Flashing Yellow vs Flashing Red Lights in Japan (点滅) Explained

The difference at a glance

Both lights are common at quiet intersections, especially at night. Only the color differs, yet what you must do is the opposite: one lets you go, the other makes you stop. Here is what a driver needs to remember.

What the law says

Signal meanings are defined in the table in Article 2 of the Road Traffic Act Enforcement Order (道路交通法施行令). Flashing yellow: “pedestrians and vehicles may proceed while paying attention to other traffic.” Flashing red: “pedestrians may proceed while paying attention to other traffic” and “vehicles must stop temporarily at the stop position.”

The duty to obey traffic lights is in Article 7 of the Road Traffic Act (道路交通法). Rolling through a flashing red is a signal violation, not merely bad manners.

The notes to the same table define the “stop position” (停止位置). If there is a stop line, the stop position is just before that line. Otherwise:

• Before an intersection: just before the intersection (including any crosswalk right next to it, up to its outer edge)
• Away from an intersection where there is a crosswalk, bicycle crossing or railroad crossing (踏切): just before it
• Away from an intersection with none of these: just before the traffic light

Flashing red: what to do after you stop

The National Police Agency's Rules of the Road (交通の方法に関する教則) explain that where there is a STOP sign (一時停止), you must stop just before the stop line (or just before the intersection if there is no line) and must not obstruct vehicles or streetcars on the crossing road. It then adds: “the same applies when there is a flashing red signal in your direction.”

In other words, a flashing red means: stop, let cross traffic go first, then proceed. Easing into the intersection at a crawl (徐行) does not count as a stop. Let the wheels come to a complete halt, check that it is safe, and only then pull away.

The crossing road usually shows flashing yellow, so as a rule treat the other side as having priority and wait.

Flashing yellow: no stop required, but not a free pass

A flashing yellow carries no duty to stop; you may proceed while watching for other traffic. However, the Rules of the Road cover it under “how to pass intersections without traffic control” (交通整理の行われていない交差点), because a flashing light does not divide right of way into green, yellow and red phases.

So the normal intersection rules still apply: if the crossing road is a priority road (優先道路) or clearly wider, do not obstruct traffic on it; if both roads are about the same width, do not obstruct vehicles coming from your left.

The other trap is confusing it with a steady yellow light (黄色の灯火). A steady yellow means “do not go beyond the stop position” (you may continue only if you are too close to stop safely) – almost the opposite of a flashing yellow.

Learn the four lights as a set: steady vs flashing

Test questions swap “steady or flashing” and “yellow or red”. Memorize these four together and you will not mix them up (all for vehicles).

A real-style test question

Here is a question from the menkyopass question bank, in the same true/false format as the actual test:

Question: “赤色の点滅信号では、車は徐行して交差点に入ることができる。” (At a flashing red light, a vehicle may enter the intersection at reduced speed.) Answer: False (×). At a flashing red light you must stop at the stop position and check that it is safe before proceeding. Entering the intersection while merely slowing down is not allowed.

Variations: “At a flashing yellow light, vehicles must always stop” is false. “Pedestrians may proceed with caution at a flashing red light” is true (○). Always check whether the subject is a vehicle (車) or a pedestrian (歩行者).

Practice flashing-signal questions in English

The knowledge test checks whether you understand Japanese traffic terms precisely. The differences between 点滅 (flashing), 一時停止 (full stop) and 徐行 (slow down) stick faster when you practice with explanations in your own language. You can review the traffic-light questions in the menkyopass mock test (the first test and three topics are free).

Practice questions using this term

• At a flashing red light, vehicles may enter the intersection at a slow speed without stopping.
• At night, whenever you stop or park on a road, you must turn on your hazard lights, even in a place that street lighting makes visible from 50 meters behind.
• At night, if you stop or park on an expressway because of a breakdown, you must turn on your hazard lights or tail lights in addition to placing the warning device.

FAQ

Related guides

• Japan Traffic Light Rules: Yellow, Flashing, Arrows, Signals
• Japanese Road Signs: Common Mistakes in the Conversion Test
• Right of Way in Japan: Intersections, Pedestrians, Emergencies
• Japanese Road Signs: Regulatory vs Instruction Signs (規制・指示標識)
• 徐行 vs 一時停止: Slow Down vs Full Stop in Japan's Test

Sources (in Japanese)

• e-Gov法令検索「道路交通法施行令」（第2条 信号の意味・停止位置の定義）
• e-Gov法令検索「道路交通法」（第7条 信号に従う義務、第43条 指定場所における一時停止）
• 警察庁「交通の方法に関する教則」（令和6年11月13日現在・全文PDF）付表1・第6章第3節