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Converting a Foreign License in Hokkaido: 6 Test Centers

Updated: 2026-10

In Hokkaido, you can only apply for foreign license conversion (gaimen kirikae, 外免切替) at the driver's license test center (運転免許試験場) that covers your home address. There are six: Sapporo, Hakodate, Asahikawa, Kushiro, Obihiro and Kitami — all take bookings by phone only and in Japanese only. Hokkaido police say demand is so high that it takes several months from booking to review. Everything below comes from the Hokkaido Prefectural Police (北海道警察) official pages, checked October 2026.

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Apply at the test center for your address (6 centers)

The Hokkaido police page states that you can only apply at the test center with jurisdiction over your address. If you live in the Sapporo area (札幌方面) that is the Sapporo center; elsewhere it is your area's center. In the Kushiro area, residents covered by the Kushiro, Akkeshi, Teshikaga, Nemuro and Nakashibetsu police stations go to Kushiro, and those covered by Ikeda, Honbetsu, Obihiro, Shintoku and Hiroo stations go to Obihiro.

Phone numbers and hours differ by center. None take bookings on weekends, national holidays, substitute holidays or over New Year (Dec 29–Jan 3).

Test center	Address	Booking line (weekdays)
Sapporo (札幌)	札幌市手稲区曙5条4丁目1-1	011-695-5515 (8:45–17:00)
Hakodate (函館)	函館市石川町149番地の23	Dedicated line 0138-46-3411 (staff 11:00–11:50, 15:00–16:30)
Asahikawa (旭川)	旭川市近文町17丁目2699番地の5	Dedicated line 0166-54-0210 (8:45–16:30)
Kushiro (釧路)	釧路市大楽毛北1丁目15番8号	0154-57-5913 (8:45–16:30)
Obihiro (帯広)	帯広市西19条北2丁目1	0155-33-2470 (8:45–16:30)
Kitami (北見)	北見市大正141番地の1	0157-36-7702 (8:45–16:30)

How to book at the Sapporo test center

Sapporo takes bookings by phone only: call 011-695-5515, Monday to Friday 8:45–17:00. The line is busy, so expect to wait. There is no foreign-language support — if you don't speak Japanese, ask someone who can interpret.

You can't fix a date until every required document is ready. If you call before that, you'll be given a confirmation number (確認番号); once everything is ready, call back with your confirmation number and name, say that all documents are ready, and arrange the date. Asahikawa likewise won't take a booking until all documents are ready.

In Hakodate, you first submit your documents for checking (it takes a few days), then phone to book the knowledge and driving tests. You can't take two tests in one day, and same-day bookings aren't possible.

Expect three visits (Sapporo example)

According to Sapporo's guide, applicants from countries that require both tests visit at least three times. Times are estimates and can run longer. No center mails out licenses.

Countries/regions exempt from both tests: 1st visit document review → 2nd visit license issuing
Indiana (USA), exempt from the driving test only: 1st visit document review → 2nd visit knowledge test
Kushiro and Obihiro: 1st visit document review and interview (results later), 2nd visit knowledge and driving tests
For the driving-test course from October 1, 2025, Sapporo asks you to contact the test center

Visit	What happens	Approx. time
1st	Document review (書類審査); if incomplete, re-review on another day	About 3 hours
2nd	Knowledge test (知識確認); if failed, retake on another day	About 2 hours
3rd	Driving test (技能確認); if failed, retake on another day	About 3 hours
After passing	License issuing (may not be same day)	About half a day

Documents (Sapporo's list) and differences between centers

Extra documents depend on the issuing country, so every center asks you to check in advance.

Valid foreign driver's license (bring old licenses too — they check your license history)
Photo 3.0 × 2.4 cm taken within 6 months: 1 for Sapporo and Asahikawa, 2 for Kushiro and Kitami
Residence record (住民票) showing period of stay, nationality and status of residence. Showing only your residence card (在留カード) is not enough (but bring it for ID)
Japanese translation of the license from an approved issuer (JAF, the issuing country's embassy or consulate, etc.)
Passport (including old ones), to confirm you stayed in the issuing country for a total of 3+ months after getting the license, per license class. Without stamps, other proof is needed
Any Japanese license you held before (including expired ones)
Hakodate also asks for color copies of the passport's entry/exit stamps, visa and photo page, a copy of both sides of the residence card, and a color copy of both sides of the foreign license

Knowledge test, languages and fees

The knowledge test is the same nationwide: since October 1, 2025 it has 50 true/false questions in 30 minutes, and you pass with 45 or more (90%). The Hokkaido police conversion pages don't list the languages available for the knowledge test (checked October 2026), so ask about your language when you phone to book.

Counters at every center operate in Japanese only. You can't convert to a second-class license (第二種免許, needed to drive passengers, e.g. taxis). If your Japanese license was ever revoked or refused, you must take the revocation course (取消処分者講習) before applying.

Fees in Sapporo's and Kitami's guides for a standard license (普通免許): test fee ¥2,500 + issuing fee ¥2,350. The Kushiro-area page shows a different example amount, so Kushiro/Obihiro residents should confirm when booking. The Asahikawa center has a photo corner (4 photos for ¥800).

Use the months of waiting to prepare

It takes several months from booking to review, and failing the knowledge test means another visit. menkyopass's mock tests use the same 50-question, 30-minute format as the real test, in Vietnamese, English, Chinese and Japanese.

FAQ

Q. I live in Asahikawa. Can I apply in Sapporo?

A. No. Hokkaido police say you can only apply at the test center covering your address. Asahikawa-area residents use the Asahikawa test center (0166-54-0210).

Q. Can I book in English?

A. No center offers foreign-language support. If you don't speak Japanese, ask an interpreter to call and accompany you.

Q. Can I book before my documents are ready?

A. Not in Sapporo or Asahikawa. In Sapporo you get a confirmation number first and set the date once everything is ready.

Q. Will I get my license the same day?

A. Sapporo, Asahikawa and Kushiro say it may not be issued the same day depending on processing time. Licenses are not mailed.