Under the new system, fines — which must be paid within a week — can be assessed on the spot for infractions such as failure to stop at a railway crossing (¥7000), going in the wrong direction on streets or cycling on sidewalks (¥6000) (more about this later), disregarding traffic signals (¥6000), failure to stop at stop signs (¥5000 - odd, since it’s basically the same offense as blowing through a traffic signal), and riding two persons on a non-tandem bicycle (particularly popular among kids, which might explain the relatively low fine of ¥3000).

The big fine is for using a cell phone while the bike is in motion: a whopping ¥12,000! This includes both talking on the phone and (especially) looking at the screen.

Moreover, the news reports said that the new system lists an astonishing 113 offenses that could be subject to fines!

So how will this affect people who want to travel by bicycle in Japan? What kind of actions should they be careful of?

First of all, yes: the ticket is actually blue (see top left).

Also, you should know that there’s also an existing “red ticket” system. The red ticket is assigned for serious offenses, principally “riding while intoxicated” and “road rage” (the Japanese is aori-unten which in the case of a motor vehicle driver means following someone aggressively in an intimidating manner). Needless to say, these actions were already illegal and are considered criminal offenses.

it appears that, up to now, there was no way to prosecute offenses by cyclists except under the red-ticket system, which may be excessive in many cases — the only other option was to issue a verbal warning might be ignored by the cyclist. But there was already a blue-ticket system in place for motorists — the standard traffic ticket system. So the authorities decided to apply the already existing system to cyclists, which goes a long way toward explaining the huge 113 offenses number. As in the case of traffic tickets, blue ticket offenses for cyclists do not go on your criminal record as long as you pay the fine.

It’s surprisingly difficult to find a list of the full 113 offenses, even in Japanese, but the lists we’ve been able to find include things that seem to be ported directly from the motor vehicle system. Here’s what appears to be the full list in Japanese:

https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/traffic/bicycle/pdf/jitensyahansokukoui.pdf

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News media have covered the system since the basic framework was adopted last year. This article from last summer when the fine amounts were finalized is a good one:

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15848095

Here are the major fines as listed in that article:

- Using a smartphone while cycling                          12,000 yen
- Entering a closed railroad crossing                          7,000 yen
- Failure to stop at a traffic light                                  6,000 yen
- Riding in the direction opposite from traffic            6,000 yen

- Riding on the sidewalk                                               6,000 yen
- Failure to stop at a stop sign                                     5,000 yen
- Riding without an illuminated headlight at night     5,000 yen
- Cycling with defective brakes or no brakes             5,000 yen
- Holding an umbrella while cycling                             5,000 yen
- Wearing earphones while cycling                              5,000 yen

- Obstructing an emergency vehicle                            5,000 yen
- Riding two or more bikes side by side                      5,000 yen

- Riding with two people on a bicycle                          3,000 yen

As you can see, far and away the highest fine is for using a cell phone while cycling. The reporting on this new system last year seemed to clearly indicate that, in addition to an increase in accidents, the major concern of the authorities was the number of young people using cell phones while cycling and causing a hazard (in some cases resulting in accidents).

This graphic from the National Police Agency actually emphasizes that focus.

However, the Asahi article notes that the overwhelming number of comments received during the public comment period concerned the fine for riding on sidewalks, with many people voicing their concern that riding on the road is dangerous. As the article notes, in response to these concerns, the National Police Agency said that “police will use the blue ticket system for particularly dangerous violations” — presumably meaning _only_ in such cases.

The authorities do specify specific situations in which cycling on sidewalks is permissible:

1. -Where there are blue circular pedestrian-and-cyclist signs indicating that fact
   

2. -If the cyclist is age 12 or younger or 70 or older, or physically disabled
   

3. -If road or traffic conditions make it dangerous to cycle on the road
   

In such cases, the cyclist should go slow and cycle on the road side of the sidewalk.

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That leads to the main question: how strict is the new system? Meaning how will it actually affect cyclists in practice?

That’s difficult to tell at this point, but let’s see what the authorities themselves say.

In the example cited above, the authorities said the fine for riding on sidewalks would only be assessed “for particularly dangerous violations” (although the law as written contains no such qualification). Still, there are indications that the intent is to apply the law sparingly. A Yomiuri article also contained some “well, in practice…” qualifications based on inquiries to the police.

https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/general-news/20260402-320026/

An NPA official told The Yomiuri Shimbun that the agency’s stance of first issuing guidance and then cracking down on traffic violations “has not changed.” Indeed, breaking traffic rules will not necessarily result in the instant issuance of a blue ticket. It is expected that police officers will give these tickets in cases such as when warnings and guidance have been ignored or when a combination of violations — riding side-by-side with no lights, for example — create a dangerous situation.

Even so, blue tickets could be immediately issued for three types of violation: using a smartphone while riding a bicycle, which incurs a ¥12,000 fine; riding bicycles without brakes (¥5,000 fine); and entering a railway crossing when the barriers are coming or have come down (¥7,000 fine).

(Here again, note the emphasis on the use of cell phones! Likely to be an instant fine.)

What about using a smartphone that’s in a holder mounted on the handlebars? The article has this to say:

According to the agency, doing this and checking a map app would not constitute an immediate violation, but a blue ticket could be issued if a cyclist stares at the screen while riding along.

OK. So what did the article say about riding on sidewalks, which seems to be the item of most concern to people?

A police officer who spots a cyclist riding on the sidewalk will not necessarily issue a blue ticket. But a cyclist riding quickly, startling pedestrians and causing them to stop in their tracks or one who continues to ride despite being warned by an officer could become subject to enforcement measures.

So in interviews, the authorities appear to be indicating not exactly leniency but a “warning first” and “primarily in the event of egregious behavior” approach to enforcement. And, in fact, they have spelled this out quite clearly even in their written materials. Here is the English language leaflet concerning the new system:

https://www.police.pref.osaka.lg.jp/material/files/group/2/bicycleflyer_r0802_eng.pdf

Note that high up on the very first page of the leaflet is the sentence “As always, in principle, guidance and warnings will be given, and enforcement measures will be taken for malicious or dangerous violations." This message is repeated on the second page: “If a bicycle violation is detected, in principle, guidance and warnings will be given at the scene. However, malicious or dangerous violations that may result in a traffic accident or be a hazard or nuisance to pedestrians or other vehicles will be subject to enforcement measures.” We checked to make sure, and yes, this is a faithful translation of the language in the Japanese version of this leaflet.

So they seem to be at pains to convey the “warning first” intent to the public and that there is intended to be discretion in application.

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Incidentally, what about helmets?

Each report on the new system, whether from the media or the authorities, contains the admonition to “Wear a helmet!” However, you’ll notice that helmet-wearing is not included in the list of fines.

Even under the blue ticket system, there’s no fine for not wearing a helmet. However, any cyclist who bothers to check the statistics on cycling fatalities would surely never get on the bicycle without one.

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There have been a number of outstanding articles in English about the new system on non-official sites. For example, this one provides a very thorough summary and some advice (which is clearly marked as not intended to be legal advice).

https://www.japanunwritten.com/2026/04/japan-bicycle-rules-blue-ticket-fines-en-2026.html

If we were pressed to give advice (which, to be clear, is also NOT legal advice), it would be to do at least this:

(1) Be particularly careful to NOT PULL OUT YOUR CELL PHONE WHILE RIDING. Bring the bicycle to a complete stop first. This will be a major pain while cycling along unfamiliar roads, but it’s better to be safe than ¥12,000 lighter. Moreover, cyclists who want to take videos while the bicycle is in motion may have to consider getting a GoPro type camera.

2. (2)Be particularly careful about cycling after drinking any amount of alcohol, since that’s a big “red ticket” item.
   

3. (3)Don’t wear earphones while cycling. We think this is a bad idea anyway.
   

(4) Keep to the left when cycling on the road, and point in the direction you intend to turn.

(5) If you cycle on sidewalks, go slow, and do everything you can to both give priority to and not startle pedestrians. (Also, whenever possible you should be on the side closest to the road.)

(6) If a policemen cautions you, be cordial and comply immediately.

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As part of our on-the ground reporting, we should note that here in Kobe we have been able to detect no observable change in cycling behavior on April 1 and thereafter. Just as many people were cycling on sidewalks, and there were just as many people riding without wearing helmets (virtually all of the people on ordinary bicycles — as usual, the few cyclists on nice bicycles wearing cycle jerseys were all wearing helmets). We saw enforcement only once: a few days after the system went into effect, young officers were posted on both corners at a stop sign on a heavily traveled side street, warning cyclists to stop at the sign. It should be mentioned that we also saw examples of the problem that the authorities are trying to combat: the other day a young man passed us cycling at top speed on the non-road side of the sidewalk, wearing no helmet and with earphones in both ears — multiple violations not including the lack of helmet.

So for the foreseeable future, we recommend that cyclists take the new system seriously, and exercise increased caution regarding the types of actions that might incur a ticket.

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A final note: the blue ticket system does not deal with the question of cyclist insurance, which has recently become an issue due to several high-profile and very expensive accident claims. There’s no nationwide requirement, but certain prefectures and municipalities now require cyclists in their jurisdictions to have insurance. This is also something that visitors who intend to cycle in Japan should have. We plan to do an article about this in the near future.

For now, here are some links to articles in English on the subject:

https://parkingday.org/is-bicycle-insurance-required-in-japan/

https://tgmjapan.com/life-in-japan/driving-and-licensing/bicycling-in-japan/bicycle-insurance/

https://japan-dev.com/blog/bicycle-rules-in-japan#is-bicycle-insurance-mandatory-in-japan (includes links for sign-up at convenience stores, etc.!)

The Ao-Kippu (Blue Ticket) System and Cyclists

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