Courts of Japan
A single national system with a Supreme Court at the top, and separate family courts. There is no separate constitutional court.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Courts
Supreme CourtAlso decides constitutional questions
High CourtsEight, plus the Intellectual Property High Court
District Courts
Summary CourtsSmall civil claims and minor crimes
Family courts
Family CourtsAlongside the District Courts
Worth knowing
- Courts can review whether laws follow the Constitution, but rarely strike them down.
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Read the Japan profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
Sources
Other systems
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TheLawToKnow Tools’s court-structure diagrams are simplified on purpose and are not legal advice. Report a mistake.
