Guidance sign - National/ Prefecture road/ Road name [ Japan driving ]

This is 5th times about the Guidance signs.

I will inform about Route No. guidance signs.
You can see everywhere their signs for public road.
These signs have many variation because Japan have a lot of chopped routes.
Please take care when you drive a public road

[ National road ] Good

You can see everywhere when you drive a public road.This road is maintained by the governance of Japan. Basically, their roads have multi lane ( 2- 6 lanes) and smooth surface. They are a main road for all vehicles.
However, they have heavy traffic, so they have often a big congestion.
I suggest you to check the traffic congestion.
=> JATIC  ( unfortunately, Japanese only)
  *Existing the some smart phone app, but maybe support Japanese only
 

[ Prefecture road ] Good

You can see everywhere when you drive a public road.This road is maintained by the each prefecture. There are a lot of version for indication.
So, I think it is not necessary to keep in your mind.


 *県道 = Prefecture road
 *神奈川 =Kanagawa -Prefecture name

[ Road name ] Good

You can see somewhere when you drive a public road.
Some road have a name in addition the Number. Since some Japanese sometimes talk the road by the road name, so it is easy to understand if you know them. However, there are a lot of road name. I think it is not necessary to keep in you mind.

 *青山 = Aoyama - Name
 *通り = Street
 *渋谷 = Shibuya - Name
 *線 = Line of road

Previous to Last page(Parking, passing, slow traffic for guidance signs)

This time is final about guidance signs. From Next, I will inform you about Warning signs.

I would like you to be helpful for your Japan driving in Japan.
If you have any questions, please let me know them by sending a direct mail or fill comments.

Guidance sign - Parking zone/ Passing zone [ Japan driving ]

This is 4th times about the Guidance signs.

I will inform about parking, route no. signs.
You can see somewhere their signs on the expressway or the public road.
Please keep in your mind.

[ Parking zone ]Mandatory

You can sometime see these signs on the expressway or public road.

When you want to park your car, you can park there ( near this sign).

Blue painted sign is for the public road, other hands Green painted sign is for Public road.

[ Passing area ]Good

This sign is too rare. You may not be able to see. You can see the narrow road in the mountain or the winding road. When you have a oncoming vehicle on a narrow road, it is difficult to pass it. You or other can use this area for passing in safety.

*退避 = keep away

*所 =area

[ Slow traffic ]Good

You can see sometimes on the mountain-area road that there are many roads in Japan. Basically, it is not important for you ( when you drive passenger vehicles). If you drive a large truck or some troubles that you did not drive on the enough speed, you should drive this slow traffic lane.

You may see a lot of large vehicles what they are ignoring this sign. They are too dangerous drivers, please do not stay away from them.

[ Slope，Bus Stop, Tram stop ]Good

You can sometime see these signs on the Service area(SA), Parking area(PA) on the expressway or public road. When you see this sign, please take care for another vehicles, pedestrians, etc.

 *バス = Bus

 *のりば = station

 *でんしゃ = Train, tram


Continue to Next page
Previous to Last page (Service area, Parking area, Emergency call)

Next time, I will inform you about route No. signs.

I would like you to be helpful for your Japan driving in Japan.
If you have any questions, please let me know them by sending a direct mail or fill comments.

Guidance sign - Service area/ Parking area [ Japan driving ]

This is 3rd times about the Guidance signs.

I will inform about service area, emergency guidance signs.
You can see everywhere their signs on the expressway.
Especially, the service area signs and emergency sings are important.
Please keep in your mind.

[ Service area, Parking area ]Mandatory

You can see somewhere on the expressway. Service area and Parking area are properly located on the expressway(There is one in about 30 -50 kilometers. It depends on the expressway).

When you want to take a break or change a driver, you can stop there.

There is no difference between Service area(SA) and Parking area(PA). But, SA have many of the services like restaurant, gas station, etc. 

When you drive in Japanese holiday seasons( ex. Beginning of May, middle of August, end and beginning of year.) ,  their SA and PA are much congestion. Please take care your travel time you need. At that time, express also is much congestion.... Please keep in your mind.

[ Emergency call ]Mandatory

When you have a trouble on the expressway, please call by using this telephone ( There is a telephone under or near this sign and free of charge). 

But, unfortunately, operator may be not able to speak English also another languages. I suggest you to have some Japanese language or friends(?) for emergency.  

*This is too rare case. I used only one time for about 25 years driving.  

*非常 = emergency

*電話 = Call

[ Emergency Parking area ]Mandatory

You can see somewhere on the expressway. When your car has some troubles that you can continue to drive, you can stop there. Basically, you could not stop on the road except when the car doesn't move at all.

Continue to Next page
Previous to Last page (destination direction, exit for guidance signs)

Next time, I will inform you about Parking, route No. signs.

I would like you to be helpful for your Japan driving in Japan.
If you have any questions, please let me know them by sending a direct mail or fill comments.

Guidance sign - Advance notice [ Japan driving ]

This is 2nd time for the Guidance signs.

You can see everywhere these sings. As informed you, some signs have another language indication, but almost signs do not have. I suggest to keep your destination's Japanese (Kanji).

[ Advance notice ]Better

You can see everywhere in the public road ( = Blued signs). There signs do not have Road No., so it is difficult to understand. And more,  if they do not have the translated indication, it is more difficult.
This signs have many variations, so you could not keep in your mind.
The important point is simple when you are driving.
Point is
-Crossing type - same-level crossing, multi-level crossing ,,,,,
-Find out your direction.

[ Advance notice with Road name ]Better

Same as above signs. Some signs have the indication of road name. The road name is indicated in the arrow. Almost cases are Japanese character(KANJI, HIRAGANA). I think it is too difficult to find out these signs.

*明治 =Meiji (Proper noun)
*通り=Street

[ Advance notice distance and exit ]Better

These signs are for the expressway = Green based signs. There are many variations for this sign because of the difference depends on the city. However, in Expressway,  there are a lot of the English indicated signs. I think it is a little easier to find out.


Continue to Next page
Previous to Last page (distance, directiion for guidance signs)

Next time, I will inform you about service area, emergency area signs.

I would like you to be helpful for your Japan driving in Japan.
If you have any questions, please let me know them by sending a direct mail or fill comments.

Guidance sign - Express and Public road [ Japan driving ]

From this time, I will inform the Guidance signs.

You can see everywhere the following sings.

The signs with English, Korean or Chinese described as followings are increasing day by day.However, unfortunately, there are many signs described by only Japanese characteristics in Japan.

I suggest you to keep your destinations Japanese (Kanji )

And, the sign based "Green" is for expressway!!

[ Direction of Expressway ]Mandatory

You can see them near the expressway.

If you drive expressway, please follow this arrow. 

Since Japan's expressway have a number, like E1, E2, E3....  same as western countries. I suggest you to keep Expressway name & Number.
=> Expressway No (MLIT, Japanese Ministry HP)

[ Direction of Expressway ]Better

You can see near the entrance of Expressway = interchange. You check the described number ( 150m). This means is that the distance is 150 meter from here to the entrance of expressway.

*入口=entrance of expressway

[ Guidance of distance ]Better

You can see everywhere  in the public road. These signs is shown the distance to the city. a sign based Blue is for using public road, Green is for expressway.
Please keep in your mind.

[ Destination, Lane ]Mandatory

You can see this after entering the entrance of Expressway. You should drive to your right lane after checked your destination ( Japanese).
Since almost Japanese interchange have multiple entrance for expressway.
If you mistake, you lost time and money. Please take care of it before you start a driving.




Continue to Next page

Next time, I will continue to inform you about notice signs.
I would like you to Check another sings (following links)for Japanese Traffic.

1. Topics
2. Traffic sign
3. Assist sign
4. Guidance sign
5. Warning Sign

I would like you to be helpful for your Japan driving in Japan.
If you have any questions, please let me know them by sending a direct mail or fill comments