Do Japanese drive on the left or right side?
2 Answers
Japan's driver's seat is on the right, so Japanese cars drive on the left side of the road, while in China, the driver's seat is on the left, so Chinese cars drive on the right. The direction of the driver's seat is determined by the country's traffic regulations. Here is the relevant content introduction: The traffic roads in China and Japan are different: Japan's traffic roads are left-hand drive, with the driver sitting on the left, which is more conducive to seeing the road conditions when turning right. In contrast, China's traffic roads are right-hand drive, which is beneficial for seeing the road conditions when turning left.
I remember paying special attention to the driving direction during my self-drive trip in Japan years ago. Indeed, they drive on the left, which is the opposite of ours, mainly influenced by Britain during the Meiji Restoration when the traffic system was introduced. It took me several days to adapt, as I kept turning into the wrong lane, but fortunately, there weren’t many cars on the road, so no accidents occurred. I’d suggest friends visiting for the first time to rent a car with English navigation or stick a small note on the dashboard as a reminder to be as cautious when turning right as when turning left, to avoid any embarrassment or minor collisions. Overall, Japan’s road signs are very clear, but it’s safer to practice driving in suburban areas first rather than busy urban centers. Extra caution is needed, especially at highway exits, as their positions differ from what you might expect.
