Safe Driving Guide: Cruising Mount Fuji

We want your driving experience around Mount Fuji to be breathtaking, memorable, and—above all—completely safe!

If you are new to driving in Japan, some traffic laws, road signs, and local driving customs may be quite different from what you are used to back home. Please take a few minutes to read through this comprehensive guide so you can hit the road with absolute confidence.

1. Driving Basics: The Left-Side Rules

Drive on the Left: Vehicles travel on the left side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the right side of the vehicle.
Pedestrians Always Have Priority: When turning at any intersection or crosswalk, pedestrians have the absolute right-of-way. Even if a pedestrian is simply standing at the curb waiting to cross, you are legally required to come to a complete stop. Failure to yield carries a heavy fine and demerit points.
Turning Right at Intersections: When you have a standard green light and are turning right, oncoming traffic traveling straight has the right-of-way. You must wait in the intersection for a safe, clear gap before turning.
No Turning on Red Lights: Unlike in some countries, it is strictly illegal to turn left on a red light. A red light means a 100% complete stop behind the white line until the light turns green or a green arrow signal appears.

2. Strict Japanese Laws & Zero-Tolerance Policies

⚠️ 0.00% Alcohol Limit (Zero Tolerance): Japan’s legal blood-alcohol limit for drivers is an absolute 0.00%. If you consume even a single sip of alcohol, you cannot drive. The law is incredibly severe: passengers who ride in a vehicle driven by an intoxicated driver can also be arrested and heavily fined.

Mobile Phones & Navigation: It is strictly illegal to hold, operate, or look at a phone while driving—this includes adjusting your GPS maps. If you need to change your route, you must pull over into a safe parking lot first.
Seatbelts are Mandatory: Every single person inside the vehicle must wear a seatbelt at all times, including passengers in the back seats.

3. Critical Japanese Road Signs & Stops to Memorize

While most Japanese road signs utilize standard international symbols, there are two critical rules you must follow to avoid police fines:

The STOP Sign (止まれ - Tomare): The Japanese stop sign is a bright red, upside-down triangle containing the white kanji characters 止まれ (and usually "STOP" underneath). You must come to a 100% dead stop behind the solid white line. Count to three, check both ways, and then proceed. Merely slowing down is a traffic violation.
Railroad Crossings (Mandatory Stop): By law, you must come to a complete stop before crossing any train tracks, even if the gates are open and no lights are flashing. Stop before the line, look, listen, and ensure the vehicle in front of you has fully cleared the tracks before crossing.

4. Local Fuji Area Tips: Navigating Like a Pro

Watch Out for Narrow Side Streets: While main roads connecting Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, and Narusawa are wide, side streets leading to hidden shrines or restaurants can narrow down significantly. Drive slowly and utilize the large, convex curved mirrors mounted on roadside poles to check for oncoming traffic around blind corners.
Avoid Street Parking for Photos: Mount Fuji is stunning, but stopping your car on the shoulder of a public road to take a photo is highly dangerous and illegal. Always use designated parking lots at panoramic viewpoints, public parks, or convenience stores.
Expressway Lane Manners: On toll roads and expressways, the left lane is the driving lane, and the right lane is strictly for overtaking (passing). Move back into the left lane as soon as you have passed.
The Hazard Light "Thank You": If a local driver politely slows down to let you merge, it is a local custom to flash your hazard lights for 2 to 3 seconds as a friendly way of saying "thank you."

5. What to Do in an Emergency

If you experience an issue, immediately turn on your hazard lights, safely guide the car to the side of the road, and follow these steps:

1.Address Medical Needs First:Call 119。

If anyone is injured and requires medical attention, dial 119 immediately to request an ambulance.

2.Report to the Police:Call 110。

In Japan, you are legally required to report any and all vehicle contact to the police, no matter how minor the scratch is. Dial 110 (English translation support is available).

3.Notify the Rental Office:Call Rental Hotline。

Once you have spoken to the police, call our office hotline immediately so we can guide you through the insurance and documentation process.

4.Roadside Breakdowns:Call Support Number。

If a dashboard warning light turns on or you get a flat tire, park in a safe location and call the dedicated English support number printed on your rental agreement for roadside assistance.