Stop
止まれ (tomare)
Stop completely at the stop line before the junction.
What to do: Stop fully, check both ways, then go when it is safe. A rolling stop is an offence.
Priority and junctions
Slow down, priority road ahead
徐行 with 前方優先道路 (zenpō yūsen dōro)
The road ahead has priority.
What to do: Slow down and give way to traffic on the road ahead.
No entry
車両進入禁止 (sharyō shinnyū kinshi)
No entry for vehicles from this direction, usually the exit of a one-way street.
What to do: Do not drive in.
One way
一方通行 (ippō tsūkō)
Traffic may only go in the direction of the arrow.
What to do: Only drive in the arrow's direction.
Priority road
優先道路 (yūsen dōro)
You are on a priority road. Traffic from side roads must give way.
What to do: Carry on with care and watch for vehicles pulling out.
No U-turn
転回禁止 (tenkai kinshi)
No U-turns.
What to do: Do not turn around here.
Roundabout, go clockwise
環状の交差点における右回り通行 (kanjō no kōsaten ni okeru migimawari tsūkō)
Roundabout. Traffic goes round clockwise.
What to do: Slow down, give way to vehicles already on the roundabout, then go round clockwise.
Junction ahead
十形道路交差点あり (jūgata dōro kōsaten ari)
There is a junction ahead.
What to do: Slow down and be ready to give way.
Speed and cameras
Maximum speed
最高速度 (saikō sokudo)
Maximum speed in km/h.
What to do: Keep to the limit. It may also be painted on the road in large yellow numbers.
Minimum speed
最低速度 (saitei sokudo)
Minimum speed in km/h for motor vehicles.
What to do: Do not drive slower than this unless the law or danger requires it.
Speed cameras on this route
速度自動取締装置設置路線 (sokudo jidō torishimari sōchi secchi rosen)
A fixed speed camera is ahead, usually 1 to 3 km away.
What to do: Check your speed.
Motorways and overtaking
No overtaking into the right side of the road
追越しのための右側部分はみ出し通行禁止 (oikoshi no tame no migigawa bubun hamidashi tsūkō kinshi)
Do not cross into the right side of the road to overtake. With the 追越し禁止 plate, do not overtake at all.
What to do: Stay behind slower vehicles. The same rule applies wherever the centre line is solid yellow.
Motor vehicles only
自動車専用 (jidōsha sen'yō)
A national expressway or motor-vehicle-only road. Pedestrians, bicycles and mopeds are not permitted.
What to do: Expressway rules apply from here.
Warnings
Railway crossing ahead
踏切あり (fumikiri ari)
There is a railway crossing ahead.
What to do: Get ready to stop before the crossing, look both ways and listen.
Pedestrian crossing
横断歩道 (ōdan hodō)
Marks a pedestrian crossing.
What to do: Approach at a speed that lets you stop. Stop for anyone crossing or about to cross.
School nearby
学校、幼稚園、保育所等あり (gakkō, yōchien, hoikusho tō ari)
A school is nearby and children often use this road.
What to do: Slow down and watch for children.
Zones and parking
No parking
駐車禁止 (chūsha kinshi)
No parking.
What to do: Park somewhere else.
No stopping or parking
駐停車禁止 (chūteisha kinshi)
No stopping or parking.
What to do: Do not stop or park here.
Reserved lane
専用通行帯 (sen'yō tsūkōtai)
The lane is reserved for the vehicles shown, such as buses, at the times shown.
What to do: Keep out of the lane during the times shown.
Time-limited parking
時間制限駐車区間 (jikan seigen chūsha kukan)
You may park here during the hours shown, for up to the time shown.
What to do: Park only within the hours and time limit shown.
Other signs
Slow down
徐行 (jokō)
Drive slowly enough to stop immediately, as a guide 10 km/h or less.
What to do: Slow right down and be ready to stop.
Road closed to vehicles
車両通行止め (sharyō tsūkōdome)
No vehicles, including bicycles.
What to do: Do not drive in.
Road closed
通行止 (tsūkōdome)
Closed to everyone, including pedestrians.
What to do: Do not enter.
Pedestrians only
歩行者専用 (hokōsha sen'yō)
Road for pedestrians only. Vehicles are not permitted.
What to do: Do not drive in.
No crossing by vehicles
車両横断禁止 (sharyō ōdan kinshi)
Vehicles must not cut across the road, for example by turning right into a roadside car park or petrol station.
What to do: Only turn left into and out of roadside places.
Only the directions shown
指定方向外進行禁止 (shitei hōkō gai shinkō kinshi)
You may only go in the directions of the arrows.
What to do: Follow the arrows.
Closed to vehicles without tyre chains
タイヤチェーンを取り付けていない車両通行止め (taiya chēn o toritsukete inai sharyō tsūkōdome)
Vehicles without tyre chains may not continue.
What to do: Fit chains before you go on. Winter tyres alone do not meet this rule.
Start and end of a restriction
ここから (koko kara) and ここまで (koko made)
Where the restriction on the main sign starts or ends.
What to do: Read the plate to tell whether a restriction begins or ends.
Restriction ahead
この先 (kono saki)
The restriction shown starts at that distance ahead.
What to do: Get ready to follow it, or turn off before it starts.
Words on the signs
| On the sign | Means |
|---|---|
| 止まれ | Stop tomare |
| 徐行 | Slow down jokō |
| 前方優先道路 | Priority road ahead zenpō yūsen dōro |
| 一方通行 | One way ippō tsūkō |
| 通行止 | Road closed tsūkōdome |
| 駐車禁止 | No parking chūsha kinshi |
| 駐停車禁止 | No stopping or parking chūteisha kinshi |
| 追越し禁止 | No overtaking oikoshi kinshi |
| 転回禁止 | No U-turn tenkai kinshi |
| 歩行者専用 | Pedestrians only hokōsha sen'yō |
| 専用 | Reserved for, only sen'yō. On lane signs, for example a bus lane. |
| 踏切 | Railway crossing fumikiri |
| ここから | From here (restriction starts) koko kara |
| ここまで | To here (restriction ends) koko made |
| この先 | Ahead kono saki. この先100m means 100 m ahead. |
| 日曜・休日を除く | Except Sundays and public holidays nichiyō kyūjitsu o nozoku |
| 自転車を除く | Except bicycles jitensha o nozoku |
| 速度落とせ | Slow down sokudo otose. Shown on electronic boards near speed cameras. |
| 速度自動取締装置設置路線 | Automatic speed enforcement on this route sokudo jidō torishimari sōchi secchi rosen. Wording varies. |
Drawings follow the official designs described by Japan's road authorities. Real signs vary a little in size and lettering. The full guide to driving in Japan