Driving in Japan
Traffic rules, road signs, speed limits, and driving tips for Japan.
Japan
Get all rules offline in the app
Japan + 50 more countries
Quick reference
Driving side
Left
Speed (urban / rural / highway)
40–60 km/h / 60 km/h / 100 km/h
Blood alcohol limit
0.03%
Emergency
110
Min. rental age
18
Pre-trip checklist
IDP and license
Drive on left
Do not drink and drive
Save 110 (police), 119 (ambulance)
Tolls & practical
Tolls add up; consider rail for long distances.
Expressways (toll) extensive. ETC or pay at booths. Expensive.
Common fines
Drink driving
Heavy; criminal
Speeding
JPY 10,000+
Phone
JPY 50,000+
Get more with the Accudriver app
Trip costs, smart refueling, AI road trips, and driving rules — all in your pocket.
- 50+ European countries covered
- Works fully offline
- Compare rules and road signs between countries
- Save up to €100 with smart refueling
Parking & fuel
Parking
Paid in cities; parking scarce and expensive.
Tip: Tokyo: parking very expensive; public transport often better.
Fuel
Common types: Regular, High Octane, Diesel.
Cards and cash JPY.
Approx. price: High (JPY)
Things that might surprise you
Drive on left
Steering on right; drive left.
0.03% alcohol
Very low limit; strict enforcement.
Expressway tolls
Toll roads expensive; ETC or cash at exit.
Parking
Urban parking scarce; many car parks mechanical.
Guide last verified: 2026-02
General rules
Traffic Direction
Left Hand
Km/h or Mp/h
km/h
For business inquiries: contact@accudriver.io
Speed limits rules
Urban Area
40-50
50-60 - Urban expressways
Speed road
80–100
Express road
120
On some sections of Shin-Tōmei Expressway (E1A) and Tōhoku Expressway (E4)
Where to rent a car in Japan?
The best site to book your car rental is Discovered Cars. They will find the best prices from all big rental companies 👍
Other differences in rules
Maximum promille alcohole
0.03
Toll roads
Yes
Minimum driver age
18
Where to rent a car in Japan?
The best site to book your car rental is Discovered Cars. They will find the best prices from all big rental companies 👍
Japan road signs
Indication signs
Parking
Mandatory signs
Bicycles and pedestrians only
Bicycles only
Pass on this side
Proceed straight or turn right only
Roundabout
Straight ahead only
Turn right ahead only
Priority signs
Give Way Yield
Stop
Prohibitory signs
Maximum height
Maximum weight
Maximum width
No U-turns
No bicycles
No motor vehicles
No motorcycles
No overtaking
No parking or waiting
No stopping
No vehicles
Special regulations signs
Bus lane
Lane for cyclists
One-way street
Speed limit signs
Maximum speed limit
Minimum speed limit
Warning signs
Bend ahead
Children
Dangerous crosswinds
Double bend ahead
Falling rocks or debris
Level crossing (one track)
Level crossing without barriers ahead
Merging traffic
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on one side
Roadworks ahead
Roundabout ahead
Slippery road surface
Steep ascent
Steep descent
Traffic signals ahead
Tram crossing
Two-way traffic ahead
Uneven road ahead
Uneven road ahead
Wild animals
Get more with the Accudriver app
Trip costs, smart refueling, AI road trips, and driving rules — all in your pocket.
- 50+ European countries covered
- Works fully offline
- Compare rules and road signs between countries
- Save up to €100 with smart refueling
Driving in Japan
Traffic rules, road signs, speed limits, and driving tips for Japan.
Japan
Get all rules offline in the app
Japan + 50 more countries
Quick reference
Driving side
Left
Speed (urban / rural / highway)
40–60 km/h / 60 km/h / 100 km/h
Blood alcohol limit
0.03%
Emergency
110
Min. rental age
18
Pre-trip checklist
IDP and license
Drive on left
Do not drink and drive
Save 110 (police), 119 (ambulance)
Tolls & practical
Tolls add up; consider rail for long distances.
Expressways (toll) extensive. ETC or pay at booths. Expensive.
Common fines
Drink driving
Heavy; criminal
Speeding
JPY 10,000+
Phone
JPY 50,000+
Get more with the Accudriver app
Trip costs, smart refueling, AI road trips, and driving rules — all in your pocket.
- 50+ European countries covered
- Works fully offline
- Compare rules and road signs between countries
- Save up to €100 with smart refueling
Parking & fuel
Parking
Paid in cities; parking scarce and expensive.
Tip: Tokyo: parking very expensive; public transport often better.
Fuel
Common types: Regular, High Octane, Diesel.
Cards and cash JPY.
Approx. price: High (JPY)
Things that might surprise you
Drive on left
Steering on right; drive left.
0.03% alcohol
Very low limit; strict enforcement.
Expressway tolls
Toll roads expensive; ETC or cash at exit.
Parking
Urban parking scarce; many car parks mechanical.
Guide last verified: 2026-02
General rules
Traffic Direction
Left Hand
Km/h or Mp/h
km/h
For business inquiries: contact@accudriver.io
Speed limits rules
Urban Area
40-50
50-60 - Urban expressways
Speed road
80–100
Express road
120
On some sections of Shin-Tōmei Expressway (E1A) and Tōhoku Expressway (E4)
Where to rent a car in Japan?
The best site to book your car rental is Discovered Cars. They will find the best prices from all big rental companies 👍
Other differences in rules
Maximum promille alcohole
0.03
Toll roads
Yes
Minimum driver age
18
Where to rent a car in Japan?
The best site to book your car rental is Discovered Cars. They will find the best prices from all big rental companies 👍
Japan road signs
Indication signs
Parking
Mandatory signs
Bicycles and pedestrians only
Bicycles only
Pass on this side
Proceed straight or turn right only
Roundabout
Straight ahead only
Turn right ahead only
Priority signs
Give Way Yield
Stop
Prohibitory signs
Maximum height
Maximum weight
Maximum width
No U-turns
No bicycles
No motor vehicles
No motorcycles
No overtaking
No parking or waiting
No stopping
No vehicles
Special regulations signs
Bus lane
Lane for cyclists
One-way street
Speed limit signs
Maximum speed limit
Minimum speed limit
Warning signs
Bend ahead
Children
Dangerous crosswinds
Double bend ahead
Falling rocks or debris
Level crossing (one track)
Level crossing without barriers ahead
Merging traffic
Road narrows on both sides
Road narrows on one side
Roadworks ahead
Roundabout ahead
Slippery road surface
Steep ascent
Steep descent
Traffic signals ahead
Tram crossing
Two-way traffic ahead
Uneven road ahead
Uneven road ahead
Wild animals
Get more with the Accudriver app
Trip costs, smart refueling, AI road trips, and driving rules — all in your pocket.
- 50+ European countries covered
- Works fully offline
- Compare rules and road signs between countries
- Save up to €100 with smart refueling