Himakajima’s Lone Traffic Light Serves as a School Training Tool
On the small Japanese island of Himakajima, a single three-colour traffic signal flashes red and yellow for most of the year, only operating fully once annually to teach primary-school children how to cross a regulated intersection.
Himakajima, a tiny island near Nagoya with roughly 1,600 residents, has a unique approach to road-safety education. The community maintains just one conventional traffic light, installed in 1994 near the eastern harbour at 72 Kodochi. Because the island’s traffic is light and most journeys can be made on foot, the signal does not serve the usual purpose of managing busy intersections. Instead, it acts as a practical teaching aid for local schoolchildren. ## Daily Flashing Mode For 364 days each year the light operates in a simplified mode: a red flash faces the harbour road while a yellow flash points toward the coastal route. This limited signalling provides a basic stop-and-caution cue that matches the island’s low vehicle volume. The constant flashing also keeps the equipment functional without the need for full-time traffic control. ## Annual Classroom Exercise Once a year the signal switches to full operation for a dedicated lesson involving third- and fifth-grade pupils from Himakajima’s primary school. The children line up at the traffic light, wait for the lights to change, scan both sides of the road, and then cross the zebra-striped lane. During the crossing they raise their arms to increase visibility, mirroring the procedures taught in their traffic-safety curriculum. The lesson includes the blue-coloured light that Japan traditionally refers to as “green,” completing the standard three-colour sequence. ## Why a Real Signal Matters Before the permanent installation, teachers relied on small demonstration devices to explain traffic signals. Those mock-ups fell short in conveying the timing, distance judgment, and street-watching skills needed for real-world crossings. By using an actual traffic light, students gain a more authentic experience that better prepares them for the busier streets they may encounter on the mainland. Many island youths eventually travel to larger cities such as Kanazawa, Tokyo, Yokohama or Osaka for education or work, where traffic signals are a daily reality. The annual exercise aims to narrow the gap between island life and urban environments, reducing the shock of encountering regulated intersections for the first time. ## Educational Impact The initiative transforms a largely dormant piece of infrastructure into a vital educational resource. By exposing children to a genuine traffic-light crossing, the program helps them internalise the cues and behaviours required for safe navigation in more complex settings. This preparation is especially valuable given the island’s walkable 5.5-kilometre perimeter, which can be circumnavigated in under an hour and offers little exposure to conventional traffic control. The once-a-year activation of the signal underscores its purpose: not to manage traffic, but to equip the next generation with the skills needed beyond Himakajima’s quiet streets.
