Japan Traffic Light Rules: Yellow, Flashing, Arrows, Signals

What each light means for vehicles

A green light means you “may proceed”, not that you must. If pedestrians are crossing or safety is not confirmed, you must not go.

Even on a red light, a vehicle already turning left or right in the intersection may continue (a right-turning vehicle must not obstruct vehicles proceeding on green).

Where is the stop position?

The stop position for a light is just before the stop line if there is one. Without a stop line, it is determined in this order (Enforcement Order, Article 2).

• Before an intersection: just before the intersection (or before the pedestrian crossing right next to it)
• Outside an intersection where there is a pedestrian crossing, bicycle crossing lane or railroad crossing: just before it
• Outside an intersection with none of these: just before the traffic light

Police hand signals

When a police officer's or traffic warden's hand signal differs from the traffic light, follow the hand signal. The meaning depends on whether you are facing the officer's body or moving parallel to it. Traffic facing the front or back of the officer always treats it as red, whether the arm is horizontal or raised straight up.

Outside an intersection where there is no crossing, the stop position for a hand signal is 1 meter before the officer.

When to signal: 30 meters and 3 seconds

Keep signaling until the maneuver is complete, then stop signaling promptly. Signaling does not entitle you to change course if it would force a following vehicle to brake or swerve suddenly.

Turning and passing through intersections

To turn right, move toward the center of the road in advance and go slowly just inside the center of the intersection. On a one-way road there is no oncoming traffic, so move to the right edge and go slowly inside the center of the intersection.

Mopeds (一般原動機付自転車) must make a two-step right turn (二段階右折) where a sign says so and, even without a sign, at signalized intersections where the road has 3 or more lanes in one direction. In that case they cannot start a right turn on a green right arrow.

Even where lanes are designated by direction at an intersection, you may leave your designated lane to give way to an emergency vehicle or when unavoidable because of road work.

At an intersection with poor visibility to the left and right, you must slow down (not stop). If traffic is controlled by lights or you are on a priority road, slowing down is not required either.

Common trap patterns

False statements in this topic concentrate on these patterns.

• Steady vs flashing: “proceed with caution” is flashing yellow; a steady yellow generally means stop
• Flashing red with slowing down: flashing red requires a full stop
• Arrow color: vehicles follow green arrows; yellow arrows are for streetcars
• Green means must go: green only means “may go”
• Distance vs time swapped: turns and U-turns 30 m before; lane changes about 3 s before
• Roundabouts: no signal on entry, signal on exit
• Stop vs slow down: poor-visibility intersections require slowing down (stopping only where a sign says so)

Practice traffic light questions in English

Since October 2025 the knowledge test is 50 written True/False questions and you need 45 correct. menkyopass's conversion drill lets you practice traffic light questions with English explanations (first mock exam and 3 topics free; full access ¥1,500 one-time).

Practice questions on this topic

• 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.

FAQ

Related guides

• Japanese Road Signs: Common Mistakes in the Conversion Test
• Right of Way in Japan: Intersections, Pedestrians, Emergencies
• Overtaking Rules in Japan: No-Overtaking Zones and Passing
• Japan Traffic Rules That Trip Up Foreign Drivers: 6 Key Rules

Sources (in Japanese)

• 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）
• e-Gov法令検索「道路交通法施行令」（第2条 信号の意味、第4条 手信号、第21条 合図）
• e-Gov法令検索「道路交通法」（第34条・第35条・第42条・第53条）
• 警視庁「令和7年10月1日施行・改正道路交通法施行規則について」