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Japanese Symbols & Signs

Laundry Symbols (JIS L 0001:2024) · Road Signs

What changed in August 2024 (JIS L 0001:2024) — Two new symbols added: hand wash at 30°C and iron without steam at 120°C. Iron temperature limits revised upward: high 200°C → 210°C, medium 150°C → 160°C, low 110°C → 120°C.

Washing

More underlines = gentler wash setting. Numbers show maximum water temperature.

Machine wash 40°C normal

Machine wash
up to 40°C

Normal
Machine wash 40°C gentle

Machine wash
up to 40°C

Gentle
Machine wash 30°C normal

Machine wash
up to 30°C

Normal
Machine wash 30°C gentle

Machine wash
up to 30°C

Gentle
Gentle wash

Gentle wash
(1 bar)

Gentle
Extra gentle wash

Extra gentle wash
(2 bars)

Delicate
Hand wash 40°C

Hand wash
up to 40°C

Hand only
Hand wash 30°C

Hand wash
up to 30°C

NEW 2024
Machine wash 60°C normal

Machine wash
up to 60°C

Normal
Machine wash 60°C gentle

Machine wash
up to 60°C

Gentle
Machine wash 95°C normal

Machine wash
up to 95°C

Normal
Do not wash

Do not wash

Prohibited

Bleach

Triangle symbol. Lines inside mean restricted bleach type.

Bleach OK

Bleach OK
(all types)

OK
Oxygen bleach only

Oxygen bleach only
(no chlorine)

Conditional
No bleach

No bleach
of any kind

Prohibited

Drying

Circle = tumble dry. Rectangle = natural dry. Diagonal line = shade dry.

Tumble dry high heat

Tumble dry
up to 80°C (high)

High heat
Tumble dry low heat

Tumble dry
up to 60°C (low)

Low heat
Do not tumble dry

Do not
tumble dry

Prohibited
Line dry

Line dry
(hang to dry)

OK
Line dry in shade

Line dry
in the shade

Shade only
Lay flat to dry

Lay flat
to dry

OK
Lay flat in shade

Lay flat
in the shade

Shade only

Ironing

Dots = temperature: ••• high · •• medium · • low. Updated temperatures in JIS L 0001:2024.

Iron high 210°C

Iron up to 210°C
(high · •••)

High
Iron medium 160°C

Iron up to 160°C
(medium · ••)

Medium
Iron low 120°C

Iron up to 120°C
(low · •)

Low
Iron no steam 120°C

Iron up to 120°C
no steam

NEW 2024
Do not iron

Do not iron

Prohibited

Dry Clean

Circle symbol. Letters inside show solvent type: P = perchloroethylene & petroleum · F = petroleum only.

Dry clean P and F

Dry clean OK
(P & F solvents)

OK
Dry clean soft P and F

Dry clean soft
(P & F solvents)

Soft process
Dry clean petroleum only

Dry clean
(petroleum F only)

F only
Dry clean soft petroleum only

Dry clean soft
(petroleum F only)

F soft
Do not dry clean

Do not
dry clean

Prohibited

Laundry symbol images © Consumer Affairs Agency, Government of Japan. Based on JIS L 0001:2024.

The most common road signs in Japan. Important whether you drive, cycle, or walk.

Road closed to all

Road closed to all

Road closed to vehicles

Road closed to vehicles

No entry

No entry — all vehicles

Supplementary sign may allow bicycles

No bicycles

No bicycles

One way

One way (一方通行)

Speed limit 30

Speed limit 30 km/h

Speed limit 50

Speed limit 50 km/h

No parking

No parking (駐車禁止)

Brief stops are OK. Parking is prohibited.

No stopping or parking

No stopping or parking (駐停車禁止)

Both stopping and parking are prohibited.

Bicycles and pedestrians only

Bicycles and pedestrians only

Pedestrians only

Pedestrians only

Slow

Slow (徐行)

Stop

Stop (止まれ)

No pedestrian crossing

No pedestrian crossing

Pedestrians may not cross the road here.

Railroad crossing ahead 1 Railroad crossing ahead 2

Railroad crossing ahead

School zone

School Zone

Construction ahead

Construction ahead

Crosswalk ahead

Crosswalk (横断歩道)

Marks a crosswalk. Pedestrians have priority.

School crossing

School Crossing

From this point

From this point

Up to this point

Up to this point

Common Japanese words found on road signs.

Japanese Romaji English
行き止まり ikidomari Dead end
通行止め tsuukoudome Road closed to all
徐行 jokou Slow
止まれ tomare Stop
横断禁止 oudankinshi No crossing
一方通行 ippou tsuukou One way
進入禁止 shinnyuu kinshi No entry
駐車禁止 chuusha kinshi No parking
駐停車禁止 chuuteisha kinshi No stopping or parking
歩行者専用 hokousha senyou Pedestrians only
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