Rules for Driving on the Same Road as Trams in Matsuyama

The City Tram Tracks Run Close to Dogo Onsen and Matsuyama Castle

The Iyotetsu route map page lists these lines as the city tram.

Line	Section written on the page
Loop Line (環状線)	Line 1 goes from Matsuyamashi Station around JR Matsuyama Station-mae, and Line 2 goes from Matsuyamashi Station around Okaido
Matsuyamashi Line (松山市駅線)	Line 3 is between Matsuyamashi Station and Dogo Onsen Station
JR Matsuyama Station-mae Line (JR松山駅前線)	Line 5 is between Dogo Onsen Station and JR Matsuyama Station-mae
Honmachi Line (本町線)	Line 6 is between Matsuyamashi Station and Honmachi 6-chome
Botchan Ressha (坊っちゃん列車)	Between Matsuyamashi Station / JR Matsuyama Station and Dogo Onsen Station

As the names Dogo Onsen Station and Okaido on the route map page show, the city tram runs near Dogo Onsen and Matsuyama Castle. Cars heading to this area sometimes drive on the same road as the tram tracks. There are some rules that people from areas without trams may not be used to.

This article quotes the original text of the Road Traffic Act and of the National Police Agency’s “Rules of the Road” (交通の方法に関する教則), and lists the rules scene by scene. The “tram” in the statute is defined in the Road Traffic Act as follows.

路面電車 レールにより運転する車をいう。

Translation: “Tram: a vehicle driven on rails.”

On the Tracks (the Tramway Zone), Driving Is Not Allowed as a Rule

Article 21 of the Road Traffic Act sets rules on “driving on the tramway zone” (軌道敷内の通行). Paragraph 1 says this.

車両（トロリーバスを除く。以下この条及び次条第一項において同じ。）は、左折し、右折し、横断し、若しくは転回するため軌道敷を横切る場合又は危険防止のためやむを得ない場合を除き、軌道敷内を通行してはならない。

Translation: “A vehicle (excluding trolley buses; the same applies in this Article and in paragraph 1 of the next Article) must not drive on the tramway zone, except when crossing the tramway zone to turn left, turn right, cross the road or make a U-turn, or when it is unavoidable to prevent danger.”

The Rules of the Road also say the same thing (Chapter 5, Section 2).

（５） 軌道敷内を通行してはいけません。しかし、「軌道敷内通行可」の標識（付表３（１）52）によつて認められた車が通行する場合や右折する場合などは別です。

Translation: “(5) Do not drive on the tramway zone. However, it is different when a vehicle permitted by the ‘Tracks open to traffic’ sign (Appendix 3 (1) 52) drives there, or when it turns right.”

In other words, crossing the tracks to turn right or left, to cross the road or to make a U-turn is allowed. Driving along the tracks is allowed only when it is unavoidable to prevent danger, and in the 3 cases below.

The 3 Cases Where You May Drive on the Tracks

Paragraph 2 of Article 21 lists 3 cases in which a vehicle may drive on the tramway zone.

車両は、次の各号に掲げる場合においては、前項の規定にかかわらず、軌道敷内を通行することができる。この場合において、車両は、路面電車の通行を妨げてはならない。

一 当該道路の左側部分から軌道敷を除いた部分の幅員が当該車両の通行のため十分なものでないとき。 二 当該車両が、道路の損壊、道路工事その他の障害のため当該道路の左側部分から軌道敷を除いた部分を通行することができないとき。 三 道路標識等により軌道敷内を通行することができることとされている自動車が通行するとき。

Translation: “In the cases listed in the following items, a vehicle may drive on the tramway zone despite the provision of the preceding paragraph. In this case, the vehicle must not obstruct the passage of trams. (1) When the width of the left part of the road, excluding the tramway zone, is not sufficient for the passage of the vehicle. (2) When the vehicle cannot drive on the left part of the road, excluding the tramway zone, because of road damage, road construction or other obstacles. (3) When a motor vehicle that is allowed to drive on the tramway zone by a road sign or the like is driving.”

In every case, there is the condition that the vehicle “must not obstruct the passage of trams.”

What item 3 calls a “road sign or the like” is the “tracks open to traffic” sign (number 52) in the appendix of the Rules of the Road. The meaning of the sign is written as follows.

自動車が軌道敷内を通行できること

Translation: “Motor vehicles can drive on the tramway zone.”

As the meaning says “motor vehicles,” the sign applies to motor vehicles. On roads where the sign is not displayed, the principle of paragraph 1 applies, except in the cases of items 1 and 2 of paragraph 2.

The Sections in Matsuyama With the Sign Could Not Be Confirmed

The “Ehime Prefecture Road Traffic Regulations” (愛媛県道路交通規則), published by the Ehime Prefectural Police, has the name “restriction of tracks open to traffic” (軌道敷内通行可の規制) as one kind of traffic regulation. However, this page did not have a table showing which sections in Matsuyama apply. The sections could not be read from the Iyotetsu pages either.

When you drive, decide by the signs on the road. On a road where you cannot find a sign, the principle of the statute is not to drive on the tracks, except when crossing them to turn right or left or to cross the road.

When a Tram Approaches From Behind

Even where you may drive on the tracks, there is a rule for when a tram comes from behind. It is paragraph 3 of Article 21.

軌道敷内を通行する車両は、後方から路面電車が接近してきたときは、当該路面電車の正常な運行に支障を及ぼさないように、すみやかに軌道敷外に出るか、又は当該路面電車から必要な距離を保つようにしなければならない。

Translation: “A vehicle driving on the tramway zone must, when a tram approaches from behind, promptly leave the tramway zone or keep the necessary distance from the tram, so as not to disturb the normal operation of the tram.”

The same content is in (6) of Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Rules of the Road.

When a Tram Is Stopped at a Tram Stop

Stop Behind the Tram

The rule for when you catch up with a tram stopped for passengers to get on and off is in Article 31.

車両は、乗客の乗降のため停車中の路面電車に追いついたときは、当該路面電車の乗客が乗降を終わり、又は当該路面電車から降りた者で当該車両の前方において当該路面電車の左側を横断し、若しくは横断しようとしているものがいなくなるまで、当該路面電車の後方で停止しなければならない。ただし、路面電車に乗降する者の安全を図るため設けられた安全地帯があるとき、又は当該路面電車に乗降する者がいない場合において当該路面電車の左側に当該路面電車から一・五メートル以上の間隔を保つことができるときは、徐行して当該路面電車の左側を通過することができる。

Translation: “When a vehicle catches up with a tram stopped for passengers to get on and off, it must stop behind the tram until the passengers have finished getting on and off, or until there is no one who got off the tram and is crossing, or about to cross, the left side of the tram in front of the vehicle. However, when there is a safety zone provided for the safety of people getting on and off the tram, or when there is no one getting on or off the tram and a distance of 1.5 meters or more from the tram can be kept on its left side, the vehicle may pass on the left side of the tram at a slow speed.”

Chapter 5, Section 3 of the Rules of the Road says the same thing.

（３） 停留所で止まつている路面電車の後方では停止し、乗り降りする人や道路を横断する人がいなくなるまで待たなければなりません。しかし、乗り降りする人がいないときで路面電車との間に１.５メートル以上あるときや安全地帯があるときは、徐行して進むことができます。

Translation: “(3) Stop behind a tram that is stopped at a stop, and wait until there are no people getting on or off or crossing the road. However, when no one is getting on or off and there is 1.5 meters or more between you and the tram, or when there is a safety zone, you can proceed at a slow speed.”

The statute lists 2 cases where you can go slowly.

• When there is a safety zone
• When no one is getting on or off and a distance of 1.5 meters or more can be kept on the left side of the tram

“Safety zone” (安全地帯) is defined in Article 2 of the Road Traffic Act as follows.

安全地帯 路面電車に乗降する者若しくは横断している歩行者の安全を図るため道路に設けられた島状の施設又は道路標識及び道路標示により安全地帯であることが示されている道路の部分をいう。

Translation: “Safety zone: an island-shaped facility provided on a road for the safety of people getting on or off a tram or of pedestrians who are crossing, or a part of a road that is shown to be a safety zone by road signs and road markings.”

Whether each tram stop has a safety zone was not checked in this research.

Passing Beside a Tram, Inside a Safety Zone

Paragraph 6 of Article 17 prohibits cars from entering a safety zone.

車両は、安全地帯又は道路標識等により車両の通行の用に供しない部分であることが表示されているその他の道路の部分に入つてはならない。

Translation: “A vehicle must not enter a safety zone or any other part of a road that is shown by a road sign or the like to be a part not for the passage of vehicles.”

Chapter 5, Section 3 of the Rules of the Road also has a rule for passing near a safety zone.

（２） 歩行者がいる安全地帯のそばを通るときは、徐行しなければなりません。

Translation: “(2) When you pass near a safety zone where there are pedestrians, you must go at a slow speed.”

Pass a Tram on the Left

Paragraph 3 of Article 28 decides which side to use when passing a tram.

車両は、路面電車を追い越そうとするときは、当該車両が追いついた路面電車の左側を通行しなければならない。ただし、軌道が道路の左側端に寄つて設けられているときは、この限りでない。

Translation: “When a vehicle is about to overtake a tram, it must drive on the left side of the tram it has caught up with. However, this does not apply when the tracks are laid close to the left edge of the road.”

Places Near a Tram Stop Where You Must Not Stop the Car

Paragraph 1 of Article 44 lists places where both stopping and parking are prohibited. These are the parts related to trams.

一 交差点、横断歩道、自転車横断帯、踏切、軌道敷内、坂の頂上付近、勾配の急な坂又はトンネル

Translation: “(1) Intersections, pedestrian crossings, bicycle crossings, railroad crossings, the tramway zone, near the top of a slope, steep slopes, or tunnels”

四 安全地帯が設けられている道路の当該安全地帯の左側の部分及び当該部分の前後の側端からそれぞれ前後に十メートル以内の部分

Translation: “(4) On a road with a safety zone, the part to the left of the safety zone, and the parts within 10 meters before and behind from the front and rear edges of that part”

五 乗合自動車の停留所又はトロリーバス若しくは路面電車の停留場を表示する標示柱又は標示板が設けられている位置から十メートル以内の部分（当該停留所又は停留場に係る運行系統に属する乗合自動車、トロリーバス又は路面電車の運行時間中に限る。）

Translation: “(5) The part within 10 meters of the position where a sign post or sign board showing a bus stop or a trolley bus or tram stop is installed (only during the operating hours of the buses, trolley buses or trams of the service line that belongs to that stop)”

At the beginning of this paragraph, there is an exception: “except when stopping temporarily by a provision of law or an order of a police officer, or to prevent danger.” The Rules of the Road explain the same places by saying, “It is different when you stop temporarily for a red light or to prevent danger.”

According to the statute, within 10 meters of the sign post or sign board of a tram stop, stopping and parking are both prohibited, only during the operating hours of the trams.

When Turning Right

The Way to Turn Right Set by the Statute

The way for a motor vehicle to turn right is in paragraph 2 of Article 34.

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。

Translation: “When a motor vehicle, a general motorized bicycle or a trolley bus turns right, it must move to the center of the road as far as possible beforehand, and go slowly along the inside nearest the center of the intersection (or, when a part to be driven on is designated by a road sign or the like, that designated part).”

Paragraph 1 of Article 21 allows crossing the tracks to turn right. That a car turning right must not obstruct a tram going straight or turning left at an intersection is written in Article 37 of the Road Traffic Act.

車両等は、交差点で右折する場合において、当該交差点において直進し、又は左折しようとする車両等があるときは、当該車両等の進行妨害をしてはならない。

Translation: “When a vehicle or the like turns right at an intersection, and there is a vehicle or the like that is going straight or about to turn left at that intersection, it must not obstruct the progress of that vehicle or the like.”

Chapter 5, Section 7 of the Rules of the Road describes the relation with trams going straight or turning left at an intersection like this.

（５） 右折しようとする場合に、その交差点で直進か左折をする車や路面電車があるときは、自分の車が先に交差点に入つていても、その進行を妨げてはいけません。

Translation: “(5) When you are about to turn right and there is a car or tram going straight or turning left at that intersection, do not obstruct its progress, even if your car entered the intersection first.”

Iyotetsu Asks Drivers to Check the Right Rear

The official Iyotetsu blog “In Matsuyama, Watch Your Right Rear!” (松山市内は、右後方にご注意を！) (September 8, 2023) writes the following to cars turning right in Matsuyama.

答えは、右前方の対向車に加えて、右後方から路面電車が来ていないか目視やサイドミラーなどで確認する必要があります。交通法規上は、直進する路面電車が優先です。右折する側がしっかりと確認する義務があります。

Translation: “The answer is that, in addition to oncoming cars at the right front, you need to check by eye or with the side mirrors whether a tram is coming from the right rear. Under the traffic law, a tram going straight has priority. The side turning right has a duty to check carefully.”

About people traveling here, it says this.

しかしながら、旅行などで松山に来られた方は、右折の際に右後方を確認する習慣がありません。

Translation: “However, people who come to Matsuyama on trips and the like do not have the habit of checking the right rear when turning right.”

It also describes the tram’s side.

とはいえ、電車は急には止まれませんし、ハンドル操作で左右に避けることもできません。

Translation: “Still, a tram cannot stop suddenly, and it cannot steer to the left or right to avoid something.”

Then it makes a request in the following sentence.

ですから、旅行などで松山に来られる際には、特有の交通事情を理解いただき、路面電車の線路を跨ぐ右折の際には、右後方も確認してから右折するようお願いします。

Translation: “So when you come to Matsuyama on a trip or the like, please understand the special traffic conditions, and when turning right across the tram tracks, please check the right rear before you turn.”

That there are scenes where a tram comes from the right rear of a car turning right is what Iyotetsu writes on this blog. This article has not checked at which intersections this happens.

The Place to Wait to Turn Right, and Stopping on the Tracks

Article 44 prohibits stopping on the tramway zone (quoted in the earlier section). For a car waiting to turn right that stops partly on the tracks, no police or national material was found this time that explains how this rule applies. On the place to wait for a right turn, this article only lists the statutes in the earlier section.

An Arrow Signal May Let Only Trams Go

Appendix 1 of the Rules of the Road (types and meanings of traffic signals) has a signal that is treated differently for trams and cars.

路面電車は、黄色の灯火や赤色の灯火の信号であつても矢印の方向に進むことができますが、歩行者及び遠隔操作型小型車や車は、進んではいけません。

Translation: “A tram can proceed in the direction of the arrow even when the signal is a yellow light or a red light, but pedestrians, remotely operated small vehicles and cars must not proceed.”

This is the explanation under “yellow light arrow.” Those that may proceed following a yellow arrow signal are trams, and cars may not. At which intersections in Matsuyama such signals exist was not checked in this research.

The same appendix also explains what happens when the signal turns red during a right turn.

交差点で既に右折している車や路面電車は、右折方向の信号が赤でもそのまま進むことができます。この場合、その車や路面電車は、青色の灯火に従つて進んで来る車や路面電車の進行を妨げてはいけません。

Translation: “A car or tram that is already turning right in the intersection can go on as it is, even if the signal for the right-turn direction is red. In this case, that car or tram must not obstruct the progress of cars or trams coming forward following a green light.”

What Could Not Be Checked

• The sections in Matsuyama where the “tracks open to traffic” sign is displayed
• Whether more sections of the tracks in Matsuyama are in the center of the road or at the side edge
• Whether the tram stops near Dogo Onsen and Matsuyama Castle have safety zones
• How Article 44 applies when a car waiting to turn right stops partly on the tracks
• The sections in Matsuyama where U-turns are prohibited
• Penalties and fines (the statutes were obtained, but this article does not cover them)

About This Article

The statutes were read from the law data of e-Gov Law Search, obtained on October 13, 2026. The Rules of the Road were read from the National Police Agency PDF (up to the revision that took effect in November 2024) on the same day. The Iyotetsu pages were also checked on the same day. Laws and signs may be revised. When you actually drive, follow the signs and signals on site and the instructions of police officers.