🚙Get a driver’s licence and drive my family around!

Introduction

Hello, I’m Seiya! In this post, I will put together my notes on the BucketList item: “Get a driver’s licence and drive my family around!”

This is compiled from diary entries, notes, and other records from back then. Sadly, there are quite a few gaps.

Goal

Why I Wanted to Pursue This

There are four main reasons why I wanted to do this.

First of all, ever since I was a little kid, “①I’ve loved going on drives with my family.” Even without a specific trip planned, I remember just enjoying driving around our neighborhood streets, mountain roads, and the seaside with them. Also, am I the only one who falls fast asleep when being rocked by a moving car? On the way back from trips, I pretty much always fell asleep.

Growing up with all those road trips, I remember thinking, “②Watching my father drive makes me want to go on a drive (or trip) of my own.” It was just one aspect, but somehow I felt like driving would give me a tangible sense of growth. The feeling of not just being carried along, but actually carrying others-taking the wheel myself-felt so grand and monumental to me back then. But looking back now, I realize that whether someone can drive or not has nothing to do with how remarkable a person they are.

To be fair, “③Driver’s licenses are convenient as ID” also has a practical side. A driver’s license gets you through a lot of situations, right? Since I got my license around the time My Number was rolling out, it was genuinely useful in the early days.

On the future side, “④Creating memories through driving, whether with family or friends”– that’s what it’s all about. Having at least one person in the group with a driver’s license expands your options for getting around. And if you have two, you can take turns or handle unexpected trouble. It’s such a waste to limit your options simply by not having a license, personally. I recommend getting a driver’s license if you have the bandwidth!

Another disadvantage is that it incurs costs and requires study. Furthermore, in urban areas, people often end up not driving at all, and recent increases in car maintenance costs can become a significant burden. Considering these factors, since there are respective hurdles involved in both obtaining a licence and actually driving, it is advisable to weigh them beforehand.

Regarding the difficulty level

Some of you might find this goal a bit too simple or even childish. However, I carried over from “BucketList Version1,” which I made back when I was a college freshman. At that time, I didn’t have a driver’s license and viewed driving as an extremely high-level, intimidating skill. That said, my genuine desire to achieve it, as mentioned above, was very real.

Also, because it was the very first goal I ever accomplished, it holds a special, nostalgic place in my heart.

①Get a driver’s license!

To achieve this goal, the very first step was to “①Enroll in a driving school”. With my parents’ financial support, I signed up for a regular commuting plan rather than a boot camp(intensive training camp), with no extra safety nets or retake options if I failed. If I remember correctly, it cost around 300,000 yen.

The lectures didn’t leave much of an impression, but driving on the training course for the very first time was a huge shock! Since the course wasn’t very big, it felt insanely fast….

Soon after that came the learner’s permit written test(仮免許筆記試験). There weren’t any particularly difficult questions, and I passed, checking off step “②Pass the learner’s permit written test”. If I recall correctly, the practical driving test for the learner’s permit(仮免許運転試験) took place right after receiving the written test results. To be honest, I was super nervous about the S-curve and crank turns, but I successfully passed step “③Pass the learner’s permit driving test”.

Once I finally hit the real road, having other people around made me super nervous. That was the moment I realized how crazy pedestrians who suddenly jump out into traffic really are! After finishing the curriculum, the final driver’s license test(最終運転免許試験) arrived. And unbelievably, it was the first snow of the season. I remember thinking, “Seriously, snow on test day?!😱” I can still vividly recall that sense of despair. After I somehow managed to pass, I felt terrible for the woman who took the exact same test with me; she actually ended up failing. Looking back now, I realize that with parallel or reverse parking, if your hands slip or panic sets in for just a second, you can easily fail. Anyway, I successfully checked off step “④Pass the final driver’s license test”.

Finally came the last written exam(最終筆記試験). Let’s do this-fair and square! The result? I passed step “⑤Pass the final written exam!” I panicked a bit on a few questions where I wasn’t sure of the right answer, but I cleared the passing score without any real issues.

Finally, by checking off “⑥Get a driver’s license!”, my very first goal was achieved!

②Drive with my family!

At last, it was time for “Driving with my family in the car!” Since I hadn’t driven much in crowded areas, that part was easy, but it was raining during the drive, making it hard to see the white lane lines and making me nervous. Also, when strong winds hit us on the highway and shook the car, I panicked. It felt like a first-time adventure, and every time I drove, the mental exhaustion was brutal😖Aside from the driving fatigue, I really enjoyed the trip itself!

Anyway, my second goal is achieved as well!

Reflection

I successfully got my driver’s license and went on a drive with my family!

I’m so glad my very first BucketList goal went well! Honestly, the best life goals are the ones that make you feel truly glad you achieved them.

I definitely recommend getting a driver’s license and having fun out there, everyone!

Also, creating your own BucketList is a great idea too~.

Bucket List~100 Things To Do Before I Die~

IntroductionHi, I'm Seiya! This page is a collection of my Bucket List.What is a Bucket List?A Bucket list is a collecti…

seiyaoki.com

2026.02.15

Maintaining a driver’s license

• ✅Attended the first-time renewal lecture & completed the license renewal.

Other driver’s licenses

The driver’s licenses added below are hereby sealed away for eternity.

• Large motorcycle license(大型二輪免許)
• Standard Motorcycle License(普通二輪免許)
• Small-Limited Standard Motorcycle License(普通二輪免許(小型限定))

Subtask: UnbucketList

Pledge【Immutable】

• Items added here are permanently sealed and can never be executed again in the future.
• Additions must be made with extreme caution. Incremental additions are also encouraged.

Objective

To concentrate limited resources on the BucketList.

Technology(Information,Web,..)

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