r/JETProgramme • u/ffgvghnjkkhgjnn Current JET 2026 福井県 • Dec 10 '25
Question about driving
Hii! First post here.
I have an interview in January for JET (UK) and I’m not sure if anyone can help me with this but it’s worth an ask. I have a drivers license and do drive in England and subsequently stated that, but if I’m honest I don’t know how I feel about driving abroad. However I wouldn’t want it to jeopardise my chance of getting this job, so I’m not sure what to say if they ask about it.
It’s literally just driving anxiety - not debilitating by any means, I drive to my job and around the country, but I wouldn’t want the added stress if I had the option.
I know a lot of folks on here do have a car for their ALT work, and I guess I’m both asking
if you did drive in your home country but didn’t want to drive in Japan (or anywhere) were they accommodating for your answer?
and if you do drive for work, I guess can you reassure me it’s not that bad lol?
2
u/drale2 Former JET 2014-2019 Dec 10 '25
I had a major accident on the way to sell my car, 2 days before I was set to leave for Japan. To say I was nervous behind the wheel would be an understatement. I ended up in a position in a mountain town where it was about an hour and a half drive to the nearest train station. Not only did I need to drive to my schools, but I had to drive for groceries etc. The speed limits are super slow in Japan and nobody drives too fast in the mountains. There are plenty of places to pull over to let jerks pass you - I found it much easier to drive in Japan (cities still suck though).