AlterLock is a Japanese company. From next year, Japan’s laws governing bicycle riding will change significantly. We’re sharing this article with an educational intent so future visitors who wish to cycle in Japan can ride safely and responsibly—especially travelers who may not be familiar with local rules.
When riding a bicycle in Japan, you might sometimes wonder, “Am I going a bit too fast?” or debate whether earphones are okay. There are plenty of traffic rules that concern us cyclists.
Starting in 2026, amendments to Japan’s Road Traffic Law will begin that directly affect cyclists.
Rules that were previously handled with a simple “warning” will become subject to administrative fines, and clearer standards will be defined—prompting many of us to rethink how we ride.
In this article, based on the latest “Bicycle Rulebook” released by the National Police Agency, we explain in the most straightforward way possible the key changes road cyclists should know.
Table of Contents
- 2026 Revisions at a Glance
- Introduction of the Blue Ticket System (from April 2026)
- Blue Ticket vs. Red Ticket: What’s the Difference?
- Why Introduce Blue Tickets?
- Main Violations and Typical Fine Amounts
- Violations Road Cyclists Should Pay Special Attention To
- Running Red Lights / Failing to Stop
- Smartphone Handling
- Earphone Use (single-ear, open-ear, bone conduction permitted)
- High-speed Riding on Sidewalks
- Lateral Passing & Keep Left (from April 2026)
- 30 km/h Limit on Residential Streets (from September 2026)
- How This Differs from Moped Rules
- The Five Principles for Safe Bicycle Use — from a Road Cycling Perspective
- Summary
2026 Revisions at a Glance
Let’s first get the big picture.
From April 1, 2026
- Blue ticket system introduced for bicycles (applies to riders aged 16 and over)
- New lateral passing rule and strengthened duty to keep as far left as practicable
From September 1, 2026
- Statutory speed limit becomes 30 km/h on residential roads without a centerline
Introduction of the Blue Ticket System (from April 2026)
Blue Ticket vs. Red Ticket: What’s the Difference?
Here’s the system in simple terms:
- Blue Ticket: Violations processed with an administrative fine. No court, no criminal record.
- Red Ticket: Issued for serious violations. Leads to criminal procedures, with possible fines and criminal record.
In short: Blue = lighter administrative handling, Red = serious criminal handling.
Why Introduce Blue Tickets?
There are around 70,000 bicycle-related accidents annually, and it’s said that over 70% involve a violation by the cyclist.
Up to now, many cases were handled with a warning, while going straight to a red ticket and criminal procedures could be too heavy-handed and hard to operate in practice. The blue ticket is being introduced to fill that gap.
Main Violations and Typical Fine Amounts
Here are examples relevant to road cyclists:
- Smartphone handling (holding/operating): ¥12,000 (highest amount)
- Running a red light: ¥6,000
- Failing to stop (stop sign): ¥5,000
- Riding on the right (wrong-way) / riding on sidewalks: ¥6,000
- Dangerous acts such as high-speed riding on sidewalks: ¥5,000
Applies to ages 16+. Riders under 16 are primarily subject to guidance and warnings as before.
For road bikes, riding on the roadway has long been the norm. With defined fines, you may wonder—if the roadway is judged dangerous and you ride on the sidewalk, is it an immediate violation?
According to the law, merely riding on a sidewalk results in guidance/warning only; enforcement focuses on cases involving danger—for example, startling pedestrians or causing them to halt. Whether there is actual danger or you make others feel unsafe is a critical point.
If you violate these rules, you may be ordered to attend a Bicycle Operator Training Course (3 hours, paid). If you hold a driver’s license, serious bicycle violations may also lead to license suspension.
Violations Road Bikers Should Pay Special Attention To
Running Red Lights / Failing to Stop
“Pushing through as a group,” or “not wanting the line to split” are common scenarios. This calls for a group-wide shift in awareness.
Smartphone Handling
If you’re looking at maps on a smartphone mounted on your bars, an officer might judge that you’re holding and closely viewing the device.
In cars, briefly glancing at navigation generally isn’t an issue, but if you need a careful look, come to a full stop first.
Earphone Use (single-ear, open-ear, bone conduction permitted)
This is a major point of interest among cyclists. Previously, local ordinances varied, and opinions differed within the community. The current Rulebook clarifies:
- Both ears blocked (e.g., sealed canal type): unable to hear surrounding sounds → Not allowed, subject to fines.
- Single-ear earphones / bone conduction / open-ear types: allowed if surrounding sounds can be sufficiently heard.
- Excessive volume that prevents hearing surroundings: Not allowed, subject to fines.
The principle is: “If you can’t hear your surroundings, it’s out”; “Choose a method that clearly lets you hear your surroundings.”
Until this is widely known, you may still see statements like “even single-ear is out,” but this newly clarified point is worth noting.
For road cycling earphones, bone conduction models like Shokz are a staple. Another recommendation is the open-ear Anker Soundcore AeroFit. I use this single-ear.
Both have over-ear hooks, high water resistance, and are designed for sports. In particular, AeroFit outperforms the Pro in water resistance; I’ve used mine for about three years and it hasn’t failed due to sweat—very comfortable.
If you use earphones on a road bike, bone conduction or single-ear open-ear is reassuring. You can enjoy music or podcasts on cycling paths, quiet roads, hill climbs, and night brevets (Audax).
Be aware that at high speeds, wind noise grows and makes listening harder.
High-speed Riding on Sidewalks
Sidewalk riding is only an exception: allowed when indicated by signs or when unavoidable, and you must proceed slowly.
If you startle pedestrians, it’s an immediate violation.
Lateral Passing & Keep Left (from April 2026)
From April 2026, new rules on how cars and bicycles pass each other:
- For drivers: When overtaking a bicycle, if you can’t keep a sufficient lateral gap, you must reduce speed.
- For cyclists: Duty to ride as far left as practicable.
For road cyclists, the iron rules are: keep a predictable line near the left edge and single-file.
No one should be cruising down the middle just because bikes ride on the roadway—that can be seen as obstructive. The outside of the white line often has rough pavement or gutters, so the basic is the left side within the lane.
30 km/h Limit on Residential Streets (from September 2026)
From September 2026, roads without a centerline in residential areas will have a statutory limit of 30 km/h.
If a posted speed limit exists, that posted limit takes precedence.
Cars are also 30 km/h here, so overall traffic speed drops—potentially making riding more comfortable.
If your usual route or cut-throughs include residential roads, review your course and ride with care.
How This Differs from Moped Rules
Mopeds must always obey 30 km/h anywhere.
Bicycles up to now followed posted limits or the statutory speed (60 km/h), but going forward, the new rule is: “Residential roads are 30 km/h.”
The Five Principles for Safe Bicycle Use — from a Road Cycling Perspective
The Rulebook repeatedly emphasizes the “Five Principles for Safe Bicycle Use.”
These don’t change for road bikes, and for many cyclists, they’ve long been common sense:
- Roadways are the rule; ride on the left. Sidewalks are exceptions.
- Obey traffic lights and stop signs.
- Use lights at night.
- No drinking and riding.
- Helmets are strongly encouraged. In reality—if you care about survival—they’re a must.
Summary
Here are the key points:
- Blue ticket system (from April 2026): Running red lights or handling a smartphone leads to immediate fines.
- Red tickets: Serious violations like drunk riding or causing accidents go to criminal procedures.
- Lateral passing & keep-left: New rules so cars and bicycles can ensure mutual safety.
- 30 km/h residential roads (from September 2026): Keep speeds low in neighborhoods.
- Earphones: Two-ear sealing types are not allowed; single-ear, bone conduction, or open-ear are permitted if you can clearly hear surroundings.
We’re entering an era where a small “oops” can hit your wallet. But the real aim isn’t just avoiding fines—it’s protecting yourself and your group.
Update your understanding of the rules, and enjoy a safer cycling life from 2026 onward.
You can also introduce AlterLock into your accessories to protect your valuable bike while traveling and even when back home(check for compatibility in your region).
Japan has countless wonderful places to ride a bicycle—wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable experience!