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Japan License Conversion: Are There Past Knowledge Test Papers?

Updated: 2026-10

There are no official past papers for the knowledge test (知識確認) in Japan's foreign license conversion – none are published on the National Police Agency or Tokyo Metropolitan Police websites (checked October 2026). The test covers Japan's traffic rules in general, officially summarized in the National Public Safety Commission's "Rules of Road Traffic" (交通の方法に関する教則). Many "past questions" online still use the old format or pre-amendment rules, so the reliable approach is to practice up-to-date questions based on the 教則, in the real 50-question, 30-minute format.

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No official past papers are published

Knowledge test questions are not published as past papers on the websites of the National Police Agency or any prefectural police. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police (警視庁) publishes the available languages and schedule, but not the questions.

The NPA guidelines describe the knowledge test as "an important procedure to confirm that the applicant has the knowledge needed to drive safely in Japan" and instruct test centers to restrict smartphones, prevent photography and recording, and check belongings. Candidates must be told that any cheating voids their result. Since questions cannot be taken out or photographed, don't count on "the real exam questions" circulating.

The scope: the Rules of Road Traffic (教則)

Under the guidelines, the knowledge test asks about "the methods of road traffic prescribed by law and other knowledge necessary for driving": 50 text-based questions within 30 minutes, with 45 correct needed to pass.

The official plain-language summary of that scope is the "Rules of Road Traffic" (交通の方法に関する教則), which you can read in full on the NPA website. It keeps being amended: on April 1, 2026 a rule on passing cyclists traveling in the same direction was added, and on September 1, 2026 the 30 km/h statutory limit for residential roads. Practicing with questions based on the latest 教則 is more reliable than hunting for past papers.

Be careful with online "past questions"

Some websites post questions labeled "license conversion past papers" or "questions that actually came up". Keep these points in mind.

Until September 2025 the knowledge test was 10 illustrated questions (70% to pass) – a completely different format from today's 50 text questions with a 90% pass mark
Some questions still use numbers from before legal amendments (see the table below)
Even if a site says "real exam questions", there is no official way to verify it
Answers without explanations won't tell you why something is false, so you'll miss the same rule when it is worded differently

Rules where old information will mislead you

These rules have changed. Memorizing answers from old books or websites will make you choose the opposite answer in the exam.

Item	Old information	Current rule
Knowledge test format	10 illustrated questions, 70% to pass	50 text questions, 30 minutes, 45 correct to pass (from Oct 1, 2025)
Default limit on ordinary roads without a center line	60 km/h	30 km/h (from Sept 1, 2026)
Large trucks on national expressways	80 km/h	90 km/h (from April 2024)
Kei cars (軽自動車) on national expressways	80 km/h	100 km/h
Load length and width	Up to 1.1× the vehicle	Up to 1.2× the vehicle (2022 amendment)
Passing a cyclist going the same way on their right	No specific rule	Slow to a safe speed if you can't leave enough space (from April 1, 2026)

What to do instead of past papers

With no past papers, there are only two things to do: learn the scope accurately, and get used to the real format.

First, learn the 教則 topic by topic. Numbers (5 m, 10 m, 30 m…), exceptions ("however…") and look-alike terms (徐行 slow down vs. 一時停止 full stop) are what true/false questions target. Second, practice full 50-question, 30-minute runs. You have only 36 seconds per question on average, so even with enough knowledge you may not finish if you haven't practiced the timing.

Read the key points of the 教則 by topic (signs, signals, right of way, parking, overtaking, speed, expressways, driver duties, accidents)
Put the numbers into one table and learn them until you can write them from memory
Take 50-question, 30-minute mock exams; for each mistake, explain in one sentence why it is false
Book the test once you consistently score 45 or more

Practice up-to-date questions in your language

The knowledge test is offered in many languages (the Tokyo Metropolitan Police offers 20, including English). If you will test in English, practicing in English gets you used to the wording.

menkyopass questions are written from the 教則 and the law and include the latest changes such as the 30 km/h residential limit. You can take 50-question, 30-minute mock exams in English, with an explanation for every question. They are not the actual exam questions, but they match its scope and format. Your first mock exam and three topics are free.

FAQ

Q. Are there official past papers for the knowledge test?

A. No. The NPA and Tokyo Metropolitan Police websites do not publish past questions (checked October 2026). The scope is the "Rules of Road Traffic" (交通の方法に関する教則).

Q. Can I pass using only online past questions?

A. Not recommended. Some use the old format or outdated numbers, and memorized answers fail when the wording changes. Understanding the latest 教則 is what counts.

Q. Can I use Japanese driving-school question books?

A. They are based on the same 教則, so they can help. But they are in Japanese and use a different format from the knowledge test. Also check they are not from before recent amendments.

Q. Can I photograph or note down questions and take them home?

A. No. The NPA guidelines require measures against photography and recording, and any cheating voids your knowledge test result.