View source for Vehicle registration plates of Japan

{{short description|Japan vehicle license plates}}
{{Infobox vehicle registration plate
| image = JAPAN license plate with seal - Flickr - woody1778a.jpg
| country = {{country|Japan}}
| nickname = 
| slogan_label = 
| countrycode = J
| slogan = 
| size = {{convert|330|x|165|mm|abbr=on|disp=br}}
| material = 
| serial_format = ABC123 DE4(5-67)
| current_start_date = 
| designer = 
| issuer = 
| manufacturer = 
| start_date = 
}}

{{Missing information|history|date=March 2018}}
In [[Japan]], the national government issues [[vehicle registration plate]]s for [[motor vehicles]] through the [[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism]] Land Transportation Offices nationwide. However, the local [[municipalities of Japan|municipality]] rather than the [[Government of Japan|national government]] registers certain vehicles with small engine displacements.

The number on the top line is a vehicle class code which begins with a 0 through 9 to indicate specific vehicle classification. This is signified by the [[Vehicle size class#Japan|length, width and height of the vehicle]] as well as engine displacement. Broadly speaking, passenger automobiles with engine displacements at or smaller than 2000&nbsp;[[Cubic centimetre|cc]] receive 5-series plates, while passenger automobiles with engine displacements larger than {{convert|2000|cc|abbr=on}} or more receive 3-series license plates.

{{stack begin}}
[[File:Japan diplomatic license plate 外-3006.jpg|thumb|right|Foreign diplomatic plate with 外]]
[[File:Japan diplomatic license plate (外)13401.jpg|thumb|right|Foreign diplomatic plate with encircled 外]]
{{stack end}}
Official vehicles of the [[Imperial House of Japan|Imperial household]] are exempt from the requirement to display such plates. Official vehicles of the [[Japan Self-Defense Forces|Self-Defense Forces]] and [[Diplomacy|foreign diplomats]] are required to display other plates.

[[File:Japanese illumination license plate.png|thumb|right|Night image of ''jikō-shiki'' (literally "character-glowing type", which means illuminated letters) plate, as might be issued in [[Osaka]]]]
The plates are installed on both the front and rear of the vehicle, with the rear plate permanently attached to the vehicle with a prefecture seal completely covering one of the attaching plate bolts. The plate is only removed when the vehicle is sold secondhand to someone from a different prefecture, has reached the end of service and has been sold for scrap, or exported. New vehicles are not delivered to the purchaser until the plates have been attached at the dealership.

Since November 1, 1970, a "jikō-shiki" (字光式) plate has been offered for private vehicles at the owner's request. The green characters on this type of plate are replaced with molded green plastic that can be illuminated from behind the plate. From May 19, 1998, specific numbers can also be requested if the numbers are not already in use. From 2010, these are also available in blue version of vehicle registration plates started in 1973.

The international vehicle registration code for Japan is '''J'''.

==Appearance==
Ordinary private vehicles have white plates with green text, while commercial vehicles have green plates with white text.

Lightweight private vehicles ([[kei car]]s) have yellow plates with black text, while lightweight commercial vehicles have black plates with yellow text.

Private, two-wheeled vehicles with engine displacements exceeding 250&nbsp;[[millilitre|cc]] have white plates with green text;

commercial two-wheeled vehicles with engine displacements exceeding 2000<!--delspace-->&nbsp;[[millilitre|cc]] have green plates with white text.

Private, lightweight two-wheeled vehicles with engine displacements of 250&nbsp;[[millilitre|cc]] or less have white plates with green text;

commercial, lightweight two-wheeled vehicles with engine displacements of 250&nbsp;[[millilitre|cc]] or less have green plates with white text.

{| class="wikitable"
!Class
!Engine (cc displacement)
!Plate color
!Text color
!Plate dimensions
|-
|Private vehicle
|>660
|White
|Green
|Medium or large
|-
|Commercial vehicle
|>660
|Green
|White
|Medium or large
|-
|Lightweight private ([[kei car]])
|<660
|Yellow
|Black
|Medium
|-
|Lightweight commercial
|<660
|Black
|Yellow
|Medium
|-
|[[Microcar]]
|0–49
|Sky Blue{{efn|name=fn1|These plates are issued by municipal governments.}}
|Blue
|Extra small
|-
|{{ill|Small special vehicle|ja|特殊自動車}}{{efn|Various size and other limits apply; mainly for construction or agricultural vehicles.}}
|no limit
|Green{{efn|name=fn1}}
|Black
|Extra small
|-
|2 wheel
|0–49
|White{{efn|name=fn1}}
|Blue
|Extra small
|-
|2 wheel
|50–89
|Yellow{{efn|name=fn1}}
|Blue
|Extra small
|-
|2 wheel
|90–124
|Pink{{efn|name=fn1}}
|Blue
|Extra small
|-
|2 wheel
|125–249
|White
|Green
|Small
|-
|2 wheel
|≥250
|White, green border
|Green
|Small
|-
| colspan="5" | {{notelist}}
|}

; Large
: <!--CheckRmif-->{{convert|44|x|22|cm|in|abbr=on}}
: (for over 8 tons vehicle, or capacity of 30 people or more)
; Medium
: <!--CheckRmi1-->{{convert|33|x|16.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}
; Small
: <!--CheckRmi1-->{{convert|23|x|12.5|cm|in|abbr=on}}
; Extra small
: about <!--CheckRmif-->{{convert|20|x|10|cm|in|abbr=on}}
: (differs according to each municipality)

Until 31 December 1974, kei cars had small green and white license plates. After this date, they received medium plates, now in black and yellow to distinguish them from regular cars.

{|class="wikitable"
!width="175"|
!Private vehicles
!Commercial vehicles
|-
|Compact or Large vehicles and motorbikes (displacements <250&nbsp;cm<sup>3</sup>)
|[[File:Japanese green on white license plate.png|150px|]]
|[[File:Japanese white on green license plate.png|150px|]]
|-
|[[Kei car]]
|[[File:Japanese black on yellow license plate.png|150px|]]
|[[File:Japanese yellow on black license plate.png|150px|]]
|-
|2-wheeled vehicle ≥250&nbsp;cm<sup>3</sup>
|[[File:Japanese motorcycle license plate.png|150px]]
| align="center"|[[File:Japanese motorcycle license plate 2.png|150x150px]]
|}

The illustration shows what a plate might look like. The top line contains the name of the issuing office ([[Western Tokyo|Tama]], shown, is in Tokyo) and a vehicle class code. The bottom line contains a [[hiragana]] character and a four-digit serial number divided into two groups of two digits separated by a hyphen. Any leading zeroes are replaced by centered dots.

White plates can have the following hiragana ('''bold''' indicates rental vehicle characters):

さすせそたちつてとなにぬねのはひふほまみむめもやゆよらりるろ'''れわ'''

Green plates can have the following hiragana:

あいうえかきくけこを

Some characters, including ones with a [[dakuten]] or a handakuten, {{em|cannot}} be used on any plates, including the yellow and black ones:

おばだがぱざびぢぎぴしじぶづぐぷずへべでげペぜぼどごぽぞゑゐん

[[File:Japanese motorcycle license plate Matsuyama cloud.png|thumb|[[NHK]] announced in early 2009 that prefectures may now choose their own color scheme and possibly pattern. This is already being done with the motorcycle plates for [[Matsuyama, Ehime]].]]
[[File:Nagoya City special vehicle plate.jpg|thumb|Municipalities issue their own plates for light and low-speed vehicles such as mopeds, agricultural equipment, and small construction vehicles]]

A [[license plate]] in [[Japan]] thus follows this format: KK?*H##-## (e.g., 足立500き21-41), where KK is the name of the issuing office in [[kanji]], H is a hiragana, ? is a 5 for vehicles less than 2000 cc and a 3 for vehicles greater than 2000 cc (other numbers are less common—1 for large trucks, 2 for buses, etc.<ref>[http://www.tigerdude.com/japan/license/veh.html Vehicle Code System since 1962 - Japanese License Plates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121034006/http://www.tigerdude.com/japan/license/veh.html |date=2006-11-21 }}.</ref>), * is a number from 0 to 99 (pre-1971 license plates will omit this), and # is a number from 0* to 9 (*leading zeroes are replaced by centered dots).

===Special use plates===
[[File:Imperial House of Japan license plate.jpg|thumb|Plate of the [[Imperial House of Japan]] only attached when the Emperor himself or the Empress is in the car]]
[[File:U.S. forces license plate of Okinawa, Japan.jpg|thumb|U.S. forces license plate of Okinawa]]

Vehicles owned by personnel with the United States military in Japan under the [[Status of Forces Agreement]] (SOFA) have a "Y" on white plates, or an "A" on yellow plates, where the hiragana character is normally displayed. Earlier versions of the SOFA license plate displayed the letters "K", "M", "G", "H" and "E". These letters indicated the car was imported into Japan under SOFA and was left-hand drive. Today, cars with an "E" indicate that Japanese sales tax has not been paid and the vehicle will not remain in Japan when the military member departs. Since the 1980s, military commands have discouraged servicemembers assigned to Japan from shipping their vehicles from the U.S. into the country, so this is rarely seen. Military members who retire in Japan use the hiragana "よ". Many opt to purchase second-hand domestic vehicles through used car dealers off-base, and from other servicemembers departing Japan at on-base "lemon lots".<ref>[http://www.fitzgerald.navy.mil/site%20pages/howtobuy.aspx How to Purchase and Register a Vehicle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080715070606/http://www.fitzgerald.navy.mil/site%20pages/howtobuy.aspx |date=2008-07-15 }}, Web site of the {{USS|Fitzgerald|DDG-62}}.</ref>

The official imperial cars have a special number plate with the kanji 皇 and a one-digit number below.

===Out of country plates===
[[File:Saitama Omiya (STO).jpg|thumb|Out of country plate from Saitama Omiya (STO)]]

Because the [[Japanese writing system]], particularly the ''[[kana]]'', is unique to Japan, standard-issue Japanese license plates are considered unacceptable for international travel. If motorists wish to take their vehicles abroad with them, the Ministry of Transport will issue them with plates with the hiragana and kanji scripts replaced by Roman letters. The hiragana prefix is replaced by a [[Kunrei-shiki]] [[romanization of Japanese|romanization]] of that character. The kanji [[Prefectures of Japan|prefecture]]/office code is replaced by a two- or three-letter abbreviation, the first two letters representing the prefecture, the third (if present) representing the office within the prefecture. All the numerical portions of the plate remain the same.

Using the example given above, the plate (足立50Kき21-41) would then read TKA 50K [[Wiktionary:き|KI]] 21-41 (TKA for '''T'''o'''k'''yo '''A'''dachi).

== Vehicle class code system ==
{{see also|Vehicle size class#Japan}}
In addition to plate size and color, Japanese plates since 1962 have identified the vehicle type (signified by length, width and height as well as [[engine displacement]]) by use of a ''vehicle class code'' signified by a number on the top line of the plate for all vehicles with three or more wheels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.tigerdude.com/japan/license/veh.html|title=Vehicle Code System since 1962 - Japanese License Plates|date=2006-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061121034006/http://www.tigerdude.com/japan/license/veh.html|archive-date=2006-11-21|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-04-24}}</ref> 
The vehicle class code system is not widely understood outside of Japan, and as a result, Japanese vehicles displaying "vanity" Japanese license plates at overseas shows and events are often unwittingly misrepresented.

Motorbikes and other two wheeled vehicles do not use this system.

In 1967, double digit vehicle codes were introduced for the first time, once all previous possible combinations were used. For example, 3 would become 33, and then 34, 35, etc. This began in October 1967 in the more populous prefectures initially for the most common vehicle classes such as 3 and 5. In April 1971 all vehicle codes become double digit across the country. Double digit codes finally stopped being issued in 1999.

By the early 1970s, three-wheeled passenger cars were no longer in production and some prefectures began to issue the double digit codes 77, 78 and 79 as an 'overflow series' for passenger cars 2000cc and under. This practice stopped in 1999.

By May 1998, some prefectures were beginning to run out of all possible combinations of double digit vehicle codes for the most common classes (notably 599 and 799) and began issuing triple digit vehicle codes.

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!1962-71
!1967-99 
!1998-
!Description
|-
|1
|11, 1x
|1xx
|Truck that exceeds any of the limitations placed on 4-number vehicle types
|-
|2
|22, 2x
|2xx
|Small to medium bus
|-
|3
|33, 3x
|3xx
|Passenger car with displacement larger than 2000&nbsp;cc, or exceeding length and width regulations for compact cars
|-
|4
|44 through 49
|4xx
|Truck, van, or other light commercial shorter than 4.7 metres, narrower than 1.7 metres, lower than 2 metres, and (if petrol-engined, no limit for diesel or LPG engines) with displacement not exceeding 2000&nbsp;cc. 
|-
|5
|55, 5x
|5xx
|Passenger car with displacement under 2000&nbsp;cc and shorter than 4.7 metres, narrower than 1.7 metres
|-
|6
|66, 6x
|style="background: #CCCCCC"|
|Three wheeled truck with displacement less than 360cc
|-
|7
|style="background: #CCCCCC"|
|style="background: #CCCCCC"|
|Three wheeled passenger car
|-
|style="background: #CCCCCC"|
|77, 7x
|style="background: #CCCCCC"|
|Passenger car with displacement from 660cc to 2000cc and shorter than 4.7 metres, narrower than 1.7 metres ('overflow' series)
|-
|8
|88, 8x
|800
|Special vehicle requiring yearly inspection with displacement greater than 660cc
|-
|9
|99
|900
|Tractor or forklift
|-
|0
|00
|000
|Construction equipment
|}

==Transportation offices and markings==
In 2006, several new location names, known as {{nihongo|''Gotōchi''|ご当地|extra=local place}} numbers, were approved by the [[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan)|MLIT]] for places that wanted to increase their recognition for purposes such as tourism. Criteria included the need for 100,000 vehicles in the area and the avoidance of an imbalance in the prefecture. The new locations began appearing in 2006 on plates for vehicles registered in certain specific cities, towns and villages in or near the places marked below in green.<ref>{{Cite web |title=自動車：図柄ナンバープレート（地方版） - 国土交通省 |url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/jidosha/jidosha_tk6_000036.html |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=[[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism]]}}</ref>

{|class=wikitable
!colspan="2"|Issuing office
!colspan="3"|Marking
!rowspan="2"|Former markings
! rowspan="2" |Ref
|-
![[Prefectures of Japan|Prefecture]]
![[Municipalities of Japan|Municipality]]
!Jpn
![[Romanization of Japanese|Transliteration]]
!Intl
|-
|rowspan="8"| [[Aichi Prefecture|Aichi]] ||rowspan="3"| [[Komaki, Aichi|Komaki]] || 尾張小牧 || [[Owari Province|Owari]]-Komaki || ACO ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 一宮 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Ichinomiya, Aichi|Ichinomiya]] || ACI ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 春日井 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Kasugai, Aichi|Kasugai]] || ACK ||
|
|-
| [[Nagoya]] || 名古屋 || Nagoya || ACN || 愛 (AC)
|
|-
| [[Toyohashi, Aichi|Toyohashi]] || 豊橋 || Toyohashi || ACT ||
|
|-
|rowspan="3"| [[Toyota, Aichi|Toyota]] || 三河 || [[Mikawa Province|Mikawa]] || ACM ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 岡崎 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Okazaki, Aichi|Okazaki]] || ACZ ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 豊田 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| Toyota || ACY ||
|
|-
| [[Akita Prefecture|Akita]] || [[Akita, Akita|Akita]] || 秋田 || Akita || ATA || 秋 (AT)
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Aomori Prefecture|Aomori]] || rowspan="2" | [[Aomori, Aomori|Aomori]] || 青森 || Aomori || AMA || 青 (AM)
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" |弘前 ||style="background: #B8FFB8" |[[Hirosaki]] || AMS ||
|
|-
| [[Hachinohe, Aomori|Hachinohe]] || 八戸 || Hachinohe || AMH ||
|
|-
| rowspan="10" | [[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]] ||rowspan="2"| [[Chiba, Chiba|Chiba]] || 千葉 || Chiba || CBC || 千 (CB)
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8"| 成田 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Narita, Chiba|Narita]] || CBT ||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Funabashi, Chiba|Funabashi]] || 習志野 || [[Narashino, Chiba|Narashino]] || CBN ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8"| 市川 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Ichikawa, Chiba|Ichikawa]] || CBI ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 船橋 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| Funabashi|| CBF ||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Noda, Chiba|Noda]] || 野田 || Noda || CBD ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8"|  柏 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Kashiwa, Chiba|Kashiwa]] || CBK ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8"|  松戸 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Matsudo]] || CBM ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Sodegaura, Chiba|Sodegaura]] || 袖ヶ浦 || Sodegaura || CBS ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8"|  市原 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Ichihara, Chiba|Ichihara]] || CBH ||
|
|-
| [[Ehime Prefecture|Ehime]] || [[Matsuyama, Ehime|Matsuyama]] || 愛媛 || Ehime || EH ||
|
|-
| [[Fukui Prefecture|Fukui]] || [[Fukui, Fukui|Fukui]] || 福井 || Fukui || FI ||
|
|-
|rowspan="4"| [[Fukuoka Prefecture|Fukuoka]] || [[Fukuoka, Fukuoka|Fukuoka]] || 福岡 || Fukuoka || FOF || 福 (FO)
|
|-
| [[Iizuka, Fukuoka|Iizuka]] || 筑豊 || [[:ja:筑豊|Chikuhō]] || FOC ||
|
|-
| [[Kitakyushu]] || 北九州 || Kitakyūshū || FOK ||
|
|-
| [[Kurume, Fukuoka|Kurume]] || 久留米 || Kurume || FOR ||
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima]] || rowspan="4" | [[Fukushima, Fukushima|Fukushima]] || 福島 || Fukushima || FS ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 会津 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Aizu]] || FSA ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 郡山 ||style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Kōriyama, Fukushima|Kōriyama]] || FSK ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 白河 ||style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Shirakawa, Fukushima|Shirakawa]]|| FSS ||
|
|-
| [[Iwaki, Fukushima|Iwaki]] || いわき || Iwaki || FSI ||
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[Gifu Prefecture|Gifu]] || [[Gifu, Gifu|Gifu]] || 岐阜 || Gifu|| GFG || 岐 (GF)
|
|-
| [[Takayama, Gifu|Takayama]] || 飛騨 || [[Hida Province|Hida]] || GFH ||
|
|-
|rowspan="3"| [[Gunma Prefecture|Gunma]] ||rowspan="3"| [[Maebashi, Gunma|Maebashi]] || 群馬 || Gunma || GMG || 群 (GM)
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 前橋 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Maebashi]] || GMM ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 高崎 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Takasaki, Gunma|Takasaki]] || GMT ||
|
|-
|rowspan="2"| [[Hiroshima Prefecture|Hiroshima]] || [[Fukuyama, Hiroshima|Fukuyama]] || 福山 || Fukuyama || HSF ||
|
|-
| [[Hiroshima]] || 広島 || Hiroshima || HSH || 広 (HS)
|
|-
| rowspan="11" | [[Hokkaidō]] || [[Asahikawa, Hokkaidō|Asahikawa]] || 旭川 || Asahikawa || AKA || 旭 (AK)
|
|-
| [[Hakodate, Hokkaidō|Hakodate]] || 函館 || Hakodate || HDH || 函 (HD)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Kitami, Hokkaidō|Kitami]] || 北見 || Kitami || KIK || 北 (KI)
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 知床 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Shiretoko Peninsula|Shiretoko]]|| KRS ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Kushiro, Hokkaidō|Kushiro]]|| 釧路 || Kushiro || KRK || 釧 (KR)
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 知床 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| Shiretoko || KRS ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Muroran, Hokkaidō|Muroran]] || 室蘭 || Muroran || MRM || 室 (MR)
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 苫小牧 ||style="background: #B8FFB8"| [[Tomakomai]] || MRT ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Obihiro, Hokkaidō|Obihiro]] || 帯広 || Obihiro || OHO || 帯 (OH)
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 十勝
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | Tokachi
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=十勝版図柄入りナンバープレートの申し込みおよび交付開始について｜北海道十勝 音更町 |url=https://www.town.otofuke.hokkaido.jp/machi/sonota/oshirase/tokachi_number_design.html |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=www.town.otofuke.hokkaido.jp |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=新たな地域名表示による地方版図柄入りナンバープレート - 北海道運輸局 |url=https://wwwtb.mlit.go.jp/hokkaido/touroku/08_etc/12_gotouchinumber/index.html |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=wwwtb.mlit.go.jp}}</ref>
|-
| [[Sapporo]]|| 札幌 || Sapporo || SPS || 札 (SP)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Hyōgo Prefecture|Hyōgo]]|| [[Himeji, Hyōgo|Himeji]]|| 姫路 || Himeji || HGH ||
|
|-
| [[Kobe]]|| 神戸 || Kōbe || HGK || 兵 (HG)
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki]]|| [[Mito, Ibaraki|Mito]]|| 水戸 || Mito || IGM || 茨城 (IGI), 茨 (IG)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Tsuchiura]]|| 土浦 || Tsuchiura || IGT ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | つくば || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Tsukuba, Ibaraki|Tsukuba]]|| IGK ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Ishikawa Prefecture|Ishikawa]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Kanazawa, Ishikawa|Kanazawa]]|| 石川 || Ishikawa || IKI || 石 (IK)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 金沢 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | Kanazawa || IKK ||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Iwate Prefecture|Iwate]]|| rowspan="3" | [[Yahaba, Iwate|Yahaba]]|| 岩手 || Iwate || ITI || 岩 (IT)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 平泉 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Hiraizumi, Iwate|Hiraizumi]]|| ITH ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 盛岡 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Morioka]]|| ITM ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Kagawa Prefecture|Kagawa]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Takamatsu, Kagawa|Takamatsu]]|| 香川 || Kagawa || KAK || 香 (KA)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 高松 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | Takamatsu || KAT ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Kagoshima Prefecture|Kagoshima]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Kagoshima, Kagoshima|Kagoshima]]|| 鹿児島 || Kagoshima || KOK || 鹿 (KO)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 奄美 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Amami, Kagoshima|Amami]]|| KOA ||
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa]]|| [[Aikawa, Kanagawa|Aikawa]]|| 相模 || [[Sagami Province|Sagami]]|| KNS ||
|
|-
| [[Hiratsuka, Kanagawa|Hiratsuka]]|| 湘南 || [[Shōnan]]|| KNN ||
|
|-
| [[Kawasaki, Kanagawa|Kawasaki]]|| 川崎 || Kawasaki || KNK ||
|
|-
| [[Yokohama]]|| 横浜 || Yokohama || KNY || 神 (KN)
|
|-
| [[Kōchi Prefecture|Kōchi]]|| [[Kōchi, Kōchi|Kōchi]]|| 高知 || Kōchi || KCK || 高 (KC)
|
|-
| [[Kumamoto Prefecture|Kumamoto]]|| [[Kumamoto, Kumamoto|Kumamoto]]|| 熊本 || Kumamoto || KUK || 熊 (KU)
|
|-
| [[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]]|| [[Kyoto]]|| 京都 || Kyōto || KTK || 京 (KT)
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Mie Prefecture|Mie]]|| rowspan="4" | [[Tsu, Mie|Tsu]]|| 三重 || Mie || MEM || 三 (ME)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 鈴鹿 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Suzuka, Mie|Suzuka]]|| MES ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 四日市 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Yokkaichi]]|| MEY ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 伊勢志摩 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Ise-Shima|Iseshima]]|| MEI ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Sendai]]|| 宮城 || Miyagi || MGM || 宮 (MG)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 仙台 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | Sendai || MGS ||
|
|-
| [[Miyazaki Prefecture|Miyazaki]]|| [[Miyazaki, Miyazaki|Miyazaki]]|| 宮崎 || Miyazaki || MZ ||
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Nagano Prefecture|Nagano]]|| rowspan="4" | [[Matsumoto, Nagano|Matsumoto]]|| 松本 || Matsumoto || NNM ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 諏訪 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Suwa, Nagano|Suwa]]|| NNS ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 南信州
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | Southern Shinshu 
|
|
|<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-02-28 |title=新たな地域名表示（安曇野、南信州）による 地方版図柄入りナンバープレートの交付開始日決定！ |trans-title=The start date for issuing regional license plates with new regional names (Azumino, Minami Shinshu) has been decided! |url=https://wwwtb.mlit.go.jp/hokushin/content/000344370.pdf |website=Hokuriku-shin'etsu District Transportation Bureau |type=press release}}</ref>
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 安曇野
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | Azumino 
|
|
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
| [[Nagano, Nagano|Nagano]]|| 長野 || Nagano || NNN || 長 (NN)
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Nagasaki Prefecture|Nagasaki]]|| [[Nagasaki]]|| rowspan="2" | 長崎 || rowspan="2" | Nagasaki || rowspan="2" | NS || rowspan="2" |
|
|-
| [[Tsushima, Nagasaki|Tsushima]]
|
|-
| [[Sasebo, Nagasaki|Sasebo]]|| 佐世保 || Sasebo || NSS ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Nara Prefecture|Nara]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Yamatokōriyama, Nara|Yamatokōriyama]]|| 奈良 || Nara || NRN || 奈 (NR)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 飛鳥 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | Asuka || NRA ||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Niigata Prefecture|Niigata]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Nagaoka, Niigata|Nagaoka]]|| 長岡 || Nagaoka || NGO ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 上越 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Jōetsu, Niigata|Joetsu]]|| NGJ ||
|
|-
| [[Niigata, Niigata|Niigata]]|| 新潟 || Niigata || NGN || 新 (NG)
|
|-
| [[Ōita Prefecture|Ōita]]|| [[Ōita, Ōita|Ōita]]|| 大分 || Ōita || OT ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Okayama Prefecture|Okayama]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Okayama, Okayama|Okayama]] || 岡山 || Okayama || OYO || 岡 (OY)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 倉敷 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Kurashiki]] || OYK ||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]|| [[Ishigaki, Okinawa|Ishigaki]]|| rowspan="3" | 沖縄 || rowspan="3" | Okinawa || rowspan="3" | ONO || rowspan="3" | 沖 (ON)
|
|-
| [[Miyakojima, Okinawa|Miyakojima]]
|
|-
| [[Urasoe, Okinawa|Urasoe]]
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Osaka Prefecture|Osaka]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Izumi, Osaka|Izumi]]|| 和泉 || Izumi || OSZ || 泉 (OSI)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 堺 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Sakai, Osaka|Sakai]]|| OSS ||
|
|-
| [[Neyagawa, Osaka|Neyagawa]]|| 大阪 || Ōsaka || OSO || 大 (OS)
|
|-
| [[Osaka]]|| なにわ || [[Naniwa-ku, Osaka|Naniwa]]|| OSN ||
|
|-
| [[Saga Prefecture|Saga]]|| [[Saga, Saga|Saga]]|| 佐賀 || Saga || SAS || 佐 (SA)
|
|-
| rowspan="7" | [[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Kasukabe, Saitama|Kasukabe]]|| 春日部 || Kasukabe || STB ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 越谷 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Koshigaya, Saitama|Koshigaya]]|| STY ||
|
|-
| [[Kumagaya, Saitama|Kumagaya]]|| 熊谷 || Kumagaya || STK ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Saitama, Saitama|Saitama]]|| 大宮 || [[Ōmiya-ku, Saitama|Ōmiya]]|| STO || 埼玉 (STS), 埼 (ST)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 川口 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Kawaguchi, Saitama|Kawaguchi]]|| STW ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Tokorozawa, Saitama|Tokorozawa]]|| 所沢 || Tokorozawa || STT ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 川越 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Kawagoe, Saitama|Kawagoe]]|| STG ||
|
|-
| [[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]]|| [[Moriyama, Shiga|Moriyama]]|| 滋賀 || Shiga || SIS || 滋 (SI)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Shimane Prefecture|Shimane]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Matsue, Shimane|Shimane]]|| 島根 || Shimane || SN || 嶋 (SM)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 出雲 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Izumo, Shimane|Izumo]]|| SNI ||
|
|-
| rowspan="5" | [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]]|| [[Hamamatsu, Shizuoka|Hamamatsu]]|| 浜松 || Hamamatsu || SZH ||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Numazu, Shizuoka|Numazu]]|| 沼津 || Numazu || SZN ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 富士山 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Mount Fuji|Fujisan]]|| SZF ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 伊豆 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Izu Peninsula|Izu]]|| SZI ||
|
|-
| [[Shizuoka, Shizuoka|Shizuoka]]|| 静岡 || Shizuoka || SZS || 静 (SZ)
|
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi]]|| [[Sano, Tochigi|Sano]]|| とちぎ || Tochigi || TCK ||
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Utsunomiya, Tochigi|Utsunomiya]]|| 宇都宮 || Utsunomiya || TGU || 栃木 (TGT), 栃 (TG)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 那須 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Nasu District, Tochigi|Nasu]]|| TGN ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 日光
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | Nikkō 
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=日光版図柄入りナンバープレートデザイン決定{{!}}日光市公式ホームページ |url=https://www.city.nikko.lg.jp/soshiki/1/1001/16/8989.html |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=www.city.nikko.lg.jp |language=ja}}</ref>
|-
| [[Tokushima Prefecture|Tokushima]]|| [[Tokushima, Tokushima|Tokushima]]|| 徳島 || Tokushima || TST || 徳 (TS)
|
|-
| rowspan="11" | [[Tokyo]]|| rowspan="4" | [[Adachi, Tokyo|Adachi]]|| 足立 || Adachi || TKA || 足 (TOA)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 江東 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Kōtō|Koto]]|| TKK ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 葛飾 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Katsushika]]|| TKU ||
|
|-
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | 江戸川
|style="background: #B8FFB8" | Edogawa
|
|
|<ref>{{Cite web |title=[Automobile] Regarding exchange of Edogawa number plates |url=http://edogawanavi.jp/en/shop/104688/news/detail/40257/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=edogawanavi.jp |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| [[Hachiōji, Tokyo|Hachiōji]]|| 八王子 || Hachiōji || TKH ||
|
|-
| [[Kunitachi, Tokyo|Kunitachi]]|| 多摩 || [[Tama, Tokyo|Tama]]|| TKT || 多 (TOT)
|
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Nerima]]|| 練馬 || Nerima || TKN || 練 (TON)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 杉並 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Suginami]]|| TKM ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 板橋 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Itabashi]]|| TKI ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Shinagawa]]|| 品川 || Shinagawa, Ogasawara || TKS || 品 (TOS)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 世田谷 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Setagaya]]|| TKG ||
|
|-
| [[Tottori Prefecture|Tottori]]|| [[Tottori, Tottori|Tottori]]|| 鳥取 || Tottori || TTT || 鳥 (TT)
|
|-
| [[Toyama Prefecture|Toyama]]|| [[Toyama, Toyama|Toyama]]|| 富山 || Toyama || TYT || 富 (TY)
|
|-
| [[Wakayama Prefecture|Wakayama]]|| [[Wakayama, Wakayama|Wakayama]]|| 和歌山 || Wakayama || WKW || 和 (WK)
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Yamagata Prefecture|Yamagata]]|| [[Mikawa, Yamagata|Mikawa]]|| 庄内 || [[:ja:庄内地方|Shōnai]]|| YAS ||
|
|-
| [[Yamagata, Yamagata|Yamagata]]|| 山形 || Yamagata || YA ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Yamaguchi Prefecture|Yamaguchi]]|| rowspan="2" | [[Yamaguchi, Yamaguchi|Yamaguchi]]|| 山口 || Yamaguchi || YUY || 山 (YU)
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 下関 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Shimonoseki]] || YUS ||
|
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi]] || rowspan="2" | [[Fuefuki, Yamanashi|Fuefuki]] || 山梨 || Yamanashi || YN ||
|
|-
| style="background: #B8FFB8" | 富士山 || style="background: #B8FFB8" | [[Mount Fuji|Fujisan]] || YNF ||
|
|}

==See also==
*[[Kei car|Keicar]]
*[[Motor-vehicle inspection (Japan)]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

* {{cite web|url=http://www.fitzgerald.navy.mil/site%20pages/howtobuy.aspx |title=Internet Wayback Machine Archive of "How to Purchase and Register a Vehicle" from the USS Fitzgerald website |access-date=2012-01-14 |date=2008-07-15 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080715070606/http://www.fitzgerald.navy.mil/site%20pages/howtobuy.aspx |archive-date=July 15, 2008 }}

== External links ==
*[http://www.mlit.go.jp/english/index.html Japanese Government Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (English page) ]

{{Asia in topic|Vehicle registration plates of}}

[[Category:Vehicle registration plates by country|Japan]]
[[Category:Transport in Japan]]
[[Category:Japan transport-related lists]]
[[Category:Vehicles of Japan| Registration plates]]