Driving in Japan vs. Nepal: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Japan and Nepal, drivers encounter distinct rules and regulations that impact their travel experiences. Key contrasts include speed limits, lane usage, and enforcement practices. Understanding these variances is essential for ensuring a secure and enjoyable journey in both countries.
Lanes
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the edge of the road. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Yes, with caution. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Keep left. |
| Bus Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | N/A |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | No |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | N/A |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
nepal:
Marks the edge of the road.
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
nepal:
Yes, with caution.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
nepal:
Keep left.
Bus Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
nepal:
No
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
nepal:
N/A
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Presence
japan:
Yes
nepal:
No
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
nepal:
N/A
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
nepal:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
nepal:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 50-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 40-60 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: Speed Cameras | Yes | No |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
nepal:
20-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
japan:
30 km/h
nepal:
20-30 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
nepal:
50-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
nepal:
40-60 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
nepal:
60 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
nepal:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
nepal:
N/A
Enforcement: Speed Cameras
japan:
Yes
nepal:
No
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Amber | Yellow |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Nepal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Nepali and English |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangle-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
japan:
Amber
nepal:
Yellow
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
nepal:
Not used in Nepal
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
nepal:
Nepali and English
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
nepal:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
Documentation
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
nepal:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
nepal:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Frequent use compared to some countries |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
nepal:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
nepal:
Frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | Not applicable as underage driving is illegal |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; checkpoints used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
nepal:
0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
nepal:
Not applicable as underage driving is illegal
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
nepal:
Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
nepal:
Can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
| Lane Usage: Left | Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe | Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe |
Signaling: Exiting
japan:
Signal right when preparing to exit
nepal:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Lane Usage: Left
japan:
Use for subsequent exits, move to right lane before exit when safe
nepal:
Use for subsequent exits, move to left lane before exit when safe
Emergency Services
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 100 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | 100 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
nepal:
100
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
nepal:
100
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
nepal:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
nepal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
nepal:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Nepal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | NPR 500 to NPR 1,000 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes, common practice |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 15 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
nepal:
Varies; NPR 2,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
nepal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
nepal:
NPR 500 to NPR 1,000
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 5,000
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
nepal:
NPR 1,000 to NPR 2,000
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
nepal:
Yes, common practice
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
nepal:
Varies; typically 15 days to pay