On our recommendation on making your own designed trip driving in Japan, we strongly wish that you would follow the road rules in Japan and you to have a safe journey. The first step of safe-driving would be for you to follow the road signs correctly. Some are the same but some are different as those in your countries. Some will be difficult because they are written in Japanese. It will surely be your help if you put these signs in your mind beforehand. Trust us! It won’t be that difficult to memorize them.
Japanese road signs are categorized into four types in colour, red, blue, yellow and green.
CATEGORY RED :
The Category Red is mainly for prohibiting.
 |  |  |
| DO NOT ENTER | DO NOT ENTER (vehicles) | DO NOT ENTER (inverse direction of One Way) |
 |  |  |
| NO VEHICLES (mortorcycles can enter) | NO TRUCKS (normal sized cars can enter) | NO MOTORCYLCLES (cars can enter) |
 |  |  |
| NO CYCLING | NO DOUBLE-RIDE OR LARGE MOTORCYCLES | NO HAND CARTS |
 |  |  |
| NO CROSSING (Vehicles) | NO U-TURNS | NO OVERTAKING |
 |  |  |
| NO STOPPING OR PARKING | NO PARKING | SPEED LIMIT 50 km/ph (Number signifies the speed) |
 |  |  |
| MINIMUM SPEED LIMIT (very rare) | NO HOOK TURN TO RIGHT FOR MOPEDS | NO VEHICLES CARRYING DANGEROUS GOODS |
 |  |  |
| SLOW DOWN | STOP | NO ENTRY OF PEDESTIANS |
 | ||
| NO CROSSING OF PEDESTRIANS |
CATEGORY BLUE :
The ‘Category Blue’ are mainly for permitting, but sometimes prohibiting…
 |  |  |
| AHEAD OR TURN LEFT ONLY | AHEAD ONLY | TURN LEFT |
 |  |  |
| TURN LEFT OR RIGHT | ONLY TO DIRECTIONS INDICATED | KEEP LEFT |
 |  |  |
| PARKING ALLOWED (Upper numbers indicate TIME of the day, the number beside 'P' indicates PERIOD. | BICYCLES ONLY | PEDESTRIANS ONLY |
 |  |  |
| PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLES ONLY | MOTORVEHICLES ONLY | HOOK TURN RIGHT PERMITTED FOR MOPEDS |
 |  |  |
| ONE- WAY TRAFFIC LEFT | ONE-WAY TRAFFIC AHEAD | GIVE A HONK |
 |  |  |
| PEDESTRIAN CROSSING | PEDESTRIAN (School Kids) CROSSING | PARKING ALOWED |
 |  | |
| STOP LINE | TURN LEFT WHEN YOU CAN (regardless of traffic signal) |
** Beware! The last one on the list is a bit different from others in the ‘Category Blue’.
When you find this road sign you can turn left regardless of the traficc lights. Of course you will need to make sure that no cars are approaching from your right when before you make a left turn.
CATEGORY YELLOW :
The ‘Category Yellow’ are maily for cautions.
 |  |  |
| ROTARY AHEAD | CROSSING AHEAD | DOUBLE BENT |
 |  |  |
| TRAFFIC SIGNAL AHEAD | SCHOOL OR KINDERGARDEN AHEAD | UNEVEN ROAD |
 |  |  |
| SLIPPERY ROAD | TRAFFIC MERGING AHEAD | LANES DECREASE |
 |  |  |
| 2-WAY TRAFFIC STRAIGHT AHEAD | STEEP HILL DOWNWARDS (there's also the other way round) | ROAD NARROWS AHEAD |
 |  |  |
| LEVEL CROSSING TRAINS WITH GATE AHEAD | LEVEL CROSSING TRAINS WITH GATE AHEAD | ROAD WORKS AHEAD |
 |  |  |
| CAUTION FOR WILD ANIMALS | FALLING OR FALLEN ROCKS | SIDE WINDS |
 | ||
| OTHER DANGER, PLATE INDICATES NATURE OF DANGER |
** Regarding Road signs for Wild Animal there are some varieties of animals depending on the area!
For example rabbits, monkies, racoons… The animals vary. It will be fun to find new animal type signs while you drive!
CATEGORY BLUE on LANES:
Apart from above three categories, ‘Category Blue on Lanes’ are used on lanes, indicating which lane you should take for your direction.
 |  |  |
| APPROPRIATE TRAFFIC LANES AT JUNCTION AHEAD | PRIOPR LANE FOR BUSSES (Give way for buses.) | LANE FOR BUSSES ONLY (DO NOT take this lane.) |
 |  |  |
| TRUCK LANE | PRIOR ROAD | HALFWAY LINE (the lanes turns opposite on this line) |
CATEGORY GREEN :
The last category, ‘Green’ is used especially on Highways/Mortorways.
 |  |  |
| SHUTO-KO (SHUTO EXPRESSWAY) | SHUTO-KO (SHUTO EXPRESSWAY) | ENTRANCE for EXPRESSWAY |
 |  |  |
| ENTRANCE for EXPRESSWAY | PRENOTICE of REST AREA | PRENOTICE of EXIT |
 |  | |
| EXIT (TOLLGATE) of EXPRESSWAY | EXIT (TOLLGATE) of EXPRESSWAY |
SPECIAL CAR STICKERS :
Below are not roadsigns but stickers on some cars that have special meanings that you should take care of.
 |  |
| BEGGINERS | AGED DRIVERS (old version) |
 |  |
| AGED DRIVERS (new version) | HANDICAPPED DRIVERS |
 | |
| HEARING-IMPAIRED DRIVERS |
