remember reading somewhere that to buy an auto in Japan, one needs to have a driver's license + insurance.
can't remember where, but it's out there if people want to look (i may look and link later0

 

[Windy]

Are you talking about car rental? Buying a car, driving while you're here then selling/abondoning before you leave? One to buy and send home? Many to buy and ship?

 

[m477]

I don't think tourists can own cars... but you can rent one if you have an international driver's license, they are available from AAA.

 

[Windy]

Are you talking about car rental? Buying a car, driving while you're here then selling/abondoning before you leave? One to buy and send home? Many to buy and ship?

I guess none of the above.

So I would then recommend taking a train out of the city to a residential neighborhood. The distance from the city is in direct proportion to the liklihood of the door being unlocked and the keys being left in the ignition.