Gaimen50-question practice tests in the real exam formatWhat does 一時停止 (ichiji teishi) mean? Full stops in Japan
Updated: 2026-10
一時停止 (いちじていし, ichiji teishi) means bringing the vehicle to a complete stop. At a 「止まれ」 (STOP) sign you stop just before the stop line (停止線), or just before the intersection if there is no line (Road Traffic Act (道路交通法), Article 43). The knowledge test (知識確認) has False statements in both directions: "you must always stop" and "slowing down is enough".
Meaning and where to stop
The Road Traffic Act has no separate definition of ichiji teishi, but many articles say the driver "must stop", meaning the wheels come to a complete halt. Rolling slowly while checking is jokō (徐行, slowing down), not a stop.
Each article says where to stop. For the 「止まれ」 sign (inverted triangle), stop just before the stop line; if there is no line, just before the intersection (Article 43). No stop line does not cancel the duty. After stopping you must not obstruct traffic on the crossing road.
Spelling and reading: 一時停止 (いちじていし / ichiji teishi). The word on the sign is 「止まれ」.
Main situations that require a full stop
In these situations slowing down is not enough.
| Situation | Where / condition | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| 「止まれ」 sign | Before the stop line (or before the intersection) | Article 43 |
| Flashing red signal | At the stopping point | Enforcement Order (施行令) Art. 2 |
| Railroad crossing (踏切) | Just before it. If the crossing's traffic signal is green, you may go through without stopping | Article 33 |
| Pedestrians or cyclists crossing or about to cross a crosswalk | Just before the crosswalk | Article 38(1) |
| Passing a vehicle stopped before a crosswalk to move ahead of it | Before moving ahead | Article 38(2) |
| Crossing a sidewalk or side strip (路側帯) to enter a garage or parking lot | Just before the sidewalk, even if nobody is there | Article 17(2) |
| An emergency vehicle approaches when you are at or near an intersection | Avoid the intersection, keep left and stop | Article 40(1) |
Test trap: where a full stop is NOT required
Statements that say "you must always stop" are often False. In these situations the duty is to slow down or give way, not to stop.
- Blind intersection → jokō (a stop only if a sign requires it)
- Passing pedestrians → keep a safe gap or slow down
- Passing a stopped school bus → slow down and check for safety
- Passing a safety zone (安全地帯) with people on it → slow down
- Emergency vehicle approaching away from an intersection → keep left and give way (no duty to stop)
- Railroad crossing signal showing green → go through without stopping (still check for safety)
Examples
Example 1: A 「止まれ」 sign at an intersection with no stop line → stop just before the intersection (True).
Example 2: Crossing a sidewalk into a parking lot with no pedestrians in sight → you still stop just before the sidewalk (True). "If there are no pedestrians, slowing down is enough" is False.
Example 3: Flashing red → stop at the stopping point, then proceed when safe. Flashing yellow → you may proceed with care (no duty to stop).
Practice the difference in your language
Since October 2025 the knowledge test has 50 True/False questions in 30 minutes; you need 45 correct. "Stop or slow down" appears again and again in the right-of-way and signal topics. menkyopass lets you practice with English explanations (the first mock test and three topics are free).
Practice questions using this term
- Where this sign is posted and there is no stop line, you must stop just before the intersection.
- When passing a safety zone with pedestrians in it, you must come to a complete stop.
- When driving through an intersection where you cannot see clearly to the left and right, you must always come to a complete stop.
- When another vehicle is stopped just before a pedestrian crossing, you must stop before passing alongside it and moving ahead of it.
- When a bicycle is about to cross at a bicycle crossing lane, you must stop just before it and give way, the same as for pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing.
- Whenever you drive past a pedestrian, you must come to a complete stop.
- When passing a stopped school or kindergarten bus, you must always come to a complete stop.
- When an emergency vehicle approaches somewhere other than at or near an intersection, you must pull over to the left side of the road and come to a complete stop.
- When an emergency vehicle approaches while you are at or near an intersection, you must keep clear of the intersection, pull over to the left side of the road, and stop.
- When there is an obstacle such as a parked vehicle ahead in your path, you must stop or slow down in advance and give way to vehicles coming from the opposite direction.
FAQ
Q. Where do I stop if there is no stop line?
A. Just before the intersection (Article 43). The duty to stop remains even without a line.
Q. Must I always stop at a railroad crossing?
A. As a rule, yes, just before the crossing. But when the crossing's own traffic signal shows green you may go through without stopping. "Stop in every case" is False.
Q. Do I stop at a blind intersection?
A. The legal duty is jokō (slowing down), and not even that if signals control the intersection or you are on a priority road. A full stop is required only when a 「止まれ」 sign or similar designates it.