Green Hybrid Cars

If you are planning to stay in Japan for more than one year and you expect to be driving at any time after your first year, you should get a Japanese driver’s license. The international driver’s license is only valid for one year. The process for converting your international driver’s license into a Japanese license is called Gaimen Kirikae.

You can fast track your application for the domestic license if you come from one of the countries where Japan has an existing agreement. This agreement allows a foreigner to forego the exam. All you will need to do instead is take a visual eye test, show proof you come from any of the countries that has an agreement, and you will be issued the local driver’s license. These countries are Austria. Korea, New Zealand, UK, Switzerland, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Canada, France, Iceland, Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Finland, Iceland, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Spain. 

If you come from a country without the agreement like the US, you have certain requirements to fulfill. These are:

• Written exam in English
• Practical exam in Japanese
• Eye test
• Proof of residence and Passport

You will need to specify the kind of car and engine you will be driving. There are separate licenses for a motorcycle, truck, automatic, and manual car. If you have two or more, each one should have its own driving license.

If you cannot prove residency requirement, you will have to settle for a beginner’s license which is similar to student’s license. The cost for converting to a Japanese driver’s license I rather expensive. The tests will cost about 2400 Yen for the written test and then another 1,750 yen for the license itself. If you are applying for a motorcycle driver’s license, you pay even more at 3300 Yen for the test alone.

Finally, it’s advisable to apply for membership to the Japan Automobile Federation or JAF which includes benefits such as but not limited to 24 hour emergency road services.

The Popular Mini Bus from Japan: The Toyota HiAce

Toyota has always been a major contender in the world of cars and vans. One of its best selling models is the HiAce which is very versatile; it’s used for so many different purposes. This makes the used Toyota HiAce Van for sale a quick sell and an extremely excellent buy if it is still in good condition. Since there are 5 generations of this van, finding a used Toyota HiAce Van for sale should not be that difficult if you know where to look.

As a mini bus, you find it very common for transporting private groups, as an office staff van, school bus, or a rental. It’s narrow but long body makes it ideal because it seats 8 to 10 persons easily and still have room for luggage at the back and on top of the van if there is a roof rack.

You might be surprised to find that the engine is found under the seat of the driver so on long trips, that seat could get pretty hot but not to the point of being uncomfortable. The HiAce has 3 kinds of engines you can choose from: 3.0 turbo diesel, 2.0 and 2.5 gas engines.

If you like to travel off road or on rough terrain, you should get the 4 wheel driver version. You could even consider yourself lucky if you find one with a sunroof, all-power everything from curtains to windows and steering. Those that come from Japan even have refrigerators like the one found on campers.

Driving this HiAce is light and easy but not something you can go racing with. It has good acceleration but not the kind of horsepower fast driver would want. The highest horsepower a HiAce Van can reach for a diesel engine is about 136 ps at 3400 rpm and 151 ps at 4800 rpm for the gas engine.