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WHY DO JAPANESE DRIVE ON LEFT?

Written by Izumi Kenta in Blog Last Updated December 4, 2022

Japan is a country that stands out for its unique culture and traditions. One of
the most interesting facts about Japan is that it drives on the left side of the
road, which is different from many other countries around the world. So why do
Japanese drive on the left?

This question has been asked by many people who have visited or lived in Japan
and are curious to know why they chose this method of driving instead of what’s
more common elsewhere. In this blog post, we will explore some possible reasons
why Japanese drive on the left-hand side of their roads as well as examine how
long this practice has been in place. The first theory suggests that Japan began
driving on the left due to its close proximity to China during ancient times
when horses were used as transportation.

Since Chinese riders held reigns with their right hands, it made sense for them
to keep to their right so that they could easily pass each other without
colliding into one another’s horse carts or chariots. Eventually, once
automobiles became more prominent worldwide, Japanese drivers continued sticking
with what was already familiar—driving on their nation’s designated ‘left’ side
of roads even though much of Europe had begun driving on ‘right’ sides at this
point in time (which was actually considered safer).

In Japan, drivers must keep to the left at all times. This is a strange concept
for many Westerners accustomed to driving on the right side of the road. So why
do Japanese drive on the left?

The answer lies in history. In ancient Japan, it was customary for Samurai
warriors and other travelers to ride their horses or carriages on the left-hand
side of roads so that they could draw their swords more quickly if attacked by
bandits or wild animals coming from their right-hand side. Even after
automobiles were introduced in Japan during the Meiji era (1868 – 1912), this
custom continued due to its long tradition and practicality—it allowed vehicles
approaching each other head-on to pass safely without having to slow down or
pull over too much.




Today, most countries around world observe right-side traffic rules except for a
handful like Great Britain, India, Australia and New Zealand where people still
drive on the left hand side due primarily to British influence when these
countries were colonies of England. Interestingly enough though, even with such
strong ties between Japan and Great Britain there has never been an effort made
by either country’s government towards unifying traffic rules across both
nations! So next time you visit Japan make sure you remember that cars move
along a different side than usual!



Contents [show]

 * Why do the Japanese drive on the left side of the road?
 * Why Does England And Japan Drive on the Left?
 * When Did Japan Start Driving on the Left?
 * Why Do Japanese Cars Have the Steering Wheel on the Right Side?
 * Why Do British Drive on Left?
 * List of Countries That Drive on the Left
 * Why Do Some Countries Drive on the Left
 * Why Does Japan Drive on the Left Reddit
 * Conclusion


WHY DO THE JAPANESE DRIVE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD?




WHY DOES ENGLAND AND JAPAN DRIVE ON THE LEFT?

Driving on the left-hand side of the road is a convention that’s been around for
centuries, and two countries that practice this are England and Japan. But why?
What is it about these two nations that has them driving on the left when most
other countries drive on the right?

The answer goes back to history. In ancient times, people would travel on
horseback or in carriages pulled by horses. As they rode along, they’d keep
their swords at their right sides so if attacked from behind, they could quickly
draw their weapons with their dominant hands (usually the right hand).




This meant traveling on the left side of any road was safer because attackers
were more likely to come from one direction – which meant riders had more time
to react and defend themselves. This custom eventually evolved into what we now
know as “driving on the left” since cars replaced horses as our primary mode of
transportation. By keeping this tradition alive, drivers can still take
advantage of having their dominant hands closer to traffic coming from behind
them while operating vehicles with manual transmissions – something common in
both England and Japan until recently.



In addition to safety reasons, there may also be some cultural influences at
play here too – especially in Japan where following traditions holds great
importance for many citizens today.




WHEN DID JAPAN START DRIVING ON THE LEFT?

Japan has been driving on the left side of the road since 1872, making it one of
the earliest countries to make this transition. This decision was made in part
due to Japan’s close relationship with Britain at that time, who had been
driving on the left for centuries prior. The change from right-hand drive (RHD)
vehicles to left-hand drive (LHD) wasn’t immediate; it took several years for
authorities and citizens alike to adjust.

Initially there were a lot of accidents caused by confusion as people weren’t
used to driving on the opposite side of the road compared what they were
accustomed too. In 1889, a law was passed that all vehicles had to be
manufactured without steering wheels so that drivers would have no choice but to
use their right hand when controlling them – ensuring everyone drove on their
designated side of the road! Interestingly enough, while most cars today are LHD
in Japan, some tour buses still use RHD configurations due to their popularity
among foreign tourists who prefer an experience similar to what they’re used
back home.




However, regular Japanese drivers are not allowed operate these types of buses
due safety reasons and need special licenses if they wish do so legally. Today
around 70% of countries throughout world currently follow International Traffic
Rules which dictate that traffic should travel on left-side roads — including
Japan following its initial switch more than 150 years ago!




WHY DO JAPANESE CARS HAVE THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE RIGHT SIDE?

Japan has a long and storied history of driving on the left side of the road,
dating back to at least 1872. In 1920, an Imperial Ordinance was passed that
officially declared that all vehicles should use the left side for traffic. This
rule is still in effect today, and it explains why Japanese cars have their
steering wheels on the right side.

This decision wasn’t made out of any particular preference or advantage; it was
simply necessary in order to comply with existing laws regarding which side of
the road drivers must drive on. The only other countries that follow this same
regulation are Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia and Liberia (though some exceptions
exist). It’s worth noting that there are no technical benefits associated with
having one type of wheel over another – they both work equally well regardless
of where they’re located within the vehicle – but since most countries around
the world prefer to keep their wheels on the left-hand side due to historical
reasons, Japan had no choice but to do likewise if they wanted their cars be
allowed onto public roads legally.




The unique design does present certain challenges when importing foreign
automobiles into Japan; many manufacturers need to make adjustments such as
switching out pedals or installing new accessories so their vehicles can be used
safely by those coming from abroad who may not be accustomed to operating a car
from this unusual standpoint.




WHY DO BRITISH DRIVE ON LEFT?

Driving on the left side of the road is a practice that dates back centuries. In
fact, it’s estimated that more than two-thirds of countries around the world
still adhere to this long-standing custom. The United Kingdom is one of them; so
why do British drive on left?

The answer goes all the way back to medieval times when most people were
right-handed and travelled by horseback or foot. To keep their swords handy in
case they encountered danger from enemies, people would ride with their right
hand closest to passing travelers – hence driving on the left side became common
practice. Another reason for driving on the left may have been due to
stagecoaches carrying passengers and cargo along certain roads within Great
Britain and Ireland during this period in history.




They often followed a set route and drove at high speeds, making it safer for
them to pass other vehicles if they kept their right side closest. As these
stagecoaches gained popularity, more travelers began following this same pattern
and it eventually became an accepted norm throughout much of Europe as well as
some parts of North America and Australia/New Zealand. What’s remarkable is how
prevalent this tradition has become over time despite technological advances
such as cars being introduced hundreds of years later – proof that some customs
are just too ingrained into our culture to be changed easily!



Credit: theculturetrip.com


LIST OF COUNTRIES THAT DRIVE ON THE LEFT

When traveling abroad, it is important to take note of the local driving laws.
In some countries, motorists drive on the right side of the road while in others
they drive on the left. If you are planning a trip and need to know which
countries drive on the left side of the road, this article can help.

Currently there are more than 70 countries that require drivers to stay on their
left-hand side when navigating roads. The majority of these nations are located
in Oceania and Asia but there are several outliers scattered throughout Europe,
Africa and Central America as well. Here is a comprehensive list of all
countries that currently require drivers to stay on their left:




Europe: United Kingdom (England/Wales), Ireland, Cyprus, Malta Africa: Botswana
, Lesotho , Malawi , Mozambique , Namibia , Seychelles , South Africa Central
America & Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda , Barbados Cayman Islands
Jamaica Saint Kitts & Nevis Saint Lucia Turks & Caicos Islands Montserrat St
Vincent & Grenadines Grenada Dominica British Virgin Islands Trinidad & Tobago
Guyana Suriname Belize Panama Jamaica Bahamas Aruba Curacao Sint Maarten




WHY DO SOME COUNTRIES DRIVE ON THE LEFT

If you’ve ever been to a country where the drivers keep to the left side of the
road, you may have wondered why some countries drive on the left. It’s actually
an interesting story that dates back centuries and is rooted in history. The
practice of driving on the left originated in Great Britain during medieval
times.

At this time, most people traveled by horseback and it made sense for people to
keep to their right so they could have their sword arm (the right hand) free if
they encountered any trouble along their journey. As a result, keeping to one’s
left became commonplace throughout England and then spread across British
colonies such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and India. Today
there are still many countries around the world that follow this same rule –
over 70% of all nations drive on the left!

This includes Japan, Ireland as well as several Caribbean islands like Jamaica
and Barbados. There is also an interesting pattern – almost every nation which
was once part of an empire ruled by Great Britain drives on its left-hand side
of the road; while former French colonies tend to drive on their right-hand side
instead. Though it may seem strange at first glance, there are valid reasons
behind why certain countries prefer driving on one side or another – from
cultural preferences associated with past empires to practical concerns about
traffic flow or safety regulations based upon population density in different
regions around the globe.


WHY DOES JAPAN DRIVE ON THE LEFT REDDIT

When driving in Japan, you’ll notice something a bit different—the cars drive on
the left side of the road! This is known as “left-hand traffic.” In many other
countries around the world, vehicles travel on the right side of the road.

So why does Japan drive on the left? The answer dates back to feudal times when
samurai warriors used two swords; one longer than the other. It was important
for them to be able to draw their weapons quickly and easily, so they had to
keep their dominant hand free by walking and riding horses on the left side of
roads (their scabbards were strapped across their backs).




As time passed, this custom was adopted throughout Japan and eventually became
law in 1872 with The Road Law Enforcement Ordinance. To this day, most Japanese
people are accustomed to driving on the left because it has been such an
integral part of their culture for centuries. Additionally, all Japanese
vehicles have steering wheels located on both sides – so if you rent a car while
traveling there you don’t have to worry about not being used to driving from
that direction!




CONCLUSION

If you’ve ever traveled to Japan, you know that their roads are different than
most other places in the world. One of the main differences is that Japanese
drivers drive on the left side of the road! But why?

The answer lies in history. The practice of driving on the left was introduced
by Samurai warriors back in feudal times, when it was easier and more convenient
for them to draw their swords while mounted on horseback if they were closer to
people who were walking or riding horses on their right side. This tradition
spread over time throughout Japan until it became a law in 1872, making it
mandatory for all vehicles (including bicycles) to stay left at all times.

Today, this law is still enforced and many Japanese drivers have become so
accustomed to driving left that they even do so without thinking about it – no
matter where else they travel around the world! So next time you’re visiting
Japan, remember to keep an eye out for those cars coming from your left-hand
side!



Izumi Kenta

Hi, I’m Izumi Kenta from Japan. By profession, I worked as a tourist guide and
interpreter in Japan. Besides this profession, I’m a hobbyist blogger. I love to
talk about different things about Japan and share them with a wider audience who
wants to know about my country. To share my thoughts, I’ve created this site
Visitjapan and brought some Japanese travel enthusiasts and tourists worldwide
to share their experiences.


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