Driving in Japan vs. South Korea: Key Differences Explained
Discover the essential distinctions in road regulations and driving customs between Japan and South Korea. From lane usage and speed limits to alcohol enforcement, this comparison highlights critical variations that impact safety on the roads. Understanding these nuances is vital for ensuring secure and responsible travel in these two unique countries.
Lanes
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Left | Right |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the right edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed. |
| Overtaking: On Left | No | Yes |
| Overtaking: On Right | Yes, overtaking is done on the right. | Allowed on multi-lane roads |
| 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 during specified hours. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs. | Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'. |
| Cycle Lanes: Usage | Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles. | Exclusive for bicycles. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or more occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | N/A |
Driving Side
japan:
Left
south korea:
Right
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
japan:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
south korea:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads; no crossing allowed.
Overtaking: On Left
japan:
No
south korea:
Yes
Overtaking: On Right
japan:
Yes, overtaking is done on the right.
south korea:
Allowed on multi-lane roads
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
japan:
Use leftmost lane.
south korea:
Use rightmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
japan:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis during specific hours.
south korea:
Reserved for buses during specified hours.
Bus Lanes: Markings
japan:
Labeled with bus symbols; specific times indicated with road signs.
south korea:
Often marked with blue lines, labeled 'BUS'.
Cycle Lanes: Usage
japan:
Shared with lanes or exclusive for bicycles.
south korea:
Exclusive for bicycles.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
japan:
No
south korea:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
japan:
N/A
south korea:
Minimum two or more occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits.
south korea:
N/A
Speeds Limits
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 40-50 km/h | 60 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 60 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 60 km/h | 60-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 80-100 km/h | 100-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80-100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | N/A |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation | Yes |
Urban Areas: Standard
japan:
40-50 km/h
south korea:
60 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
60 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
japan:
60 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
60 km/h
south korea:
60-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
japan:
80-100 km/h
south korea:
100-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
japan:
80-100 km/h
south korea:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
japan:
80 km/h
south korea:
80-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
japan:
Yes
south korea:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
japan:
Electronic signs display current limits
south korea:
N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
japan:
Rare; fines are usually mailed after citation
south korea:
Yes
Signals
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Japan | Not used in South Korea |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard | Korean; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
japan:
Not used in Japan
south korea:
Not used in South Korea
Traffic Signs: Language
japan:
Japanese with some bilingual signs; symbols are standard
south korea:
Korean; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
japan:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
south korea:
Diamond-shaped with yellow or orange background
Turns
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Varies by locality; check for signs | Allowed unless prohibited by signs |
Right Turn On Red
japan:
Not allowed
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
japan:
Varies by locality; check for signs
south korea:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
Documentation
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit required along with national license | Accepted with International Driving Permit |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory; proof required | Mandatory; proof must be displayed |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on license plate | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Recommended | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Not mandatory | Recommended but not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
japan:
International Driving Permit required along with national license
south korea:
Accepted with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
japan:
Mandatory; proof required
south korea:
Mandatory; proof must be displayed
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
japan:
Displayed on license plate
south korea:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Not mandatory
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| 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
south korea:
To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
japan:
Generally used sparingly
south korea:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
japan:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
south korea:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.03% | 0.05% |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | Prohibited; zero tolerance | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints may be set up | Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial; can lead to license suspension | Varies; can be substantial |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and fines |
Limits: General Drivers
japan:
0.03%
south korea:
0.05%
Limits: Professional Drivers
japan:
0.00%
south korea:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
japan:
Prohibited; zero tolerance
south korea:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
japan:
Common; checkpoints may be set up
south korea:
Common; sobriety checkpoints frequently used
Enforcement: Fines
japan:
Substantial; can lead to license suspension
south korea:
Varies; can be substantial
Test Refusal
japan:
Can result in license suspension
south korea:
Can result in license suspension and fines
Emergency Services
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 119 | 112 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 110 | Varies; often part of the general emergency network |
| 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 | Recommended but not mandatory |
Contact: General Emergency
japan:
119
south korea:
112
Contact: Traffic Police
japan:
110
south korea:
Varies; often part of the general emergency network
Contact: Roadside Assistance
japan:
Check with your insurance provider or JAF
south korea:
Check with your insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
japan:
Recommended
south korea:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
japan:
Recommended
south korea:
Recommended but not mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Japan | South korea | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines, points on license | Varies; fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe fines, possible jail time | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines; enforceable | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Severe fines, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines, points on license | Fines and license points given |
| Payment: On The Spot | Rare; fines usually paid later | Yes |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 30 days | Varies; typically 30 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
japan:
Varies; substantial fines, points on license
south korea:
Varies; fines and license points given
Common Fines: Alcohol
japan:
Severe fines, possible jail time
south korea:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
japan:
Fines; enforceable
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Phone Use
japan:
Severe fines, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
japan:
Fines, points on license
south korea:
Fines and license points given
Payment: On The Spot
japan:
Rare; fines usually paid later
south korea:
Yes
Payment: Deadline
japan:
Varies; typically within 30 days
south korea:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay