Major road signs and traffic lights in Japan
Road signs represent the law, and breaking the law can lead to accidents.
Traffic violations are subject to punishment.
Please comply with the rules and enjoy safe and secure driving.
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Stop Stop before the stop line and check whether it is safe to proceed. |
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No entry to vehicles Vehicles are not allowed to enter (this is the exit of a one-way passage). |
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No entry except in the designated direction. Use only in the designated direction (as indicated by the arrow). |
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No parking Do not park here. (Illegal parking causes traffic jams and obstructs the passage of emergency vehicles.) |
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Maximum speed Do not exceed the limit indicated by the speed sign (the example is 50 km/h). *All speed signs indicate kilometers per hour. |
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No parking or stopping Do not park or stop any vehicles here. |
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Railroad crossings A train is approaching when the alarm sounds and the lights flash. Stop the vehicle before the crossing and wait until the train has passed to proceed. |
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No passage of vehicles Vehicles are not allowed to pass through here. |
Tips on Japanese traffic lights
Ignoring traffic lights can result in serious accidents. Even if you do not see people or vehicles around you, you must obey the signals.
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Even at green lights, check the safety of your surroundings. |  |
Arrow signals Even when the traffic light is red, you can proceed in the direction of the arrow. The yellow arrow signal is for streetcars only. |
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Blinking red lights Stop: Check right and left before proceeding. |
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Blinking yellow lights Caution: Check for pedestrians and vehicles coming from the right or the left. |
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There are single-type flashing signals in the suburbs. These function in the same way as three-color signals. |
