Driver's license renewal counters in Kumamoto Prefecture
- The Kumamoto Prefectural Driver's License Center in Kikuyo Town accepts renewals on Sundays, but closes Fridays, Saturdays and holidays.
- The center provides same-day license issuance, while police stations schedule the lecture and pickup about 4 weeks later.
- Renewal fees are ¥2,850 for a driver's license card and ¥2,100 for a My Number license, plus ¥500 for the Excellent lecture.
This page is a general guide based on the Kumamoto Prefectural Police pages. For your own case, ask the Driver’s License Division (096-233-0110).
In Kumamoto Prefecture, you can renew a Japanese driver’s license on Sundays at the Kumamoto Prefectural Driver’s License Center in Kikuyo Town. It does not accept renewals on Fridays, Saturdays, national holidays or substitute holidays. Drivers under 70 who take the lecture need a reservation. This center is the only place where you get the new license on the same day. Police stations take applications without a reservation, but the lecture and pickup are about 4 weeks later.
In short
- Need the new license quickly: the License Center, Sunday to Thursday, reservation needed if you are under 70 and taking the lecture.
- Can make two weekday visits: the nearest police station (no reservation).
- Six police stations cannot renew: Kumamoto Chuo, Kumamoto Minami, Kumamoto Higashi, Kumamoto Kitagoshi, Ozu and Mifune.
- Fee: ¥3,350 for a license-card-only renewal with the in-person Excellent-driver (yuryo) lecture.
Checked with official pages on October 19, 2026 (Japan time).
To change only your address, see the Kumamoto section of our Kyushu page (Japanese).
Read next7 pages, swipe sideways
My Number Card Electronic Certificate Renewal in 7 Kyushu Cities: Weekend Counters and Reservations (2026)Live
Nursery Applications for April 2027 in 6 Kyushu Cities: Kurume Nov 30, Nagasaki Dec 10Live
Kumamoto City Hall and Ward Office Hours (2026): Weekdays 9:00–16:30, Weekend Counters and Convenience-Store CertificatesLive
Entrance Exams at 12 National and Public Universities in Kyushu (2027): First Stage Feb 25, Second Stage Mar 12, and ResultsLive
Common Test Sites in Kyushu: 72 Sites Used in January 2026, with Directions, and the 2027 Dates (Jan 16–17)Live
Flu Shots for Over-65s in Kyushu 2026–27: ¥1,000–¥2,200 in 11 CitiesLive
Kumamoto address registration: any ward office, 14 days, what to bring (+Kikuyo, Ozu)Live
1. Center or police station? Pickup day and reservations compared
Choose the License Center if you need the new license fast, or a police station if you can go twice on weekdays. Both accept every lecture type.
| Counter | New license | Reservation | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| License Center | Same day | Needed if under 70 and taking the lecture | Sun to Thu |
| Police station | Lecture and pickup about 4 weeks later | Not needed | Mon to Fri |
| Hikawa senior police box | Lecture and pickup about 4 weeks later | Not needed | Mon to Fri |
No counter takes renewals on Saturdays, national holidays, substitute holidays, or Dec 29 to Jan 3.
2. How much does renewal cost?
You pay a renewal fee (set by the card you receive) plus a lecture fee (set by your lecture type). A license-card-only holder taking the in-person Excellent lecture pays ¥3,350.
| Card you receive | Renewal fee |
|---|---|
| Driver’s license card only | ¥2,850 |
| My Number license (マイナ免許証) only | ¥2,100 |
| Both cards | ¥2,950 |
| Lecture type | Length | In person | Online |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent (yuryo) | 30 min | ¥500 | ¥200 |
| General (ippan) | 60 min | ¥800 | ¥200 |
| Violations / first renewal | 120 min | ¥1,400 | Not available |
With a license card only, the totals are ¥3,350 (Excellent), ¥3,650 (General) and ¥4,250 (Violations / first renewal), calculated from the tables above. People who took the elderly-driver course pay no lecture fee.
3. Kumamoto Prefectural Driver’s License Center (Kikuyo): reception hours
Reception hours are set for each lecture type, and if you miss your reserved reception time you cannot take that lecture. The hours are the same on weekdays and Sundays. Reception is on the 2nd floor.
| Lecture type | Morning | Afternoon | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent (30 min) | 8:30-10:30 | 13:00-15:00 | Yes |
| General (60 min) | 9:00-9:30 | 13:30-14:00 | Yes |
| Violations / first (120 min) | 9:00-9:30 | 13:30-14:00 | Yes |
| Elderly-driver course done | 10:00-11:00 | 14:00-15:00 | No |
| Online lecture done | 10:00-11:00 | 14:00-15:00 | No |
The Excellent lecture runs 6 times a day, and when you reserve you are given a narrower reception window, such as 8:30 to 8:50 or 9:40 to 10:00. You receive the new license on the spot after the lecture.
There is no renewal on Fridays. If your license expires on a Friday, the prefectural police ask you to finish the procedure earlier. Your photo is taken at the center, so you do not need to bring one.
The 2nd floor has a nursing room with a diaper-changing table. There is no child care, but you may bring children to the lecture. If a child disturbs the lecture, you may be asked to leave and may not be able to renew that day.
| Name | Kumamoto Prefectural Driver's License Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 2655 Oaza Karakawa, Kikuyo Town, Kikuchi District, Kumamoto Prefecture |
| Hours / Closed | Renewal: Sun–Thu Excellent 8:30–10:30, 13:00–15:00; General, Violations, First 9:00–9:30, 13:30–14:00 (Reservation required for those under 70 taking a lecture. Closed Fridays, Saturdays, holidays, December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 096-233-0110 (Kumamoto Prefectural Police, Driver's License Division) |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
4. How to reserve at the License Center (web or phone)
Reserve by the day before the day you want; same-day reservations are not possible. On the web, log in to the Police Citizen Portal (警察国民向けポータル) with the user ID and initial password printed on your renewal postcard. Change the password, then choose a date and time under “Lecture reservation” (講習予約).
The venue choices are “Driver’s License Center (for those who want a My Number license)” and “Driver’s License Center (for those who want a conventional license)”. If you want a My Number license only, or both cards, choose the My Number venue. Keep a note or screenshot of the reception time shown when the booking completes.
If you cannot book on the web, or you live in Kumamoto but have no renewal postcard, book by phone on the reservation line (096-233-0233, weekdays 9:00 to 12:00 and 13:00 to 16:00). If you moved in from another prefecture, renew before your birthday period, or renew by mail-in transfer, you cannot reserve; call the center (096-233-0110, then press 1, then 1).
No reservation is needed for people aged 70 or over, people moving in from another prefecture, people renewing early, people who took the online lecture or a specific voluntary lecture, and people taking the lecture at a police station or the Hikawa police box.
5. Renewing at a police station or the Hikawa police box
At police stations you apply without a reservation, and the lecture and new license are about 4 weeks later. Reception is Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 11:30 and 13:00 to 16:00 (the Hikawa senior police box closes at 15:00), the same for all lecture types. If you took the online lecture, it is 9:00 to 11:00 and 13:00 to 15:00 (Hikawa until 14:00).
Six police stations do not accept renewals: Kumamoto Chuo, Kumamoto Minami, Kumamoto Higashi, Kumamoto Kitagoshi, Ozu and Mifune. If you apply at a police station, bring 1 photo.
After the earthquake in July 2026, Yatsushiro Police Station, Uki Police Station and the Hikawa senior police box had suspended renewals. They resumed on October 1, 2026. The lecture venue is now the Hikawa police box for Yatsushiro, and Misato Town General Gymnasium for Uki, and fewer people can attend than before (Kumamoto Prefectural Police, Japanese).
If you lived in one of the 21 municipalities in the prefecture covered by the Disaster Relief Act on July 28, 2026, a license expiring on or after July 28 is valid until January 27, 2027 (Kumamoto Prefectural Police, Japanese).
↑ Back to the comparison table
6. What to bring
You can renew without the renewal postcard, but the center’s reservation needs the ID and password printed on it.
| Item | Who needs it |
|---|---|
| Driver’s license | Everyone |
| Renewal postcard | If you received it (renewal is possible without it) |
| Fee | Everyone (renewal fee plus lecture fee) |
| 1 photo | Applying at a police station or the Hikawa police box |
| My Number Card | If you want a My Number license; the PIN for the signature certificate is also needed |
| Elderly-driver course certificate, etc. | Aged 70 or over |
If you are 75 or over, also bring the cognitive test result notice; people subject to the driving skill test bring its result certificate. If you change your address at the same time, bring a document showing the new address, such as a resident record, My Number Card, or postmarked mail (copies not accepted).
You can renew from 1 month before to 1 month after your birthday. If the expiry date falls on a weekend, holiday or New Year break, you can renew until the next weekday. After the expiry date you cannot renew and must apply for a new license. This page does not say whether staff speak English or whether forms are in English.
Common questions
Can I renew on a Sunday in Kumamoto?
Yes, at the License Center in Kikuyo. If you are under 70 and taking the lecture, reserve by the day before.
Can I renew on a Friday?
No. The center accepts renewals Sunday to Thursday.
Can I renew at a police station in Kumamoto City?
No. Kumamoto Chuo, Minami, Higashi and Kitagoshi cannot, and neither can Ozu or Mifune.
When do I get the license at a police station?
About 4 weeks after applying, on the day of the lecture. To get it the same day, renew at the License Center.
Who do I contact?
The Kumamoto Prefectural Police Driver’s License Division (096-233-0110). To reserve the center’s lecture by phone, call the reservation line (096-233-0233); other numbers cannot take reservations.
Sources
8 pages we checked
- Kumamoto Prefectural Police: Guide to license renewal
- Kumamoto Prefectural Police: Service days and hours for license procedures
- Kumamoto Prefectural Police: Reception and lecture times for renewal lectures
- Kumamoto Prefectural Police: Web reservation for renewal lectures
- Kumamoto Prefectural Police: For visitors with small children at the License Center
- Kumamoto Prefectural Police: License procedures after the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake
- Kumamoto Prefectural Police: Extension of expiry dates for people affected by the 2026 Kumamoto earthquake
- Japanese version of this page (日本語版)
Checked with official pages on October 19, 2026 (Japan time).
