Unless a vehicle (other than a trolleybus) is proceeding down a road with vehicle traffic lanes, it must proceed down the road keeping to the left side of the road if it is a motor vehicle or general motorized bicycle (meaning a motorized bicycle that falls under Article 2, paragraph (1), item (x), (a); the same applies hereinafter), and keeping to the left edge of the road if it is a specified small motorized bicycle or a light road vehicle (hereinafter referred to as a "specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle"); provided, however, that this does not apply when the driver is passing; if the driver is moving towards the center or right edge of a road pursuant to Article 25, paragraph (2) or Article 34, paragraph (2) or (4); or if road conditions or other circumstances compel the driver to do otherwise.
When passing a pedestrian while proceeding, pursuant to the preceding paragraph, down a road without demarcations between the sidewalk and the roadway or in any other case, the driver of a vehicle must maintain a safe distance between the vehicle and the pedestrian or drive at a reduced speed.
When a vehicle (other than a specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle) goes by on the right side of a specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle proceeding in the same direction as that vehicle (excluding one proceeding on a sidewalk or bicycle path) (excluding the case of passing that specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle), and there is not sufficient distance between that vehicle and that specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle, the vehicle must proceed at a safe speed suited to the distance from that specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle.
車両（特定小型原動機付自転車等を除く。）は、当該車両と同一の方向に進行している特定小型原動機付自転車等（歩道又は自転車道を通行しているものを除く。）の右側を通過する場合（当該特定小型原動機付自転車等を追い越す場合を除く。）において、当該車両と当該特定小型原動機付自転車等との間に十分な間隔がないときは、当該特定小型原動機付自転車等との間隔に応じた安全な速度で進行しなければならない。
In the case prescribed in the preceding paragraph, that specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle must proceed keeping to the left edge of the road as far as possible.
前項に規定する場合においては、当該特定小型原動機付自転車等は、できる限り道路の左側端に寄つて通行しなければならない。
Read this with the articles around it
(Keeping to the Left When Proceeding Down a Road; Related Considerations)
Unless a vehicle (other than a trolleybus) is proceeding down a road with vehicle traffic lanes, it must proceed down the road keeping to the left side of the road if it is a motor vehicle or general…
車両（トロリーバスを除く。）は、車両通行帯の設けられた道路を通行する場合を除き、自動車及び一般原動機付自転車（原動機付自転車のうち第二条第一項第十号イに該当するものをいう。以下同じ。）にあつては道路の左側に寄つて…
Open this provision(Keeping to the Left When Proceeding Down a Road; Related Considerations)
When a vehicle (other than a specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle) goes by on the right side of a specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle proceeding in the same…
車両（特定小型原動機付自転車等を除く。）は、当該車両と同一の方向に進行している特定小型原動機付自転車等（歩道又は自転車道を通行しているものを除く。）の右側を通過する場合（当該特定小型原動機付自転車等を追い越す場合を除く。）において、当該車両と当該特定小型原動機付自転車等との間に十分な間隔がないときは…
Open this provision(Definitions)
motorized bicycle: a vehicle that has a motor and is operated without recourse to rails or overhead wires and that is any of the following, not including a light road vehicle, small mobility vehicle…
原動機付自転車 原動機を用い、かつ、レール又は架線によらないで運転する車であつて次に掲げるもののうち、軽車両、移動用小型車、身体障害者用の車、遠隔操作型小型車及び歩行補助車等以外のものをいう。
Open this provision(How to Exit the Road)
To make a right turn and exit the road, a driver must bring a vehicle (other than a specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehicle, or a trolleybus) as close as possible to the center of the…
車両（特定小型原動機付自転車等及びトロリーバスを除く。）は、道路外に出るため右折するときは、あらかじめその前からできる限り道路の中央（当該道路が一方通行となつているときは、当該道路の右側端）に寄り、かつ、徐行しなければならない。
Open this provision(Turning Left and Right)
To make a right turn, the driver of a motor vehicle, general motorized bicycle, or trolleybus must bring it as close as possible to the center of the road beforehand…
自動車、一般原動機付自転車又はトロリーバスは、右折するときは、あらかじめその前からできる限り道路の中央に寄り、かつ、交差点の中心の直近の内側（道路標識等により通行すべき部分が指定されているときは、その指定された部分）を徐行しなければならない。
Open this provision(Turning Left and Right)
Notwithstanding paragraph (2), to make a right turn on a one-way street, the driver of a motor vehicle, general motorized bicycle, or trolleybus must bring it as close as possible to the right edge…
自動車、一般原動機付自転車又はトロリーバスは、一方通行となつている道路において右折するときは、第二項の規定にかかわらず、あらかじめその前からできる限り道路の右側端に寄り、かつ、交差点の中心の内側（道路標識等により通行すべき部分が指定されているときは、その指定された部分）を徐行しなければならない。
Open this provisionroad
「道路」
A road as defined in the Road Act, a motor vehicle road (自動車道) as defined in the Road Transportation Act, and any other place used for general traffic.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (i)· applies throughout the law
sidewalkmachine translation
「歩道」
A part of a road marked off for pedestrian traffic by a curb line, a fence or a similar structure.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (ii)· applies throughout the law
roadwaymachine translation
「車道」
The part of a road marked off for vehicle traffic by a curb line, a fence or a similar structure, or by road markings (道路標示).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (iii)· applies throughout the law
bicycle pathmachine translation
「自転車道」
A part of a roadway marked off for bicycle traffic by a curb line, a fence or a similar structure.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (iii-3)· applies throughout the law
vehicle traffic lane
「車両通行帯」
Where road markings (道路標示) show that vehicles are to travel in set parts of a road, the part of the road those markings show.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (vii)· applies throughout the law
vehicle
「車両」
Motor vehicles (自動車), motorized bicycles (原動機付自転車), light road vehicles (軽車両) and trolleybuses (トロリーバス).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (viii)· applies throughout the law
motor vehiclemachine translation
「自動車」
A vehicle that runs on a motor without rails or overhead wires, or that carries out specified automated operation (特定自動運行), other than motorized bicycles (原動機付自転車), light road vehicles (軽車両), small mobility vehicles (移動用小型車), vehicles for persons with physical disabilities (身体障害者用の車), remotely operated small vehicles (遠隔操作型小型車), and walking-aid carts, prams and other small vehicles used while walking that a Cabinet Order (政令) specifies (歩行補助車等).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (ix)· applies throughout the law
motorized bicyclemachine translation
「原動機付自転車」
A vehicle that runs on an engine or motor without rails or overhead wires and either has an engine or motor no larger in total displacement or rated output than a Cabinet Office Order (内閣府令) sets, or meets a Cabinet Office Order's standard for a vehicle whose size and structure will not obstruct other vehicles on a bicycle path and which needs no great skill to drive, other than light vehicles (軽車両), small mobility vehicles (移動用小型車), vehicles for persons with physical disabilities, remotely operated small vehicles (遠隔操作型小型車) and walking-aid vehicles (歩行補助車等).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (x)· applies throughout the law
light road vehiclemachine translation
「軽車両」
A bicycle, cart or other vehicle moved by human or animal power or towed by another vehicle without rails (including sleds and horses or cattle, but not children's vehicles), or a motorized vehicle a Cabinet Office Order (内閣府令) treats as like one, other than small mobility vehicles (移動用小型車), vehicles for persons with physical disabilities (身体障害者用の車), walking-aid carts (歩行補助車等) and anything that can be driven by remote operation (遠隔操作).
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xi)· applies throughout the law
trolleybus
「トロリーバス」
A vehicle that runs on electric power supplied from overhead wires and does not run on rails.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xii)· applies throughout the law
driving at reduced speed
「徐行」
A vehicle or streetcar (車両等) moving at a speed at which it can stop immediately.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xx)· applies throughout the law
passing
「追越し」
Overtaking: a vehicle that has caught up with another vehicle or streetcar changing course to pass beside it and come out in front of it.
Defined inArticle 2, paragraph (1), item (xxi)· applies throughout the law
specified small motorized bicyclemachine translation
「特定小型原動機付自転車」
A motorized bicycle (原動機付自転車) of the kind in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (x)(b): one meeting a Cabinet Office Order (内閣府令) standard for vehicles whose body size and structure will not obstruct other vehicles on a bicycle path and which need no high skill to drive.
Defined inArticle 17, paragraph (3)
general motorized bicyclemachine translation
「一般原動機付自転車」
A motorized bicycle (原動機付自転車) of the kind in Article 2, paragraph (1), item (x)(a): one with an engine or motor no larger in total displacement or rated output than a Cabinet Office Order (内閣府令) sets, other than one meeting the standard in item (x)(b) for small vehicles that need no great skill to drive.
Defined inArticle 18, paragraph (1)
specified small motorized bicycle or light road vehiclemachine translation
「特定小型原動機付自転車等」
Specified small motorized bicycles (特定小型原動機付自転車) and light road vehicles (軽車両).
Short name set inArticle 18, paragraph (1)