Driver's license renewal in Tokyo
- The 12 designated police stations renew licenses for excellent drivers and people who have finished the elderly lecture.
- The Fuchu, Samezu, and Koto test centers are open for renewals on Sundays.
- Drivers under 70 with a renewal postcard must book in advance, while renewal centers and police stations open on weekdays.
In Tokyo, 12 designated police stations (Denenchofu, Setagaya, Seijo, Itabashi, Shakujii, Shitaya, Takenotsuka, Honjo, Tachikawa, Ome, Takao and Machida) renew a driver’s license only for excellent drivers and people who have finished the elderly lecture; the 5 island police stations take any lecture class. General drivers renew at the Fuchu, Samezu or Koto test center or the Kanda renewal center, violators and first-time renewals only at the three test centers, and only the test centers open on Sundays. If you are under 70 and received the renewal postcard, you must book first (Metropolitan Police Department: places to renew (Japanese)).
In short
- Sundays: only the Fuchu, Samezu and Koto test centers, from 8:00. The Kanda and Shinjuku renewal centers and police stations are weekdays only.
- Your lecture class (講習区分, koshu kubun), printed on the renewal postcard, decides where you can go. Test centers take every class.
- Under 70 with a postcard: book on the police reservation site or by phone. 70 and over, or at an island station: no booking.
- Cost: a renewal fee of ¥2,100 to ¥2,950 plus a lecture fee of ¥200 to ¥1,400.
- Foreign residents also show a residence card or a similar document.
Checked with official pages on October 22, 2026.
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Where to renew a Tokyo driver’s license: test centers, renewal centers and police stations
Only the Fuchu, Samezu and Koto test centers renew on Sundays; the Kanda and Shinjuku renewal centers and the designated police stations are weekdays only. A test center accepts every lecture class.
| Place | Sunday | Lecture classes |
|---|---|---|
| Samezu | Open | All |
| Koto | Open | All |
| Fuchu | Open | All |
| Kanda | Closed | Excellent, general, elderly |
| Shinjuku | Closed | Excellent, elderly |
| Police stations | Closed | Excellent, elderly |
Samezu, Koto and Fuchu are test centers; Kanda and Shinjuku are renewal centers. “Elderly” means people who finished the elderly lecture (高齢者講習). Samezu is about 8 minutes on foot from Keikyu Samezu Station, Koto about 5 minutes from Toyocho, Fuchu about 15 minutes by bus from Tamareien, Kanda about 5 minutes on foot from Otemachi, and Shinjuku about 3 minutes from Tochomae.
Your lecture class decides where you can renew
The lecture classes are excellent driver (優良, yuryo, 30 minutes), general driver (一般, ippan, 1 hour), violator and first-time renewal (違反・初回, 2 hours), and people who finished the elderly lecture.
| Lecture class | Test centers | Renewal centers | Police stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent (30 min) | Yes | Kanda, Shinjuku | Yes |
| General (1 hour) | Yes | Kanda only | No |
| Violator, first‑time (2 hours) | Yes | No | No |
| Elderly lecture done | Yes | Kanda, Shinjuku | Yes |
The Shinjuku renewal center has not given the general driver lecture since January 12, 2021. General drivers go to Kanda or a test center.
If a license condition other than glasses may change, you can renew only at a test center, whatever your class. This applies, for example, to people with a disability after an accident or illness, or people who now need a hearing aid; renewal centers and police stations cannot handle it.
The island police stations (Oshima, Niijima, Miyakejima, Hachijojima and Ogasawara) renew every class. Ask the station for details.
Opening hours, and renewing on Sunday
Reception closes earlier for the classes with longer lectures.
| Lecture class | Weekdays | Sunday |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 8:30–16:00 | 8:00–16:00 |
| General | 8:30–15:00 | 8:00–15:00 |
| Violator, first‑time | 8:30–14:00 | 8:00–14:00 |
These are the test centers’ reception hours. The renewal centers take the excellent class until 16:00 on weekdays, and Kanda also takes the general class until 15:00; they do not handle the violator and first‑time classes.
On Sundays the test centers pause reception from 11:30 to 13:00 for the excellent class, and from 11:00 to 13:00 for the general, violator and first-time classes. The designated police stations take renewals on weekdays from 8:30 to 16:30, except 11:30 to 13:00. Every place is closed on Saturdays, national holidays and from December 29 to January 3 (Metropolitan Police Department: renewal procedures, updated June 10, 2026 (Japanese)).
You can renew from one month before your birthday to one month after it. If the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, holiday or the year-end closure, you can renew until the next weekday.
Booking a renewal in Tokyo
If you are under 70 and received a renewal postcard, book on the Metropolitan Police Department’s reservation site (警視庁運転免許手続予約サイト) before you go. You can also book on the automated voice line, 050-1808-5070 (call charges apply). You enter the reservation ID printed on the postcard (Metropolitan Police Department: full reservation system for renewal (Japanese)).
People aged 70 or older (who take the elderly lecture) and people renewing at an island police station do not book. Go straight to the place you choose.
If you have no postcard (it did not arrive, you lost it, or you have one from another prefecture), you cannot book. Go to a place that takes your class within your renewal period. The renewal centers and police stations have fewer seats, so the police ask you to use a test center when possible.
The site’s availability calendar (空き状況カレンダー) shows free slots at each place. The police do not reissue postcards. If you do not know your class, take your license to a police box or police station on a weekday between 8:30 and 16:30 and they can check it on the spot.
The booked time is when you arrive, not when the lecture starts. One person can hold one booking; to change it, cancel and book again. Booking alone does not renew your license, and on crowded days or when the day’s lecture is full, you may be turned away.
Renewal fee in Tokyo
You pay a renewal fee plus a lecture fee. The renewal fee depends on the card you hold after renewal. A My Number license (マイナ免許証) is a My Number card that also holds your license (Metropolitan Police Department: fees with the My Number license, updated January 19, 2026 (Japanese)).
| Card after renewal | Renewal fee |
|---|---|
| License card only | ¥2,850 |
| My Number license only | ¥2,100 |
| Both cards | ¥2,950 |
| Lecture class | At the venue | Online |
|---|---|---|
| Excellent | ¥500 | ¥200 |
| General | ¥800 | ¥200 |
| Violator, first‑time | ¥1,400 | Not offered |
An excellent driver who keeps only the license card and attends the lecture at the venue pays ¥3,350 in total. The police give two more examples: ¥2,300 for an excellent driver with a My Number license only who takes the online lecture, and ¥3,750 for a general driver who ends with both cards and attends at the venue. The online lecture is for people under 70 with a My Number license whose class is excellent or general. You first link the My Number license to Mynaportal by submitting its signature certificate to the police. The lecture videos can be watched in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Burmese and Nepali as well as Japanese, and you still book the counter and take the eye test at a renewal venue (Metropolitan Police Department: online renewal lecture, Japanese).
People aged 70 or older have already taken the elderly lecture, so at renewal they pay only the renewal fee.
What to bring to a Tokyo license renewal
Everyone brings their driver’s license or My Number license (both, if you hold both), the QR code or reception number from your booking, and the renewal postcard if you have it. Bring the rest only if it applies to you.
| Item | Who needs it |
|---|---|
| My Number card | People who want to merge it with the license |
| Card PIN | People who merge and want the online lecture and similar services (signature certificate PIN) |
| Glasses, hearing aids | People who use them (the ones you use) |
| Proof of elderly lecture | People 70 or older on the last day of the renewal period |
| Your own photo | People who want to bring one (test centers only) |
Foreign residents also show a residence card (在留カード), a special permanent resident certificate, a My Number license, or a copy of the residence record (住民票の写し) with the required items. People not covered by the Basic Resident Register Act show an identity document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or similar, plus an official document with their address. The test centers say foreign nationals may be asked to confirm their status of residence.
If your address or name has changed, bring the papers for that change too; see changing your address on a Tokyo driver’s license. My Number license holders change the address on the My Number card at their city or ward office first.
Renewal is for a Japanese license. Converting a foreign license (外国免許の切替, gaimen kirikae) is a separate procedure. The police page says the Fuchu and Samezu test centers accept every foreign license, while Koto accepts only licenses from the 29 countries and regions that are exempt from the knowledge and skills checks. Everyone else takes the checks. The conversion itself is booked online through the police’s online procedure site (some applicants, such as diplomats’ families and Specified Skilled Worker applicants, book by phone with a test center). Reception is on weekdays, 8:30 to 15:00 except 11:00 to 13:00. The rules changed on October 1, 2025 (Metropolitan Police Department: converting a foreign license, Japanese).
Tokyo’s three driver’s license test centers: Fuchu, Samezu and Koto
The police ask visitors to all three test centers to come by public transport. They take every lecture class and open on Sundays.
Samezu Driver’s License Center, Shinagawa
The nearest station is Keikyu Samezu, about 8 minutes on foot. From Shinagawa Seaside Station (Rinkai Line, Exit B) or Oi Keibajo-mae Station (Tokyo Monorail) it is about 15 minutes on foot, and from JR Shinagawa Station (Takanawa Exit) about 15 minutes by Toei bus (Metropolitan Police Department: Samezu Driver’s License Center (Japanese)). There is a lecture room with a multipurpose room, and a baby room with a nursing room, so you can attend with a child.
| Parking | Limited; the police ask you not to drive |
|---|
| Name | Samezu Driver's License Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-12-5 Higashi-Oi, Shinagawa-ku |
| Hours / Closed | Renewal procedures: Weekdays from 8:30, Sundays from 8:00 (lunch break on Sundays). Reception closes at 16:00 for excellent drivers, 15:00 for general drivers, 14:00 for violators and first-time renewals (Closed Saturdays, holidays, and December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 03-3474-1374 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
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Koto Driver’s License Center, Koto
It is about 5 minutes on foot from Toyocho Station on the Tozai Line, and about 30 minutes by Toei bus from JR Kameido Station (North Exit) or Kinshicho Station (South Exit). The police ask visitors not to come by car; there is only bicycle parking and parking for people with disabilities (Metropolitan Police Department: Koto Driver’s License Center (Japanese)).
| Parking | Bicycles and disabled parking only |
|---|
| Name | Koto Driver's License Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-7-24 Shinsuna, Koto-ku |
| Hours / Closed | Renewal procedures: Weekdays from 8:30, Sundays from 8:00 (lunch break on Sundays). Reception closes at 16:00 for excellent drivers, 15:00 for general drivers, 14:00 for violators and first-time renewals (Closed Saturdays, holidays, and December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 03-3699-1151 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Fuchu Driver’s License Center, Fuchu
It is not the same place as Fuchu Police Station. Take a Keio bus to the “Shikenjo Seimon” (試験場正門) stop: about 15 minutes from Tamareien Station on the Keio Line, about 30 minutes from Keio Chofu Station (North Exit), or 10 to 20 minutes from JR Musashi-Koganei Station (South Exit) (Metropolitan Police Department: Fuchu Driver’s License Center (Japanese)).
| Parking | Limited; the police ask you not to drive |
|---|
| Name | Fuchu Driver's License Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-1-1 Tamacho, Fuchu-shi |
| Hours / Closed | Renewal procedures: Weekdays from 8:30, Sundays from 8:00 (lunch break on Sundays). Reception closes at 16:00 for excellent drivers, 15:00 for general drivers, 14:00 for violators and first-time renewals (Closed Saturdays, holidays, and December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 042-362-3591 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Kanda and Shinjuku renewal centers: weekdays only
The two renewal centers are open on weekdays only and take excellent drivers and people who finished the elderly lecture (Kanda also takes general drivers). Neither has parking, so go by train.
Kanda Driver’s License Renewal Center, Chiyoda
It is in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Industrial and Labor Affairs Bureau Kanda Building, not inside Kanda Police Station. It is about 5 minutes on foot from Otemachi Station (Chiyoda, Hanzomon, Marunouchi, Mita and Tozai lines, Exit C1 or A2), and about 10 minutes from JR Kanda Station (West Exit) or Ogawamachi Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line (Exit B6). There is no car or bicycle parking (Metropolitan Police Department: Kanda renewal center (Japanese)).
| Parking | None |
|---|
| Name | Kanda Driver's License Renewal Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-1-5 Uchikanda, Chiyoda-ku |
| Hours / Closed | Renewal procedures: Weekdays only. Reception closes at 16:00 for excellent drivers, 15:00 for general drivers (Closed Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 03-3294-3380 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Shinjuku Driver’s License Renewal Center, Shinjuku
It is on the 2nd floor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2, not inside Shinjuku Police Station. It is about 3 minutes on foot from Tochomae Station (Oedo Line, Exit A4), about 8 minutes from Shinjuku Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line (Exit 7), and about 10 minutes from the West Exit of the JR, Keio and Odakyu Shinjuku stations or from Shinjuku and Nishi-Shinjuku stations on the Marunouchi Line (Metropolitan Police Department: Shinjuku renewal center (Japanese)).
| Parking | None |
|---|
| Name | Shinjuku Driver's License Renewal Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 2nd floor, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building No. 2, 2-8-1 Nishi‑Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku |
| Hours / Closed | Renewal procedures: Weekdays 8:30–16:00 (excellent drivers and those who have completed the senior driver course only. Closed Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, and December 29–January 3) |
| Phone | 03-3343-2558 |
| Map | Open in Google Maps ↗ |
| Official site | Open the official site ↗ |
↑ Back to the comparison table
Tokyo police stations that renew driver’s licenses (12 stations)
Excellent drivers and people who finished the elderly lecture can also renew at these police stations, on weekdays from 8:30 to 16:30 (except 11:30 to 13:00). They are closed on Sundays.
| Area | Police station (phone) |
|---|---|
| Setagaya, Ota | Denenchofu (03‑3722‑0110), Setagaya (03‑3418‑0110), Seijo (03‑3482‑0110) |
| Itabashi, Nerima | Itabashi (03‑3964‑0110), Shakujii (03‑3904‑0110) |
| Taito, Adachi, Sumida | Shitaya (03‑3872‑0110), Takenotsuka (03‑3850‑0110), Honjo (03‑5637‑0110) |
| Tama | Tachikawa (042‑527‑0110), Ome (0428‑22‑0110), Takao (042‑665‑0110), Machida (042‑722‑0110) |
For an excellent driver, a designated police station nearby is the easiest place to renew. The addresses are listed on the Metropolitan Police Department’s places to renew page (Japanese). General, violator and first-time drivers cannot renew at a police station.
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Choosing where to renew in Tokyo
Outside the islands, Tokyo has 17 places to renew, and your class and the day of the week mostly decide which one you use.
If you cannot go on a weekday, the three test centers on Sunday are your only choice. Sunday reception starts at 8:00 and pauses at lunchtime, and the police say Sundays and the day after a long weekend are crowded, so allow extra time.
Violators and first-time renewals cannot use the central renewal centers or a local police station; only the test centers. The lecture is 2 hours and costs ¥1,400, which with the license-only renewal fee comes to ¥4,250, and reception ends at 14:00 (on Sundays it also pauses from 11:00 to 13:00).
The police do not recommend driving to any of the test centers. Samezu and Koto are a walk from a station, while Fuchu is a 10- to 30-minute bus ride. For an excellent driver who wants to finish in central Tokyo, the Kanda or Shinjuku renewal center near a station is quicker.
Questions about renewing a Tokyo driver’s license
Can I renew on a Sunday?
Yes, at the Fuchu, Samezu and Koto test centers, from 8:00. The renewal centers and police stations are closed.
Can I go without a booking?
People aged 70 or older and people renewing at an island police station can. If you are under 70 and received a postcard, you must book.
I lost my postcard.
You cannot book. Go to a place that takes your class within your renewal period; the police ask you to use a test center when possible.
I lost my license and it is time to renew.
Go to a test center. If you lost a My Number license, first get your My Number card reissued at your city or ward office, then go to a test center.
Whom do I ask?
Each test center and renewal center has its phone number in its table above. The Driver’s License Headquarters (運転免許本部) answers questions about the system at 03-6717-3137.
Sources (checked October 2026)
- Metropolitan Police Department: places to renew, renewal procedures (June 10, 2026), full reservation system, fees (January 19, 2026), foreign licenses
- Test centers and renewal centers: Samezu, Koto, Fuchu, Kanda, Shinjuku
All pages above are in Japanese.
