Why is the Japanese stop sign a triangle?

Japan uses its own design. JAF explains that the Japanese stop sign is a point-down triangle with STOP written in Japanese (止まれ), while the international standard is an octagonal sign. Treat any point-down triangle at a junction as a stop sign.

What does the red sign with a white bar mean in Japan?

It means no entry for vehicles. It is placed at the exit of a one-way street so that vehicles do not enter from the wrong direction.

Is the speed limit on Japanese signs in km/h or mph?

Always km/h. The sign shows only the number, for example 40 means 40 km/h.

What does the white upside-down triangle painted on the road mean?

It is the priority-road-ahead marking. The road you are about to cross has priority, so slow down and give way to its traffic. It does not by itself require a full stop, unless there is also a stop sign.

Japanese road signs explained: stop, one way, no entry and speed

Q: Do Japanese road signs have English?

Some do. Since 1 July 2017, stop signs and priority-road-ahead signs can carry English below the Japanese, and slow signs can show SLOW. JAF says the number of stop signs with English is limited, so learn the shapes and colours.

The Japanese stop sign is a point-down triangle that says 止まれ (“stop”) in Japanese, and only some also say STOP in English. When you see it, come to a complete stop and check left and right. A red sign with a white bar means no entry, a blue sign with a white arrow means one way, and speed limit signs show only a number in km/h. This guide shows the signs a visitor most needs to recognise; for the wider driving rules, see Japan road rules for visitors.

What does the Japanese stop sign look like?

JAF explains that the Japanese stop sign is a point-down triangle with “STOP” written in Japanese (止まれ). The international standard is an octagonal STOP sign, so it may not look like the stop sign you know.

What you see	Japanese name	What you must do
Point-down triangle with 止まれ (some also say STOP)	一時停止 (stop)	Come to a complete stop before the stop line, then check left and right
A white line across your lane	停止線 (stop line)	Stop your car before this line

Source: JAF, "Driving rules differ between Japan and foreign countries"; National Police Agency, "Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan"; Hokkaido Government, "Major road signs and traffic lights in Japan" (checked on 26 October 2026)

How to pass a stop sign:

Slow down as soon as you see the triangle sign.
Stop completely before the stop line. If there is no line, stop just before the junction.
Look left and right for cars, bicycles and pedestrians.
Go only when it is safe.

Rolling through slowly does not count as a stop.

Do Japanese road signs have English?

Some do, but do not rely on it. An amendment that took effect on 1 July 2017 allows stop signs and priority-road-ahead signs to carry English below the Japanese, and slow signs (徐行) to show SLOW. JAF says the number of stop signs with English is limited.

Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, press release of 13 April 2017; JAF (checked on 26 October 2026)

Learn the shapes and colours below instead.

What do the colours of Japanese road signs mean?

Japanese law sets the colours for each sign. These are the ones you will meet most often.

Colours	Sign (Japanese name)	Meaning	What to do
Point-down triangle with 止まれ	Stop (一時停止)	Full stop	Stop before the stop line and check both ways
White background, red border, blue text 徐行 (some also say SLOW)	Slow (徐行)	Drive slowly	Drive slowly enough to stop at once; as a guide, 10 km/h or less
Red background, white bar	No entry for vehicles (車両進入禁止)	Do not enter from this side	Do not turn in. It usually marks the exit of a one-way street
Blue background, white arrow	One way (一方通行)	Traffic goes only in the arrow’s direction	Do not drive against the arrow
Blue background, white arrows	No travel except in the direction shown (指定方向外進行禁止)	Only the directions shown are allowed	Go only where the arrows point
White background, red border, blue number	Maximum speed (最高速度)	Speed limit in km/h	Do not exceed the number
Blue background, red border and red diagonal band	No parking (駐車禁止) / No stopping or parking (駐停車禁止)	You cannot park, or cannot even stop	See parking rules
White background, red border and band, blue symbol	No moving onto the right side for overtaking (追越しのための右側部分はみ出し通行禁止)	Do not overtake by moving into the right side of the road	Stay in your lane
Yellow background, black symbol	Warning signs, for example railway crossing ahead (踏切あり)	Danger or something to watch for ahead	Slow down and get ready

Source: Order on Road Signs, Lane Lines and Road Markings, Appended Table 2 notes (excerpt published by Otaru City); National Police Agency, "Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan" and "Traffic Lights and Road Signs"; Hokkaido Government (checked on 26 October 2026)

Which signs tell me I cannot drive down a road?

These three signs tell you which way you may drive.

Sign	What the National Police Agency says
One way (一方通行)	On one-way streets, you may proceed only in the direction of the arrow
No entry for vehicles (車両進入禁止)	You must not enter from this direction. It marks the exit of a one-way street
No travel except in the direction shown (指定方向外進行禁止)	Vehicles may proceed only in the directions of the arrow

Source: National Police Agency, "Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan" and "Traffic Lights and Road Signs" (checked on 26 October 2026)

If your navigation tells you to turn into a street with a red no-entry sign, do not turn. Follow the sign, not the navigation.

What do Japanese speed limit signs mean?

The speed limit sign shows a blue number inside a red border, with no unit. The number is always in km/h. For example, 40 means 40 km/h. Do not exceed the posted limit.

Source: Hokkaido Government, "Major road signs and traffic lights in Japan"; National Police Agency (checked on 26 October 2026)

Where there is no sign, legal limits apply. They are listed in Japan road rules for visitors.

What do the no parking and no stopping signs mean?

Both signs are blue with a red border and red diagonal band, so they look alike.

Sign	Meaning
No parking (駐車禁止)	Parking is not permitted
No stopping or parking (駐停車禁止)	Stopping and parking are not permitted

Source: National Police Agency, "Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan" (checked on 26 October 2026)

A small plate under a sign can add limits, such as times. If you are not sure, do not stop there and look for a car park. Fines and the places where you can never stop are in parking rules in Japan.

What does the no-overtaking sign with a yellow line mean?

The sign called 追越しのための右側部分はみ出し通行禁止 means you must not move onto the right side of the road to overtake. The National Police Agency says that when passing another vehicle, you must not cross the solid yellow line in the centre of the road.

Source: National Police Agency, "Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan" and "Traffic Lights and Road Signs" (checked on 26 October 2026)

What should I do at a railway crossing sign?

The yellow warning sign with a railway symbol (踏切あり) means a railway crossing is ahead. At the crossing itself, you must come to a complete stop, even when the warning alarm is not sounding. JAF notes that very few countries require this, so it surprises many visitors.

Source: National Police Agency, "Follow the rules and drive safely in Japan"; JAF (checked on 26 October 2026)

The Hokkaido Government says that when the alarm sounds and the lights flash, a train is coming: stop before the crossing and wait for the train to pass.

What does the white upside-down triangle on the road mean?

A white ▽ painted on your lane before a junction is the priority-road-ahead marking (前方優先道路). It is not a stop sign. It tells you that the road you are about to cross has priority.

Slow down as you approach the junction.
Check for cars on the road you are crossing.
If a car is coming, stop or slow down and let it pass.
Cross carefully when it is clear.

Source: JAF Mate Online, "What the white ▽ road marking means" (checked on 26 October 2026)

This marking alone does not require a full stop. If there is also a triangle stop sign or 止まれ written on the road, you must stop.