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Karimen vs Honmen: what is the difference and which comes first?
New arrivals in Japan often ask which of the two tests they should take. The short answer is both, in order, because they are two consecutive steps and not alternatives. Karimen gives you a provisional licence to practise on the road, and Honmen leads to the full licence. This page compares the two written tests so you know what each step asks of you.
- 50 / 95questions in Karimen / Honmen
- 30 / 50minutes allowed
- 45 / 90points needed to pass
Two steps towards the licence
For the ordinary car licence (普通免許), the usual route is: learn and pass the driving test in the practice area, pass the Karimen written test to receive a provisional licence, practise on public roads, then pass the Honmen test to receive the full licence. The provisional licence is valid for 6 months, so plan to take Honmen before it expires.
If you already hold a foreign licence this is not your route: converting a licence uses its own written test. See Japan licence conversion.
Comparison table
| Karimen (仮免) | Honmen (本免) | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Earn the provisional licence for road practice | Earn the full car licence |
| Questions | 50 true/false | 95: 90 true/false and 5 illustrations |
| Time | 30 minutes | 50 minutes |
| Scoring | 1 point each, 50 maximum | 90 questions at 1 point, 5 illustrations at 2 points, 100 maximum |
| Pass mark | 45/50 | 90/100 |
| Mistakes allowed | At most 5 | Up to 10 points lost |
| Hazard illustrations | None | Yes, 5 questions |
| Content in ViMai | Stage 1: 14 units | Stages 1 and 2: 31 units |
The biggest difference: Honmen is longer and less predictable
Karimen asks what you must know before practising on the road: traffic lights, signs and road markings, giving way, speed, overtaking, where you may not stop or park and the rules for the provisional licence. Each question is a short statement, and the traps are in single words.
Honmen covers all of that and adds what comes with driving on your own: expressways, night and bad weather, blind spots, towing, loads, maintenance, registration and insurance, and what to do after a crash. More importantly, Honmen has 5 hazard illustration questions. Each one is a picture with 3 statements and scores 2 points only if you judge all three correctly. That type of question tests your ability to anticipate danger, not just your memory.
Try a Karimen exam first, then a Honmen exam, and feel the difference in length and difficulty.
Study and take a free mock test5 free mock exams for every test type. Opens in your browser, nothing to install.
Scoring: the same 90%, a different feel
Both tests ask for 90%. On Karimen you may get at most 5 of 50 wrong. On Honmen you may lose at most 10 points, and one lost scene already costs 2. The details are in how the tests are scored.
How to prepare for each test
Before Karimen
- Study the 14 units of stage 1, especially signs, signals and giving way.
- Take timed Karimen mock exams and aim for around 48/50 before the real test.
- Review wrong answers repeatedly, on different days.
Before Honmen
- Revisit stage 1, because Honmen still asks the basics.
- Add the 17 units of stage 2, above all expressways, adverse conditions, towing and what to do after a crash.
- Practise the illustration questions on their own and take full 95-question Honmen exams to build stamina.
- Check the latest rules, since several have changed recently: see Japan traffic law updates 2026.
If you are short of time
The gap between the two tests differs from person to person, from a few weeks to several months. If you want to study both in one run, the 30-day study plan splits the work week by week. If the tests are far apart, study stage 1 for Karimen and come back to stage 2 once you hold the provisional licence.
Specific procedures such as documents, fees, test dates and whether you go through a driving school or test directly differ between prefectures and can change, so check your prefectural police website or ask the school where you are enrolled.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take Karimen or Honmen first?
Karimen comes first. It gives you the provisional licence for practising on the road. After you complete the practice, you take Honmen for the full licence.
What makes Honmen harder than Karimen?
It is almost twice as long (95 questions against 50), covers more ground (expressways, towing, crashes, bad conditions) and includes 5 hazard illustration questions, each needing all 3 statements right for 2 points.
Do both tests have the same pass mark?
Both ask for 90%. Karimen needs 45 out of 50 and Honmen needs 90 out of 100.
Do people converting a foreign licence take Karimen?
Not on that route. Licence conversion has its own written test of 50 questions in 30 minutes, with 45 correct needed to pass. See the licence conversion page.
Try a Karimen exam first, then a Honmen exam, and feel the difference in length and difficulty.
Study and take a free mock test5 free mock exams for every test type. Opens in your browser, nothing to install.
More guides
- ViMai MenkyoStudy the Japanese driving licence theory test in English
- Karimen test (仮免)50 true/false questions, 30 minutes, pass with 45
- Honmen test (本免)95 questions, 50 minutes, 5 illustrations, pass with 90/100
- Japan licence conversion (外免切替)Knowledge test: 50 questions, 30 minutes, pass with 45
- Japanese road signsSign groups, road markings and look-alike signs
- Japan traffic law updates 2026Changes that affect the test and the way you drive
- Japan driving mock tests60 fixed mock exams: 20 Karimen, 20 Honmen, 20 conversion
- How the tests are scoredHow many mistakes you can make on each test
- Honmen hazard illustration questionsHow to read the scene and earn all 2 points
- 30-day study planA week-by-week schedule for Karimen and Honmen
- Tricky test questionsWords, numbers and look-alike signs that cost points
- How ViMai Menkyo worksLearn mode, exam mode and mistake review at 1, 3 and 7 days
- No stopping and no parking rulesStopping vs parking, and the 5 m and 10 m distances