Driving
Depending on your home country, you will either have to take a driving test to transfer your license after a year, or simply get your license translated. For more on which of those you are and some information provided by the Kochi PA, please go here. Otherwise, look below for more information about the driving test.
The written test isn't so hard, but you should still study for it. There is a handbook that you can get on driving rules in Japan, but I didn't use that. If you can understand some Japanese, you may want to skim the Japanese versions of the English questions which will both be printed on the test. The reason for that is that sometimes the English translation is unclear.
The Practical (Driving) Test
The driving test is where it gets tough and where most people fail once, twice, or even three times. If you do something which results in an automatic fail, they will not let you continue the test. If you miss part of the course, you are allowed to go back and do it again, but you must be sure to stay within the time limits.
This is a blog/forum posted by another person who took the Japanese driver's test in Kochi (about 10 years ago).
This is a blog post made by a local JET in Reihoku block. She passed the test on her first try and outlines how you can too.
"I'm really glad I took the driving course at the driving school by the license center because there were some things I would have failed on if I hadn't taken it (or at least, it's likely that I would have failed). Those things are (1) making it obvious that I was checking for cars - which still ended up being barely good enough, (2) pumping my breaks properly, and (3) procedures for turning - there's an order in which you should do things, and a timing to it all as well. Although I only did a one hour lesson, it was worth the investment in my eyes."
- Jess (Gohoku ALT)
This website is entirely in Japanese, but can be useful for people who can read Japanese.
For those of you who are from countries where the test is not necessary, this is how you will transfer your foreign license into a Japanese one.
Other countries besides the ones listed are also available for this option. Please check with your own embassy.
This step is necessary for both processes - taking the test or simply transferring your license.