Road signs in Japan

Regulatory signs

The stop sign downward-pointingtriangle.with the text 止まれ(tomare)in white. Prohibition sighs are round with white backgrounds, red borders, and blue pictograms.Mandatory instruction are round with blue backgrounds and white pictograms.

  • Rode closed to all

  • Road closed to vehicles

  • No entry

  • No motor vehicles except motorcycles and mopeds

  • No trucks

  • No buses

  • No motorcycle or mopeds

  • No hand carts

  • No bicycles

  • No motor vehicles

  • No two-seater motorcycles

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • Proceed only in the direction of the arrow

  • No right turn crossing ahead

  • No U-turns

  • No overtaking

  • No stopping

  • No parking

  • Limited parking

  • No vehicles carrying dangerous goods

  • No vehicles weighting over 5.5 tonnes

  • No vehicles wider than 2.2 meters

  • No vehicles wider than 3.3 meters

  • Speed limit (50 km/h)

  • Speed limit (80 km/h)

  • Minimum speed limit (50km/h)

  • Motor vihicles only

  • Bicycle only

  • Bicycle and pedestrian only

  • Pedestrian only

  • One-way street to the left

  • One-way street to the left

  • One-way street ahead

  • Two-stage right turn for mopes

  • No two-stage right turn for mopes

  • Sound horm

  • Slow

  • Give way

  • Stop

  • Road closed to pedestrians

  • No pedestrian crossing

Other signs

Direction/distance signs have dark green backgrounds and white test for expressways. In urban areas and on national highways, direction signs have dark blue backgrounds. The signs are normally wriiten Japanese and English.

  • National highway shield (route1)

  • Expressway name (Tomei)

  • Asian Highway route sheild (AH1)

Warning signs

Warning signs are diamond shape with yellow backgrounds, black borders and black pitograms.

  • Crossroads

  • Roundabout warning

  • Succession of more than two ourves to the right

  • Railroad crossing ahead

  • School or kindergarten nearby

  • Traffic lights ahead

  • Slippery road

  • Failling rocks

  • Bumpy road

  • Merging traffic ahead

  • Lane reduction ahead

  • Road narrowing ahead

  • Two-way traffic ahead

  • Steep decent (10%)

  • Steep ascent (10%)

  • Roadworks

  • Beware of crosswinds

  • Wild animal crossing (deer)

  • Other dangers