Japanese Road Signs: A Visual Study Guide
75 sign illustrations from our Karimen and Honmen practice bank, each paired with a plain-English explanation. They are grouped the way Japan groups them on the road: red prohibitory circles, blue designation panels, and warning markers.
How to use this page. Learn one group at a
time, then follow “Practise this sign” under any illustration to meet it again
inside a full timed question set — recognition under exam pressure is what the
tests measure.
Designation & instruction signs 16
Figure 2: blue designated-lane sign 
Figure 18: blue round, motor-vehicles-only sign 
Blue square sign with pedestrian + bicycle 
Blue round sign: straight-only arrow (with truck plate) 
Blue triangle sign: schoolchildren 
Blue round sign 原付: moped two-step right turn 
Blue round sign: sound horn 
Blue sign: lane direction arrows 
Blue round sign: pedestrian only 
Blue round sign: straight only 
Blue round sign: left-turn arrow only 
Blue sign 専用: exclusive (bus) lane 
Blue round sign: straight-only (with truck plate) 
Blue sign: designated-lane for trucks 
Blue round sign: turn arrows 
Blue round sign: pedestrian-only road
Warning & other signs 38
Figure 4: height-limit 3.3m sign 
Figure 7: bicycle path sign 
Figure 10: one-way / designated-direction sign 
Figure 13: yellow diamond, animal crossing 
Figure 15: bus-priority signboard 
Figure 19: yellow diamond, falling rocks 
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Yellow triangle sign: 徐行 (slow down) 
Yellow diamond sign: slippery road 
Pavement marking: yellow zebra/diagonal stripes 
Yellow diamond sign: bumpy road 
Yellow diamond sign: children 
Pavement marking: bus lane 
Pavement marking: V-shape obstruction marker 
Yellow warning signs 
Pavement marking: diamonds 
Yellow diamond sign: children 
Yellow diamond sign: crossroads ahead 
Pavement marking: end of speed-limit zone 
Yellow diamond sign: two-way traffic 
Yellow diamond sign: road narrows
Prohibitory & restriction signs 21
Figure 9: no vehicle crossing sign 
Figure 12: round red sign, bus crossed out 
Figure 14: round red sign, motorcycles prohibited 
Round red-bordered sign: car + motorcycle crossed out 
Round red sign: moped two-step right turn prohibited 
Round red sign: no U-turn 
Round red sign 追越し禁止 + centerline marking 
Round red sign: no overtaking 
Pavement marking: no entry zone 
Round red sign: car prohibited 
Red triangle 止まれ stop sign 
Round red sign: truck prohibited 
Two round red signs: no U-turn / no crossing 
Round red sign: closed to all traffic 
Red triangle 止まれ stop sign 
Round red sign with arrows (no vehicle crossing) 
Pavement marking: no entry zone 
Round red sign: moped two-step right turn 
Round red sign: truck 積2t prohibited 
Red triangle 止まれ stop sign 
Round red no-U-turn sign + pavement marking
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Studying with a group or writing about driving in Japan? Every illustration on this page links back here.