Speed limits in Japan

[5] However, the statutory speed limit for divided expressways is (since April 1, 2024) 90 km/h (56 mph) for a truck with GVWR over 8 t (17,640 lb) and a maximum load over 5 t (11,020 lb), and 80 km/h (49.71 mph) for motor vehicles with a trailer and three-wheelers (and before April 2024 also for trucks over 8 t).

This is due to legal precedents dating back to 1969 restricting police from filming an individual unless a criminal offence is immediately being committed.

[8][9] Police enforcement varies depending on the jurisdiction, officers, traffic flow and street types, but 19 km/h (12 mph) above the speed limit on an expressway and 14 km/h (8.7 mph) above the limit are generally tolerated on other streets.

[11] For speeding between 15 and 19 km/h (9.3 and 11.8 mph) over the limit, Hokkaido, Aichi, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka had the largest shares of tickets issued.

[11] Some jurisdictions, such as Tokyo Metropolitan Police, release traffic enforcement locations on their websites.

A speed limit may not exceed 60 km/h for any streets with at-grade intersections or where pedestrians or cyclists are permitted.

To exceed the 60 km/h threshold, the street must undergo costly grade separation to become a controlled-access highway.

Variable speed limit signs used on expressways. Sign on the left denotes the limit for motor vehicles with a trailer, heavy trucks over 8 t and three wheelers (however, the speed limit for a heavy truck was in April 2024 raised from 80 to 90 km/h).
Speed camera installed on a rural street. The minimum threshold for the speed camera is 29 km/h (18 mph) but the speed limit cannot be set higher than 60 km/h (37 mph) as the street is not a controlled-access highway . The red and white arrows marks the road edges in snowy conditions.
Radar unit used by police speed enforcement