The age at which you can get a driver's license here in the US is 16, but it varies around the world. As it happens, there is something called an International Driving Permit that you are able to get if you are over the age of 18. While driving isn't really necessary in Japan like it is here in the US, there are still some places you can only get to by car. The program I applied to, Ojiya Study Abroad, has cars available for you to drive and since it is a smaller city it wouldn't be super scary to drive in. I'm used to driving in the city, I live near a fairly large one, but it's nothing like a lot of other places in the world.
An International Driving Permit is basically a translation of you driver's license so you can use your home country's driver's license in a foreign country. You have to get it in the same country your driver's license is from and it is only valid for one year. The only places you can get valid permits in America are AAA and AATA. Apparently there are scam places that make fake ones so stick to the big companies. You will need to send the application, two passport style photos signed on the back (I have some left over from getting my passport), a photocopy of the front and back of your driver's license, and the fee related with getting the permit. Links to the forms and more information can be found in the link above.
And of course if you want to drive in Japan, you will have to learn the rules of the road. Every country is a little different, so this is important to learn. Two big things that are different than driving in America is that in Japan you drive on the left side and you don't make right turns on red lights (or left turns because the lanes are on the opposite side in Japan). Some general information about driving in Japan can be found here and at one point I found the Japanese rules of the road in English, but I can't find it now.
Also, I should probably mention...
IT'S MY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY WHOOOOOO!!!
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