Flashing yellow light. Pedestrians, vehicles and streetcars/trams may proceed carefully, paying attention to other traffic. Flashing red light. Pedestrians may proceed carefully, paying attention to other traffic. Vehicles and streetcars/trams must stop at the stopping point before proceeding.

In the Japanese traffic system of 2026, a flashing red light at an intersection acts exactly like a stop sign. When a driver encounters a flashing red signal, they must come to a complete stop behind the white line, check for cross-traffic and pedestrians, and only proceed when it is safe to do so. This is distinct from a flashing yellow light, which indicates that drivers should "proceed with caution" but do not need to stop. For pedestrians, a flashing red signal at a crosswalk typically means you should not start crossing, and if you are already in the street, you should finish crossing as quickly as possible. It is a high-value safety tip for travelers renting cars in Japan: traffic laws are strictly enforced, and "rolling" through a flashing red light is a frequent cause of fines and accidents. Because Japan drives on the left, your attention to these signals is a peer-to-peer priority to ensure you navigate the busy, narrow streets of cities like Kyoto and Tokyo with the same "smoothness" and respect for the law as the local Japanese drivers.