Pedestrians & Cyclists
Pedestrian crossing rules, school zones, cyclist safety
Bicycles are classified as vehicles under Japanese traffic law.
🚶 Pedestrians & Cyclists Cheat Sheet
Key facts from this topic. Print this page for quick offline reference.
TRUE: When a pedestrian is on a crosswalk, you must wait until the pedestrian has completely left the crossing before proceeding.
In Japan, you must wait until the pedestrian has COMPLETELY left the crosswalk before moving.
TRUE: If a pedestrian is waiting at a crosswalk without a traffic signal, you must stop and let them cross.
Drivers must stop for pedestrians who are waiting to cross at unsignaled crosswalks.
TRUE: When passing a person who is blind and using a white cane, you must slow down or stop and ensure their safety.
When approaching a person with a white cane or guide dog, you must slow down or stop to ensure their safety.
TRUE: Bicycles are classified as vehicles under Japanese traffic law.
In Japan, bicycles are legally classified as light vehicles (keisharyou) and must follow traffic laws.
TRUE: When driving past children playing near the road, you must slow down and be prepared to stop.
Children are unpredictable and may suddenly run into the road.
TRUE: Pedestrians walking on a road without a sidewalk should walk on the right side facing oncoming traffic.
When there is no sidewalk, pedestrians should walk on the right side of the road, facing oncoming traffic.
TRUE: When a bicycle signals a right turn, you should be aware that it may move to the center of the road.
When a bicycle signals a right turn, it needs to move toward the center of the road.
TRUE: You must leave at least 1 meter of space when passing a pedestrian walking on the road.
When passing pedestrians walking on the road, you should slow down and leave a safe distance of at least 1 meter.
TRUE: A cyclist riding at night without a light is violating traffic law.
Bicycles must have a front light and rear reflector (or rear light) when riding at night.
TRUE: When approaching a crosswalk where pedestrians might be present, you must slow down and be prepared to stop even if no pedestrians are visible.
Drivers must slow down when approaching any crosswalk and be ready to stop.
FALSE: You may proceed through a crosswalk as long as the pedestrian has already passed your lane, even if they are still on the road.
In Japan, you must wait until the pedestrian has completely left the entire crosswalk.
FALSE: Near a school zone, you must slow down only when children are visible.
You must always slow down in school zones during school hours, regardless of whether children are visible.
FALSE: Bicycles in Japan must ride on the sidewalk at all times.
Bicycles must generally ride on the road (left side), not the sidewalk.
FALSE: At a crosswalk, if another vehicle has stopped for pedestrians, you may carefully pass that vehicle.
If a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk (presumably for pedestrians), you must not overtake or pass that vehicle.
FALSE: You do not need to stop for pedestrians at a crosswalk if there is a traffic signal and you have a green light.
Even with a green light, you must yield to pedestrians who are in or entering the crosswalk.