Gaimen50-question practice tests in the real exam formatJapan License Conversion Test Languages: Which Are Available?
Updated: 2026-10
In Tokyo, the knowledge test (知識確認: 50 true/false questions, 30 minutes) for converting a foreign license can be taken in 20 foreign languages, including English. Kanagawa lists 21 languages because it counts Japanese. Available languages and days still vary by prefecture, and the paperwork and booking are done in Japanese, so some prefectures require you to bring an interpreter.
The 20 foreign languages offered (Tokyo example)
Tokyo's Metropolitan Police (警視庁) offers the conversion knowledge test in the following 20 languages (checked on its page updated May 11, 2026). These are the same 20 languages used for the regular written license exams.
In Tokyo, the conversion knowledge test is held at the Fuchu (府中) and Samezu (鮫洲) license centers on weekdays (closed weekends, public holidays and December 29–January 3). Since October 2025 it runs only once a day, in the afternoon.
- English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tagalog, Indonesian, Nepali, Burmese
- Thai, Khmer, Mongolian, Sinhala, Urdu, Hindi, Persian, Arabic
- Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian
How prefectures differ
The test format — 50 text-based questions, 30 minutes, 45 or more correct to pass — is set nationally by the National Police Agency's guidelines. Languages and schedules, however, are decided by each prefecture. The difference between 20 and 21 languages is just whether Japanese is counted; the list of foreign languages is almost identical.
Before booking, check your prefectural police website to see on which days your language is available.
| Prefecture | What is published | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (警視庁) | 20 foreign languages; Fuchu and Samezu, weekdays, one afternoon session | Tokyo police page (updated May 2026) |
| Kanagawa | 21 languages including Japanese | Kanagawa police page |
| Kyoto | 20 foreign languages supported | Kyoto police PDF |
| Aichi | Available languages depend on the day of the week | Aichi police PDF (as of Oct 27, 2025) |
Everything else is in Japanese: bring an interpreter
Even if you take the test in English, the application, document check and phone booking happen in Japanese. Kanagawa police ask applicants who have difficulty communicating in Japanese to bring a Japanese interpreter (通訳人). Aichi police state that anyone who cannot speak or understand Japanese must bring one. Tokyo police may also ask you to bring an interpreter.
There are moments when an interpreter cannot help, though. The knowledge test is held in a room only test takers may enter (National Police Agency guidelines), so no one can translate for you during the test. Interpreters also may not ride in the car during the practical driving test (技能確認) (Wakayama police).
Phone bookings are generally handled in Japanese too — Kanagawa police, for example, state that phone bookings are in Japanese. If you are not confident in Japanese, get help from a Japanese speaker from the booking stage.
Learn the key Japanese traffic terms anyway
Road signs and markings in Japan are written in Japanese. For example, at a 止まれ (stop) sign you must come to a full stop right before the stop line — slowing down is a violation. The practical test is driven on a course that recreates Japanese roads, so being able to read common words helps.
Also, in translated questions, two Japanese terms with different legal meanings can look similar in English. The words below are exactly where questions are won or lost.
| Japanese | Meaning | Common trap |
|---|---|---|
| 止まれ / 一時停止 | Full stop right before the stop line | Slowing down is not enough |
| 徐行 (jokō) | Proceed slowly enough to stop immediately | 10 km/h is only a guide, not a legal number |
| 追越し / 追抜き | Overtake by changing course / pass without changing course | Within 30 m before a crosswalk, both are banned |
| 駐車 / 停車 | Parking / brief stopping | No-parking and no-stopping signs are different |
| 優先道路 | Priority road (sign, or center line continues through the intersection) | Overrides the yield-to-the-left rule |
| 踏切 | Railway crossing | As a rule, stop right before it |
| 左折可 | Left turn permitted even on red or yellow | Without this plate, no turning on red |
Choosing your test language
Pick the language you understand best. If a translation is unclear, comparing it with another language version during practice can make the meaning clearer. Studying the key terms in both your language and Japanese also helps you read signs and follow staff instructions.
menkyopass mock exams are available in English in the real format — 50 questions in 30 minutes — with the Japanese terms alongside.
FAQ
Q. Can I take the license conversion knowledge test in English?
A. Yes in Tokyo and Kanagawa, for example. Languages, days and centers vary in other prefectures, so check with your prefectural police.
Q. Is the test different depending on the language?
A. No. The format is national: 50 text-based questions, 30 minutes, 45 or more correct to pass (National Police Agency guidelines).
Q. Can my interpreter translate during the test?
A. No. The test is held in a room only test takers may enter. Interpreters can help with the application and document check.
Q. What if my native language isn't offered?
A. You take the test in another listed language you understand, such as English, or in Japanese. Language lists differ by prefecture, so confirm in advance.
Related guides
- Japan License Conversion Process: 6 Steps from Booking to License
- License Conversion Knowledge Test Day in Japan: What to Expect
- How to Study for Japan's License Conversion Knowledge Test
- Japan Traffic Rules That Trip Up Foreign Drivers: 6 Key Rules
- Converting a Foreign License in Tokyo: Fuchu, Samezu, Koto Guide