Traffic Rules
Basic traffic laws, drive on LEFT, legal requirements
When approaching a school zone during school hours, drivers must reduce speed and watch for children even if no children are visible.
🚦 Traffic Rules Cheat Sheet
Key facts from this topic. Print this page for quick offline reference.
TRUE: In Japan, vehicles drive on the left side of the road.
Japan is a left-hand traffic country.
TRUE: A driver must carry their driving licence at all times while operating a vehicle in Japan.
Under Japanese traffic law, drivers must carry their valid driving licence whenever they drive.
TRUE: The minimum age to obtain a standard car driving licence in Japan is 18 years old.
In Japan, you must be at least 18 years old to obtain a standard (futsuu) driving licence for cars.
TRUE: You may use the horn when driving on a mountain road with poor visibility around a curve marked with a horn sign.
Horn usage is permitted and sometimes required at locations marked with the horn sign (usually on mountain roads with blind curves or near tunnels).
TRUE: In Japan, it is illegal to splash pedestrians with water from puddles while driving.
Under Japanese traffic law, drivers must slow down or take care to avoid splashing water or mud on pedestrians when driving through puddles.
TRUE: Driving with an expired licence in Japan is treated the same as driving without a licence.
Driving with an expired licence is considered unlicensed driving (mumen unten) in Japan, which carries severe penalties including imprisonment and a heavy fine.
TRUE: A green arrow signal allows you to proceed in the direction of the arrow regardless of the main signal color.
A green arrow signal indicates you may proceed in the direction of the arrow even when the main signal is red.
TRUE: Pedestrians always have the right of way at marked crosswalks in Japan.
Pedestrians at marked crosswalks have absolute right of way in Japan.
TRUE: It is legal to make a U-turn at an intersection unless there is a sign prohibiting it.
U-turns are generally permitted at intersections in Japan unless there is a specific sign prohibiting them.
TRUE: When an emergency vehicle approaches with its siren and lights on, you must pull over to the left and stop.
When an emergency vehicle (ambulance, fire truck, police car) approaches with siren and lights, all vehicles must pull over to the left side of the road and stop to let it pass.
FALSE: In Japan, vehicles drive on the right side of the road, the same as in China and Vietnam.
Japan drives on the LEFT side of the road, opposite to China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and most other Asian countries.
FALSE: It is legal to use a mobile phone while driving in Japan as long as you use a hands-free device.
While hands-free devices are technically allowed, using a phone in any way that distracts the driver is illegal.
FALSE: Honking the horn frequently is acceptable in Japan to alert other drivers of your presence.
Horn usage in Japan is restricted to emergency situations and specific locations marked with signs.
FALSE: When a traffic rule conflicts with a police officer's direction, you must follow the traffic rule.
A police officer's directions always take precedence over traffic signs, signals, and road markings.
FALSE: You are allowed to drive barefoot in Japan.
Driving barefoot, in sandals, or in high heels is not recommended and can be considered a violation if it impairs your ability to operate the vehicle safely.