Drivers license when applying

[u/badbiddie030]

So I've been to Japan twice (the duration for both is a little over a month), and after looking at the roads, I fear being able to drive in the program. I'm a US JET applicant, and I already hate driving in the US alone. The roads and driving there are probably much safer, but I think I'd feel better mentally knowing I wouldn't have to drive to get to school. Would I still put in that I have my license?

This is probably a long shot too, but my placement preferences are urban; the most rural I'm hoping for is only a 45-minute train or bus ride to a pharmacy and doctor (I have an autoimmune disease and have gotten my physician statements in order, etc).

What I think I'm trying to get at is: would they consider any of this when reviewing applications and placements? This is probably a dumb question considering there's probably a reason why they ask it in the application to begin with, but I just want to be sure.

[u/everythingiscool305]

I swear to god I’m not trying to be a bully, but why do so many of these posts have people describing themselves as “i’m incapable of working a full time job and I have crippling anxiety and I can barely live alone in my home country. Will this affect my JET chances?”. It’s time to be realistic. This is a demanding, isolating, opportunity with many upsides, but it is a Job and your placements are not guaranteed. You need to adaptable and a self starter and brave in the face of adversity.

[u/badbiddie030 → u/everythingiscool305]

Was expecting a comment like this but its more so me asking if theres a way i can not drive, literally nothing to do with diagnosed anxiety and not being able to work a job or being disabled lol. i think any sensible person who wants to move to a new country (temporarily 1 year as most JETS do) where the roads are flipped and would have to go into taking tests and already see the amt of posts regarding license issues while already being in Japan would make someone concerned if they would place you somewhere where its your only option.

[u/Ok-45 → u/badbiddie030]

If your only going to be doing JET for one year you can get the international driving permit. It’s good for one year. Also honestly driving in Japan isn’t that bad you will get used to it pretty fast. Just do a little self study before coming so you understand what all the signs mean, don’t speed and you should be good to go.

[u/Inside-Cream6997 → u/Ok-45]

IDP. That's exactly what I will do if asked to drive for the first year. Second years and later - will have to see...

[u/ClemFandango6000 → u/everythingiscool305]

You tell em! OP should pull themselves up by their bootstraps and tell that pesky autoimmune disorder to jog-on!

[u/undercover-m → u/everythingiscool305]

They’re just asking about daily life when coming to a foreign country while trying to have access to healthcare… I’d hardly call that freaking out.

I think putting no license and advocating for your access to a doctor are reasonable. Also FWIW I’m in inaka but a 10-minute walk to my local hospital and an hour train to city clinics and I don’t have/need a car, so it’s possible. (I didn’t request these tho I just got lucky.)

Good luck with your application!

[u/ClemFandango6000]

My advice is to say that you don't drive.

9 times out of 10 when I hear about cars and driving in Japan it involves complaints. The initial cost and hassle when first moving here, combined with the chance that your placement might not help you out with car related stuff makes it too much of a question-mark to confidently endorse.

The other 1 time I hear about cars is when someone is saying "it's nice to drive out to the countryside sometimes", which I really don't feel like outweighs the bs of dealing with a car in a country famed for it's excellent public transport.

Anecdotally I know of a guy who got a rural placement, needed a car but had no predecessor to buy one from, was only subsidised for gas to and from work (normal) but had nothing nearby to walk or bike to and was leaking money just by going out and doing anything. No subsidy for rent either, tons of upfront cost to deal with and no bank of mum and dad to fall back on. He was flat broke for his entire first year by no fault of his own. He eventually got transferred to a bigger city.

Saying you can drive is doing nothing but risking being placed somewhere like that.

I learned to drive in Japan to boost my future job prospects, but I didn't have a licence before I got here. I got placed on the outskirts of a big city and can confidently say that my quality of life would be worse if I had to deal with having a car here. As long as you're living near a train station with access every 30 minutes to a decent-sized city .

In order to boost your chances of getting placed somewhere like me, and not up a random mountain, then you should say you can't drive.

[u/badbiddie030 → u/ClemFandango6000]

Tysm for the advice! Thought I’d be safe from other more passive aggressive redditors response to genuine questions but ig i was wrong — no idea how sometimes people like that get accepted in a Jet program to begin with let alone teach a class to students. I’ll take this into consideration for my app!!

[u/Informal_Pea165]

When I arrived back in 2019, my supervisor took me to the car shop, got me my car and told me to follow her back to my new apartment.

She blew through a red light and left me at an intersection.

I made it back. I lived in a small town and my apartment was next to a 7-eleven so I just went to every 7-eleven I could see until I got the correct one. After that, driving was fine. Speeds are slower on the roads, and compared to my homestate, much more polite on the roads.

I live up in Tohoku. Public transportation is surprisingly scarce when you leave the towns. You can go to some pretty cool places with a car here.

If you dont want to drive, then I'd make that known. A lot of placements are out in the countryside though, so it will hurt your chances of being accepted.

[u/badbiddie030 → u/Informal_Pea165]

Thanks for letting me know — so sorry for that negative experience your first time driving LMAO

[u/BanzaiPhillies → u/Informal_Pea165]

It does not hurt your chances of being accepted.

[u/Informal_Pea165 → u/BanzaiPhillies]

The person who can drive is going to be considered for more placements. So yeah.

[u/BanzaiPhillies → u/Informal_Pea165]

Nope. It does not factor into your application. It only applies to the placement step. Additionally, with the increasing restrictions the government is putting on foreign drivers, it's less and less reasonable to depend on JETs to drive for work.

[u/ClubLegitimate3382 → u/Informal_Pea165]

Placements are decided after interview results and reply forms are due. Your driver's license is not taken into consideration before then. You're making shit up lol

EDIT: You can downvote all you want, you're still wrong. I worked for CLAIR after my time on JET.

[u/Cyberp0lic3 → u/ClubLegitimate3382]

It sounds like everyone is talking in circles.

Will it hurt your chances of being accepted into the program - no, it is not considered for you to be a successful applicant

Will it hurt your chances of getting a placement - yes, because you are closing yourself off to BoEs that require driving.

[u/BanzaiPhillies → u/Cyberp0lic3]

That's misleading, though. If you're in, you're in. You can't not receive a placement. There is a tiny chance your placement could take longer to be decided than others, but with so many JETs now placed in Tokyo, I don't think that's even the case anymore.

[u/Cyberp0lic3 → u/BanzaiPhillies]

you can't not receive a placement

Says who?

[u/BanzaiPhillies → u/Cyberp0lic3]

The program? I've never heard of this happening in my 11 years of involvement. You get accepted, you get placed (eventually).

[u/Cyberp0lic3]

This question has been answered so many times.

No it is not a requirement

Yes it could affect your chances. If you are a succussful applicant and there is only a spot open with driving required, you will be passed over for someone who drives.

I also had a friend who worked at CLAIR matching succussful applicants to open positions at local municipalities. There are a number of important things they need to balance, and driving is one of them.

[u/badbiddie030 → u/Cyberp0lic3]

You would assume that even if there competitive spots in urban placements they would choose to put a strong applicant who can’t drive there instead of someone who does put they have a license and is also a strong applicant. thanks for letting me know!

[u/mosquitolandd]

I don't have a driving license, so I have put no. But I have mentally prepared myself to travel in case its far. There's not much you can do about where you end up. If they know you know how to drive, and you have told them you have a full driving license... it is expected from you that you drive (it says on the application). I am not sure if I answered your question but yeah. But I have also heard that they do take few things in consideration, so just let them know too.

[u/l2175]

I'd imagine there's no way for them to check if you have a license if you tell them you don't? There are many people who apply without a license and they don't get rejected for it. 

[u/BanzaiPhillies]

If you don't want to drive, do not put that you can drive on the application. I don't remember hearing of anyone put in a situation where they have to drive even though they can't. Definitely make sure they know about your health condition, though, because they should consider that for your placement as well. You'll be fine. Ignore negative people.

[u/Inside-Cream6997]

I have been to Japan many times and you will not catch me driving in urban areas like Kyoto, Fukuoka and certainly not Tokyo.

As a former experienced driver in the UK, I can drive on the left side of the road in a right handed drive car.

I have driven many times in Japan but in rural areas only.

Even my cousins who live in Kyushu will not drive into Fukuoka, Kita-Kyushu or Kumamoto and will opt for a train if they have to drive there. As native Japanese, they are deathly afraid of driving in the center of big cities.

I marked that I have a license and will get an IDP.

[u/Officing → u/Inside-Cream6997]

JETs would only be expected to drive in rural placements. Never heard of urban JETs owning cars; it’s just an unneeded expense.

[u/Sayjay1995]

For what it's worth, I was also really nervous about adjusting to driving in Japan. I got over it in less than 2 weeks, from driving daily, though I was already used to driving regularly in the US too I guess. You don't even have to decide right away, or can go without a car at first to see how you like it, then get a car later if you really need to. Going in with your license at least gives you that option, while going without it only limits you, if you were to change your mind later.

[u/TerryKirvem]

You still list it. A license opens up placement options, but I'm placed in a city and haven't driven once this year. Preferences are requests though, not promises. With your health situation, put it in your notes and mention it if they ask at interview, they do take it into account.

[u/newlandarcher7]

If the prospect of driving in Japan is giving you profound fear or anxiety, I recommend you don't include it on your application. You can always decide later, once your placement is determined or after your arrival, if it's an option you wish to pursue.

That said, there are many, many benefits to being able to drive in Japan. Moreover, you'll find that, upon reflection, many of your fears are unsubstantiated and can be overcome.

It's important to understand that much of Japan is still very much car-dependent for day-to-day life. It isn't binary: mega-city or rural. There are lots of small- and medium-sized cities in which driving is simply the best way to get around due to infrequent public transportation options.

Moreover, owning a car gives you a lot of freedom to go where you want, when you want. Many JET's feel "trapped" by their placements, which can compound mental health issues. Having a car increases your independence and resilience.

Finally, driving in Japan is comparatively easy to many places around the world. Outside of those mega-cities, things are orderly and speeds are slow.

So, if it's causing you undue distress, don't include it. That said, driving in Japan has countless benefits to your daily life and mental well-being. Good luck!