Driving in Germany vs. Japan: Key Differences Explained
Exploring the unique road regulations in Germany and Japan reveals fascinating contrasts in driving practices. From the differing sides of the road—right in Germany and left in Japan—to varying speed limits and lane usage, understanding these distinctions is essential for ensuring a secure driving experience abroad. Dive in to discover more!
Lanes
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Not commonly used; white lines are standard. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Markings: Dashed Yellow Line | Marks temporary lanes or roadworks. | Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower. | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs. | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Exclusive for bicycles. | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored lane. | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. |
Driving Side
germany:
Right
japan:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
germany:
Not commonly used; white lines are standard.
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line
germany:
Marks temporary lanes or roadworks.
japan:
Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Left
germany:
Yes
japan:
No
Overtaking: On Right
germany:
Generally prohibited, except in traffic jams or on multi-lane roads when the left lane is moving slower.
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
germany:
Use rightmost lane.
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
germany:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. Bicycles may be allowed.
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
germany:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with signs.
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
germany:
Exclusive for bicycles.
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
germany:
Bicycle symbols and colored lane.
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 40-50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Common | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Standard
germany:
50 km/h
japan:
40-50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
germany:
80-100 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80 km/h
japan:
60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
germany:
Recommended 130 km/h, no fixed maximum
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
germany:
100 km/h
japan:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
germany:
80-100 km/h
japan:
80 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
germany:
Common
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Indicates the light is about to change to green | Not used in Japan |
| Traffic Signs: Language | German; 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
germany:
Indicates the light is about to change to green
japan:
Not used in Japan
Traffic Signs: Language
germany:
German; symbols are standard
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
germany:
Triangle-shaped with red border
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited in many areas; check for signs | Varies by locality; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
germany:
Not allowed unless a green arrow sign is present
japan:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
germany:
Prohibited in many areas; check for signs
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
Documentation
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required along with national license |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory, every 2 years | Mandatory; proof required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on rear license plate | Displayed on license plate |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
germany:
Accepted; no International Driving Permit needed
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
germany:
Accepted for up to 6 months; International Driving Permit recommended
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
germany:
Mandatory, every 2 years
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
germany:
Displayed on rear license plate
japan:
Displayed on license plate
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
japan:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake | To warn of hazards |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Generally used sparingly |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
germany:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
japan:
To warn of hazards
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
germany:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
japan:
Generally used sparingly
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
germany:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | Prohibited; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common | Common; checkpoints may be set up |
| Enforcement: Fines | Can be substantial, varies by offense | Substantial; can lead to license suspension |
Limits: General Drivers
germany:
0.05%
japan:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
germany:
0.00%
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
germany:
Common
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
Enforcement: Fines
germany:
Can be substantial, varies by offense
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
Emergency Services
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 119 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or ADAC | Check with your insurance provider or JAF |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
germany:
112
japan:
119
Contact: Roadside Assistance
germany:
Check with your insurance provider or ADAC
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
germany:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
germany:
Mandatory
japan:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Germany | Japan | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license | Varies; substantial fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Severe fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | €30 to €60 | Fines; enforceable |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | €100, points on license | Severe fines, points on license |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | €90 to €200, points on license | Fines, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Rare; fines usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
germany:
Varies; €10 to over €600, points on license
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
germany:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
germany:
€30 to €60
japan:
Fines; enforceable
Common Fines: Phone Use
germany:
€100, points on license
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
germany:
€90 to €200, points on license
japan:
Fines, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
germany:
Common
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
germany:
Varies; typically 1 to 4 weeks to pay
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days