Japan: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism opened consultation on guidelines for utilisation of autonomous driving technology in urban spaces

On 18 March 2025, Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism opened a public consultation on draft guidelines for the utilisation of autonomous driving technology in urban spaces, until 16 April 2025. The guideline applies to urban infrastructure planners, transport providers, and stakeholders involved in deploying autonomous vehicles in cities. It outlines considerations for integrating autonomous driving technology and addressing workforce shortages and traffic congestion while proposing a phased approach to infrastructure adaptation.