🚨IMPORTANT NOTICE📣 Lower Speed Limit on Residential Streets

Starting September 1, 2026, the default legal speed limit for motor vehicles on residential streets will be reduced from 60 km/h to 30 km/h.

Please drive with extra care in residential areas to help keep our roads safe.

What is the "default legal speed limit"?
It is the maximum speed set by law that applies when there are no posted speed limit signs.

What are residential streets?
Residential streets (local roads) are roads primarily used by local residents in their daily lives. This includes narrow streets, roads in residential or shopping districts, and roads without a center line.

🚨Exceptions (Standard 60 km/h Limit Applies):

The default speed limit will remain 60 km/h on the following roads:

・Ordinary roads with a center line or designated traffic lanes
・Ordinary roads with a central median or other physical separation between opposing traffic
・All roads other than the main carriageways of expressways (including acceleration and deceleration lanes)
・Motor-vehicle-only roads

🚨Posted Speed Limits Always Take Precedence

If a road has a posted speed limit sign, you must follow the speed displayed on the sign, regardless of the default limit.

Example 1: If the default limit on a residential street is 30 km/h, but a sign indicates 40 km/h, the maximum speed on that road is 40 km/h.

Example 2: If the default limit on a main road is 60 km/h, but a sign indicates 50 km/h, the maximum speed on that road is 50 km/h.

Even when driving within the posted or legal speed limit, please choose a safe speed based on road and traffic conditions, weather, visibility, and other circumstances.

For more information, please visit the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department website.