Japan Driving License Test Languages: 20-Language Support at 試験場 (2026)

Information current as of April 2026 based on the Tokyo Metropolitan Police 20-language exam page, Osaka Prefectural Police 20-language testing, Aichi Prefectural Police language testing, Saitama Prefectural Police language list, and prefecture-by-prefecture police websites.

For foreign residents pursuing a Japanese driver's license, the language barrier is one of the biggest practical obstacles. The good news: Japan has expanded language support significantly since 2020, and 20-language testing is now standard at major prefectural 試験場. The bad news: the skill test remains Japanese-only, and 教習所 lesson language varies wildly. This guide maps exactly what's available where, so you can plan your path strategically.

The 20 official languages at 試験場 学科試験

Since 2023, the National Police Agency standardized a 20-language menu for the 学科試験 at major prefectural 試験場. The languages:

1. English
2. Chinese (Simplified)
3. Korean
4. Vietnamese
5. Thai
6. Tagalog (Filipino)
7. Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
8. Nepali
9. Burmese (Myanmar)
10. Khmer (Cambodian)
11. Mongolian
12. Sinhala (Sri Lankan)
13. Hindi
14. Urdu
15. Persian (Farsi)
16. Arabic
17. Russian
18. Ukrainian
19. Spanish
20. Portuguese

This covers the major foreign-resident populations in Japan. Some prefectures also support Lao, Bangla, or other regional languages on request — check your specific 試験場 in advance.

Tokyo (警視庁) 試験場 — full menu, all 3 locations

Tokyo has the most comprehensive language coverage in Japan. All three 試験場 (府中, 鮫洲, 江東) offer the full 20-language menu:

Language	府中	鮫洲	江東
English	Daily (Mon-Fri)	Daily	Daily
Chinese	Daily	Daily	Daily
Vietnamese	Tue	Wed	Thu
Nepali	Tue	Wed	Thu
Burmese	Tue	Wed	Thu
Other 15 languages	Tue/Wed/Thu rotation	Tue/Wed/Thu rotation	Tue/Wed/Thu rotation

For minority-language applicants, this means you can drive to any of the 3 試験場 on the right weekday. Reservations are typically required for non-English/non-Chinese languages — call the 試験場 1-2 weeks in advance.

Tokyo 試験場 contact details

• 府中試験場 (Fuchu): 東京都府中市多磨町3-1-1, ☎ 042-362-3591
• 鮫洲試験場 (Samezu): 東京都品川区東大井1-12-5, ☎ 03-3474-1374
• 江東試験場 (Koto): 東京都江東区新木場1-7-24, ☎ 03-3699-1151

Other major prefectures

Osaka (大阪府警察)

Osaka 試験場 (門真) supports the full 20-language menu. Daily for English/Chinese; weekly rotation for others. Reservations recommended for less common languages.

Source: Osaka Prefectural Police 20-language page

Kanagawa (神奈川県警察)

Kanagawa 試験場 (二俣川) supports English, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Thai, Nepali, Burmese, Indonesian, and a few others. Not the full 20 but close.

Source: Kanagawa Prefectural Police

Aichi (愛知県警察)

Aichi 試験場 (平針) supports a broad multilingual menu through the National Police Agency 20-language framework. Aichi has high foreigner population (Toyota and manufacturing), so language coverage is a priority. Confirm the exact rotation directly with 平針 試験場 before scheduling.

Source: Aichi Prefectural Police language testing

Saitama (埼玉県警察)

Saitama 試験場 (鴻巣) supports the National Police Agency multilingual framework. Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday rotation for less common languages. Confirm the exact menu and rotation with 鴻巣 試験場 before scheduling.

Source: Saitama Prefectural Police language list

Hyogo, Fukuoka, Hiroshima

All major regional prefectures with foreign populations support at minimum: English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai. Most also support all 20 languages on request.

Smaller prefectures — limited support

Smaller prefectures with low foreigner populations may only offer English and one or two other languages. If you're in:

• Iwate, Akita, Aomori, Yamagata: typically English only at the 試験場
• Tottori, Shimane: typically English only
• Yamanashi, Nagano: English + Chinese, sometimes Vietnamese
• Okinawa: English + Korean (English major from US military presence)

If your target language isn't supported in your prefecture, your options:

1. Travel to the nearest major prefecture (typically 1-3 hours by train) for the 学科試験
2. Take the test in English (if available) — many foreigners with intermediate English do this
3. Take the test in Japanese with a translation glossary (last resort)

The skill test — Japanese only, everywhere

This is the immutable rule for 2026. The 技能試験 at every 試験場 is conducted in Japanese:

• Examiner's verbal instructions ("次の交差点を右折してください") in Japanese
• Pre-drive checks performed silently or with Japanese-language commentary
• Post-test feedback in Japanese

Some prefectures permit a third-party interpreter to ride in the back seat, but this varies and isn't officially documented. Approach the 試験場 office in advance to inquire.

Practical implication: If your Japanese is below N4, the 技能試験 (for 届出校 graduates or 一発試験 candidates) will be very hard to pass. The pillar guide recommends 指定校 enrollment specifically because you skip this test.

教習所 (driving school) language support

Most of Japan's 1,200+ 教習所 teach exclusively in Japanese. A small number specialize in serving foreign students. Confirmed foreigner-friendly schools as of 2026:

Schools that have advertised English/Chinese/Vietnamese support

The following schools have publicly advertised foreign-language support via aggregator sites and their own websites. Programs and language coverage change — confirm directly with each school before enrolling.

Region	Examples (verify current status)	Languages reportedly supported
宮城県	Multiple 合宿 schools listed by aggregators	EN, CH, VN (in-house 仮免, per aggregator listings)
埼玉県	あずまえん自動車教習所	EN
茨城県	Multiple schools listed by aggregators	EN-speaking instructors, EN/CH/VN/PT textbooks (per aggregator listings)
静岡県	遠鉄自動車学校	Foreigner-specific program advertised
徳島県	わきまち自動車学校	EN, CH

Sources for listings: 合宿免許コンシェルジュ foreign-friendly schools, i-Drive recommendations. These are aggregator listings; verify current language support, instructor staffing, and program availability with the school directly before enrolling.

What "language support" actually means at 教習所

"English support" at a 教習所 can mean different things:

Level	What it includes
Full (rare)	All lectures in EN, English-speaking instructors for skill lessons, EN written tests, EN textbook
Strong (specialty schools)	EN textbook, optional EN tutoring, in-house 仮免 in EN, EN-capable instructor for some skill lessons
Basic (most schools claiming "English OK")	One staff member speaks some English, can answer basic enrollment questions; lessons still 100% Japanese
None	Japanese only, no foreign-language support

Verify before enrolling. Ask specifically: "Do you have English-speaking instructors? Can my skill lessons be in English? What language is the in-house 仮免学科試験?"

How to choose the right test language

For most foreign residents:

• Native or fluent in English: take both 仮免学科 and 本免学科 in English. Translation quality is good.
• N4-N3 Japanese, native in another language: take in your native language if available. The Japanese-to-Vietnamese/Tagalog/Portuguese translations are professional and accurate.
• N2+ Japanese: consider taking in Japanese — fewer translation oddities, faster reading. Practice with Japanese question banks.
• Below N4: take in your native language. Don't gamble on English unless you're at IELTS 6.5+/TOEFL 80+.

Practical tips for non-English/non-Chinese applicants

If you're applying in Vietnamese, Tagalog, Burmese, Nepali, etc., the practical experience is different:

• Reservation required: the test is offered weekly, not daily, in your language. Phone reservation 2-3 weeks ahead.
• Smaller test groups: you may be the only applicant in your language that day, leading to slightly different administrative pace.
• Translation supplements: some 試験場 provide Japanese-original alongside the translated test for cross-reference. Use them if a translated question seems ambiguous.
• Practice tests: harder to find online for less common languages. 教習所 may have practice books in your language; if not, work with English versions.

Finding your prefecture's exact language list

The most reliable way: visit your prefectural police website's 運転免許 page. URL pattern:

• Tokyo: keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/menkyo/...
• Osaka: police.pref.osaka.lg.jp/kotsu/menkyo/...
• Kanagawa: police.pref.kanagawa.jp/menkyo/...
• Aichi: pref.aichi.jp/police/menkyo/...
• Other prefectures: search "[prefecture] 警察 運転免許 外国語"

If you can't find the language list, call your nearest 試験場 directly — most have English-speaking staff for general inquiries.

Common myths about language at 試験場

Myth 1: "If I take the test in English, the questions are easier." No. The questions are direct translations. Difficulty is identical.

Myth 2: "Foreign-language tests have lower pass rates." Pass rates are similar across languages. The tests measure the same content. Differences come from individual preparation, not language.

Myth 3: "I can take the skill test in English if I bring an interpreter." Most prefectures don't allow this. Some permit a back-seat passenger interpreter with prior arrangement, but the examiner still gives instructions in Japanese and your interpreter translates. This is rare and unstable.

Myth 4: "The 試験場 will provide a translator." No. You provide your own preparation. The test is in your registered language but no live interpretation is offered.

Studying in your language — resources

For all 20 supported languages, the 試験場 typically provides only the test itself, not study materials. You source your own:

English

• "Rules of the Road" English booklet from JAF (Japan Automobile Federation): purchase at 教習所 or JAF office, ~¥1,000-1,500
• Online practice tests: search "Japanese driving test English practice" — multiple sites with 100+ question banks
• YouTube: hands-on driving practice videos in English from foreign instructors in Japan

Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Korean, Portuguese

• Specialty 教習所 (foreigner-friendly schools) provide translated textbooks at enrollment
• Some prefectures offer free PDF practice tests in these languages — check 自動車教習所連合会 sites
• Online communities (Filipino, Vietnamese, Brazilian Japanese expat forums) share study notes

Less common languages (Burmese, Nepali, Sinhala, Urdu, etc.)

• Resources are limited. Contact your prefecture's 国際交流協会 (international association) — many provide free study materials and tutoring
• Some 教習所 in foreigner-heavy prefectures (Tokyo, Aichi, Kanagawa) lend study materials

The practical bottom line

Language support at 試験場 学科試験 has come a long way — 20 languages at major prefectures since 2023 means most foreign residents can take the test in their native language without leaving their region. But the skill test (技能試験) remains Japanese-only nationwide, which is why 指定校 enrollment (where you skip this test) is the recommended path for most foreigners.

For 教習所 lesson language, plan ahead: most schools teach in Japanese only, but specialty schools in Miyagi, Saitama, Shizuoka, Tokushima, and Ibaraki provide English/Chinese/Vietnamese support. Verify before enrolling — "English support" can mean very different things.

For more guidance: Driving School Cost & Time, Test Routes & Pitfalls, After Conversion Fail. Or back to the pillar: Japanese Driver's License from Scratch.