Traffic Lights and Road Signs
1 Types and Meaning of Traffic Lights
Types of Traffic Lights
Green light

Meaning of Traffic Lights(1) Pedestrians can proceed.
(2) Vehicles excluding light road vehicles and streetcars can gostraight or turn right or left. However, motorized bicycles
that turn right via two-stage right turns can go straight until
the point where they turn right and change their direction atthat point.
(3) Light road vehicles (including bicycles and carts) can gostraight or turn left. When they turn right, they can gostraight until the point where they turn right and change
their direction at that point.

Yellow light(1) Pedestrians must not start crossing the road. If they are
already crossing the road, they must finish crossing the road
promptly or stop crossing it and go back.
(2) Vehicles and streetcars must not proceed beyond theirstopping point. However, if they are approaching theirstopping point when the traffic light has turned yellow andcannot stop safely, they can continue to proceed.

Red light(1) Pedestrians must not cross the road.
(2) Vehicles and streetcars must not proceed beyond theirstopping point.
(3) Vehicles and streetcars that are already turning left at anintersection can continue to proceed, even if the traffic lightfor the road they are entering by turning left is red.
(4) Vehicles and streetcars that are already turning right at anintersection can continue to proceed, even if the traffic lightfor the road they are entering by turning right is red. In thiscase, the vehicles and streetcars must not obstruct vehicles
and streetcars from proceeding at a green light. However,light road vehicles and motorized bicycles that turn right via
two-stage right turns must stop at the point where they areturning right when the traffic light for the road they are
entering by turning right is red.

Green-light arrow

Vehicles can proceed in the direction of the arrow even if thetraffic light is yellow or red (in cases where the arrow is a rightarrow, they can also make a U-turn). However, light roadvehicles and motorized bicycles that turn right via two-stage
right turns must not proceed if the arrow is a right arrow.

1Yellow-light arrow

While streetcars can proceed in the direction of the arrow even
if the traffic light is yellow or red, pedestrians and vehicles must
not proceed.

Flashing yellow light

Pedestrians, vehicles, and streetcars can proceed while paying
attention to other traffic

Flashing red light(1) Pedestrians can proceed while paying attention to othertraffic.
(2) Vehicles and streetcars must come to a stop at theirstopping point.

2 Types and Meaning of Road Signs(1)

Regulatory Signs
Types

Meaning IndicatedRoad Closed

Closed to pedestrians, small and remote-controllable mobiles,
vehicles, and streetcars

Road Closed to Vehicles

Prohibition of Vehicle Entry

Closed to vehicles

Exit of a one-way street (prohibition of vehicles entering into itfrom the opposite direction)

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Road Closed to Motor Vehicles

Closed to motor vehicles (excluding two-wheeled motor

Excluding Two-wheeled Motorvehicles)

VehiclesRoad Closed to Large Trucks, etc. Closed to large trucks, specified mid-sized trucks, and large
special motor vehicles

Road Closed to Trucks with a

Closed to trucks with a maximum load capacity larger than a

Maximum Load Capacity Larger

specific amount (there is an auxiliary sign below this regulatory

than a Specific Amountsign)↓an example of the auxiliary sign

Road Closed to Large Passenger
Motor Vehicles, etc.

Road Closed to Two-wheeled

Closed to large passenger motor vehicles and specified midsized passenger motor vehicles

Closed to two-wheeled motor vehicles and motorized bicycles

Motor Vehicles and Motorized
Bicycles3Road Closed to Light Road

Closed to light road vehicles (excluding bicycles)

Vehicles Excluding Bicycles

Road Closed to Bicycles andClosed to bicycles and specified motorized bicycles

Specified Motorized Bicycles

Road Closed to Multiple Vehicles

Closed to the vehicles indicated on the sign board

Road Closed to Large Motorcycles Closed to large motorcycles and standard motorcycles carrying aand Standard Motorcycles

passenger

Carrying a Passenger

Road Closed to Vehicles without

Closed to vehicles without tire chains

Tire Chains

4Prohibited from Proceeding

Vehicles are prohibited from proceeding except in the direction

except in the Direction Indicated indicated by the arrow.

No Crossing by Vehicles

No crossing by vehicles (excluding crossing of a road involving
turning left to enter or leave facilities or places outside the road)No U-turn

Prohibited from Moving onto theRight Side of the Road for

No U-turn by vehicles

Vehicles are prohibited from moving onto the right side of theroad for overtaking.

Overtaking

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No Overtaking

No overtaking by vehicles (there is an auxiliary sign below thisregulatory sign)↓an example of the auxiliary sign

No Stopping or Parking

No Parking

Time-restricted Parking Area

No stopping or parking of vehicles

No parking of vehicles

Designation that indicates the area of the road where vehicles
can remain parked during a limited timeframe and indication of
how long the vehicles can remain parked

Road Closed to Vehicles Loaded

Closed to vehicles loaded with hazardous materials, including

with Hazardous Materials

gunpowder, explosives, poisonous substances, and deleterious
substances

Weight Limit

Closed to vehicles with a gross weight greater than thatindicated on the sign board

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Overhead Clearance

Closed to vehicles of a height greater than that indicated on thesign board (including the height of loaded cargo)

Maximum WidthClosed to vehicles of a width greater than that indicated on thesign board (including the width of loaded cargo)

Maximum Speed(1) Specification of the maximum speed for motor vehicles andstreetcars(2) Specification of the maximum speed (30 km/h or slower) for
motorized bicycles

Minimum Speed

Motor Vehicles Only

Bicycles and Specified Small
Motorized Bicycles Only

Specification of the minimum speed for motor vehicles

Designation of national expressways and limited highways(1) Designation of bicycle paths and bicycle-only roads (roads
built for the passage of bicycles only)(2) Closed to vehicles excluding standard bicycles, specified
small motorized bicycles (except for vehicles that must notproceed on bicycle paths), pedestrians, and small andremote-controllable mobiles

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Standard Bicycles andPedestrians Only

(1) Designation of bicycle-and-pedestrian-only roads(2) Closed to vehicles excluding standard bicycles and specified
small motorized bicycles (except for vehicles that must notproceed on bicycle paths)(3) Designation that indicates that standard bicycles andexceptional specified small motorized bicycles can be ridden
on sidewalks

Pedestrians Only

(1) Designation of pedestrian-only roads (roads built for thepassage of pedestrians and only)(2) Designation of pedestrian paths

Permitted Vehicles Only

Designation of facilities where, among fixed-route buses, charterbuses, and other such motor vehicles, those with permission
from the road administrator can stop

Permitted Vehicles Only

Designation of facilities where, among taxies, those withpermission from the road administrator can stop

Permitted Vehicles Only

Designation of facilities where, among trucks, those withpermission from the road administrator can stop

Multiple Permitted Vehicles Only

Designation of facilities where, among motor vehicles indicatedon the sign board, those with permission from the roadadministrator can stop8

Vehicles for Disaster Management Closed to vehicles and persons excluding those that the roadadministrator finds necessary related to implementation ofOnly
emergency disaster control measures（原文）
広域災害応急対策の実施に関し道路管理者が必要と認める車以外の車及び広域災害応急対策の実施に関し道路管理者が必要と認める者以外の利用の禁止
One Way

Vehicles are prohibited from proceeding in the direction opposite
to that indicated by the arrow on the sign board.

One Way for Bicycles andSpecified Small Motorized Bicycles

Bicycles and specified small motorized bicycles are prohibitedfrom proceeding in the direction opposite to that indicated by
the arrow on the sign board.

Traffic Distribution of Vehicles

Specification of the traffic distribution of vehicles

Traffic Distribution of Certain

Specification of the traffic distribution of certain types of vehicles

Types of vehicles

indicated on the sign board

Traffic Distribution of Motor

Specification of the traffic distribution of motor vehicles towing

Vehicles quipped for Towing onvehicles with a gross weight greater than 750 kg on the main

National expressways

roadway of national expressways

9Exclusive Traffic Lanes

Designation of traffic lanes exclusively for vehicles indicated on
the sign board

Traffic Lanes Exclusive for

Designation of traffic lanes exclusively for standard bicycles

Standard Bicycles

Priority Traffic Lanes for Fixed-

Designation of priority traffic lanes for fixed-route buses androute Buses and Other Suchother such motor vehicles

Motor Vehicles

Designated Area of Road Where

Designation of the area of the road where motor vehicles towing

Motor Vehicles Equipped forvehicles with a gross weight greater than 750 kg must use theTowing Must Use the Left-mostleft-most traffic lane on the main roadway of limited highways

Traffic Lane of Limited Highways

10Traffic Distribution by theSpecification of the traffic distribution of vehicles at an

Direction of Proceeding

intersection by the direction of proceeding

Method for Motorized Bicycles to Specification of the method for motorized bicycles to turn right
Turn Right (in Two Stages)

via a two-stage right turn

Method for Motorized Bicycles to Specification of the method for motorized bicycles to turn right
Turn Right (by Turning in a Small by turning in a small radius
Radius)Proceeding in a Clockwise

Designation that indicates that vehicles must proceed in a

Direction at Roundabouts

clockwise direction at roundabouts

11Parallel Parking

Designation that indicates that when drivers park their vehicles,
they must park them parallel to the edge of the road (in a timerestricted parking area, that the area is an area of road where
drivers can park their vehicles and that they must park them
parallel to the edge of the road)

Perpendicular Parking

Designation that indicates that when drivers park their vehicles,
they must park them perpendicularly to the edge of the road (ina time-restricted parking area, that the area is an area of roadwhere drivers can park their vehicles and that they must park
them perpendicularly to the edge of the road)Angle Parking

Designation that indicates that when drivers park their vehicles,
they must park them at an angle to the edge of the road (in atime-restricted parking area, that the area is an area of roadwhere drivers can park their vehicles and that they must park
them at an angle to the edge of the road)Use of the Horn

Designation of places where vehicles and streetcars must soundtheir horn

Horn Section

Designation of a section of road where vehicles and streetcars
must sound their horn in the following places (there are auxiliary
signs below this regulatory sign)(1) Blind intersections(2) Blind curves(3) Blind summits↓examples of auxiliary signs

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Slow

Designation that indicates that vehicles and streetcars must slow
down

Priority Road Ahead

Designation that indicates that the road ahead intersecting withthe road with this sign has priority (there is an auxiliary signbelow this regulatory sign)↓an example of the auxiliary sign

Stop

Designation that indicates that vehicles and streetcars mustcome to a stop immediately in front of an intersection without
traffic control

Road Closed to Pedestrians

Closed to pedestrians and small and remote-controllable mobiles

No Crossing by Pedestrians

Pedestrians and small and remote-controllable mobiles areprohibited from crossing a road.

(2)

Indication Signs
Types

Meaning IndicatedTraveling Abreast Allowed

Indication that two standard bicycles traveling abreast of eachother is allowed

13Entry into Railway Track Beds
AllowedParking of Vehicles Bearing

Indication that motor vehicles are allowed to enter a railway
track bed is allowed

Indication that parking of vehicles bearing elderly and special-

Elderly and Special-needs Driver needs driver marks is allowed (there is an auxiliary sign below
Marks Allowed

this regulatory sign)↓an example of the auxiliary sign

Parking Allowed

Stopping of Vehicles Bearing

Indication that parking of vehicles is allowed

Indication that the stopping of vehicles bearing elderly andElderly and Special-needs Driver special-needs driver marks is allowed (there is an auxiliary sign
Marks Allowed

below this regulatory sign)↓an example of the auxiliary sign

Stopping Allowed

Indication that stopping of vehicles is allowed

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Priority Road

Indication of a priority roadCenter Line

Indication of the center of the road or the center line

Stopping Line

Indication of the stopping line when vehicles are to stop

Pedestrian Crossing

Indication of a pedestrian crossing

Bicycle Crossing Lane

Indication of a bicycle crossing lane

Pedestrian Crossing and Bicycle

Indication of a pedestrian crossing and bicycle crossing lane

Crossing Lane

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Safety Zone

Advance Notice of Regulation

Indication of a safety zone

Advance notice that the traffic regulation indicated on the signboard is enforced ahead

Advance Notice of Regulation(3)

Same as above

Auxiliary Signs (Excerpt)
Types

Meaning IndicatedStart

Start of an area of road where the traffic regulation indicated on
the main sign applies

EndEnd of the area of road where the traffic regulation indicated on
the main sign applies

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