Minimum speedJapan

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.


6. Minimum speed

A minimum speed is the lowest speed that vehicles are required to maintain on a particular road or under specified conditions. Minimum-speed rules are intended to prevent vehicles travelling unnecessarily slowly from disrupting traffic or creating large speed differences between road users.

A minimum speed does not require drivers to maintain that speed when traffic, weather, visibility, road conditions or safety require them to slow down. The way minimum speeds are indicated and enforced varies between countries.

Minimum speed
Minimum speed of 50 km/h. Speed limit of 40 km/h on the right. Start of an expressway. (Tokai, Japan)
Wikimedia.org • Oka21000 • CC BY-SA
What is Japan’s default minimum on a national expressway main carriageway?

On the qualifying main carriageway of a national expressway, the statutory minimum is 50 km/h where no minimum is designated by signs or markings. The statutory scope excludes specified carriageways; do not apply this automatically to every road called an expressway.

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Japan Road Traffic Act — Article 75-4; decree Article 27-3

🔗 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

Start of a minimum speed. Start of a minimum speed.

English • Traffic sign 324 • Minimum speed: 50 km/h. Sets the minimum for motor vehicles. It does not require maintaining that speed when safety demands otherwise.

日本語 • 324 • 最低速度:50 km/h。 自動車の最低速度を時速50キロメートルに指定しています。安全上必要な場合にも無理に速度を維持するという意味ではありません。

What is Japan’s official term for minimum speed?

The official wording is 最低速度. Signs or markings can designate a minimum for the relevant road. Read it separately from the maximum-speed restriction; the two numbers serve different purposes.

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Japan Road Traffic Act — Article 75-4; decree Article 27-3

🔗 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

Can a Japanese expressway driver go below the minimum to avoid danger?

Yes. The Act recognises slowing required by another legal rule and cases where it is unavoidable to prevent danger. A minimum does not require maintaining 50 km/h into congestion or another hazard.

🔗 laws.e-gov.go.jp • Japan Road Traffic Act — Article 75-4; decree Article 27-3

🔗 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

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 ...