A few facts about getting a first time license in Japan:
Most people go to large, fully licensed schools that have massive practice courses, dozens of vehicles of all types and heaps of staff.
This doesn't come cheaply, with a full car driving course costing about 300,000 Yen (1,500 quid) and a bike course costing about 200,000 Yen (1,000 quid).
A first-time driver at one of these schools has to take over 25 lectures in addition to the 20 or so practical lessons.
It is possible to go to a smaller, unaccredited school without the lectures, but apparently the pass rate is well under 20% with most people taking the test over five times.
It's all in Japanese, of course.
On the plus side, the quality of instruction I've received so far has been excellent, with a 400cc Honda bike kitted out with a few dozen different coloured lights (so the instructor can see exactly what I'm doing when) and unfailingly polite and friendly service. Which you would expect for a month's wages, but hey.
Anecdote: My Japanese is far from perfect, so yesterday when I first tried proceeding slowly in low gear by slowly releasing the clutch, the instructor walking backwards in front of the bike told me to 握って 'ni-gi-tte' (a verb I didn't know) it sounded to me like 逃げて 'ni-ge-te' (run away). I released the clutch to go faster, when he wanted me to grip the clutch and thereby slow down! He had to back-pedal pretty fast =P
Anyway, bikes are unexpectedly fun, and I'm looking forward to being licensed!
Most people go to large, fully licensed schools that have massive practice courses, dozens of vehicles of all types and heaps of staff.
This doesn't come cheaply, with a full car driving course costing about 300,000 Yen (1,500 quid) and a bike course costing about 200,000 Yen (1,000 quid).
A first-time driver at one of these schools has to take over 25 lectures in addition to the 20 or so practical lessons.
It is possible to go to a smaller, unaccredited school without the lectures, but apparently the pass rate is well under 20% with most people taking the test over five times.
It's all in Japanese, of course.
On the plus side, the quality of instruction I've received so far has been excellent, with a 400cc Honda bike kitted out with a few dozen different coloured lights (so the instructor can see exactly what I'm doing when) and unfailingly polite and friendly service. Which you would expect for a month's wages, but hey.
Anecdote: My Japanese is far from perfect, so yesterday when I first tried proceeding slowly in low gear by slowly releasing the clutch, the instructor walking backwards in front of the bike told me to 握って 'ni-gi-tte' (a verb I didn't know) it sounded to me like 逃げて 'ni-ge-te' (run away). I released the clutch to go faster, when he wanted me to grip the clutch and thereby slow down! He had to back-pedal pretty fast =P
Anyway, bikes are unexpectedly fun, and I'm looking forward to being licensed!
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