Speed limitJapan

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Japan. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


5. Speed limit

A speed limit is the maximum legal speed permitted on a road, lane or within a designated area. It may be established by general traffic law or indicated by fixed, variable or temporary traffic signs.

A speed limit is a maximum, not a target speed. Drivers must travel more slowly whenever traffic, visibility, weather, road conditions, vulnerable road users or the condition of the vehicle make the maximum permitted speed unsafe.

50 km/h speed-limit sign for children's safety. (Rittō, Shiga, Japan)
Wikimedia.org • 運動会プロテインパワー • CC BY-SA
Which general speed limits should car drivers know in Japan?

From 1 September 2026, qualifying ordinary roads without a centre line, marked traffic lanes or separated directions have a statutory car maximum of 30 km/h. Other specified ordinary-road categories retain 60 km/h. A designated speed sign replaces that road’s statutory default. On qualifying national expressway main carriageways, the ordinary car default is 100 km/h, with different signed limits on many sections.

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Japan Road Traffic Act — Articles 22–23; decree Articles 11 and 27

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • e-Gov — current enforced Road Traffic Act, revision metadata and full text

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Road Traffic Act Enforcement Order — current ordinary-road and expressway provisions

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • e-Gov — current enforced decree revision metadata

🔗 npa.go.jp • NPA — ordinary-road default change, 1 September 2026, layout criteria and signed-limit examples

Start of a speed limit. Start of a speed limit.

English • Traffic sign 323 • Maximum speed: 60 km/h. Observe any lower statutory vehicle-category limit and a speed safe for road conditions.

日本語 • 323 • 最高速度:60 km/h。 表示された最高速度は時速60キロメートルです。車種ごとの、これより低い法定速度や道路状況に応じた安全な速度にも従ってください。

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Laws.e-gov.go.jp • 道路標識、区画線及び道路標示に関する命令、別表第一・第二
🔗 Mlit.go.jp • 国土交通省、道路標識一覧

SVG source: Monaneko • Public domain • Original revision 2007-03-19. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Did Japan reduce every ordinary-road default to 30 km/h in September 2026?

No. The change concerns qualifying roads without centre lines, marked traffic lanes or separated directions. Roads in the specified exempt categories retain a 60 km/h statutory default. The official term 生活道路 refers to roads used in everyday local life; the legal layout criteria and actual signs matter.

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Japan Road Traffic Act — Articles 22–23; decree Articles 11 and 27

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • e-Gov — current enforced Road Traffic Act, revision metadata and full text

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Road Traffic Act Enforcement Order — current ordinary-road and expressway provisions

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • e-Gov — current enforced decree revision metadata

🔗 npa.go.jp • NPA — ordinary-road default change, 1 September 2026, layout criteria and signed-limit examples

What if a Japanese qualifying 30 km/h-default road is signed at 40 km/h?

The designated speed applies: the National Police Agency gives 40 km/h as an example replacing the road’s 30 km/h statutory default. Equally, a 30 km/h sign can reduce a road with a 60 km/h default. Always choose a safe speed within the applicable maximum.

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Japan Road Traffic Act — Articles 22–23; decree Articles 11 and 27

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • e-Gov — current enforced Road Traffic Act, revision metadata and full text

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Road Traffic Act Enforcement Order — current ordinary-road and expressway provisions

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • e-Gov — current enforced decree revision metadata

🔗 npa.go.jp • NPA — ordinary-road default change, 1 September 2026, layout criteria and signed-limit examples

1 Japan 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Zone 5 Speed limit 6 Minimum speed 7 Footpath 8 Bike path 9 Shared-use path 10 Tunnel 11 Toll road 12 One-way traffic 13 Quay 14 Slope 15 Bus lane 16 Bus stop 17 Stop sign 18 Give way 19 Roundabout 20 Road narrowing 21 Pedestrian crossing 22 Railway crossing 23 Mandatory direction 24 Turn prohibition 25 School area 26 Overtaking 27 Crossing animals 28 Slippery road 29 Rockfall 30 Curve 31 Wrong-way driving 32 Roadworks 33 Crosswind 34 Height limit 35 Width limit 36 Weight limit 37 Radar speed sign 38 Selective barriers 39 Intersection direction sign 40 Traffic lights 41 Traffic lights warning 42 Pedestrian lights 43 Road markings 44 Driving licence 45 Location marker 46 Traffic mirror 47 Emergency telephone 48 Cycling route 49 Parking 50 No parking 51 No stopping 52 Disabled parking 53 Traffic management 54 Reversing 55 U-turn 56 Uncontrolled crossroad 57 Road surface 58 Provisional licence 59 Emergency exit 60 City limit 61 Horn 62 Licence plate 63 Charging station 64 Dangers 65 Pedestrian 66 Cyclist 67 Moped 68 Motorcycle 69 Car 70 Truck 71 Bus 72 Police 73 Ambulance 74 Pothole 75 Path 76 Particulates 77 Air pollution 78 Rush hour 79 Road code 80 Two-way traffic 81 Street gutter 82 Cargo bike 83 Forestry vehicle 84 Construction vehicle 85 Semi-trailer truck 86 Trolleybus 87 Speed pedelec 88 Delivery vehicle 89 Idling 90 Tow truck 91 Four-wheel drive 92 No vehicles 93 Bicycle 94 Motorcycle equipment 95 Tram 96 Rail track 97 Caravan 98 Trailer 99 Tow hitch 100 Fire truck ...