Driving a Motor Vehicle in Japan

• Traffic Rules in Japan
• Emergency Measures
• Car Rental Reservations
• Self-serve Gas

• Maximum speed limits for vehicles are shown on traffic signs and road markings. You must drive safely within the specified speed limits. When there are no signs or markings indicating the speed limit, drivers of regular-sized automobiles must obey the speed limits of 60 km/h on ordinary roads, and 100 km/h on expressways.

Green light	Pedestrians may proceed and cross.
	Vehicles other than lightweight vehicles, and streetcars/trams may go straight or turn left or right. Mopeds making two-step right turn may go straight ahead to the point for turning right, and change the direction they are heading.
	Lightweight vehicles (bicycles, carts, etc.) may go straight and turn left. When turning right, these vehicles must proceed to the point of making a right turn, stop and change their direction to the right and wait at that point.
Yellow light	Pedestrians must not start to cross. A pedestrian who is already crossing the road must finish crossing quickly or else turn back.
	Vehicles and streetcars/trams may not move further than the stopping point. However, if a vehicle is rapidly approaching the stopping point when the signal changes to yellow, and cannot stop safely, it may continue to proceed.
Red light	Pedestrians must not cross.
	Vehicles and streetcars/trams may not proceed past the stopping point.
	A vehicle or streetcar/tram, when already making a left turn at an intersection, may continue to proceed even if the signal light on the left is red.
	A vehicle or streetcar/tram, when already making a right turn at an intersection, may continue to proceed even if the signal light on the right is red. In this case, the vehicle or streetcar/tram, must not obstruct the traffic of vehicles or streetcars/trams approaching on a green light. However, lightweight vehicles and mopeds making a two-step right turn must stop after crossing the road and wait at that point while the signal light on the right is red.
Green arrow light	Vehicles may proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow even if the signal light is yellow or red. (Vehicles may also make a U-turn when the signal arrow is indicating a right turn.) However, in the case of a signal arrow indicating a right turn, lightweight vehicles and mopeds making a two-step right turn may not proceed.
Yellow arrow light	Streetcars/trams may proceed in the direction indicated by the arrow even if the signal light is yellow or red, but pedestrians and vehicles may not proceed.
Flashing yellow light	Pedestrians, vehicles and streetcars/trams may proceed carefully, paying attention to other traffic.
Flashing red light	Pedestrians may proceed carefully, paying attention to other traffic.
	Vehicles and streetcars/trams must stop at the stopping point before proceeding.

(Note) The term “stopping point” in this table refers to the point just before the stop line. In the absence of such a line, it is defined as follows:

• 1.A point just before an intersection (where a crosswalk/pedestrian crossing or a bicycle crossing lane is located close to an intersection, just before the crosswalk/pedestrian crossing or the bicycle crossing lane);
• 2.A point just before a crosswalk/pedestrian crossing, a bicycle crossing lane or a railroad crossing in places other than intersections; or
• 3.The point where a traffic lights can be seen in places other than intersections without a crosswalk/pedestrian crossing, bicycle crossing lane or railroad crossing nearby.

The term “vehicles” refers to automobiles, mopeds, lightweight vehicles such as bicycles and carts, and trolley buses.

• JAF publishes Rules of the Road, which provides details of traffic regulations in Japan, and is available for purchase at JAF branch service counters or through the JAF website (Amazon.co.jp). The digital format is also available at the bookstores. For details, please contact a JAF Regional Office or check the JAF website.

These are websites for major car rental companies with useful information for driving in Japan. You can also make reservations through the internet or by phone.

SOURCE: Fire and Disaster Management Agency (http://www.fdma.go.jp)
TRANSLATION: Japan Automobile Federation (JAF)

1. Get your gas at filling stations equipped with self-serve pumps!

Self-service filling stations have easy-to-see signs at their entrance displaying in Japanese “セルフ” or “セルフサービス”

Self-service filling stations have fixed gas pumps with safety attachments. Some stations also have fuel pumps that are not designed for self-service. Drivers may not use these.

4. Other precautions