Gaimen50-question practice tests in the real exam format161 practice questions for the Japanese license conversion test (with answers)
True/false questions for the knowledge test (chishiki kakunin) you take when converting a foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one (gaimen kirikae), grouped by topic. Every question comes with the answer and an explanation in English.
Road signs (24 questions)
- On a road with this sign, up to three motorcycles may ride side by side.
- At an intersection with this sign, you may drive through as long as you slow down and check that it is safe.
- Where this sign is posted and there is no stop line, you must stop just before the intersection.
- Where this sign is posted, not only parking but also stopping is prohibited.
- Even where this sign is posted, you may stop to let people get on or off.
- Even where this sign is posted, stopping for up to 5 minutes to load or unload goods is not a violation.
- Within the zone covered by this sign, you must drive with your horn sounding at all times.
- Slowing down (slow driving) means driving at a speed of 10 km/h or less.
- On a road with this sign, vehicles cannot enter from either direction.
- On a road with this sign, no motor vehicles, motorized bicycles (mopeds), or light vehicles (bicycles, etc.) may pass.
- On a road with this sign, vehicles cannot pass but pedestrians can.
- Where this sign is posted, you may neither make a U-turn nor reverse.
- Where this sign is posted, you may overtake as long as you do not cross into the right half of the road.
- This sign has the same meaning as the 'Left Turn Permitted' board, which shows a blue left arrow on a white background.
- A sign showing the number 30 with a line under it means you must not drive faster than 30 km/h.
- Even small special motor vehicles, motorized bicycles (mopeds), and light vehicles must not drive in a lane reserved exclusively for route buses (bus-only lane).
- A priority lane for route buses means the same as a bus-only lane, so regular cars must not drive in it.
- The Pedestrian Crossing sign is an instruction sign showing a pedestrian in white on a blue background.
- If a Closed to Vehicles sign has an auxiliary plate reading 'except mopeds,' motorized bicycles (mopeds) still cannot use the road.
- The main road signs come in four types: regulatory signs, instruction signs, warning signs, and guide signs.
- Where the road marking 'No Stopping Zone' framed in yellow is painted, you must not enter that area to drive through it.
- When passing a safety zone with pedestrians in it, you must come to a complete stop.
- Where there is a 'maximum height 3.3 m' sign, vehicles whose height, including the load, exceeds 3.3 meters cannot pass.
- If a No Parking sign has an auxiliary plate reading '8-20,' parking is prohibited only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Traffic signals (16 questions)
- At a steady yellow traffic light, vehicles may proceed while paying attention to other traffic.
- At a flashing red light, vehicles may enter the intersection at a slow speed without stopping.
- When the traffic light shows a green right-turn arrow, you may turn right but you may not make a U-turn.
- When a yellow arrow signal is shown, vehicles may proceed in the direction of the arrow.
- Even when a green right-turn arrow is shown, motorized bicycles (mopeds) that must make a two-step right turn, and light vehicles, may not start turning right.
- A green traffic light means 'go,' so vehicles facing it must always proceed.
- When a police officer is directing traffic with hand signals and they differ from the traffic light, you must follow the officer's hand signals.
- When a police officer raises an arm straight up, traffic facing the front of the officer's body is under the same rule as a red light.
- At a place away from any intersection, where there is no pedestrian crossing, bicycle crossing lane, or railroad crossing, if a traffic light is installed you must stop just before the traffic light.
- When turning right or left, you must give the signal 30 meters before the point where you will turn.
- You must signal about three seconds before making a U-turn.
- When you are about to enter a roundabout, you must give a signal in advance.
- When turning right at an intersection with three or more lanes on one side, a motorized bicycle (moped) must make a two-step right turn even if there is no two-step right turn sign.
- When driving through an intersection where you cannot see clearly to the left and right, you must always come to a complete stop.
- At an intersection where lanes are designated by direction of travel, you must follow the designated lane even when giving way to an emergency vehicle.
- When turning right on a one-way road, you must move as close as possible to the right edge of the road in advance, and drive slowly through the inside of the intersection's center.
Right of way (22 questions)
- When a pedestrian is about to cross at a pedestrian crossing, it is enough to slow down and let the pedestrian go.
- When you approach a pedestrian crossing and it is not clear whether anyone is going to cross, you must reduce speed so that you can stop just before the crossing.
- 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.
- When a pedestrian is crossing at or near an intersection that has no pedestrian crossing, you must not obstruct the pedestrian.
- Whenever you drive past a pedestrian, you must come to a complete stop.
- When passing a child walking alone, it is good practice to sound your horn to warn the child and drive past at the same speed.
- 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.
- On a one-way road, if pulling over to the left would actually get in the emergency vehicle's way, you pull over to the right to give way.
- A road whose center line or vehicle traffic lanes continue through the middle of an intersection is a priority road.
- At an intersection without traffic control, the vehicle coming from the left always has priority, regardless of the width of the roads.
- When you arrive at the same time at an uncontrolled intersection where the roads are about the same width, you must give way to the vehicle coming from the left.
- At an uncontrolled intersection where the roads are about the same width, if a streetcar approaches from the right, your car may go first because you are on the left.
- At an intersection, a vehicle turning right may go before vehicles going straight or turning left.
- On a narrow slope where vehicles cannot pass each other, the rule is that the vehicle going uphill gives way to the vehicle coming downhill.
- When meeting another vehicle on a narrow slope, if there is a pull-off area nearby, even the uphill vehicle should move into it and give way.
- 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.
- When a route bus at a bus stop signals that it is about to pull out, vehicles behind it must give way in every case.
- When a stopped streetcar has no one getting on or off, there is no safety zone, and you can keep a gap of at least 1.5 meters from the streetcar, you may proceed at a slow speed.
- You must not overtake or pass a vehicle that is displaying the elderly driver mark.
Parking & stopping (16 questions)
- You must not stop or park at an intersection or within 10 meters of its edges.
- You must not stop or park at a railroad crossing or within 5 meters before and after its edges.
- You must not stop or park within 5 meters of a bus stop sign (post) during the bus service hours.
- You must not park within 5 meters of a fire hydrant or a designated fire water supply sign.
- You must not park within 3 meters of a fire alarm box.
- You must not park within 5 meters of a vehicle entrance to a parking lot, garage, or similar facility.
- You must not stop or park on the left side of a safety zone or within 10 meters before and after it.
- Stopping for up to 10 minutes to load or unload goods counts as stopping, not parking.
- Stopping to let people get on or off becomes parking if it takes more than 5 minutes.
- When crossing a sidewalk to enter a garage or parking lot, you must stop just before the sidewalk even if there are no pedestrians.
- On a road with a narrow side strip 0.75 meters wide or less, you must move into the side strip when you stop or park.
- In principle, you must not park in a place where less than 3.5 meters of open space would remain on the right side of your car.
- Even in a place where you cannot leave 3.5 meters of space on the right side of your car, you may park when it is unavoidable in order to help a sick or injured person.
- 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.
- Inside a tunnel, you may stop or park only when vehicle traffic lanes are provided.
- On a steep slope, stopping and parking are prohibited whether the slope goes uphill or downhill.
Overtaking (16 questions)
- Overtaking means changing course and moving ahead of a moving vehicle in front of you.
- When you are about to change course (change lanes), you must give a signal 30 meters before doing so.
- The signal for changing course must be given about 3 seconds beforehand and continued until the change of course is complete.
- When overtaking the vehicle ahead, you may pass on either the right side or the left side, as long as you have confirmed it is safe.
- When the vehicle ahead is keeping to the center of the road in order to turn right, you may overtake it on its left side.
- At a pedestrian crossing and within 30 meters before it, not only overtaking but also passing is prohibited.
- At an intersection and within 30 meters before it, you must not overtake, even when you are driving on a priority road.
- Overtaking is prohibited at a railroad crossing and within 30 meters before it.
- Near a bend in the road, you may overtake only when you have a clear view.
- A steep uphill slope is a place where overtaking is prohibited.
- Inside a tunnel, overtaking is prohibited whether or not there are vehicle traffic lanes.
- When the vehicle ahead is trying to overtake a motorized bicycle (moped), overtaking that vehicle is prohibited as double overtaking.
- Even at an intersection and within 30 meters before it, you may overtake a light vehicle (bicycle, etc.).
- When you are being overtaken by the vehicle behind, you must not increase your speed until the overtaking is complete.
- When you are being overtaken and there is not enough room for the other vehicle to get past, you must move as far to the right as possible to give way.
- As long as you signal with your turn indicators, you may change course even when the vehicle behind you is close.
Speed limits (16 questions)
- On ordinary roads where no maximum speed is set by signs or markings, the statutory maximum speed for motor vehicles is 60 km/h.
- The statutory maximum speed for motorized bicycles (mopeds) is 30 km/h.
- On ordinary roads with no speed limit posted by signs, the statutory maximum speed for large motorcycles is 30 km/h.
- On a road where signs set the maximum speed at 40 km/h, a motorized bicycle (moped) may go up to 40 km/h.
- As long as you stay within the statutory maximum speed, you may drive at that speed regardless of road and traffic conditions.
- On ordinary roads, there is no minimum speed rule unless one is set by signs or similar.
- When towing a broken-down car with a rope, the statutory maximum speed on ordinary roads is 40 km/h.
- When towing a broken-down car with a rope, you must keep a safe gap of no more than 5 meters between the two cars and attach a white cloth to the rope.
- If your speed doubles, your braking distance also roughly doubles.
- The centrifugal force acting on a car in a curve grows in direct proportion to its speed.
- Stopping distance means the distance the car travels from the moment the brakes start to work until it comes to a stop.
- On a road wet with rain and with worn tires, both the free running (reaction) distance and the braking distance become at least twice as long.
- On rainy days, visibility is poor and the braking distance is longer, so it is good practice to keep about twice the following distance you would keep on a clear day.
- On snowy or icy roads, it is good practice to keep a following distance about 3 times what you would keep on a clear day.
- A steep uphill slope is a place where you must slow down (to a speed at which the vehicle can stop immediately).
- Near a bend in the road, you must drive slowly enough to stop immediately, even when you have a clear view.
Expressways (11 questions)
- On the main lanes of a national expressway, the statutory minimum speed for standard motor vehicles (regular cars) is 50 km/h.
- On the main lanes of an expressway, you must not stop or park even in unavoidable situations such as a breakdown.
- Motorcycles with an engine size of 125 cc or less may use expressways.
- On the main lanes of a national expressway, the statutory maximum speed for light motor vehicles (kei cars) is 80 km/h.
- For a towing vehicle (such as a tractor-trailer) used to tow a broken-down car or similar, the statutory maximum speed on national expressways is 80 km/h.
- On the main lanes of a national expressway, the statutory maximum speed for large trucks is 90 km/h.
- When merging onto the main lanes of an expressway, the merging vehicle has priority, so vehicles on the main lanes must slow down and give way.
- On an expressway, you may drive on the road shoulder or side strip when traffic is congested.
- On an expressway, after overtaking the vehicle ahead, you may keep driving in the overtaking lane if you plan to overtake again.
- On the main lanes of an expressway, you must not make a U-turn, reverse, or cross the median strip.
- On an expressway section where a maximum speed is set by signs, you must follow the speed on the signs, not the statutory speed.
Driver duties (25 questions)
- Driving with 0.15 mg or more of alcohol per liter of breath counts as driving under the influence of alcohol.
- Even if the alcohol level in your breath is below the legal threshold, driving in a condition where alcohol may prevent you from driving normally counts as driving while intoxicated (drunk driving).
- A small amount of alcohol does not affect driving, so it is fine to drive after about one glass of beer.
- A person who lends a car to someone who has been drinking, or who offers alcohol to someone who is about to drive, can also be punished.
- A person who rides in a car knowing the driver has been drinking will not be punished, because they are not the one driving.
- When driving a motor vehicle, you must wear a seat belt in every situation, without exception.
- You do not need to make passengers in the back seats wear seat belts.
- When carrying a child under 6 years old in a standard motor vehicle (regular car), you must use a child seat in principle.
- When carrying a child under 6 years old in a car, you must use a child seat in every case, without exception.
- While driving, you may use a mobile phone with a hands-free device, as long as you do not hold the phone in your hand to talk.
- Holding and operating a mobile phone while stopped at a red light counts as use while driving, so it is a violation.
- Staring at a car navigation screen while driving is prohibited, just like using a mobile phone.
- If you leave your driver's license at home and drive, it counts as unlicensed driving.
- Even if your driver's license has expired, it does not count as unlicensed driving as long as no more than 6 months have passed.
- Driving while fatigue or illness may prevent you from driving normally is not a violation unless you actually cause an accident.
- If you have taken cold medicine that causes drowsiness, you must not drive when it may prevent you from driving normally.
- In a regular car with a riding capacity of 5, the driver can carry 1 adult and 4 children under 12 years old.
- When loading cargo on a standard motor vehicle (regular car), the height limit is 3.8 meters or less measured from the ground.
- A standard motor vehicle (regular car) may carry cargo up to 1.5 times the length of the vehicle.
- If cargo that cannot be divided exceeds the loading limits, you may carry it if you get permission from the chief of the police station at your departure point.
- A driver who has held a regular license for less than 1 year must display beginner driver marks at the designated positions on the front and rear of the car.
- Drivers aged 70 or older must display the elderly driver mark, and they are punished if they do not.
- With a regular license, you can drive vehicles with a gross weight under 3.5 tons, a maximum load under 2 tons, and a riding capacity of 10 or fewer, among others.
- A motorized bicycle (moped) must also be covered by compulsory automobile liability insurance (or mutual liability insurance) before it may be driven.
- It is best to keep your compulsory automobile liability insurance certificate safely at home so that you do not lose it.
Accidents & emergencies (15 questions)
- If you cause a traffic accident, you must first report it to the police, and then give aid to the injured.
- If a traffic accident only damages property and injures no one, you do not need to report it to the police as long as the parties settle it between themselves.
- The duty to give aid to people injured in a traffic accident applies not only to the driver who caused it, but also to other people who were riding in the vehicle.
- If someone is injured in an accident and there is a danger of a further crash caused by following vehicles, you may move the injured person to a safe place.
- If an injured person has hit their head hard, you should not move them unnecessarily, except in unavoidable cases such as danger of a further crash by following vehicles.
- If your car breaks down on an expressway and you stop on the road shoulder, the safe thing to do is to set out a warning device (warning triangle) and then wait inside the car for help.
- If you have to stop or park on an expressway because of a breakdown, you must place a warning device (warning triangle) behind your car.
- The law requires all motor vehicles to carry a warning device (such as a warning triangle) at all times.
- 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.
- If your car stops moving inside a railroad crossing, first alert the train driver, for example by pressing the emergency button, and get everyone in the car to a safe place.
- When going through a railroad crossing, you must in every case stop just before it and check that it is safe.
- If the brakes stop working while you are driving, shift to a lower gear to use engine braking, and also use the hand brake to reduce speed.
- If a major earthquake occurs while you are driving, stop the car on the left side of the road as safely as you can, stop the engine, and evacuate leaving the key in the car and the doors unlocked.
- When evacuating after a major earthquake, you should evacuate quickly by car in order to avoid traffic confusion.
- Even in the daytime, you must turn on your headlights when driving through places where you cannot see 50 meters ahead, such as inside tunnels or in fog.
Questions and explanations are written against Japan’s Road Traffic Act and the National Police Agency’s Rules of the Road. These are not official exam questions.