In Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

, the national government issues vehicle registration plates for motor vehicles through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Land Transportation Offices nationwide. However, the local municipality

Municipalities of Japan

Japan has three levels of government: national, prefectural, and municipal. The nation is divided into 47 prefectures. Each prefecture consists of numerous municipalities. There are four types of municipalities in Japan: cities, towns, villages and special wards...

 rather than the national government registers certain vehicles with small engine displacements. Broadly speaking, passenger automobiles with engine displacements at or smaller than 2000 cc receive 5-series plates

Vehicle registration plate

A vehicle registration plate is a metal or plastic plate attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for official identification purposes. The registration identifier is a numeric or alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies the vehicle within the issuing region's database...

, while passenger automobiles with engine displacements larger than 2000 cc or more receive 3-series license plates. The number on the top line begins with a "5" or a "3" to indicate the series. Additional criteria include length, width and height of the vehicle. Official vehicles of the Imperial household are exempt from the requirement to display such plates. Official vehicles of the Self-Defense Forces, foreign diplomats, and the U.S. military are required to display other plates.
The plates are installed in 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 has reached the end of service and has been sold for scrap. New vehicles are not delivered to the purchaser until the plates have been attached at the dealership.

Since November 1, 1970, a "jiko-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.

Contents

1 Appearance 2 Transportation offices and markings 3 Gotōchi numbers 4 See also 5 External links

Appearance

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 (Keicar)	<660	Yellow	Black	Medium
Lightweight Commercial	<660	Black	Yellow	Medium
Microcar Microcar A microcar is the smallest automobile classification usually applied to standard small car . Such small cars were generally referred to as cyclecars until the 1940s. More recent models are also called bubblecars due to their egg-shaped appearance.-Definition:The definition of a microcar has varied...	0–49	Sky Blue*	Blue	Extra small
2 wheel	0–49	White*	Blue	Extra small
2 wheel	50–89	Yellow*	Blue	Extra small
2 wheel	90–124	Pink*	Blue	Extra small
2 wheel	125–249	White	Green	Small
2 wheel	≥250	White, green border	Green	Small

* These plates are issued by municipal governments.

Large

44x22 cm (17.3x8.7 inch)

(for over 8 tons vehicle, or capacity of 30 people or more)

Medium

33x16.5 cm (13x6.5 inch)

Small

23x12.5 cm (9x4.9 inch)

Extra small

about 20x10 cm (7.8x3.9 inch)

(differs according to each municipality)

Private vehicles	Commercial vehicles
Compact or Large vehicles and motorbikes (displacements <250 cm³)
keicar
2-wheeled vehicle =>250 cm³

Please note that, to avoid any claims of invasion of privacy, the artist of these pictures has deliberately selected an invalid combination of characters.

The illustration shows what a plate might look like. The top line contains the name of the issuing office (Tama

Western Tokyo

Western Tokyo, also known as the , or , consists of the part of Tokyo Prefecture to the west of the 23 special wards.-Overview:Whereas the special wards occupy the space that was formerly the city of Tokyo, western Tokyo consists of the 26 cities, three towns, and one village that were not part of...

, shown, is in Tokyo) and a vehicle class code. The bottom line contains a hiragana

Hiragana

is a Japanese syllabary, one basic component of the Japanese writing system, along with katakana, kanji, and the Latin alphabet . Hiragana and katakana are both kana systems, in which each character represents one mora...

 character and a four-digit serial number divided into two groups of two digits separated by a hyphen. Any leading zeros are replaced by centered dots.

White plates can have the following hiragana:

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

and for rental vehicles

れわ

Green plates can have the following hiragana:

あいうえかきくけこを

A license plate in Japan

Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 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

Kanji

Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...

, 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.), * is a number from 0 to 99 (pre-1971 license plates will omit this), and # is a number from 0* to 9 (*leading zeros are replaced by centered dots).

Classification number

The license plate is the right of the name "classification number" 1 called - the three-digit number is displayed at the top of the plate. The car uses roughly one-digit number on the classification (either large special cargo special-purpose passenger) and size (small or normal) are seen. If a three digit number you can see whether the desired number plate explained.

Classification Number Categories

• 1,10 - 19,100 - 198: average truck

Use of those goods for ordinary vehicles. For ordinary vehicles, vehicle size or width of 1,700 mm, 4,700 mm in length or height of 2,000 mm meet one or more (as well as numbers below 2.3.) There is a large plate.
Ōita: cargo (maximum payload or gross vehicle weight of more than 8t 5t or more) (maximum load 6,500 kg, gross vehicle weight of up to 11,000 kg vehicle ○, otherwise ◎)
Intermediate plate: normal cargo (over 2,000 cc engine capacity) (gross vehicle weight of 5,000 kg, 3,000 kg maximum load capacity exceeds vehicle (medium car) are ○, however gross vehicle weight 8,000 kg, 5,000 kg maximum load the vehicle up mid-size car (8t) Limited (usually old) driving license accepted)

• 2.20 - 29,200 - 298: Mini vans normally

Seating capacity is 11 or more in passenger cars of the normal. There is a large plate.
Ōita: large buses (gross vehicle weight 8,000 kg Seating capacity over 30 or over) ◎
Intermediate plate: micro (less than 11 Seating capacity 29) ○

• 3,30 - 39,300 - 398: Passenger Cars

The following are riding in the passenger capacity of 10 persons of ordinary vehicles. The 2,000 cc engine capacity above. There are no large plates.

• 4,40 - 49,400 - 479: mini truck

Use one of the small car of the freight. Less than 2,000 cc engine capacity. For a small car, the size of the body width is less than 1,700 mm, 4,700 mm in length than the height of less than 2,000 mm to satisfy all (as well as No. 5 below).

• 5.50 - 59,500 - 579: small passenger car

Among those riding small car. Capacity does not matter. Less than 2,000 cc engine capacity.

• 6,60 - 69,600 - 679: small truck

The previous two-digit classification number three-wheeled cargo. Present "4" as.
Because of the current three-digit "4" is not registered to fill, number only hope. Is not paying out so far, the sequence number of the desired numbers, might appear to future ("seven" also.)

• 7,70 - 79,700 - 779: small passenger car

Before riding three-wheeled two-digit classification number. Now "5" as.
Because of the current three-digit "5" is not registered to fill, number only hope. Currently 2010 numbers in the sequence number Omiya Osaka, Kobe, popular (and 11-22) have already appeared in the.

• 8,80 - 89,800 - 879: special-purpose vehicle

Stipulated by law, vehicles used to scoop purposes. Both present compact car for ordinary vehicles. There is a large plate.
Ōita: maximum load capacity of at least 5t, 8t gross vehicle weight of more than one vehicle meets Seating capacity of 30 or more (must meet licensing conditions of medium or large vehicle license required) Large special license.
During board: cars meet the above requirements

• 9,90 - 99,900 - 998: large special vehicles

Stipulated by law, vehicles with special structure. The special license required to drive large. The size of the vehicle width over 1,700 mm, 4,700 mm in length or height meets one of the more than 2,800 mm.

• 0,00 - 09,000 - 098: Construction Equipment

Among large special vehicles, which are provided in the proviso to Article 2 car mortgage.
※ There are no restrictions on diesel emissions.
Driving qualifications, ◎ license is large, ○ medium requires a drivers license.

Special use plates

Vehicles owned by personnel with the United States military in Japan under the Status of Forces Agreement

Status of Forces Agreement

A status of forces agreement is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation stationing forces in that country. SOFAs are often included, along with other types of military agreements, as part of a comprehensive security arrangement...

 (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. Since the 1980s, servicemembers assigned to Japan have been discouraged from shipping their vehicles from the U.S. into the country. 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".

Out of country plates

Because the Japanese writing system

Japanese writing system

The modern Japanese writing system uses three main scripts:*Kanji, adopted Chinese characters*Kana, a pair of syllabaries , consisting of:...

, particularly the kana

Kana

Kana are the syllabic Japanese scripts, as opposed to the logographic Chinese characters known in Japan as kanji and the Roman alphabet known as rōmaji...

, is unique to Japan, standard-issue Japanese license plates are considered unacceptable for international travel. If a motorist wishes to bring their vehicle with them while traveling abroad, the Ministry of Transport will issue to them a plate with the hiragana and kanji scripts replaced with roman letters. The hiragana prefix is replaced by a Kunrei-shiki

Kunrei-shiki

is a Japanese romanization system, i.e. a system for transcribing the Japanese language into the Latin alphabet. It is abbreviated as Kunrei-shiki. Its name is rendered Kunreisiki using Kunrei-shiki itself....

 romanization

Romanization of Japanese

The romanization of Japanese is the application of the Latin alphabet to write the Japanese language. This method of writing is known as , less strictly romaji, literally "Roman letters", sometimes incorrectly transliterated as romanji or rōmanji. There are several different romanization systems...

 of that character. The kanji prefecture

Prefectures of Japan

The prefectures of Japan are the country's 47 subnational jurisdictions: one "metropolis" , Tokyo; one "circuit" , Hokkaidō; two urban prefectures , Osaka and Kyoto; and 43 other prefectures . In Japanese, they are commonly referred to as...

/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500き21-41) would then read TKA 500 KI 21-41 (TKA for Tokyo Adachi).

Aichi Prefecture

Aichi Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region. The region of Aichi is also known as the Tōkai region. The capital is Nagoya. It is the focus of the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.- History :...

 

• Mikawa
  Toyota, Aichi
  is a city located in the Mikawa region of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of Nagoya.Toyota's main plant, the Tsutsumi plant, is located here. The longstanding ties between the Toyota Motor Corporation and the town of Toyota-shi, formerly known as Koromo, gave the town its current...
  
   : 三河 ACM
• Nagoya
  Nagoya, Aichi
  is the third-largest incorporated city and the fourth most populous urban area in Japan.Located on the Pacific coast in the Chūbu region on central Honshu, it is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and is one of Japan's major ports along with those of Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama, Chiba, and Moji...
  
   : 名古屋 ACN (愛 AC)
• Owarikomaki
  Komaki, Aichi
  is a city located in Aichi, Japan. It is commonly associated with the former Nagoya Airport, which is partly located in the city. The other part is in the city of Kasugai. As of January 1, 2008, the city has an estimated population of 149,060 and the density of 2,370 persons per km²...
  
   : 尾張小牧 ACO
• Toyohashi
  Toyohashi, Aichi
  is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on August 1, 1906. As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 383,691 and a density of 1,468.62 persons per km². The total area is . By size, Toyohashi was Aichi Prefecture's second-largest city until March 31,...
  
   : 豊橋 ACT

Aomori Prefecture

Aomori Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....

 

• Aomori
  Aomori, Aomori
  is the capital city of Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Japan. As of 2009, the city had an estimated population of 302,068 and a density of 366 persons per km². Its total area was 824.52 km².- History :...
  
   : 青森 AMA (青 AM)
• Hachinohe
  Hachinohe, Aomori
  - Neighbouring municipalities :Aomori Prefecture*Sannohe District**Hashikami**Gonohe**Nanbu*Kamikita District**OiraseIwate Prefecture*Karumai-History:...
  
   : 八戸 AMH

Chiba Prefecture

Chiba Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...

 

• Chiba
  Chiba, Chiba
  is the capital city of Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is located approximately 40 km east of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay. Chiba City became a government designated city in 1992. Its population as of 2008 is approximately 960,000....
  
   : 千葉 CBC (千 CB)
• Narashino
  Narashino, Chiba
  is a city located in northern Chiba, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 164,809 and a population density of 7850 persons per km². The total area was 20.99 km².-Geography:...
  
   : 習志野 CBN
• Noda
  Noda, Chiba
  is a city located in the far northwestern corner Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 155,431 and a population density of 1500 persons per km²...
  
   : 野田 CBD
• Sodegaura
  Sodegaura, Chiba
  is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 59,916 and a population density of 631 persons per km²...
  
   : 袖ヶ浦 CBS

Fukuoka Prefecture

Fukuoka Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on Kyūshū Island. The capital is the city of Fukuoka.- History :Fukuoka Prefecture includes the former provinces of Chikugo, Chikuzen, and Buzen....

 

• Chikuhō
  Iizuka, Fukuoka
  is a city located at the confluence of the Honami and Onga rivers in central Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.Iizuka was an important post-station on the Nagasaki Kaidō during the Edo Era. As Japan industrialised, Iizuka became the center of the most productive coal fields in Japan located throughout the...
  
   : 筑豊 FOC
• Fukuoka
  Fukuoka, Fukuoka
  is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
  
   : 福岡 FOF (福 FO)
• Kitakyūshū
  Kitakyushu, Fukuoka
  is a city located in Fukuoka Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan. It is midway between Tokyo and Shanghai.- Demographics :Kitakyūshū has a population of just under one million...
  
   : 北九州 FOK
• Kurume
  Kurume, Fukuoka
  is a city located in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.The city has an estimated population of 303,277 and a population density of 1,319.51 persons per km²...
  
   : 久留米 FOR

Fukushima Prefecture

Fukushima Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region on the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Fukushima.-History:Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Fukushima prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....

 

• Fukushima
  Fukushima, Fukushima
  is the capital city of Fukushima Prefecture in the Tōhoku Region of Japan. As of May 2011 the city has an estimated population of 290,064 and an area of 746.43 km².It lies about 250 km north of Tokyo and 80 km south of Sendai.-History:...
  
   : 福島 FS
• Iwaki
  Iwaki, Fukushima
  is a city located in the southern part of the Hamadōri coastal region of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.A designated "core city", Iwaki is also one of the growing number of hiragana cities. Its area is 1,231.35 km², making it the 10th largest city in Japan...
  
   : いわき FSI

Gunma Prefecture

Gunma Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the northwest corner of the Kantō region on Honshu island. Its capital is Maebashi.- History :The remains of a Paleolithic man were found at Iwajuku, Gunma Prefecture, in the early 20th century and there is a public museum there.Japan was without horses until...

 

• Gunma
  Maebashi, Gunma
  is the capital city of Gunma Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1892, by the samurai Makuba Kawai.On December 5, 2004 the town of Ōgo, and the villages of Kasukawa and Miyagi, all from Seta District, were merged into Maebashi....
  
   : 群馬 GMG (群 GM)
• Takasaki : 高崎

Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Hiroshima.- History :The area around Hiroshima was formerly divided into Bingo Province and Aki Province. This location has been a center of trade and culture since the beginning of Japan's recorded...

 

• Fukuyama
  Fukuyama, Hiroshima
  is a city located on the Ashida River in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.As of January 31, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 465,238 and a population density of 898.02 persons per km². The total area is 461.23 km². After Hiroshima City, it is the largest city in Hiroshima Prefecture...
  
   : 福山 HSF
• Hiroshima : 広島 HSH (広 HS)

Hokkaidō

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

 

• Asahikawa
  Asahikawa, Hokkaido
  is a city in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital of the subprefecture and the second-largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo. It has been a Core city since April 1, 2000...
  
   : 旭川 AKA (旭 AK)
• Hakodate
  Hakodate, Hokkaido
  is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture.Hakodate was Japan's first city whose port was opened to foreign trade in 1854 as a result of Convention of Kanagawa, and used to be the most important port in northern Japan...
  
   : 函館 HDH (函 HD)
• Kitami
  Kitami, Hokkaido
  is a city located in Okhotsk Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the most populous city and the commercial center in the subprefecture, although the subprefectural capital is Abashiri.Kitami is in central Okhotsk Subprefecture. The Kitami Mountains are nearby....
  
   : 北見 KIK (北 KI)
• Kushiro
  Kushiro, Hokkaido
  is a city located in Kushiro Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Kushiro Subprefecture, as well as the most populous city in eastern Hokkaidō....
  
   : 釧路 KRK (釧 KR)
• Muroran
  Muroran, Hokkaido
  is a city and port located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Iburi Subprefecture.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 96,724 and a density of 1,210 people per km². The total area is 80.65 km².- History :...
  
   : 室蘭 MRM (室 MR)
• Obihiro
  Obihiro, Hokkaido
  is a city located in Tokachi, Hokkaidō, Japan. Obihiro is the only city in the Tokachi area. The next most populous municipality in Tokachi is the town of Otofuke, with less than a third of Obihiro's population. The city has approximately 500 foreign residents . The city contains the headquarters...
  
   : 帯広 OHO (帯 OH)
• Sapporo
  Sapporo, Hokkaido
  is the fourth-largest city in Japan by population, and the largest city on the island of Hokkaido. It is the capital of Hokkaidō Prefecture, located in Ishikari Subprefecture, and an ordinance-designated city of Japan....
  
   : 札幌 SPS (札 SP)

Ibaraki Prefecture

Ibaraki Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan, located in the Kantō region on the main island of Honshu. The capital is Mito.-History:Ibaraki Prefecture was previously known as Hitachi Province...

 

• Mito
  Mito, Ibaraki
  is the capital of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan and has a central location, moderately offset towards the coast in that prefecture. As of 2005, the city has an estimated population of 263,748 and a total area is 217.45 km², giving a population density of 1,212.91 persons per km²...
  
   : 水戸 IGM (茨城 IGI) (茨 IG)
• Tsuchiura
  Tsuchiura, Ibaraki
  is a city located in Ibaraki prefecture, in Japan. It is situated along the western shores of Lake Kasumigaura, the second largest lake in Japan. Tokyo city lies about 60 km to the south, and Tsukuba science city borders Tsuchiura to the west.-Demographics:...
  
   : 土浦 IGT

Kagoshima Prefecture

Kagoshima Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.- Geography :Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu and includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest for a few hundred kilometers...

 

• Kagoshima
  Kagoshima, Kagoshima
  is the capital city of Kagoshima Prefecture at the southwestern tip of the Kyūshū island of Japan, and the largest city in the prefecture by some margin...
  
   : 鹿児島 KOK (鹿 KO)
  • Kagoshima, Ōshima
    Amami, Kagoshima
    is a city located on Amami Ōshima in Kagoshima, Japan.The city was formed on March 20, 2006 from the merger of the old city of Naze with the town of Kasari, and the village of Sumiyō, both from Ōshima District....
    
     office

Kanagawa Prefecture

Kanagawa Prefecture

is a prefecture located in the southern Kantō region of Japan. The capital is Yokohama. Kanagawa is part of the Greater Tokyo Area.-History:The prefecture has some archaeological sites going back to the Jōmon period...

 

• Kawasaki
  Kawasaki, Kanagawa
  is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, between Tokyo and Yokohama. It is the 9th most populated city in Japan and one of the main cities forming the Greater Tokyo Area and Keihin Industrial Area....
  
   : 川崎 KNK
• Sagami
  Aikawa, Kanagawa
  is a town located in Aikō District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of February 1, 2010, the town had an estimated population of 41,513 and a density of 1,210 persons per km². The total area was 34.29 km².-Geography:...
  
   : 相模 KNS
• Shōnan
  Hiratsuka, Kanagawa
  is a city located in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan. As of 2010, the city had an estimated population of 259,991 and the density of 3,830 persons per km²...
  
   : 湘南 KNN
• Yokohama : 横浜 KNY (神 KN)

Nagano Prefecture

Nagano Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Nagano.- History :Nagano was formerly known as the province of Shinano...

 

• Matsumoto
  Matsumoto, Nagano
  is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. Matsumoto is designated as a Special City.-Outline:The new city of Matsumoto is the city comprising the mergers of the old city of Matsumoto and four villages. Matsumoto officially absorbed those villages without creating a new municipal...
  
   : 松本 NNM
• Nagano
  Nagano, Nagano
  , the capital city of Nagano Prefecture, is located in the northern part of the prefecture near the confluence of the Chikuma and the Sai rivers, on the main Japanese island of Honshū.As of April 1, 2011 the city has a population of 387,146...
  
   : 長野 NNN (長 NN)

Nagasaki Prefecture

Nagasaki Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyūshū. The capital is the city of Nagasaki.- History :Nagasaki Prefecture was created by merging of the western half of the former province of Hizen with the island provinces of Tsushima and Iki...

 

• Nagasaki : 長崎 NS
  • Nagasaki, Izuhara
    Tsushima, Nagasaki
    is a city governed by Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is the only city of Tsushima Subprefecture and it encompasses all of Tsushima Island Archipelago, which lies in the Tsushima Strait north of Nagasaki on the western side of Kyūshū, the southernmost mainland island of Japan. the city has an...
    
     office
• Sasebo
  Sasebo, Nagasaki
  is a city located in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 259,800 and the density of 609 persons per km². The total area is 426.47 km². The locality is famed for its scenic beauty. The city includes a part of Saikai National Park...
  
   : 佐世保 NSS

Niigata Prefecture

Niigata Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...

 

• Nagaoka
  Nagaoka, Niigata
  is a city located in the central part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture, behind the capital city of Niigata...
  
   : 長岡 NGO
• Niigata
  Niigata, Niigata
  is the capital and the most populous city of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. It lies on the northwest coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, and faces the Sea of Japan and Sado Island....
  
   : 新潟 NGN (新 NG)

Okinawa Prefecture

Okinawa Prefecture

is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...

 

• Okinawa
  Urasoe, Okinawa
  is a city located in Okinawa, Japan. The neighboring municipalities are Naha to the south, Ginowan to the north, and Nishihara to the east.Urasoe was the original capital of the Okinawan kingdom of Chūzan for several centuries until it was supplanted by Shuri in the late 14th or early 15th century...
  
   : 沖縄 ONO (沖 ON)
  • Okinawa, Miyako
    Miyakojima, Okinawa
    is a city on several islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. It was formed on October 1, 2005 by the merger of the old city of Hirara, the towns of Gusukube, Irabu and Shimoji, and the village of Ueno, all from Miyako District, which as a result of the merger has one remaining village.Miyakojima has...
    
     office
  • Okinawa, Yaeyama
    Ishigaki, Okinawa
    Ishigaki is an island west of Okinawa Hontō and the second-largest island of the Yaeyama Island group. It is within the City of Ishigaki in Okinawa Prefecture. The city functions as the business and transport center of the archipelago...
    
     office

Ōsaka Prefecture

Osaka Prefecture

is a prefecture located in the Kansai region on Honshū, the main island of Japan. The capital is the city of Osaka. It is the center of Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area.- History :...

 

• Izumi
  Izumi, Osaka
  is a city located in Osaka, Japan.The city was founded on September 1, 1956.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 181,935 and the density of 2,140 persons per km². The total area is 84.98 km². It is the last station on the Semboku Kousoku monorail line （泉北高速鉄道） at Izumi Chuo...
  
  : 和泉 OSZ (泉 OSI)
• Naniwa: なにわ OSN The Naniwa Vehicle Registration Office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport issues "Naniwa" license plates for automobiles registered in the city of Osaka
• Ōsaka
  Neyagawa, Osaka
  is a city located in Osaka, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 238,549 and the density of 9,650 persons per km². The total area is 24.73 km².The city was founded on May 3, 1951....
  
  : 大阪 OSO (大 OS)

Saitama Prefecture

Saitama Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Saitama.This prefecture is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and most of Saitama's cities can be described as suburbs of Tokyo, to which a large amount of residents commute each day.- History...

 

• Kasukabe
  Kasukabe, Saitama
  is a city in eastern Saitama, Japan, approximately north of Tokyo. It was formerly located in Kitakatsushika and Minamisaitama districts. Kasukabe once prospered as part of the Nikkō Kaidō highway, an important trade route that linked Edo with Nikkō.-Overview:...
  
   : 春日部 STB
• Kumagaya
  Kumagaya, Saitama
  is a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.As of 2010, the city has an estimated population of 203,089 . The total area is 159.88 km². The city is one of the biggest in northern Saitama Prefecture. It is the administrative, business and commercial centre in northern Saitama Prefecture. Eight...
  
   : 熊谷 STK
• Ōmiya
  Omiya, Saitama
  was a city in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. In 2001 it merged with two other cities to form the city of Saitama. Since 1 April 2003, the area of former Ōmiya city is Kita-ku, Minuma-ku, Nishi-ku, and Ōmiya-ku of Saitama city.-Origin and pre-modern history:...
  
   : 大宮 STO (埼玉 STS) (埼 ST)
• Tokorozawa
  Tokorozawa, Saitama
  is a city in Saitama, Japan. It is located in the central part of the Musashino plain, about 30 km west of downtown Tokyo. Tokorozawa can be considered part of the greater Tokyo area; its proximity to the latter and lower housing costs make it a popular bedroom community.-Location:Tokorozawa...
  
   : 所沢 STT

Shizuoka Prefecture

Shizuoka Prefecture

is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshu island. The capital is the city of Shizuoka.- History :Shizuoka prefecture was formed from the former Tōtōmi, Suruga and Izu provinces.The area was the home of the first Tokugawa Shogun...

 

• Hamamatsu
  Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
  is a city located in western Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. On July 1, 2005, the city merged with 11 surrounding cities and towns. It became a city designated by government ordinance on April 1, 2007.- History :...
  
   : 浜松 SZH
• Numazu
  Numazu, Shizuoka
  is a city located in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 2009, the city has an estimated population of 205,636 and a population density of 1,100 persons per km². The total area was 187.11 km².- Geography:...
  
   : 沼津 SZN
• Shizuoka
  Shizuoka, Shizuoka
  is the capital city of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, and the prefecture's second-largest city in terms of both population and area. It became one of Japan's 19 "designated cities" in 2005.-Geography:...
  
   : 静岡 SZS (静 SZ)

Tochigi Prefecture

Tochigi Prefecture

is a prefecture located in the Kantō region on the island of Honshū, Japan. The capital is the city of Utsunomiya.Nikkō, whose ancient Shintō shrines and Buddhist temples UNESCO has recognized by naming them a World Heritage Site, is in this prefecture...

 

• Tochigi
  Sano, Tochigi
  is a city located in Tochigi, Japan.The city took its current form on February 28, 2005 when the old city of Sano merged with the towns of Kuzu and Tanuma from Aso District to form the new city of Sano.The city is known for its Outlet Mall and ramen....
  
   : とちぎ TGC
• Utsunomiya
  Utsunomiya, Tochigi
  is the capital and most populous city of Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. In October 2010 the city had an estimated population of 510,416 and a population density of 1,224.49 people per square kilometer. The total area is 416.84 km². had a population of 888,005 in the 2000 Census...
  
   : 宇都宮 TGU (栃木 TGT) (栃 TG)
• Nasu : 那須

Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

 

• Adachi
  Adachi, Tokyo
  is one of the Special wards of Tokyo, Japan. It is located north of the heart of Tokyo. The ward consists of two separate areas: a small strip of land between the Sumida River and Arakawa River and a larger area north of the Arakawa River...
  
   : 足立 TKA (足 TOA)
• Hachiōji
  Hachioji, Tokyo
  is a city located in Tokyo, Japan, about 40 kilometers west of the center of the special wards of Tokyo.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 551,901 and a population density of 2,962.27/km². The total area is 186.31 km². It is the eighth largest city in the...
  
   : 八王子 TKH
• Nerima
  Nerima, Tokyo
  is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it calls itself Nerima City.As of August 1, 2007, the ward has an estimated population of 703,005 , and a density of 14,443 persons per km². 12,897 foreign residents are registered in the ward. 18.4% of the ward's population is over the...
  
   : 練馬 TKN (練 TON)
• Shinagawa
  Shinagawa, Tokyo
  is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo, Japan. In English, it is called Shinagawa City. The ward is home to nine embassies.As of 2008, the ward has an estimated population of 344,461 and a density of 15,740 persons per km². The total area is 22.72 km²....
  
   : 品川 TKS (品 TOS) (東 TK) (no marking)
• Tama
  Tama, Tokyo
  is a municipality classified as a city, located in Tokyo, Japan.Its southern half forms part of the Tama New Town project, Japan's largest residential development, constructed in the 1970s....
  
   : 多摩 TKT (多 TOT)

Yamagata Prefecture

Yamagata Prefecture

-Fruit:Yamagata Prefecture is the largest producer of cherries and pears in Japan. A large quantity of other kinds of fruits such as grapes, apples, peaches, melons, persimmons and watermelons are also produced.- Demographics :...

 

• Shōnai
  Mikawa, Yamagata
  is a town located in Higashitagawa District, Yamagata, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 7,771 and a density of 234.00 persons per km². The total area is 33.21 km².-External links:*...
  
   : 庄内 YAS
• Yamagata
  Yamagata, Yamagata
  is the capital city of Yamagata Prefecture in Japan.As of July 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 253,951 with 97,457 households and a population density of 665.94 persons per km². The total area is 381.34 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1889.-Culture:The , one of Tōhoku's...
  
   : 山形 YA

numbers

In 2006, several new location names have started to appear on plates. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport approved these applications for places that want 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 will appear on plates for vehicles registered in certain specific cities, towns and villages in or near the places named below.

Here are the new locations for 2006 (and their former location names):

• Aizu
  Aizu
  is an area comprising the westernmost third of Fukushima Prefecture in Japan. The principal city of the area is Aizuwakamatsu.During the Edo period, Aizu was a feudal domain known as and part of Mutsu Province.-History:...
  
  : 会津 FSA (Fukushima)
• Fujisan
  Mount Fuji
  is the highest mountain in Japan at . An active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1707–08, Mount Fuji lies about south-west of Tokyo, and can be seen from there on a clear day. Mount Fuji's exceptionally symmetrical cone is a well-known symbol of Japan and it is frequently depicted in art and...
  
  : 富士山 YNF (Yamanashi) / SZF (Numazu)
• Ichinomiya
  Ichinomiya, Aichi
  is a city located in Aichi, Japan. The city is often called Owari-Ichinomiya to avoid confusion with another Ichinomiya . The pre-expansion city was once part of now-defunct Nakashima District until September 1, 1921....
  
  : 一宮 ACI (Owari Komaki)
• Izu
  Izu Peninsula
  The is a large mountainous peninsula with deeply indented coasts to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshū, Japan. Formerly the eponymous Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture...
  
  : 伊豆 SZI (Numazu)
• Kanazawa
  Kanazawa, Ishikawa
  is the capital city of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.-Geography, climate, and population:Kanazawa sits on the Sea of Japan, bordered by the Japan Alps, Hakusan National Park and Noto Peninsula National Park. The city sits between the Sai and Asano rivers. Its total area is 467.77 km².Kanazawa's...
  
  : 金沢 IKK (Ishikawa)
• Kashiwa
  Kashiwa, Chiba
  is a city located in northern Chiba Prefecture, Japan. As of February 2011, the city had an estimated population of 404,820 and a population density of 3520 persons per km²...
  
  : 柏 CBK (Noda)
• Kawagoe
  Kawagoe, Saitama
  is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is about a 30-minute train ride from Ikebukuro in Tokyo.As of July 1, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 343,926...
  
  : 川越 STG (Tokorozawa)
• Kurashiki
  Kurashiki, Okayama
  is a historic city located to the west of Okayama Prefecture, Japan, sitting on the Takahashi River, on the coast of the Inland Sea.As of April 2010, the city has a population of 473,392. The total area is .-History:...
  
  : 倉敷 OYK (Okayama)
• Narita
  Narita, Chiba
  is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is the site of Narita International Airport, the main international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area....
  
  : 成田 CBT (Chiba)
• Nasu
  Nasushiobara, Tochigi
  is a city located in northern Tochigi Prefecture, Japan. Nasushiobara is the northernmost city in the Kantō region of Japan, bordering Fukushima Prefecture to the north, as well as nationally famous Nikkō City and the town of Nasu within Tochigi....
  
  : 那須 TGN (Utsunomiya)
• Okazaki
  Okazaki, Aichi
  is a city located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. As of August 2011, the city had an estimated population of 373,339 and a population density of 964 persons per km². The total area was 387.24 km².-Geography:...
  
  : 岡崎 ACZ (Mikawa)
• Sakai
  Sakai, Osaka
  is a city in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It has been one of the largest and most important seaports of Japan since the Medieval era.Following the February 2005 annexation of the town of Mihara, from Minamikawachi District, the city has grown further and is now the fourteenth most populous city in...
  
  : 堺 OSS (Izumi)
• Sendai: 仙台 MGS (Miyagi)
• Shimonoseki
  Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
  is a city located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. It is at the southwestern tip of Honshū, facing the Tsushima Strait and also Kitakyushu across the Kanmon Straits....
  
  : 下関 YUS (Yamaguchi)
• Suwa
  Suwa, Nagano
  is a city located in Nagano, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city had an estimated population of 51,084 and a density of 468.40 persons per km². The total area of the city is 109.06 km²....
  
  : 諏訪 NNS (Matsumoto)
• Suzuka
  Suzuka, Mie
  is a city located in Mie, Japan.As of 2011, the city has an estimated population of 198,716 and the density of 1,020 people per km². The total area is 194.67 km².Located about 83 km east from Nara, and 52 km southwest from Nagoya.-History:...
  
  : 鈴鹿 MES (Mie)
• Takasaki
  Takasaki, Gunma
  is a city located in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.The city was founded on April 1, 1900.Takasaki is a regional transportation hub because its train station is the junction of several rail lines as well as a Shinkansen stop....
  
  : 高崎 GMT (Gunma)
• Toyota
  Toyota, Aichi
  is a city located in the Mikawa region of Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of Nagoya.Toyota's main plant, the Tsutsumi plant, is located here. The longstanding ties between the Toyota Motor Corporation and the town of Toyota-shi, formerly known as Koromo, gave the town its current...
  
  : 豊田 ACY (Mikawa)
• Tsukuba
  Tsukuba, Ibaraki
  is a city located in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is known as the location of the , a planned city developed in the 1960s.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 207,394 and a population density of 730 persons per km². Its total area is 284.07 km².Mount Tsukuba, particularly well-known...
  
  : つくば IGK (Tsuchiura)

External links

• Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (English page)