Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the key terms on Japan's driving test — what they mean, how they appear on the exam, and the exact law behind each one.
Slowing down (jokō)
In Japanese traffic law, jokō means driving at a speed slow enough that you can stop immediately — not merely easing off the accelerator. It is a legal duty at specific places such as near pedestrians, blind corners, and steep downhill sections.
Coming to a stop (ichiji teishi)
Ichiji teishi means bringing the vehicle to a complete stop — the wheels stop turning — at a required place, such as a stop sign, before crossing a sidewalk to enter a road-side property, or at a pedestrian crossing where someone is waiting. Slowing down is not enough.
Overtaking (oikoshi)
Oikoshi (overtaking) means catching up to a vehicle ahead, changing your course to pass alongside it, and moving out in front of it. The change of course is the key: passing without changing lanes is oinuki (追い抜き), a separate concept.
Stopping (teisha)
Teisha (stopping) is any stopping of a vehicle that does not count as parking (chusha) — for example a brief halt to let a passenger on or off, or a short stop you are ready to move away from at once. The distinction matters because some places ban parking but allow stopping, and some ban both.
Parking (chusha)
Chusha (parking) is a continuous stop for reasons such as waiting for a fare or cargo, loading or unloading, or a breakdown — but loading/unloading that takes 5 minutes or less, and stopping to let people on or off, are excluded. That 5-minute line is a favourite exam trap.
Vehicle (sharyō)
Under the Road Traffic Act, a 'vehicle' (sharyō) means a motor vehicle, a motorised bicycle, a light vehicle (such as a bicycle), or a trolleybus. Streetcars/trams are NOT vehicles in the Act — they are treated separately — which is a classic definition trap.
Pedestrian crossing (ōdan hodō)
An ōdan hodō is a marked pedestrian crossing where pedestrians have priority. If someone is crossing or about to cross, you must stop just before the crossing and not obstruct them. Overtaking is also banned at and just before a crossing.
Priority road (yūsen dōro)
A yūsen dōro is a road marked (by sign or by road markings that continue through the intersection) as having priority at an uncontrolled intersection. Traffic on the priority road goes first; traffic entering from a non-priority road must give way and take care.
Safety zone (anzen chitai)
A safety zone (anzen chitai) is an island-like area on the road, or an area marked by sign and road markings, set up to protect people getting on or off a streetcar or pedestrians crossing. You must not drive into it, and stopping or parking is banned within 10 m of it.
Provisional licence (karimen)
Karimen (short for kari-menkyo, provisional licence) is the first stage of the normal Japanese licensing path. You pass a 50-question written test (90% to pass, 30 minutes) and a driving-course test, which lets you practise on public roads with a qualified supervisor before the full licence.
Full licence (honmen)
Honmen (short for hon-menkyo, full licence) is the final stage. Its written test is bigger than karimen: 95 questions worth 100 points — 90 true/false at 1 point plus 5 illustration/hazard questions at 2 points — in 50 minutes, and you need 90 points to pass. You also take an on-road driving test.
Foreign licence conversion (gaimen kirikae)
Gaimen kirikae is the procedure for exchanging a valid foreign driving licence for a Japanese one without going through driving school from scratch. Since 1 October 2025 most applicants must pass a 50-question knowledge test at 90%, and be a registered resident.
Signalling (aizu)
Aizu means signalling your intention with indicators or hand signals before you turn, change lanes, or stop. The timing is fixed by law: for a turn you signal from 30 m before the point (or the near edge of the intersection); for a lane change you signal 3 seconds before.
Railway crossing (fumikiri)
At a fumikiri (railway crossing) you must stop just before it and confirm it is safe before crossing. The one exception: where a traffic signal at the crossing shows you may go, you may proceed without stopping by following that signal.
Horn (keionki)
The keionki (horn) may only be used where the law requires it — for example at blind intersections, blind bends, or blind hilltops marked by a 'sound horn' sign — and, separately, whenever it is unavoidable to prevent danger. You must not sound it at other times.
Statutory speed limit (hōtei sokudo)
The hōtei sokudo is the speed limit set by law that applies when no sign posts a different limit. On ordinary roads (not expressway main lanes), the statutory maximum for a car is 60 km/h. Where a sign shows a lower limit (the 'designated' limit), the sign wins.
One-way street (ippō tsūkō)
On an ippō tsūkō (one-way street) all traffic moves in a single direction, so no oncoming traffic is possible. Because of that, a vehicle may use the right-hand side of the road there — the keep-left rule does not bind you on a one-way street.
Two-stage right turn (nidankai usetsu)
Nidankai usetsu is the two-step right turn that a general moped (gentsuki) must make at certain intersections: go straight to the far side, stop and turn to face the new direction, then proceed. It is required on a 'multi-lane road' — one with three or more vehicle lanes.
Centre line (chūō-sen)
The chūō-sen marks the centre of the road. It is not always at the physical middle — on some roads it shifts by time of day — and it is not a stop-position marker. It tells you which part of the road is the centre so you keep to the correct side.
Pedestrian-only road (hokōsha-yō dōro)
A hokōsha-yō dōro is a road where vehicle traffic is prohibited so pedestrians can use it freely. Vehicles allowed on it only by special permission (or exemption) must take particular care for pedestrians and slow to jokō speed the whole time.
Guides →
Plain-English guides to Japan's provisional licence exam and the foreign-licence conversion test — the rules, the pass mark, and what changed in 2025.