Elaphe quadrivirgata, commonly known as the Japanese four-lined ratsnake or the Japanese striped snake (Japanese: shimahebi = striped snake), is a species of non-venomous colubrid snake native to Japan.

The snake has a yellow or light brown ground color, and gets its scientific and common names from the four black lengthwise stripes sported by most individuals of the species.

All-black variants exist; these are known in Japan as karasu-hebi (crow snakes).

photo The dorsal scales, which are weakly keeled in adults but may be smooth in juveniles, are arranged in 19 rows.

It feeds on a variety of prey items, including frogs, lizards, insects, rodents, as well as birds and their eggs.