Essential Japanese driving license terms with English translations, romaji, and original Japanese. Organized in 8 categories — covers provisional license (karimen), full license (honmen), foreign license conversion (gaimen kirikae), and key rules. Each term has a brief explanation focused on what matters for the written test.
Categories
License Types
provisional license
仮免許 · karimen
License obtained after Stage 1 of driving school. Lets you drive on public roads with an instructor. Required step before the full license.
regular license / full license
本免許 · honmen
The standard driving license issued after passing the final written test at the prefectural licensing center. Valid 3 years for first-time licensees.
foreign-to-Japanese license conversion
外免切替 · gaimen kirikae
Procedure to exchange a valid foreign driving license for a Japanese one. Since October 2025, the knowledge test was overhauled to 50 questions with a 90% pass mark.
International Driving Permit (IDP)
国際運転免許証
Permit valid for 1 year in Japan, issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention only. Vienna 1968 Convention IDPs are NOT recognized in Japan — residents from Vienna-only countries (e.g. Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, China mainland, Taiwan) must use the gaimen kirikae conversion process with a JAF/embassy translation of their original license. Not a substitute for a Japanese license once you become a long-term resident. (The IDDP — International Driving Document for People with Disabilities — has no specific status in Japan; standard accommodations under the aptitude test apply.)
novice driver
初心運転者 · shoshin untensha
A driver in their first year after obtaining a license. Required to display the shoshin-mark — also known as the wakaba-mark (若葉マーク), a yellow-and-green chevron — and subject to harsher penalty rules.
novice-driver mark ("wakaba-mark" / shoshinsha-mark)
初心者マーク (若葉マーク) · shoshinsha māku
Yellow-and-green chevron sticker that drivers in their first year after obtaining a regular license must display on the front and rear of the vehicle (Road Traffic Act §71-5 ¶1). Other drivers must not cut in front of or pass close to a vehicle bearing this mark unless unavoidable.
elderly-driver mark ("momiji-mark")
高齢運転者マーク (もみじマーク) · kōrei untensha māku
Display recommended (努力義務) for drivers aged 70 and older. Other drivers must not cut in front of or pass close to a vehicle bearing this mark unless unavoidable.
Vehicles
moped
原動機付自転車 / 原付 · gentsuki / gen-tsuki
Two-wheeled vehicle with engine displacement ≤ 50cc, max speed 30 km/h on most roads. Cannot use expressways.
special small motorized bicycle (e-scooter category)
特定小型原動機付自転車 · tokutei kogata gentsuki
Electric scooter class introduced 2023. Max speed 20 km/h (6 km/h on sidewalk-mode). Riders aged 16+; helmet recommended (not required).
motorcycle
二輪車 · nirinsha
Two-wheeled motor vehicle category covering all sizes from small (51–125cc) up to large (>400cc). Different license classes apply by displacement.
emergency vehicle
緊急自動車 · kinkyū jidōsha
Ambulance, fire truck, police car (etc.) when responding to an urgent call with siren AND red flashing light. Other vehicles must yield by steering toward the left edge of the road and stopping if necessary (道路交通法 §40). Near intersections, yield away from the intersection itself.
Driving Movements
slow down to a stop-ready speed
徐行 · jokō
A speed slow enough that the driver can bring the vehicle to an immediate stop — generally around 10 km/h or less. The phrase 'stop-ready speed' used elsewhere on this site refers to this concept. Required at crosswalks with pedestrians, around schools, narrow streets, intersections without traffic signals, etc.
overtaking
追越し · oikoshi
Passing another vehicle by changing lanes (or crossing the center line). Prohibited on hills, curves, crosswalk approaches, and near intersections.
passing (without lane change)
追抜き · oinuki
Passing another vehicle without changing lanes. Distinct from 'overtaking' (oikoshi) — typical example is passing a slower car in the right lane of a multi-lane road.
lane change
進路変更 · shinro henkō
Signal at least 3 seconds before changing lanes; signal at least 30 m before turning, transferring, or making a U-turn.
stopping distance (= free-running + braking)
停止距離 · teishi kyori
Total distance a vehicle travels from the moment the driver perceives danger until the vehicle comes to a complete stop. It is the sum of: (1) free-running distance (空走距離 kūsō kyori) — covered during the driver's ~1 second reaction time before the brake takes effect, and (2) braking distance (制動距離 seidō kyori) — covered after the brakes engage. Wet roads, worn tires, heavy cargo, and downhill grades all lengthen the braking distance.
following distance
車間距離 · shakan kyori
The distance between your vehicle and the one in front. As a rough guide on dry roads with new tires: roughly the speed in km/h expressed in meters (e.g. 100 km/h ≈ 100 m, 80 km/h ≈ 80 m). Double this in rain or with worn tires. Always allow enough room to stop safely even if the car in front brakes suddenly.
Stopping & Parking
stopping
停車 · teisha
Stopping the vehicle for up to 5 minutes for loading/unloading goods, or any short stop to drop off / pick up passengers. Distinct from 'parking'.
parking
駐車 · chūsha
Stopping for longer than 5 minutes (excluding loading/unloading), or any stop where the driver leaves the vehicle and cannot return immediately.
stopping and parking prohibited
駐停車禁止 · chūteisha kinshi
Areas where you may neither stop nor park — within 5 m of an intersection, crosswalk, or railroad crossing; on a sharp curve; on a steep slope; inside a tunnel; near a fire hydrant; etc.
parking prohibited (sign)
駐車禁止 · chūsha kinshi
Sign / area where parking is prohibited but brief stopping (teisha) for loading/unloading or to drop off passengers is allowed. Distinct from chūteisha kinshi (駐停車禁止), which forbids both. Restricted on the side of the road from the sign in the direction of travel.
Roads & Infrastructure
intersection
交差点 · kōsaten
Where two or more roads meet at the same level. Many central traffic rules attach here: priority order with/without signals, no parking within 5 m, blind-spot risk for pedestrians and cyclists.
pedestrian
歩行者 · hokōsha
A person on foot. Includes wheelchair users, those pushing a stroller or bicycle. Vehicles must yield, slow down, or stop depending on the situation. Children, elderly, and disabled pedestrians require extra caution.
crosswalk
横断歩道 · ōdan hodō
Designated pedestrian crossing marked by white parallel lines on the road. Vehicles must slow down to stop-ready speed; must stop if a pedestrian is crossing or about to.
railroad crossing
踏切 · fumikiri
Road crossing of a railway line. Drivers must stop directly before the crossing, then proceed only after confirming safety with eyes and ears. (Exception: if a signal exists and is green.)
streetcar
路面電車 · romen densha
Tram running on rails embedded in the road. Drivers must yield, follow safety-zone (yellow-line) rules, and never pass a stopped streetcar with passengers boarding.
safety zone
安全地帯 · anzen chitai
Yellow-marked area on the road, typically next to streetcar stops, where pedestrians may safely wait. Vehicles must not enter.
traffic signal / traffic light
信号機 · shingōki
Standard 3-aspect signal: green = proceed, yellow = stop (unless unable to stop safely), red = stop. Police hand signals override.
expressway
高速道路 · kōsoku dōro
High-speed motorway. Passenger cars: 100 km/h (now up to 120 km/h on some sections). Mopeds, light trucks under 660cc, and tokutei kogata gentsuki may not enter.
roadside strip
路側帯 · rosokutai
White-line strip along the edge of a road that has no sidewalk, reserved for pedestrians. Vehicles may not drive in it; stopping/parking inside it is restricted to roadside strips ≥ 75 cm wide and you must leave 75 cm clear from the right edge.
Road Closed
通行止め · tsūkō dome
Regulatory sign prohibiting all traffic — pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles alike. Distinct from "No Vehicles" (sharyō tsūkō dome), which restricts only vehicles, and from "Do Not Enter" (shinnyū kinshi), which marks the exit of a one-way street.
Rules & Priority
stop / temporary stop (STOP sign)
一時停止 · ichiji teishi
Mandatory complete stop — wheels must come to zero motion at the designated stop line, before crossing a railroad track, when emerging from a non-priority road into an intersection, etc. Distinct from teisha (brief stopping) and joko (slow speed). Failure to fully stop is a common cause of fail-marks on the practical test.
Rules of the Road
交通の方法に関する教則 · kōtsū no hōhō ni kansuru kyōsoku
Official National Police Agency publication that serves as the authoritative source for all written-test content. Updated periodically; covers all 11 chapters of road rules.
yield
進路を譲る · shinro wo yuzuru
Giving way to another vehicle or pedestrian who has priority — e.g. emergency vehicles, vehicles on the main road, pedestrians at crosswalks.
right-of-way / priority
優先通行 · yūsen tsūkō
Priority over other vehicles at intersections — e.g. wider road has priority over narrower road; vehicles already in an intersection have priority over entering vehicles.
horn / signal device
警音器 / 警笛 · keihō-ki / keiteki
Use restricted to (1) marked 'horn required' zones, and (2) unavoidable safety situations. Using the horn for greeting, urging, or thanking is a violation.
two-stage right turn
二段階右折 · nidankai usetsu
Mandatory right-turn procedure for mopeds (gentsuki) and special small motorized bicycles (tokutei kogata gentsuki) at intersections with three or more lanes (or where signed). Cross straight to the far corner with the green light, then turn 90° and wait for the next green to proceed.
unavoidable reasons (legal exception phrasing)
やむを得ない理由 · yamuoenai riyū
Statutory phrase used to define narrow exceptions to road traffic prohibitions — typically for stopping/parking restrictions, horn use, or certain lane violations. Examples include obeying a police officer's instruction or stopping to avoid imminent danger.
seat belt
シートベルト (安全ベルト) · shīto beruto
The driver and every passenger must wear a seat belt while the vehicle is in motion (道路交通法 §71-3). This includes rear-seat passengers, although the penalty for unbelted rear passengers on general roads is lighter than for front seats; on expressways it applies equally. Children under 6 require a child safety seat instead.
driving under the influence (alcohol)
酒気帯び運転 / 飲酒運転 · shukikiobi unten / inshu unten
Driving with any alcohol detectable in the body. Two tiers: (1) shukikiobi unten — breath alcohol 0.15 mg/L or more (license suspension or revocation, up to 3 years' imprisonment or ¥500,000 fine), and (2) shuki unten — driving while clearly impaired (up to 5 years' imprisonment or ¥1,000,000 fine, immediate license revocation). Providing alcohol to a driver, providing a vehicle to a drinking driver, or riding with one are also penalized.
Tests & Exams
written test
学科試験 · gakka shiken
Knowledge test administered by prefectural police licensing centers. Three versions: provisional (50 questions), full (95 questions), and the post-Oct-2025 knowledge confirmation test for foreign-license conversion (50 questions).
knowledge confirmation test (foreign license conversion)
知識確認テスト · chishiki kakunin shiken
Test for gaimen kirikae applicants. Since October 2025: 50 true/false questions, 90% pass mark (45/50). Pass rates dropped from ~90% to ~33% after the reform.
aptitude test
適性検査 · tekisei shiken
Physical check at exam day: vision (0.7+ both eyes / 0.3+ each eye), color recognition (red / yellow / blue), hearing.
internal mock test at driving school ("effect measurement")
効果測定 · kōka sokutei
An academic mock test administered inside a driving school. There are two: the Stage 1 kōka sokutei (50 questions, before the karimen provisional test) and the Stage 2 kōka sokutei (95 questions, before the honmen full-license written test). This is an internal school check — distinct from the official tests at the prefectural licensing center.
instructor's clearance check ("see-through")
みきわめ · mikiwame
At the end of each driving-school stage, the instructor judges whether the trainee has reached the required skill level. Only after a pass on mikiwame can the trainee proceed to the technical test (shūryō kentei for Stage 1, sotsugyō kentei for Stage 2).
Stage 1 technical exam (karimen technical test)
修了検定 · shūryō kentei
The skills test at the end of Stage 1 (in-school driving). Passing this — together with the karimen academic test on the same day — qualifies the trainee for the provisional license (karimen) and allows on-road training in Stage 2.
Stage 2 technical exam (graduation skills test)
卒業検定 · sotsugyō kentei
The final skills test at the end of Stage 2 (on-road driving). Passing earns the trainee a graduation certificate from a designated driving school (shitei kyōshūjo), which exempts them from the skills test at the prefectural licensing center — only the honmen academic test remains.
Stage 1 / Stage 2 of driving-school instruction
第一段階 / 第二段階 · daiichi dankai / daini dankai
The two phases of driving-school instruction. Stage 1 (daiichi dankai) is all in-school: closed-course driving, classroom learning, and ends with mikiwame → shūryō kentei + karimen academic test. Stage 2 (daini dankai) is on-road training with the karimen, ending in mikiwame → sotsugyō kentei.
designated driving school ("shitei")
指定教習所 · shitei kyōshūjo
A driving school approved by the prefectural Public Safety Commission. Graduates of a shitei school are exempt from the skills test at the licensing center — only the academic test remains. The large majority of Japan's driving schools fall in this category.
non-designated (notified) driving school
届出教習所 · todokede kyōshūjo
A driving school registered with the prefectural police but not designated by the Public Safety Commission. Trainees from non-designated schools must take both the academic test and the skills test at the licensing center.
Police & Authorities
police officer (traffic-directing officer)
警察官 / 交通巡視員 · keisatsukan
Uniformed police officer (keisatsukan) directing traffic. The Rules of the Road also recognise the 'traffic-safety officer' (kōtsū junshiin) — a civilian traffic-control role with the same authority as a police officer for stopping vehicles and directing pedestrians. Drivers must follow their hand or light signals, which override any signal lights present. (Notes on past phrasing: questions on this site that say 'police officer or traffic controller' refer to this officer/traffic-safety-officer pair.)
National Police Agency (NPA)
警察庁 · keisatsu-chō
Top national police authority. Publishes the Rules of the Road and sets nationwide traffic policy. Prefectural police forces handle actual licensing.
licensing center / driving license test center
運転免許試験場 / 運転免許センター · unten menkyo shikenjō
Prefectural facility where you take the final written test, vision check, and receive your license. Each prefecture has 1–3 centers.
Next steps
See each term in real test questions by picking a chapter on the home page. For the full license journey, see the 8-step guide. Site policy is on the About page. Foreign license holders: foreign license conversion (gaimen kirikae) guide.
Last updated: 2026-06-10