A tunnel can turn a familiar drive into a visibility challenge in seconds. Bright daylight disappears at the entrance, your eyes need time to adjust, and the road may feel narrower or louder than the approach. For a visitor driving a rental car in Japan, the safest response is not to make a sudden correction inside the tunnel. It is to prepare before the portal, keep the car predictable, and follow the signs already in place.<\/p>\n
Japan\u2019s Road Traffic Act requires vehicle lights at night and also at other times prescribed by Cabinet Order. Official expressway guidance tells drivers to use lights in daytime in tunnels, dense fog, and heavy rain when visibility is poor. Treat that as a simple habit: switch on the appropriate lights before entering a tunnel, even if the entrance looks well lit. Your aim is not only to see the road; it is also to help drivers behind and beside you see your car.<\/p>\n
Do the small tasks while you still have daylight and space. Set your navigation destination before moving off, put the phone away, and check that sunglasses will not make the tunnel too dark. If the rental car has automatic lights, learn where the control is at pickup; automatic systems can be helpful, but the driver remains responsible for reading the road and the dashboard.<\/p>\n
Keep to the left unless signs or traffic conditions require another lane. On a two-lane expressway, the left lane is the normal driving lane and the right lane is for overtaking. A tunnel is a poor place to make an unplanned lane change, so choose your lane early and use indicators before any necessary move.<\/p>\n
Once inside, keep a steady line and scan far ahead rather than staring at the tunnel wall or the bumper in front. Tunnel lighting can create reflections on the windscreen, and wet pavement can make them stronger. Keep both hands ready for small steering inputs and avoid sudden acceleration, braking, or lane changes. If traffic slows, increase your gap rather than trying to regain time.<\/p>\n
Do not use a handheld phone, change navigation settings, or search for a camera setting while driving. Japan\u2019s road rules prohibit distracted mobile-phone use, and a tunnel gives you fewer safe margins for attention to drift. If you need to check a route or the rental agreement, wait until a lawful, safe stopping place such as a service area or other designated facility.<\/p>\n
The bright rectangle at the end of a tunnel can make the exit look closer than it is. Keep your lights on until you have fully returned to open-road conditions, hold your lane, and give your eyes a moment to adjust. Wind, rain, or a sharp curve may begin immediately after the portal. Check the next sign before changing speed or route, then continue at a speed suitable for the posted limit and the actual conditions.<\/p>\n
Never turn around or reverse inside a tunnel. If a warning light appears, a tire problem is suspected, or the car cannot continue normally, follow the posted tunnel instructions and move only when it is safe to do so. Use hazard lights to warn following traffic. On a Japanese expressway, official guidance says to alert others, evacuate to a safe place such as outside a guardrail when possible, and avoid remaining on the traffic lane. Tunnel emergency signs, phones, and staff instructions take priority because equipment and evacuation layouts vary by location.<\/p>\n
A calm tunnel drive starts before the entrance. Lights on, speed managed, space ahead, phone away: those four habits make a rental-car journey in Japan easier for you and more predictable for everyone around you. For the wider rules that apply to visitors, review the Japan Automobile Federation\u2019s driving guidance<\/a> before departure.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Why tunnels deserve a plan A tunnel can turn a familiar … <\/p>\n