Driving in Japan vs. Portugal: Key Differences Explained
When traversing the roads of Japan and Portugal, understanding their unique traffic regulations and driving practices is crucial for a safe journey. Key distinctions include Japan's left-side driving and stringent alcohol limits, contrasting with Portugal's right-side navigation and higher speed limits. Explore these essential variances to ensure a secure driving experience abroad.
Lanes
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Prohibited. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use leftmost lane. | Use rightmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours. | Reserved for buses and taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
portugal:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
portugal:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
portugal:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
portugal:
Prohibited.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
portugal:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
portugal:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
portugal:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
portugal:
Exclusive for bicycles.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
japan:
Bicycle symbols and sometimes colored pavement.
portugal:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
Speeds Limits
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Possible |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
portugal:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
portugal:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
portugal:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
portugal:
120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
portugal:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
portugal:
90 km/h
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
portugal:
Possible
Signals
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in Portugal |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Portuguese; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with white background and red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
portugal:
Not used in Portugal
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
portugal:
Portuguese; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
portugal:
Triangular-shaped with white background and red border
Turns
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Prohibited |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
portugal:
Prohibited
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
portugal:
Allowed at intersections unless signs prohibit
Documentation
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted; no additional permit required |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Periodic inspections required; proof may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
portugal:
Accepted; no additional permit required
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
portugal:
International Driving Permit recommended; national license accepted for short visits
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
portugal:
Periodic inspections required; proof may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
portugal:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
portugal:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing Lights: Usage | To warn of hazards | To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake |
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Generally used sparingly | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Flashing Lights: Usage
japan:
To warn of hazards
portugal:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
portugal:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
portugal:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.02% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common, especially during holidays |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
portugal:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
portugal:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
portugal:
0.02%
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
portugal:
Common, especially during holidays
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
portugal:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Contact local authorities |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or JAF | Check with your insurance provider or ACP |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Recommended | Mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
portugal:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
portugal:
Contact local authorities
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
portugal:
Check with your insurance provider or ACP
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
portugal:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | Portugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | €120 to €600 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | €240 to €1,200 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | €120 to €600 |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Possible |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
portugal:
Varies; €60 to €2,500, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
portugal:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
portugal:
€120 to €600
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
portugal:
€240 to €1,200
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
portugal:
€120 to €600
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
portugal:
Possible
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
portugal:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay