CARS & DRIVING

Parking

In Japan, all land is at a premium and you cannot simply assume you will get a parking space with a rented home/apartment.  In fact, even if there is a parking space right in front of the home, it is just about guaranteed that you will have to pay extra to use that space. Every day I am amazed by seeing some of the very small spaces that some cars are “snuggled” into.

Before you are “allowed” to purchase a car you MUST have a, "Shako shomei sho”, a parking certificate that provides proof of having a parking space. You must submit a form that  includes a detailed map of the location, and written permission from the owner of the parking space. The form is submitted to the local police, along with a ¥2,100 (about $21 U.S.) for the certificate and another  for a parking sticker. The police verify that your parking space is less than 2 kilometers from your home and that your vehicle will fit within the designated space, and that you actually have permission to use the space, and if all is well you get your certificate.

Emergency Flasher Codes

The Japanese drivers use their emergency flashers to signal other drivers a “thank you”. The concept is, when you let another driver perform a lane change in front of you, to thank you for allowing them in, will give a few blinks of their emergency flashers. The reality is, generally, folks will just cut in (you don’t have time to “let them in”) front of you, give you a few blinks and continue on their way. In most cases, they could have easily slowed down, fell in behind you and been good to go.

 If what I saw was based on the concept vs. the reality I would think, yeah, pretty cool. But with what I’ve seen, it is used mostly by assholes who cut you off, then say thanks for something you had no options other than to hit the brakes and let them in/over. Go figure.

Headlights

Headlights – An oddity, to me, many, not all, drivers, when coming to a stop light, turn off their headlights as a courtesy(?) to drivers facing them.  It does not make sense to me, to worry about “blinding” an oncoming driver when you are both motionless. It is nonsensical. It would greatly decrease the ability to see any pedestrians, especially those in dark clothing, crossing in front of you.  If anything, I would find it distracting to suddenly see headlights pop on in front of me when the light changes green. Further, I’ve seen MANY vehicles take off from the light and forget to turn their lights back on.

Stopped car (arrow) has turned off headlight and only has running lights on

Turn on Red

There are no turns on a red light here in Japan (unlike the states that allow a right turn on red).

License Plates and Special Markings

Car license plate color signifies: WHITE is private vehicle, YELLOW indicates a private vehicle with an engine size of less than 600 cc and 64 or less horsepower.

Standard plate and engine of less than 600cc plate

In Japan, a new driver must display a yellow and green, magnetic shoshinsha/wakaba mark, on both the front and back of their car for the period of one year, that warns surrounding drivers of your inexperience on the roads.

CAUTION - New Driver

Conversely, older drivers, 70 and older, must display a red, yellow, and green, magnetic Kōreisha mark, that warns surrounding drivers of your old age. Though I've been looking, to date, I've only seen a very few of these, Are the old folks just not driving, or, are they breaking the law and not displaying the required insignia?

Beware the Oldster!

CAUTION - Oldster!

Because there are so many U.S. Military in Japan, the Japanese government decided to use a special designation for those military affiliated individuals. For individuals covered by the Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), they will have a “Y” on a white plate or “A” on a yellow plate.

"Y" Plate

For more on cars/driving in Japan also see:

2/12/2017 entry for Cars Backing In For Parking.

2/5/2017 entry for JAPANESE COURTESY EXCEPTIONS – Drivers