Parking Rules and Fines in Japan
· GaimenGo Team
Parking violations are one of the most common reasons for fines. Learn the rules.
Parking rules in Japan are strictly enforced, and fines can be substantial. Understanding the rules before you drive can save you thousands of yen.
No-Parking vs No-Stopping No-parking (駐車禁止): You cannot leave your vehicle unattended, but brief stops for passenger pickup are OK. No-stopping (停車禁止): You cannot stop your vehicle at all — not even momentarily.
Where You Cannot Park
- Within 5 meters of a fire hydrant
- Within 5 meters of an intersection corner (no stopping or parking within 5m of the edge of the crossing road)
- On pedestrian crossings
- Within 10 meters before a bus stop (in the direction of travel) during operating hours
- On roads with a width of less than 6 meters (no parking on either side)
Coin Parking Most urban parking is paid coin parking. Rates vary from 100-600 yen per hour depending on the area. Always check the time limits — overstaying can result in your car being towed.
Fines Illegal parking: 10,000-18,000 yen fine plus towing fees (15,000-30,000 yen)
Parking Violation Notice (確認標章) If you return to your car and find an orange sticker (確認標章) placed on your windshield by a traffic warden, your vehicle has been recorded as illegally parked. You must report to the designated police station within the specified period to pay the fine. Ignoring it will result in license point deductions and escalating penalties.