Why Japan Drives on the Left

Japan drives on the left largely because British engineers introduced left-running railways in the 1870s, reinforcing an older local habit of keeping left, and the government later codified the rule nationwide in the early 20th century; an exception in Okinawa during U.S. occupation ended with a return to left-side traffic in 1978. This convention blends samurai-era street customs, Meiji-era infrastructure choices, and modern legal standardization.

Historical roots: customs before cars

Long before automobiles, traffic patterns in Edo-period Japan tended to favor the left side. Samurai typically wore swords on the left hip, and keeping to the left reduced clashes of scabbards and kept the dominant right hand free between passersby. Porters carrying loads and dense foot traffic in Edo (now Tokyo) also benefited from consistent, predictable flow on one side, a pattern that persisted into the Meiji Restoration.

Street etiquette in the Edo period

While not uniformly codified nationwide, left-side walking and passing were common in major cities. This social norm laid a cultural foundation that made later formal rules feel natural to the public when vehicles—first rickshaws and horse-drawn carts, then cars—arrived.

Railways set the template

The decisive turn came with the railways. Japan’s first railway, opened in 1872 between Tokyo (Shimbashi) and Yokohama, was built with British expertise and adopted the British practice of left-hand running. As the rail network expanded, left-running became standard, shaping everything from signaling to station design and reinforcing the expectation that “traffic flows on the left” in national infrastructure.

From practice to policy: the laws that locked it in

As urban traffic grew, authorities formalized what had been custom. Major cities introduced left-side rules for vehicles in the early 1900s, and the national government standardized left-hand traffic in the 1920s. Postwar legislation maintained the rule, aligning road practice with long-standing railway convention.

The timeline below highlights key milestones that explain how the left-side norm became law and stayed that way.

• 1872: Japan’s first railway (Tokyo–Yokohama) opens with British-style left-hand running.
• Early 1900s: City ordinances, notably in Tokyo, require vehicles to keep left to ease congestion and reduce collisions.
• 1924: Nationwide standardization of left-hand traffic brings uniformity across prefectures.
• 1960: The modern Road Traffic Act reaffirms left-hand driving, updating rules for the motor age.

Taken together, these steps transformed a mix of custom and engineering precedent into a clear national standard that has endured through Japan’s rapid modernization.

One notable exception: Okinawa’s detour and return

Okinawa diverged after World War II. Under U.S. administration, the islands switched to right-hand traffic in 1945 to match American practice on bases and local roads. After reversion to Japan, Okinawa executed a massive, one-day change back to the left on July 30, 1978—known as “730”—re-striping roads, swapping signs, and converting fleets to align with the rest of the country.

Why left still works for modern Japan

Beyond history, practical considerations keep left-side driving sensible for Japan today. These range from vehicle design to safety benefits on narrow roads and consistency with the rail network.

• Vehicle design and industry: Domestic cars are built with the steering wheel on the right, optimized for left-side driving and overtaking visibility.
• Infrastructure continuity: Signals, intersections, bus doors, and station approaches are engineered for left-side flow, reducing retrofit costs and confusion.
• Safety and road geometry: Many urban and rural roads are narrow; left-hand traffic with right-side drivers gives better sightlines to the centerline for turns and passing.
• Regional compatibility: Several nearby markets (e.g., Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand) also drive on the left, easing vehicle export and cross-market standards.

In short, inertia is not the only factor: the left-side system dovetails with how Japan designs, uses, and manufactures its transport network today.

Global context

Japan is among a minority of countries—alongside the UK, Australia, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and others—that drive on the left. This places it within a coherent global cluster shaped by British influence and local historical practices, even as most of continental Europe and the Americas drive on the right.

Summary

Japan drives on the left because premodern traffic customs favored it, British-built railways institutionalized it, and 20th-century laws cemented it—interrupted only by Okinawa’s postwar right-side interlude, which ended in the 1978 “730” reversion. Today, vehicle design, safety considerations, and infrastructure continuity all support keeping the system exactly where it started: on the left.

Did Canada ever drive on the left side of the road?

Driving in the left lane was the norm on the east and west coasts of Canada, until cross-country jaunts by automobile became more common and the need for standard cross-border traffic rules became more urgent. Central Canada and the prairie provinces had always followed the American practice of driving on the right.

Do Koreans drive on the left?

No, Koreans drive on the right side of the road, adhering to a right-hand traffic system, similar to the United States. South Korea adopted this system after World War II, which is also used by North Korea.
 

• Right-hand driving: Vehicles travel on the right side of the road. 
• American influence: The driving system in South Korea aligns with the American system, unlike Japan, Australia, and India, which drive on the left. 
• Historical context: The right-hand traffic system was adopted in both Koreas after the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945. 

Why doesn’t the US drive on the left?

The United States drives on the right because right-hand travel was the norm in Colonial America due to the use of large wagons and practical reasons like ditch avoidance. This custom was codified into law, with New York making it mandatory for public highways in 1804, and it predates the American Revolution, not being an act of rebellion against Britain. 
Early American Practices

• Wagon Drivers: Opens in new tabIn the 18th century, large, heavy freight wagons became popular in the U.S. Drivers often sat on the left rear horse to better manage the team with their right hand and used their right arm to whip the horses, requiring them to keep to the right to avoid ditches and manage the whip more effectively. 
• Right-Handedness: Opens in new tabAs most people are right-handed, keeping to the right also allowed pedestrians and horseback riders to keep their dominant sword arm free for defense against potential threats on the road. 

Legal Standardization 

• Pennsylvania: Opens in new tabThe state of Pennsylvania was an early adopter of right-hand travel, legislating it for its turnpikes in 1792.
• New York: Opens in new tabNew York was the first state to prescribe right-hand travel on all public highways in 1804, establishing a standard that other states soon followed.

Distinction from British and Ancient Traditions

• Colonial Opposition: Right-hand travel in America was not an opposition to British rule but rather a separate path of development. Britain’s left-hand driving law was established in 1773, while right-hand travel had already become the norm in the American colonies. 
• Ancient Origins: While ancient Romans drove on the left, often to keep their sword arm free, early American practices diverged from this due to different transportation methods and societal needs, such as the need to manage large, four-horse teams with a driver seated on the left side of the wagon. 

Why do British people drive on the left?

British people drive on the left due to historical precedents and the need to keep their dominant sword hand free when facing oncoming threats in medieval times. This practice was later formalized into law for vehicles by the General Highways Act of 1773 and became mandatory with the Highway Act of 1835, solidifying left-hand driving in the UK. 
Historical Origins

• Medieval Times: In the Middle Ages, most people were right-handed. To defend themselves from oncoming strangers, they would ride on the left side of the road to keep their sword arm free. 
• Pope Boniface VIII’s Rule: In 1300, Pope Boniface VIII decreed that all pilgrims traveling to Rome should keep to the left, an early example of an officially sanctioned rule of the road. 
• Horse and Wagon Era: As roads became more congested, particularly on structures like London Bridge, laws were enacted to keep traffic flowing. In 1756, an order was issued for all vehicles on London Bridge to keep to the left. 

Formalization into Law

• The General Highways Act (1773): Opens in new tabThis act made it a legal requirement for horse riders and carriages to stay on the left. 
• Highway Act (1835): Opens in new tabThis act extended the left-hand rule to all of Great Britain and Ireland, making left-hand driving a law that continued with the advent of motor traffic. 

Why the British Stayed Left

• Napoleon’s Influence: The spread of driving on the right in Europe was largely influenced by Napoleon’s conquests, which spread his preferred system. 
• Island Nation Status: As an island nation, Britain’s driving convention was a cultural coin flip, and it did not feel the direct pressure of land borders requiring a common standard with neighboring countries. 
• Cost of Change: The idea of switching the direction of traffic in the UK was discussed in the 1960s but was deemed too expensive and dangerous.