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Stopping and parking
Stopping and parking: Japan license conversion written test rules
Parking and stopping are prohibited in an intersection and within 5 m of its edge. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58 Parking and stopping are prohibited on pedestrian or bicycle crossings and within 5 m before and after them, and within 5 m of a bend in the road. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58 Parking and stopping are prohibited on a railway crossing and within 10 m before and after it. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58 Parking and stopping are prohibited within 10 m of a bus or tram stop sign, but only during the hours the service operates. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58 Parking (but not stopping) is prohibited within 3 m of a vehicle entrance or exit of a car park or garage. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(3), p. 58 Stopping to let people get on or off, or to load or unload goods, for 5 minutes or less is not parking. 教則 第5章 第8節 1, p. 57 When parking on a road, you must not park in the same place continuously for 12 hours or more (8 hours or more at night), except on roads in certain villages. 教則 第5章 第8節 9(2), p. 61
Key rules
- Parking and stopping are prohibited near the top of a slope and on steep slopes (uphill or downhill). 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Parking and stopping are prohibited in tunnels. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Parking and stopping are prohibited in an intersection and within 5 m of its edge. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Parking and stopping are prohibited within 5 m of a bend (corner) in the road. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Parking and stopping are prohibited on pedestrian or bicycle crossings and within 5 m before and after them. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Parking and stopping are prohibited on a railway crossing and within 10 m before and after it. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Parking and stopping are prohibited on the left side of a safety zone and within 10 m before and after it. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Parking and stopping are prohibited within 10 m of a bus or tram stop sign (post), but only during operating hours. Note: Only during the hours the bus/tram service operates. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Parking is prohibited within 3 m of a vehicle entrance/exit of a car park, garage, etc. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(3), p. 58
- You must not park where, after parking, there would be less than 3.5 m of road space left on the right side of the car. Note: Allowed when loading/unloading and the driver can drive off immediately, or when unavoidable to aid the injured or sick. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(4), p. 58
- On a road without a sidewalk or roadside strip, you must park/stop along the left edge of the road. 教則 第5章 第8節 3(1), p. 59
- If the roadside strip is wide, you may enter it to park/stop, but you must leave at least 0.75 m of space (for pedestrians). Note: Not allowed where the strip has a white solid+dashed line or double white lines. 教則 第5章 第8節 3(3), p. 59
- You must not park or stop side by side with (double-park next to) a vehicle parked/stopped parallel to the road. 教則 第5章 第8節 3(5), p. 59
- When parking on a road, you must not park in the same place continuously for 12 hours or more (8 hours or more at night), except on roads in certain villages. Note: Except roads within certain specified villages. 教則 第5章 第8節 9(2), p. 61
- Stopping to let people get on or off, or to load/unload goods for 5 minutes or less, is not parking. 教則 第5章 第8節 1, p. 57
Common traps
- Watch the number: parking is banned within 5 m of an intersection, not 3 m. The 3 m limit is for a car park or garage entrance. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58 教則 第5章 第8節 2(3), p. 58
- Do not mix up 5 m and 10 m: the ban is 5 m at intersections, bends and pedestrian crossings, but 10 m at railway crossings and safety zones. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Bus stops have a time condition: the 10 m ban around a bus or tram stop sign applies only during the hours the service operates. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
- Read the verb: the 5 m rule at intersections and crossings bans parking and stopping, while the 3 m rule at a garage entrance, the 1 m rule at a fire alarm and the 5 m rule at a fire hydrant ban parking only. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58 教則 第5章 第8節 2(3), p. 58
- Know the definition: a stop of 5 minutes or less to let people on or off or to load or unload goods is not parking. Stopping means a short stop that does not count as parking. 教則 第5章 第8節 1, p. 57
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
Where a "No parking or stopping" sign is posted, you must not stop even briefly to let a passenger get out.
Reveal the answer
True. Where a "No parking or stopping" sign or marking is present, both parking and stopping are prohibited. Only stops such as for a red light or to prevent danger are allowed.
Source: 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
Statement 2 of 5
You may park if at least 3 m of road space is left on the right side of your car.
Reveal the answer
False. You must not park where less than 3.5 m of road space would be left on the right side of your car.
Source: 教則 第5章 第8節 2(4), p. 58
Statement 3 of 5
In a time-limited parking zone with a parking meter, you must start the meter as soon as you park.
Reveal the answer
True. When you park in a time-limited parking zone with a parking meter, you must start the meter immediately.
Source: 教則 第5章 第8節 4(1), p. 59
Statement 4 of 5
You may stop 3 m from the edge of an intersection to let a passenger get out.
Reveal the answer
False. Parking and stopping are prohibited within 5 m of the edge of an intersection, so a stop 3 m from it is not allowed.
Source: 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
Statement 5 of 5
When you leave a manual car parked on an uphill slope, you must leave it in reverse gear.
Reveal the answer
False. Uphill, you leave a manual car in low (first) gear. Reverse is for flat ground and downhill slopes; an automatic goes in P.
Source: 教則 第5章 第8節 10(1), p. 62
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
How far from an intersection must I park in Japan?
Parking and stopping are prohibited in an intersection and within 5 m of its edge. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
How close to a railway crossing can I park in Japan?
Parking and stopping are prohibited on a railway crossing and within 10 m before and after it. 教則 第5章 第8節 2(2), p. 58
How long can I leave a car parked in the same place on a road in Japan?
When parking on a road, you must not park in the same place continuously for 12 hours or more (8 hours or more at night), except on roads in certain villages. 教則 第5章 第8節 9(2), p. 61
Last checked: . Rules and procedures can change; the license center that handles your application decides.