Japanese Road Rules for First-Time Drivers from Abroad: Driving on the Left, Red Lights, Stop Signs, Railroad Crossings, Drinking, Mobile Phones, Speed

Before You Drive in Japan for the First Time

This page lists rules that are good to know before you drive in Japan for the first time. It is based on the Road Traffic Act (道路交通法), the National Police Agency’s “Rules of the Road” (交通の方法に関する教則), and the NPA’s English materials. It can also be used by people who explain Japanese rules to family or friends visiting from abroad, so the English text of the NPA is quoted as it is written.

The NPA’s English page (Traffic Bureau) has materials for people who come from abroad and drive in Japan. This page uses three of them.

Material	What it covers
Follow the Rules for Safe Driving in Japan	Licenses, drinking, reporting accidents, intersections, traffic lights and signs
Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan	Driving on the left, railroad crossings, mobile phones, a list of signs
To all foreigners driving in Japan (posted October 4, 2021)	Licenses, driving on the left, red lights, the “Tomare” sign, seat belts

The Licenses You Can Drive With Are Written in the NPA’s English Material

The NPA’s “Follow the Rules for Safe Driving in Japan” describes the licenses needed to drive in Japan as follows.

You must have one of the following licenses to drive in Japan:

Three are listed: a Japanese driver’s license; an International Driving Permit under the Geneva Convention; and a license issued by Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan with a Japanese translation attached. The period you can drive is written in a note in the same material.

You may drive in Japan for up to one year from your date of arrival in Japan or until your license expires, whichever is sooner (IDPs are valid for one year from the issue date).

This page has not checked how to switch a license or how to get a translation made. Before you leave, check the NPA’s English page and the office in the country where you live.

Driving on the Left Side of the Road

Article 17, paragraph 4 of the Road Traffic Act sets where vehicles drive.

車両は、道路（歩道等と車道の区別のある道路においては、車道。以下第九節の二までにおいて同じ。）の中央（軌道が道路の側端に寄つて設けられている場合においては当該道路の軌道敷を除いた部分の中央とし、道路標識等による中央線が設けられているときはその中央線の設けられた道路の部分を中央とする。以下同じ。）から左の部分（以下「左側部分」という。）を通行しなければならない。

Translation: “A vehicle must drive on the part of the road to the left of the center of the road (on a road where there is a distinction between sidewalks and the roadway, the roadway; the same applies up to Section 9-2) (where tram tracks are laid close to the side edge of the road, the center of the part of the road excluding the track area; where a center line has been set by road signs or the like, the part of the road where that center line is set is the center; the same applies below) (this part is called the “left-side part” below).”

The Rules of the Road (Chapter 5, Section 2) says the same thing as follows.

道路の中央（中央線があるときは、その中央線）から左の部分を通行しなければなりません。

Translation: “You must drive on the part to the left of the center of the road (the center line, if there is one).”

The Rules of the Road also lists cases where you may go over to the right of the center. These include one-way roads and times when the left-side part alone is not wide enough, such as during road work.

The NPA’s English material “Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan” has a note for people from countries where traffic keeps to the right.

In Japan, vehicles drive on the left side of the road.

If you have driven in countries where traffic keeps to the right, you may end up driving on the right side after turning at an intersection or in similar situations. Please be careful.

Red Lights and Green Arrows

At a Red Light, You May Not Go Past the Stopping Position

Article 7 of the Road Traffic Act sets the duty to follow traffic lights.

道路を通行する歩行者等又は車両等は、信号機の表示する信号又は警察官等の手信号等（前条第一項後段の場合においては、当該手信号等）に従わなければならない。

Translation: “Pedestrians and others, or vehicles and others, using the road must follow the signal shown by a traffic light, or the hand signals of a police officer or others (in the case of the latter part of paragraph 1 of the preceding article, those hand signals).”

The meaning of the red light is written in the table of Article 2 of the Order for Enforcement of the Road Traffic Act (道路交通法施行令) and in Appendix 1 of the Rules of the Road. In the “red light” column of Appendix 1, there are the following sentences (these are two of the four in the column).

車や路面電車は、停止位置を越えて進んではいけません。

Translation: “Cars and trams must not go past the stopping position.”

交差点で既に左折している車や路面電車は、左折方向の信号が赤でもそのまま進むことができます。

Translation: “A car or tram that has already turned left in the intersection can keep going even if the light for the left-turn direction is red.”

The second sentence is about a car that has “already turned left”. It does not allow a car that stopped for a red light to turn left after that. The NPA’s English material “Follow the Rules for Safe Driving in Japan” writes:

You must stop at a red light. You cannot go straight or make a right or left turn.

On whether there are intersections where you can turn left at a red light, Article 2, paragraph 2 of the Order for Enforcement of the Road Traffic Act says:

交差点において公安委員会が内閣府令で定めるところにより左折することができる旨を表示した場合におけるその交差点に設置された信号機の前項の表に掲げる黄色の灯火又は赤色の灯火の信号の意味は、それぞれの信号により停止位置をこえて進行してはならないこととされている車両に対し、その車両が左折することができることを含むものとする。

Translation: “Where, at an intersection, the Public Safety Commission has displayed, as provided by Cabinet Office Order, that a left turn is allowed, the meaning of the yellow light or red light signal listed in the table of the preceding paragraph, for the traffic light installed at that intersection, includes that a vehicle that must not go past the stopping position because of that signal can turn left.”

So there is a provision for intersections where the Public Safety Commission has displayed that a left turn is allowed. This page could not check which intersections in Ehime Prefecture have that display. At an intersection with no such display, you cannot go past the stopping position at a red light.

When a Green Arrow Is Lit, You May Go in the Direction of the Arrow

The “green arrow” column of the table in Article 2 of the Order for Enforcement is as follows.

車両は、黄色の灯火又は赤色の灯火の信号にかかわらず、矢印の方向に進行することができること。

Translation: “A vehicle can proceed in the direction of the arrow, regardless of the yellow light or red light signal.”

Appendix 1 of the Rules of the Road says:

車は、黄色の灯火や赤色の灯火の信号であつても矢印の方向に進むことができます（右向きの矢印の場合には、転回することもできます。）。

Translation: “Cars can proceed in the direction of the arrow even when the yellow or red light is lit (if it is a right-pointing arrow, they can also make a U-turn).”

Right after the red light explanation, the NPA’s English material writes about the arrow:

If there is a green-light arrow, you may proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow.

Turning Right at a Green Light

At a green light, cars can go straight, turn left or turn right (the table in Article 2 of the Order for Enforcement). When turning right, there is Article 37 of the Road Traffic Act.

車両等は、交差点で右折する場合において、当該交差点において直進し、又は左折しようとする車両等があるときは、当該車両等の進行妨害をしてはならない。

Translation: “When a vehicle or other is turning right at an intersection, and there is a vehicle or other at that intersection that is about to go straight or turn left, it must not obstruct the progress of that vehicle or other.”

The NPA’s English material has the same point.

At intersections, remember: (1) Always yield to pedestrians; (2) When making a right turn, yield to vehicles proceeding straight or making a left turn.

The right turn that the Ehime Prefectural Police call attention to (Iyo no Hayamagari) is covered in What the Ehime Prefectural Police ask drivers to watch for on Ehime roads.

A Flashing Red Light Means a Temporary Stop

The “flashing red light” column of Appendix 1 of the Rules of the Road says:

車や路面電車は、停止位置で一時停止しなければなりません。

Translation: “Cars and trams must stop temporarily at the stopping position.”

Chapter 5, Section 7 of the Rules of the Road is about intersections without traffic control. It has this sentence, placed together with places that have a “stop” sign.

また、進行方向に赤の点滅信号があるときも同じです。

Translation: “The same applies when there is a flashing red signal in the direction you are going.”

A “Tomare” (止まれ) Sign Means Stop Temporarily

Stop Just Before the Stop Line

Article 43 of the Road Traffic Act sets the places where a sign requires a temporary stop.

車両等は、交通整理が行なわれていない交差点又はその手前の直近において、道路標識等により一時停止すべきことが指定されているときは、道路標識等による停止線の直前（道路標識等による停止線が設けられていない場合にあつては、交差点の直前）で一時停止しなければならない。この場合において、当該車両等は、第三十六条第二項の規定に該当する場合のほか、交差道路を通行する車両等の進行妨害をしてはならない。

Translation: “When a road sign or the like designates a temporary stop at an intersection without traffic control, or just before it, a vehicle or other must stop temporarily just before the stop line set by a road sign or the like (where no stop line has been set by a road sign or the like, just before the intersection). In this case, besides the case that falls under Article 36, paragraph 2, the vehicle or other must not obstruct the progress of vehicles or others on the crossing road.”

Chapter 5, Section 7 of the Rules of the Road says:

「一時停止」の標識（付表３（１）40）があるときは、停止線の直前（停止線がないときは、交差点の直前）で一時停止をするとともに、交差する道路を通行する車や路面電車の進行を妨げてはいけません。また、進行方向に赤の点滅信号があるときも同じです。

Translation: “When there is a “temporary stop” sign (Appendix 3 (1) 40), stop temporarily just before the stop line (just before the intersection if there is no stop line), and do not obstruct the progress of cars and trams on the crossing road. The same applies when there is a flashing red signal in the direction you are going.”

The NPA’s English material “Follow the Rules for Safe Driving in Japan” adds the following sentence to the picture of the sign (a red inverted triangle with “止まれ” and “STOP”).

In places with this sign, you must come to a full stop and check the left and right sides to ensure it is safe to proceed.

There Are Signs with Only “Tomare” (止まれ), and Signs with “Tomare” (止まれ) and “STOP”

An amendment to the Order on Road Signs, Lane Markings and Road Markings (道路標識、区画線及び道路標示に関する命令), issued on April 21, 2017 (Cabinet Office and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Order No. 3 of Heisei 29, i.e. 2017), added a design (330-A) for the regulatory sign “temporary stop” that puts “STOP” under “止まれ”. On the same day, the NPA wrote the purpose of the amendment in a notification as follows.

訪日外国人が増加を続けていることや、2020年東京オリンピック・パラリンピック競技大会の開催を控えていることを受け、国民と訪日外国人の双方にとって分かりやすい道路標識を整備するものである。

Translation: “In response to the continuing increase in foreign visitors to Japan and the upcoming 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, this is to put in place road signs that are easy to understand for both Japanese citizens and foreign visitors.”

About the added design, the notification says:

規制標識「一時停止」について、従来の様式に、「止まれ」という日本字の下に「STOP」という英字を併記する様式（330－Ａ）を追加する。

Translation: “For the regulatory sign “temporary stop”, a design (330-A) is added to the existing design, in which the English letters “STOP” are written together under the Japanese characters “Tomare”.”

The old sign has not gone away. The notes in the notification say:

改正命令は、従来の日本字のみの様式を廃止するものではなく、同様式は引き続き有効であるが、今後、規制標識「一時停止」、「徐行」又は「前方優先道路」を新設又は更新する場合には、原則として、新たに追加された英字を併記する様式を用いること。

Translation: “The amending order does not abolish the existing design with Japanese characters only, and that design remains valid, but from now on, when the regulatory signs “temporary stop”, “slow down” or “priority road ahead” are newly installed or renewed, the newly added design with English letters should in principle be used.”

According to the notification, the amending order has been in force since July 1, 2017. This page could not check which places in Ehime Prefecture have a sign with “STOP”. The notification writes both the sign with only “止まれ” and the sign with “止まれ” and “STOP” as designs of the same regulatory sign, “temporary stop”.

At a Railroad Crossing, Stop Just Before It and Check Left and Right

Article 33 of the Road Traffic Act sets how to go through a railroad crossing.

車両等は、踏切を通過しようとするときは、踏切の直前（道路標識等による停止線が設けられているときは、その停止線の直前。以下この項において同じ。）で停止し、かつ、安全であることを確認した後でなければ進行してはならない。ただし、信号機の表示する信号に従うときは、踏切の直前で停止しないで進行することができる。

Translation: “When a vehicle or other is about to go through a railroad crossing, it must not proceed unless it has stopped just before the crossing (where a stop line has been set by a road sign or the like, just before that stop line; the same applies below in this paragraph) and has confirmed that it is safe. However, when it follows the signal shown by a traffic light, it can proceed without stopping just before the crossing.”

車両等は、踏切を通過しようとする場合において、踏切の遮断機が閉じようとし、若しくは閉じている間又は踏切の警報機が警報している間は、当該踏切に入つてはならない。

Translation: “When a vehicle or other is about to go through a railroad crossing, it must not enter the crossing while the crossing barrier is about to close or is closed, or while the crossing alarm is sounding.”

Chapter 6, Section 1 of the Rules of the Road says:

踏切では、死亡・重傷事故のような大きな事故が起こりがちです。踏切を通過しようとするときは、その直前（停止線があるときは、その直前）で一時停止をし、窓を開けるなどして自分の目と耳で左右の安全を確かめなければなりません。なお、踏切に信号機のある場合は、信号に従つて通過することができます。

Translation: “Serious accidents, such as fatal or severe-injury accidents, tend to happen at railroad crossings. When you are about to go through a railroad crossing, stop temporarily just before it (just before the stop line, if there is one), and check that it is safe on the left and right with your own eyes and ears, for example by opening the window. If the crossing has a traffic light, you can go through by following the light.”

The Rules of the Road also covers the case where there is a car in front.

前の車に続いて通過するときでも、一時停止をし、安全を確かめなければなりません。また、踏切の向こう側が混雑しているため、そのまま進むと踏切内で動きがとれなくなるおそれがあるときは、入つてはいけません。

Translation: “Even when you go through behind the car in front, you must stop temporarily and check that it is safe. Also, when the far side of the crossing is congested, and there is a risk that you would be unable to move inside the crossing if you went on, do not enter.”

The NPA’s English material “Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan” writes the following about when the alarm is not sounding.

At railroad crossings, you must come to a complete stop even when the warning alarm is not sounding. Check carefully for approaching trains before crossing.

When a car cannot move at a railroad crossing, the Rules of the Road describes using the push-button crossing obstruction warning device, which is on the post of the alarm and elsewhere.

Drinking and Driving

Do Not Drive

Article 65 of the Road Traffic Act bans drunk driving.

何人も、酒気を帯びて車両等を運転してはならない。

Translation: “No person may drive a vehicle or other with alcohol in the body.”

Article 65 is aimed at people other than the driver, too. Paragraph 2 bans providing a vehicle to a person who has alcohol in the body and may drive. Paragraph 4 bans riding in a vehicle, when you know that the driver has alcohol in the body, by asking or requesting to be driven. Paragraph 3 is about people who serve alcohol.

何人も、第一項の規定に違反して車両等を運転することとなるおそれがある者に対し、酒類を提供し、又は飲酒をすすめてはならない。

Translation: “No person may provide alcohol to, or urge drinking by, a person who may end up driving a vehicle or other in violation of paragraph 1.”

Chapter 4, Section 1 of the Rules of the Road has this sentence.

酒気を帯びているときや麻薬、覚せい剤、シンナーなどの影響を受けているときは、運転してはいけません。また、酒を飲んだのが前夜であつても、翌朝の運転時まで酒の影響を受けていることがあることに注意しましよう。

Translation: “Do not drive when you have alcohol in your body or are under the influence of narcotics, stimulant drugs, paint thinner or the like. Also, note that even if you drank the night before, you may still be under the influence of alcohol when you drive the next morning.”

The NPA’s English material says the same.

If you drink, do not drive.

Do not provide a vehicle to anyone at risk of driving under the influence.

Do not ask or request to ride in a vehicle operated by someone who has been drinking.

The material also has a speech bubble that says “Driving while hungover is also illegal!”

The Penalty Provisions

The penalties are in Article 117-2 and Article 117-2-2 of the Road Traffic Act. Driving in a drunken state is Article 117-2, paragraph 1, item 1.

次の各号のいずれかに該当する者は、五年以下の拘禁刑又は百万円以下の罰金に処する。

Translation: “A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment (拘禁刑) of up to 5 years or a fine of up to 1,000,000 yen.”

第六十五条（酒気帯び運転等の禁止）第一項の規定に違反して車両等を運転した者で、その運転をした場合において酒に酔つた状態（身体に血液一ミリリットルにつき一・〇ミリグラム以上又は呼気一リットルにつき〇・五ミリグラム以上のアルコールを保有する状態その他アルコールの影響により正常な運転ができないおそれがある状態をいう。以下同じ。）にあつたもの

Translation: “A person who drove a vehicle or other in violation of Article 65 (ban on driving under the influence of alcohol), paragraph 1, and who was in a drunken state when driving (a state of having 1.0 milligram or more of alcohol per milliliter of blood or 0.5 milligram or more per liter of breath in the body, or any other state in which there is a risk of being unable to drive normally because of the influence of alcohol; the same applies below).”

Driving with alcohol in the body is Article 117-2-2, paragraph 1, item 3.

次の各号のいずれかに該当する者は、三年以下の拘禁刑又は五十万円以下の罰金に処する。

Translation: “A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.”

第六十五条（酒気帯び運転等の禁止）第一項の規定に違反して車両等（自転車以外の軽車両を除く。次号において同じ。）を運転した者で、その運転をした場合において身体に血液一ミリリットルにつき一・〇ミリグラム未満の範囲内又は呼気一リットルにつき〇・五ミリグラム未満の範囲内において政令で定める程度以上にアルコールを保有する状態にあつたもの

Translation: “A person who drove a vehicle or other (excluding light vehicles other than bicycles; the same applies in the next item) in violation of Article 65 (ban on driving under the influence of alcohol), paragraph 1, and who was, when driving, in a state of having alcohol in the body at or above the level set by Cabinet Order, within the range of less than 1.0 milligram per milliliter of blood or less than 0.5 milligram per liter of breath.”

The “level set by Cabinet Order” is written in Article 44-3 of the Order for Enforcement of the Road Traffic Act.

法第百十七条の二の二第一項第三号の政令で定める身体に保有するアルコールの程度は、血液一ミリリットルにつき〇・三ミリグラム又は呼気一リットルにつき〇・一五ミリグラムとする。

Translation: “The level of alcohol in the body set by Cabinet Order in Article 117-2-2, paragraph 1, item 3 of the Act is 0.3 milligram per milliliter of blood or 0.15 milligram per liter of breath.”

Using a Mobile Phone While Driving

Talking with the Phone in Your Hand, and Looking at a Screen

Article 71, item 5-5 of the Road Traffic Act sets rules on mobile phones and similar devices while driving.

自動車、原動機付自転車又は自転車（以下この号において「自動車等」という。）を運転する場合においては、当該自動車等が停止しているときを除き、携帯電話用装置、自動車電話用装置その他の無線通話装置（その全部又は一部を手で保持しなければ送信及び受信のいずれをも行うことができないものに限る。第百十八条第一項第四号において「無線通話装置」という。）を通話（傷病者の救護又は公共の安全の維持のため当該自動車等の走行中に緊急やむを得ずに行うものを除く。同号において同じ。）のために使用し、又は当該自動車等に取り付けられ若しくは持ち込まれた画像表示用装置（道路運送車両法第四十一条第一項第十六号若しくは第十七号又は第四十四条第十一号に規定する装置であるものを除く。第百十八条第一項第四号において同じ。）に表示された画像を注視しないこと。

Translation: “When driving a car, motorized bicycle or bicycle (called “cars and others” in this item), except while that vehicle is stopped, do not use a mobile phone device, car phone device or other wireless communication device (limited to one that cannot both send and receive unless all or part of it is held in the hand; called “wireless communication device” in Article 118, paragraph 1, item 4) for a call (excluding a call made while that vehicle is moving out of urgent necessity to rescue a sick or injured person or to maintain public safety; the same applies in the same item), and do not gaze at an image shown on an image display device attached to or brought into that vehicle (excluding a device stipulated in Article 41, paragraph 1, item 16 or 17, or Article 44, item 11 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act; the same applies in Article 118, paragraph 1, item 4).”

The wireless communication device in the provision is limited to one that cannot send or receive unless held in the hand. For screens, whether the device is attached or brought in, you must not gaze at the image shown, except while stopped.

Chapter 5, Section 1 of the Rules of the Road has this sentence.

自動運転車において自動運行装置を適切に使つている場合を除き、走行中はスマートフォンなどの携帯電話などを使用したり、カーナビゲーション装置などに表示された画像を注視したりしてはいけません。

Translation: “Except where an automated driving vehicle is properly using its automated operation device, do not use a mobile phone such as a smartphone while moving, and do not gaze at an image shown on a car navigation device or the like.”

The NPA’s English material “Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan” says:

While driving a vehicle, do not use a mobile phone, including talking on the phone or looking at the screen, except in emergencies.

The English leaflet “To all foreigners driving in Japan” from the NPA and the prefectural police also has, in its “Prohibited acts” column, a picture and a sentence, “Never wear headphones while driving.”, along with other items. This page has not checked which provision of the Road Traffic Act corresponds to this headphone sentence.

The Penalty Provisions

Article 118, paragraph 1, item 4 sets the penalty for talking with the phone in your hand, and for holding a brought-in device in your hand and gazing at its screen.

次の各号のいずれかに該当する者は、六月以下の拘禁刑又は十万円以下の罰金に処する。

Translation: “A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment of up to 6 months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen.”

第七十一条（運転者の遵守事項）第五号の五の規定に違反して無線通話装置を通話のために使用し、又は自動車、原動機付自転車若しくは自転車に持ち込まれた画像表示用装置を手で保持してこれに表示された画像を注視した者（第百十七条の四第一項第二号に該当する者を除く。）

Translation: “A person who, in violation of Article 71 (matters drivers must observe), item 5-5, used a wireless communication device for a call, or held in the hand an image display device brought into a car, motorized bicycle or bicycle and gazed at the image shown on it (excluding a person who falls under Article 117-4, paragraph 1, item 2).”

Following this, Article 117-4, paragraph 1, item 2 covers the case where the call or gazing caused danger to traffic on the road.

次の各号のいずれかに該当する者は、一年以下の拘禁刑又は三十万円以下の罰金に処する。

Translation: “A person who falls under any of the following items is punished by imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 300,000 yen.”

第七十一条（運転者の遵守事項）第五号の五の規定に違反し、よつて道路における交通の危険を生じさせた者

Translation: “A person who violated Article 71 (matters drivers must observe), item 5-5, and thereby caused danger to traffic on the road.”

Seat Belts and Child Seats

Article 71-3, paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act sets the seat belt for the driver.

自動車（大型自動二輪車及び普通自動二輪車を除く。以下この条において同じ。）の運転者は、道路運送車両法第三章及びこれに基づく命令の規定により当該自動車に備えなければならないこととされている座席ベルト（以下「座席ベルト」という。）を装着しないで自動車を運転してはならない。ただし、疾病のため座席ベルトを装着することが療養上適当でない者が自動車を運転するとき、緊急自動車の運転者が当該緊急自動車を運転するとき、その他政令で定めるやむを得ない理由があるときは、この限りでない。

Translation: “The driver of a car (excluding large motorcycles and ordinary motorcycles; the same applies below in this article) must not drive the car without wearing the seat belt that the car must be equipped with under Chapter 3 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act and the orders based on it (called “seat belt” below). However, this does not apply when a person for whom wearing a seat belt is not appropriate for medical treatment because of illness drives a car, when the driver of an emergency vehicle drives that emergency vehicle, or when there is another unavoidable reason set by Cabinet Order.”

Paragraph 2 bans driving with a person who is not wearing a seat belt in a seat other than the driver’s seat that must be equipped with a seat belt. Paragraph 3 is the provision on young children.

自動車の運転者は、幼児用補助装置（幼児を乗車させる際座席ベルトに代わる機能を果たさせるため座席に固定して用いる補助装置であつて、道路運送車両法第三章及びこれに基づく命令の規定に適合し、かつ、幼児の発育の程度に応じた形状を有するものをいう。以下この項において同じ。）を使用しない幼児を乗車させて自動車を運転してはならない。ただし、疾病のため幼児用補助装置を使用させることが療養上適当でない幼児を乗車させるとき、その他政令で定めるやむを得ない理由があるときは、この限りでない。

Translation: “The driver of a car must not drive the car with a young child on board who is not using a child restraint (an auxiliary device that is fixed to the seat and used to perform the function of a seat belt when carrying a young child, that conforms to Chapter 3 of the Road Transport Vehicle Act and the orders based on it, and that has a shape suited to the child’s stage of growth; the same applies below in this paragraph). However, this does not apply when carrying a young child for whom using a child restraint is not appropriate for medical treatment because of illness, or when there is another unavoidable reason set by Cabinet Order.”

Article 14, paragraph 3 of the Road Traffic Act defines a young child as “a person under 6 years old”. In Article 71-3, a child who has a sitting height tall enough to wear a seat belt properly is excluded, in paragraph 2, from the “young child” of this article (this applies also to the child seat rule in paragraph 3).

Chapter 5, Section 1 of the Rules of the Road writes about passengers as follows.

シートベルトを備えている自動車を運転するときは、運転者自身がこれを着用するとともに、助手席や後部座席の同乗者にもこれを着用させなければなりません（その自動車がエアバッグを備えている場合も同じです。）。しかし、病気などやむを得ない理由がある場合は別です。

Translation: “When you drive a car that has seat belts, you must wear one yourself and have the passengers in the front passenger seat and the rear seats wear them too (the same applies when the car has an airbag). However, it is different when there is an unavoidable reason such as illness.”

On child seats, it says:

特に、幼児を自動車に乗せるときは、その幼児に発育の程度に応じた形状のチャイルドシートを使用させなければなりません。しかし、病気などやむを得ない理由がある場合は別です。

Translation: “In particular, when you carry a young child in a car, you must have the child use a child seat with a shape suited to the child’s stage of growth. However, it is different when there is an unavoidable reason such as illness.”

The NPA’s English leaflet “To all foreigners driving in Japan” says “Seatbelts must be worn by all passengers.” This page has not checked how to borrow a child seat with a rental car.

Speed: Without a Sign, It Depends on the Road

The Speed Set by a Sign Comes First

Article 22, paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act sets the maximum speed.

車両は、道路標識等によりその最高速度が指定されている道路においてはその最高速度を、その他の道路においては政令で定める最高速度をこえる速度で進行してはならない。

Translation: “A vehicle must not travel at a speed exceeding the maximum speed on a road where the maximum speed is designated by a road sign or the like, or the maximum speed set by Cabinet Order on other roads.”

In the NPA’s English list of signs, the picture of the speed sign has the explanation “Do not exceed the posted speed limit.”

Ordinary Roads with No Sign: 30 km/h and 60 km/h from September 1, 2026

The “maximum speed set by Cabinet Order” is Article 11 of the Order for Enforcement of the Road Traffic Act. The NPA page shows this article as “Related provisions (from September 1, Reiwa 8, i.e. 2026)”. Two of the items are:

ハ　道路標識等による中央線又は車両通行帯が設けられている一般道路

Translation: “(c) Ordinary roads where a center line or lanes have been set by road signs or the like”

二　前号に掲げる一般道路以外の一般道路　30キロメートル毎時

Translation: “2. Ordinary roads other than the ordinary roads listed in the preceding item: 30 kilometers per hour”

(c) is one of the roads listed under “the following ordinary roads: 60 kilometers per hour” in item 1 (item 1 also lists roads whose two directions are separated, and others). When a car drives on an ordinary road with no speed designated by a sign, the roads listed in item 1 are 60 km/h and the other roads are 30 km/h (motorized bicycles are 30 km/h on both, under the same article). About the roads that become 30 km/h, the NPA page writes:

法定速度が60km/hから30km/hに引き下げられる道路は、主に地域住民の日常生活に利用されるような、中央線等がない道路（＝生活道路）です。

Translation: “The roads where the legal speed limit is lowered from 60 km/h to 30 km/h are roads without a center line or the like (= residential roads), which are mainly used for the daily life of local residents.”

Chapter 5, Section 4 of the Rules of the Road (the PDF of the November 13, 2024 version) says:

自動車を運転する場合は、標識（付表３（１）25、25の２）や標示（付表３（２）６）によつて示されている最高速度を超えて運転してはいけません。標識や標示で指定されていないときは、時速60キロメートルを超えて運転してはいけません（高速自動車国道については、第７章第２節２を参照）。

Translation: “When you drive a car, do not drive faster than the maximum speed shown by a sign (Appendix 3 (1) 25, 25-2) or a marking (Appendix 3 (2) 6). When it is not designated by a sign or marking, do not drive faster than 60 kilometers per hour (for national expressways, see Chapter 7, Section 2, 2).”

This PDF of the Rules of the Road is the version before September 1, 2026. From September 1, 2026, the roads that are 60 km/h with no sign are the roads listed in item 1 of Article 11 of the Order for Enforcement (roads with a center line or lanes, and so on), and the other ordinary roads are 30 km/h.

The next sentence in the same section applies on roads of any speed.

決められた速度の範囲内であつても、道路や交通の状況、天候や視界などをよく考えて、安全な速度で走りましよう。

Translation: “Even within the set speed, think carefully about the road and traffic conditions, the weather and visibility, and drive at a safe speed.”

The speed on residential roads that the Ehime Prefectural Police call attention to is also in What the Ehime Prefectural Police ask drivers to watch for on Ehime roads.

The Penalty Provisions Side by Side

Among the rules so far, these are the ones where the upper limit of the penalty has been confirmed in the provisions. The upper limits are listed in the wording of the provisions.

Rule	Provision	Upper limit written in the provision
Driving in a drunken state	Article 117-2, paragraph 1, item 1	Imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to 1,000,000 yen (五年以下の拘禁刑又は百万円以下の罰金)
Driving with alcohol in the body (at or above the level set by Cabinet Order)	Article 117-2-2, paragraph 1, item 3	Imprisonment of up to 3 years or a fine of up to 500,000 yen (三年以下の拘禁刑又は五十万円以下の罰金)
Talking or gazing at a screen while driving (violation of Article 71, item 5-5) that caused danger to traffic	Article 117-4, paragraph 1, item 2	Imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 300,000 yen (一年以下の拘禁刑又は三十万円以下の罰金)
Talking with a phone in the hand, or gazing at a screen	Article 118, paragraph 1, item 4	Imprisonment of up to 6 months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen (六月以下の拘禁刑又は十万円以下の罰金)
Driving over the maximum speed	Article 118, paragraph 1, item 1	Imprisonment of up to 6 months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen (六月以下の拘禁刑又は十万円以下の罰金)
Not following a traffic light	Article 119, paragraph 1, item 2	Imprisonment of up to 3 months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen (三月以下の拘禁刑又は五万円以下の罰金)
Violations on going through a railroad crossing, at a crosswalk, or on temporary stops	Article 119, paragraph 1, item 5	Imprisonment of up to 3 months or a fine of up to 50,000 yen (三月以下の拘禁刑又は五万円以下の罰金)

This table shows the upper limits of the penalties set by the provisions. This page has not checked the amounts of the traffic fines (反則金) and violation points. The amounts printed in the Ehime Prefectural Police flyer are in What the Ehime Prefectural Police ask drivers to watch for on Ehime roads.

Pedestrians and Crosswalks

The rule on crosswalks is Article 38, paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act.

車両等は、横断歩道又は自転車横断帯（以下この条において「横断歩道等」という。）に接近する場合には、当該横断歩道等を通過する際に当該横断歩道等によりその進路の前方を横断しようとする歩行者又は自転車（以下この条において「歩行者等」という。）がないことが明らかな場合を除き、当該横断歩道等の直前（道路標識等による停止線が設けられているときは、その停止線の直前。以下この項において同じ。）で停止することができるような速度で進行しなければならない。この場合において、横断歩道等によりその進路の前方を横断し、又は横断しようとする歩行者等があるときは、当該横断歩道等の直前で一時停止し、かつ、その通行を妨げないようにしなければならない。

Translation: “When a vehicle or other approaches a crosswalk or bicycle crossing (called “crosswalk or the like” in this article), unless it is clear that there is no pedestrian or bicycle (called “pedestrians or others” in this article) who is going to cross in front of its path by that crosswalk or the like when it passes, it must travel at a speed that allows it to stop just before the crosswalk or the like (where a stop line has been set by a road sign or the like, just before that stop line; the same applies below in this paragraph). In this case, when there is a pedestrian or other who is crossing, or is about to cross, in front of its path by the crosswalk or the like, it must stop temporarily just before the crosswalk or the like and must not obstruct their passage.”

The NPA’s English material “Follow the Rules for Safe Driving in Japan” says:

You must come to a full stop when pedestrians are crossing the road or are about to cross the road.

The Ehime Prefectural Police flyer’s call to “give pedestrians priority at crosswalks”, and the violation points and traffic fines printed in the flyer, can be read in What the Ehime Prefectural Police ask drivers to watch for on Ehime roads. For intersections without a crosswalk, Article 38-2 of the Road Traffic Act sets that you must not obstruct the passage of pedestrians.

Trams in Matsuyama, and Passing Bicycles

In Matsuyama, there are sections where you drive on the same road as the tracks of the Iyotetsu (伊予鉄道) city tram. Driving on the tracks, when a tram is stopped at a stop, and how to turn right are covered in Rules for Driving on the Same Road as Trams in Matsuyama.

The rules for passing a bicycle are in Rules for Passing Bicycles by Car, and Bicycles on the Shimanami Kaido.

When You Cause or See an Accident

Article 72, paragraph 1 of the Road Traffic Act writes the driver’s duty in an accident as follows.

交通事故があつたときは、当該交通事故に係る車両等の運転者その他の乗務員（以下この節において「運転者等」という。）は、直ちに車両等の運転を停止して、負傷者を救護し、道路における危険を防止する等必要な措置を講じなければならない。

Translation: “When there is a traffic accident, the driver and other crew of the vehicle or other involved in the traffic accident (called “drivers and others” in this section) must immediately stop driving the vehicle or other, help the injured, and take the necessary measures, such as preventing danger on the road.”

The NPA’s English material gives the contact numbers:

When a traffic accident occurs, always report it to the police (dial 110), even if there are no injuries.

When someone is injured, the same material says “call an ambulance (119)”.

What Could Not Be Checked

• Intersections in Ehime Prefecture where the Public Safety Commission displays that a left turn is allowed at a red light
• Places in Ehime Prefecture where a sign with “止まれ” and “STOP” is installed
• How to switch a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese license, and how to get a translation made
• The provision of the Road Traffic Act that bans wearing headphones while driving (the NPA leaflet has a sentence)
• The amounts of traffic fines and violation points (the amounts in the Ehime Prefectural Police flyer are in another article)
• The numbers on speed signs on national expressways, motorways (automobile-only roads) and the Shimanami Kaido

About This Page

The Road Traffic Act and the Order for Enforcement of the Road Traffic Act are the texts of the versions currently in force, obtained on October 14, 2026 through the e-Gov Law Search API. The Road Traffic Act is the version in force from July 21, 2026, and the Order for Enforcement is the version in force from September 1, 2026. The Rules of the Road is the PDF of the November 13, 2024 version published by the NPA (amended up to the notification of September 4, 2024). It does not reflect the partial amendment in force from April 1, 2026 (the part on passing to the right of bicycles and similar) or the change in speed on September 1, 2026. The parts of the Rules of the Road quoted on this page are not parts that changed in the April 1, 2026 amendment. The NPA’s English materials were obtained from the NPA’s page on October 14, 2026. The only date printed on a page is October 4, 2021 for “To all foreigners driving in Japan”; the posting dates of the other two could not be checked.

Local newspapers and unofficial explanations were not used. Laws and signs can change. When you actually drive, follow the signs and traffic lights on site and the instructions of police officers.