Driving in Costa Rica vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Costa Rica and Japan, travelers will encounter distinct regulations and practices that shape their driving experiences. Key variations include driving on opposite sides, differing speed limits, and unique traffic management systems. Understanding these contrasts is crucial for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in these unique destinations.
Lanes
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Buses typically use regular traffic lanes. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | N/A | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited | Yes |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | N/A | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
costa rica:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
costa rica:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
costa rica:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
costa rica:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
costa rica:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
No
japan:
Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Buses typically use regular traffic lanes.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
costa rica:
Limited
japan:
Yes
Cycle Lanes: Usage
costa rica:
Shared roads marked or planned for cyclist use.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
costa rica:
N/A
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
costa rica:
N/A
japan:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 25-40 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 25 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60-80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Speed limits are generally static. | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Limited use | Yes |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common; fines may be issued by police roadside | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
costa rica:
25-40 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
costa rica:
25 km/h
japan:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
costa rica:
60-80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
costa rica:
80 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
costa rica:
No
japan:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
costa rica:
Speed limits are generally static.
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
costa rica:
Limited use
japan:
Yes
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
costa rica:
Common; fines may be issued by police roadside
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Costa Rica | Not used in Japan |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Spanish; symbols are standard | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
costa rica:
Not used in Costa Rica
japan:
Not used in Japan
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
costa rica:
Excessive use discouraged; can be subject to fines
japan:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
costa rica:
Spanish; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
costa rica:
Triangle-shaped with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated otherwise | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
costa rica:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
costa rica:
Prohibited unless indicated otherwise
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof required | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
costa rica:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
costa rica:
Annual inspection required; proof required
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
costa rica:
Displayed on the windshield
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Road Etiquette
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use is common to signal intentions | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
costa rica:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
costa rica:
Frequent use is common to signal intentions
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
costa rica:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints are used throughout | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial; varies by offense severity | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
costa rica:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
costa rica:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
costa rica:
Common; checkpoints are used throughout
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
costa rica:
Can be substantial; varies by offense severity
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 911 | 119 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 911 or direct number depending on location | 110 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
costa rica:
911
japan:
119
Contact: Traffic Police
costa rica:
911 or direct number depending on location
japan:
110
Contact: Roadside Assistance
costa rica:
Contact your insurance provider or local services like INS
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
costa rica:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Costa rica | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines applicable for use without hands-free | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable for non-compliance | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; police may issue fines on the spot | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
costa rica:
Varies; can range from 22,000 CRC and above
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
costa rica:
Varies; substantial fines, possible imprisonment
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
costa rica:
Fines applicable for use without hands-free
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
costa rica:
Fines applicable for non-compliance
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
costa rica:
Common; police may issue fines on the spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
costa rica:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days