New bike laws in Japan take effect in 2026. What cyclists and drivers need to know
From commuting to work and picking up groceries to cycling Japan's scenic national routes, bikes are a popular and practical way to get around. Even if you don't own one, Japan's many bike-sharing apps make it easy to rent a ride near you. But as with any vehicle, bikes come with rules, and new bike laws in Japan are coming soon.
In 2024, there were over 67,000 bicycle-related traffic accidents, with over 80% of fatal cases involving a cyclist violating traffic laws. Smartphone use while riding is also a growing issue, with accident cases increasing by over 50% in recent years.
In response, Japan's National Police Agency (NPA) has introduced stricter regulations to make cycling safer for everyone — riders, drivers, and pedestrians. If you cycle in Japan (or plan to), here's what you need to know.
Red Tickets vs. Blue Tickets: What's Changing?
In recent years, Japan has taken a stricter stance on dangerous cycling. Since late 2024, serious offenses like riding under the influence of alcohol or using a smartphone while cycling have carried steep red-ticket (赤切符, aka-kippu) penalties — including fines of up to ¥100,000 for phone use and, for drunk cycling, up to ¥1 million or five years in prison under the Road Traffic Act.
But starting April 2026, a new blue ticket system (青切符制度, **ao-kippu seido) will go into effect for less severe violations. Already used for motorists and moped riders, blue tickets allow police to issue **on-the-spot fines for 113 cycling offenses, including ignoring stop signs or riding without a light.
The system targets cyclists aged 16 and older and aims to improve road safety through more consistent enforcement, without immediately resorting to criminal charges.
Blue Ticket Penalties
The full list of infractions and their penalties is on the National Police Agency website (Japanese only), but here are some of the most common violations to watch out for starting in April 2026.
What Do I Do If I Get a Blue Ticket?
If you're issued a blue ticket, you must pay the fine within eight days, usually using cash at a post office or bank. Ignoring the fine may result in a court summons, and continued non-compliance could lead to a criminal case.
While you can contest a blue ticket, doing so means appearing in court, and there's no guarantee the fine will be waived. In most cases, it's easier — and safer — to pay promptly and avoid further legal trouble.
How Do I Pay a Blue Ticket?
To pay a blue ticket, bring the payment slip you received to a post office or bank and pay the fine in cash. You'll typically fill out a simple form and receive a receipt — be sure to keep it as proof of
I Can't Ride on the Sidewalk?
Click here to read more.
External Link
https://gaijinpot.com/
© GaijinPot
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Nikkei Asia
an hour ago
- Nikkei Asia
North Korean IT workers use fake IDs, laptop farms to dupe foreign firms
The new data includes two Japanese passports with identical dates of birth and issue but different names and addresses. (Photo by Tatsuya Sudo) TATSUYA SUDO and RYO NAMIKI TOKYO -- New data provides a rare look at how North Korean IT engineers earn foreign currency by using false identification and controlling computers in other countries, luring companies to hire them online and unknowingly fund Pyongyang's missile and nuclear weapon programs.
3 hours ago
Profits at Japan Major Listed Firms Seen Down in April-June
News from Japan Economy Aug 8, 2025 22:23 (JST) Tokyo, Aug. 8 (Jiji Press)--Combined profits at major Japanese listed companies are seen to have dropped year on year in April-June, the first decrease in three quarters, according to data collected by SMBC Nikko Securities Inc. The automobile industry has been hit hard by the high tariff policy of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Of the 1,146 firms making up the TOPIX index on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and closing their books in March, 823, or 71.8 pct, have announced their earnings for April-June by Thursday. All of their combined net and other profits posted declines from a year before. Their combined net profits were down 10.2 pct at 11,277.3 billion yen. Net profits at automakers shrank 40 pct, pushing down the overall profits at the listed companies. The drop in the sector reflected the impact of the U.S. tariffs and the yen's appreciation. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
4 hours ago
Ex-Tokyo Electron Unit Worker Linked to Data Theft
News from Japan Economy Aug 7, 2025 21:45 (JST) Taipei, Aug. 7 (Jiji Press)--Japanese chipmaking equipment maker Tokyo Electron Ltd. said Thursday that a former employee of its Taiwanese subsidiary was involved in the illegal acquisition of confidential information of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. According to Taiwanese media, the former employee joined the subsidiary after leaving TSMC. Taiwanese newspaper United Daily News reported that the former employee met an acquaintance, an engineer at TSMC, at a cafe, asked the engineer to display confidential data on a laptop and took numerous photos of the information. The target of the theft was information on TSMC's cutting-edge chips with a circuit line width of 2 nanometers, which the Taiwanese company plans to start mass producing as early as this year. Taiwanese public prosecutors conducted searches of the subsidiary in the city of Hsinchu in Taiwan's northern area. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
