All Japanese Traffic Signs Explained with Images

Japanese traffic signs (交通標識 — kōtsū hyōshiki) follow a systematic categorization that makes them easier to learn once you understand the underlying logic. Signs are grouped into 6 categories, each serving a distinct purpose:

1. 1.Regulatory Signs (規制標識) — Tell you what you MUST or MUST NOT do (e.g., speed limits, no entry, one-way)
2. 2.Warning Signs (警戒標識) — Alert you to upcoming hazards or road conditions (e.g., curves, intersections, slippery road)
3. 3.Instructional Signs (指示標識) — Provide guidance on how to use the road (e.g., pedestrian crossing, parking permitted)
4. 4.Guide Signs (案内標識) — Help with navigation and route information (e.g., highway directions, distance markers)
5. 5.Auxiliary Signs (補助標識) — Modify or supplement other signs (e.g., time restrictions, vehicle types)
6. 6.Road Markings (路面表示) — Painted on the road surface (e.g., lane dividers, stop lines, speed markings)

Explore all signs with official images in our interactive traffic signs guide.

Regulatory signs are the most important for the driving exam. They use specific shapes and colors:

• •No Entry (車両進入禁止) — Red circle with white horizontal bar
• •No Vehicles (車両通行止め) — Red circle with red X
• •No Parking (駐車禁止) — Blue circle with red diagonal line
• •No Stopping (駐停車禁止) — Blue circle with red X
• •No U-Turn (転回禁止) — Red circle with U-turn arrow crossed out
• •No Overtaking (追越し禁止) — Red circle with two car symbols

• •Vehicles Only (車両専用) — Blue circle with car symbol
• •Pedestrians Only (歩行者専用) — Blue circle with pedestrian symbol
• •Bicycles Only (自転車専用) — Blue circle with bicycle symbol
• •One Way (一方通行) — Blue rectangle with white arrow

• •Maximum Speed (最高速度) — Red circle with number in km/h
• •Minimum Speed (最低速度) — Blue circle with number in km/h (found on highways)

Learn all regulatory signs with our flashcard system for effective memorization.

Warning signs are yellow diamonds (or yellow triangles) that alert drivers to upcoming hazards:

• •Curve Ahead (右/左カーブあり) — Arrow showing curve direction
• •S-Curve (S字カーブ) — S-shaped arrow
• •Steep Grade (急勾配) — Triangle showing percentage grade
• •Road Narrows (幅員減少) — Lines converging

• •T-Junction (T字路あり) — T-shaped symbol
• •Crossroads (十字路あり) — Cross-shaped symbol
• •Roundabout (ロータリーあり) — Circular arrow symbol
• •Merging Traffic (合流あり) — Arrow merging

• •Slippery Road (すべりやすい) — Car with wavy lines
• •Falling Rocks (落石注意) — Rocks falling from cliff
• •Railroad Crossing (踏切あり) — Train symbol
• •School Zone (学校あり) — Children symbol
• •Animals Crossing (動物注意) — Deer or animal symbol

Warning signs are heavily tested on the exam. Study them in context within our traffic signs section.

Instructional Signs (指示標識) tell you positive instructions — what IS permitted or indicated:

• •Pedestrian Crossing (横断歩道) — Blue square with white triangle and pedestrian
• •Parking Permitted (駐車可) — Blue square with P
• •Stopping Permitted (停車可) — Blue square with P in circle
• •Safety Zone (安全地帯) — Blue square with white inverted triangle
• •One-Way Street (一方通行) — Blue rectangle with white arrow

Guide Signs (案内標識) help with navigation:

• •Highway entrance/exit directions (green background)
• •Route number markers
• •Distance to destinations
• •Parking area and service area information
• •Emergency telephone locations

Guide signs are less commonly tested on the exam compared to regulatory and warning signs, but understanding them is important for real-world driving, especially on highways.

Road markings painted on the road surface are just as important as posted signs:

• •White solid line — Do not cross (no overtaking)
• •White dashed line — May cross to overtake
• •Yellow solid line — Overtaking is prohibited
• •Double lines — Follow the marking on your side

• •White dashed lane dividers — Normal lane changes allowed
• •White solid lane dividers — Lane changes restricted
• •Yellow solid lane dividers — Lane changes prohibited

• •Stop line (停止線) — White solid line before intersections
• •Crosswalk markings — White zebra stripes
• •Speed markings — Numbers painted on road showing speed limit
• •Diamond markings — Warning of upcoming pedestrian crossing
• •Arrow markings — Mandatory turning direction

Road markings questions appear frequently on both Karimen and Honmen tests. Review them all in our road markings section.

With 210+ signs to learn, here's an efficient approach:

1. Learn by category, not randomly Study one category at a time. Master regulatory signs before moving to warning signs. Our traffic signs page organizes them by category for easy study.

• •Red = prohibition/restriction
• •Blue = instruction/permission
• •Yellow = warning/caution
• •Green = highway/guide information

3. Use spaced repetition Our flashcard system uses a swipe-based review system. Cards you get wrong appear more frequently, reinforcing your weak spots.

• •No Parking vs. No Stopping (one line vs. X)
• •No Entry vs. No Vehicles (bar vs. X)
• •Speed limit vs. Minimum speed (red circle vs. blue circle)

5. Practice in context Take practice tests where signs appear in exam-format questions. This builds your ability to quickly identify and interpret signs under time pressure.