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Road signs and markings
Road signs and markings: Japan license conversion written test rules
Main signs are of 4 types: regulatory, instruction, warning and guide signs. 教則 第1章 第2節 2(1), p. 7 Road markings are lines, symbols and characters on the road surface, and there are 2 types: regulatory markings and instruction markings. 教則 第1章 第2節 3(1), p. 8 Vehicles must not stop or park at a 'No stopping or parking' sign, and must not park at a 'No parking' sign. 教則 付表3(1)17, p. 99 教則 付表3(1)18, p. 99 On 'No stopping or parking', 'No parking', 'Parking clearance' and 'Time-limited parking zone' signs, numbers such as '8-20' show the hours when the regulation applies: 8-20 means from 8:00 to 20:00. 教則 付表3(1)note17-20, p. 107 At a 'Stop' sign, vehicles must make a temporary stop just before an intersection without traffic control. 教則 付表3(1)40, p. 106
Key rules
- 'No stopping or parking' (駐停車禁止) sign: vehicles must not stop or park. Red diagonal band and frame, white text and edge, blue background. 教則 付表3(1)17, p. 99
- 'No parking' (駐車禁止) sign: vehicles must not park. 教則 付表3(1)18, p. 99
- 'Parking clearance' (駐車余地) sign: when a vehicle parks, it must leave at least the distance shown on the auxiliary sign free on its right side. 教則 付表3(1)19, p. 99
- 'One way' (一方通行) sign: vehicles must not travel in the direction opposite to the arrow on the sign. White symbol and border line, blue edge and background. 教則 付表3(1)31, p. 102
- 'No U-turn' (転回禁止) sign: vehicles must not make a U-turn. 教則 付表3(1)14, p. 99
- 'No overtaking' (追越し禁止) sign: vehicles must not overtake. Auxiliary sign No.80 ('追越し禁止') is placed under this sign. 教則 付表3(1)16, p. 99
- 'Go slowly' (徐行) sign: vehicles and trams must go slowly (徐行). Blue text, red frame, white edge and background. 教則 付表3(1)38, p. 106
- 'Stop' (一時停止, 止まれ) sign: vehicles and trams must make a temporary stop just before an intersection without traffic control (no signals/officer). White text and border line, red edge and background. 教則 付表3(1)40, p. 106
- 'Keep-out area' (立入り禁止部分) road marking: designates a part of the road where vehicles must not travel. Yellow border line with white diagonal lines. 教則 付表3(2)7, p. 128
- 'No stopping area' (停止禁止部分) road marking: an area vehicles and trams must not enter when traffic is congested and they might have to stop on it if they go ahead. White marking. 教則 付表3(2)8, p. 129
- You must not change lanes across a yellow lane line; the same applies where lanes are divided by a white line but a yellow line runs parallel on your lane's side. 教則 第5章 第5節 2(2), p. 53
- You must not drive on roads where passage is prohibited by signs such as 'Road closed', 'No vehicles', 'Ordinary bicycles and pedestrians only' or 'Pedestrians only'. 教則 第5章 第2節 7(1), p. 46
- Signs (標識) are boards showing traffic regulations; there are main signs and auxiliary signs. Main signs are of 4 types: regulatory, instruction, warning and guide signs. 教則 第1章 第2節 2(1), p. 7
- Road markings (標示) are lines, symbols and characters shown on the road surface by paint, road studs, etc.; there are 2 types: regulatory markings and instruction markings. 教則 第1章 第2節 3(1), p. 8
- On 'No stopping or parking', 'No parking', 'Parking clearance' and 'Time-limited parking zone' signs, numbers such as '8-20' show the hours when the regulation applies: 8-20 means from 8:00 to 20:00. 教則 付表3(1)note17-20, p. 107
Common traps
- Stopping versus parking: a 'No stopping or parking' sign bans both, while a 'No parking' sign bans parking. 教則 付表3(1)17, p. 99 教則 付表3(1)18, p. 99
- Read the hours: a number such as 8-20 under a parking sign means the regulation applies from 8:00 to 20:00. 教則 付表3(1)note17-20, p. 107
- Count the types: there are 4 types of main signs (regulatory, instruction, warning, guide) but only 2 types of road markings (regulatory and instruction). 教則 第1章 第2節 2(1), p. 7 教則 第1章 第2節 3(1), p. 8
- Mind the yellow line: you must not change lanes across a yellow lane line. 教則 第5章 第5節 2(2), p. 53
- Auxiliary signs matter: they are usually attached below main signs and show the reason for a regulation or the times, days of the week or vehicle types it applies to. 教則 第1章 第2節 2(6), p. 8
Try 5 statements
Decide True or False first, then reveal the answer. Each answer comes with its explanation and the rule it is based on.
Statement 1 of 5
A sign warning that there is a railway crossing ahead is a regulatory sign.
Reveal the answer
False. A sign showing a railway crossing ahead is a warning sign. Warning signs tell road users in advance about dangers or situations that need care.
Source: 教則 第1章 第2節 2(4), p. 8
Statement 2 of 5
A 'No crossing by vehicles' (車両横断禁止) sign does not ban crossing that involves a left turn into or out of a roadside facility.
Reveal the answer
True. The sign bans vehicles from crossing the road, except crossing with a left turn to enter or leave a place off the road.
Source: 教則 付表3(1)13, p. 98
Statement 3 of 5
You may cross a yellow lane line to change lanes if there is no car in the next lane.
Reveal the answer
False. Where lanes are divided by a yellow line, you must not cross it to change lanes. The rule has no exception for an empty lane.
Source: 教則 第5章 第5節 2(2), p. 53
Statement 4 of 5
On a 'One way' (一方通行) sign, the arrow shows the direction in which vehicles must not travel.
Reveal the answer
False. The arrow shows the permitted direction. Vehicles must not travel in the direction opposite to the arrow.
Source: 教則 付表3(1)31, p. 102
Statement 5 of 5
You must not enter a 'No stopping area' marking if traffic ahead may cause you to stop on it.
Reveal the answer
True. You must not enter a 'No stopping area' marking, for example in front of a police or fire station, if you might get stuck there.
Source: 教則 第5章 第7節 2(9), p. 57
Now try the full test
The free practice test has 50 true/false statements in 30 minutes, and the pass mark is 45. No sign-up, and every answer is explained with its rule.
Take the free testQuestions and answers
What is the difference between 'No parking' and 'No stopping or parking' signs in Japan?
Vehicles must not stop or park at a 'No stopping or parking' sign, and must not park at a 'No parking' sign. 教則 付表3(1)17, p. 99 教則 付表3(1)18, p. 99
How many types of road signs are there in Japan?
Main signs are of 4 types: regulatory, instruction, warning and guide signs. 教則 第1章 第2節 2(1), p. 7 Road markings are lines, symbols and characters on the road surface, and there are 2 types: regulatory markings and instruction markings. 教則 第1章 第2節 3(1), p. 8
What does a Stop sign require in Japan?
At a 'Stop' sign, vehicles must make a temporary stop just before an intersection without traffic control. 教則 付表3(1)40, p. 106
Last checked: . Rules and procedures can change; the license center that handles your application decides.