Parking & Stopping
Parking vs stopping rules, distance requirements
"Stopping" in Japanese traffic law means any time a vehicle is stationary, including parking.
🅿️ Parking & Stopping Cheat Sheet
Key facts from this topic. Print this page for quick offline reference.
TRUE: In Japan, "parking" means stopping a vehicle for 5 minutes or more, or leaving the vehicle unattended.
Japanese traffic law defines parking (chusha) as stopping for 5 minutes or more, or leaving the vehicle even briefly.
TRUE: You must not park within 5 meters of an intersection.
Parking is prohibited within 5 meters of the edge of an intersection.
TRUE: You must not park within 10 meters of a railroad crossing.
Parking is prohibited within 10 meters of a railroad crossing.
TRUE: You must not park within 5 meters of a fire hydrant.
Parking is prohibited within 5 meters of a fire hydrant.
TRUE: You must not park within 1 meter of a fire alarm box.
Parking is prohibited within 1 meter of a fire alarm box.
TRUE: You must leave enough space for other vehicles to pass when parking on a road without a sidewalk.
When parking on a road, you must leave at least 3.
TRUE: Brief stopping to drop off a passenger is allowed in a no-parking zone.
A no-parking zone allows brief stopping (under 5 minutes) to pick up or drop off passengers as long as the driver remains with the vehicle.
TRUE: You must engage the parking brake and turn off the engine when parking your vehicle.
When parking, you must engage the parking brake and turn off the engine.
TRUE: Parking is prohibited within 5 meters of a crosswalk.
Parking is prohibited within 5 meters of a crosswalk (before and after).
TRUE: In Japan, parking enforcement officers can issue parking tickets without a police officer present.
Japan has civilian parking enforcement officers (chusha kanshi-in) who can issue parking violation notices.
FALSE: "Stopping" in Japanese traffic law means any time a vehicle is stationary, including parking.
"Stopping" (teisha) in Japanese traffic law specifically means a brief stop of less than 5 minutes with the driver remaining in or near the vehicle.
FALSE: You may park on the side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
When parking on the road, you must park on the left side in the direction of traffic flow.
FALSE: You must not park within 3 meters of a bus stop sign.
Parking is prohibited within 10 meters of a bus stop sign (when the bus route is operating).
FALSE: Double parking (parking alongside a parked vehicle) is legal if you stay in the vehicle.
Double parking is always illegal in Japan, even if the driver remains in the vehicle.
FALSE: When parking on a hill, you should turn your wheels toward the curb to prevent the vehicle from rolling.
The correct wheel direction depends on whether you are facing uphill or downhill.