Why Japan Drives on the Left

Japan drives on the left because long-standing left-side travel customs were reinforced by British-engineered railways in the 1870s and then codified nationwide in the early 20th century, a standard later reaffirmed after World War II and extended to Okinawa in 1978. The result is a left-hand traffic system aligned with railway practice, vehicle design, and a century of road rules.

From footpaths to highways: early habits set the pattern

Before cars arrived, travelers on Japan’s Edo-period roads commonly kept to the left. Samurai wore swords on the left hip; passing on the left placed weapon scabbards away from oncoming pedestrians, reducing accidental clashes and conflict. Packhorses and palanquin traffic also tended to keep left to avoid tangles on narrow “kaidō” highways. While these were customs more than statute in many places, they created a strong cultural norm for left-side travel.

Rails laid the foundation: British influence in the Meiji era

The decisive modern push came with railways. Japan’s first railroad, opened in 1872 between Shimbashi (Tokyo) and Yokohama, was built with British expertise and adopted Britain’s left-hand running on tracks. As rail expanded, left-hand operation became the country’s default in mass transit, shaping everything from platform design to signaling—and influencing how early urban tramways and road users organized traffic in growing cities.

Law catches up: nationwide codification of left-hand traffic

As motor vehicles spread in the early 20th century, Japan moved to unify local rules into a national code that put left-hand traffic into law. By the 1920s, driving on the left was formally mandated nationwide; the postwar Road Traffic Act of 1960 preserved that standard, ensuring continuity across the country’s rapidly modernizing road network.

Key milestones that cemented the left

The following timeline highlights the pivotal moments that turned custom into law and made left-hand traffic a durable national standard.

• 1872: First railway (Tokyo–Yokohama) opens with British-engineered left-hand running.
• Late 19th–early 20th century: Tram systems and urban traffic rules align with left-side operation.
• 1920s: Nationwide regulations codify driving on the left for motor vehicles.
• 1960: Road Traffic Act reaffirms left-hand traffic postwar.
• 1978: “730” in Okinawa—on July 30, the prefecture switches from right- to left-hand traffic to match the rest of Japan.

Taken together, these steps show how imported rail practice, urban transit, and national regulation converged to lock in left-hand traffic across Japan.

Okinawa’s exception—and its return

One postwar outlier underscores how deliberate the standardization became. Under U.S. administration after World War II, Okinawa drove on the right. Following reversion to Japan in 1972, authorities planned a changeover to align with the national system. The “730” switch on July 30, 1978, converted roads, signs, buses, and driver habits in a single coordinated operation, closing the last major gap in Japan’s left-hand regime.

Why the system endures

Beyond history and law, practical factors keep Japan on the left. The rail network runs left; road design, intersection geometry, bus doors, and vehicle fleets are optimized for right-hand-drive vehicles; and as an island nation, Japan faces no cross-border pressure to switch. Changing sides would impose heavy costs with little safety benefit when current systems are built around left-hand travel.

Clearing up common misconceptions

It’s easy to oversimplify the story. Here’s how popular explanations stack up against the record.

• “It’s only because of samurai swords.” Tradition mattered, but railways and law were the decisive modern factors.
• “Britain told Japan to drive on the left.” British engineering influenced rail practice; Japan chose to align roads for consistency.
• “They switched after WWII.” Japan already drove on the left; postwar laws maintained it, with Okinawa’s 1978 switch as the notable exception.

In short, custom set the stage, technology and policy sealed the deal, and subsequent practice has made left-hand traffic the efficient choice.

Summary

Japan’s left-hand driving stems from Edo-period left-side travel customs, was entrenched by British-influenced railways from 1872, and became law in the early 20th century. The standard was upheld nationwide after WWII and extended to Okinawa with the “730” changeover in 1978. Today, alignment across rail, roads, and vehicle design keeps left-hand traffic the logical and enduring norm.

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.

Why do Japanese walk on left?

As samurai typically wore their swords on their left hip (as they were mostly right-handed), walking on the left side of the road reduced the risk of scabbards clashing—an accidental bump that could be taken as a provocation.

Why does America drive on the right?

America drives on the right due to historical factors, particularly the widespread use of large, four-horse Conestoga wagons in early America, which required drivers to sit on the left to manage the team with their right hand and observe oncoming traffic. This practice, combined with safety considerations like carrying weapons and the later adoption of legislation like New York’s 1804 law establishing right-hand travel, solidified the right-hand rule for public highways. The mass production of cars with left-hand steering wheels further cemented this standard.
 
Early American Influence

• The Conestoga Wagon: The large size of these freight wagons often meant the driver rode the rear-left horse to control the team and a whip, keeping their right arm free. This positioned the driver on the left, making it easier to pass oncoming traffic on their right. 
• Safety: Early American settlers also favored right-hand travel for safety reasons, as it allowed them to better defend themselves with a weapon carried in their left arm or hand against potential threats from oncoming strangers. 

Legislative and Technical Factors

• State-Level Legislation: Opens in new tabAs right-hand driving became a common practice, states began to codify it into law. Pennsylvania passed the first right-hand rule for its turnpike in 1792, followed by New York in 1804, which extended the rule to all public highways. 
• Automobile Design: Opens in new tabThe advent of the automobile, with the introduction of a steering wheel in 1898, further solidified the right-hand driving rule. Henry Ford’s Model T, with its left-sided steering wheel, was naturally suited for right-hand driving, making it easier for drivers to see oncoming traffic and pass them safely. 

The Standardized Result 

• By the late 1800s and early 1900s, the widespread use of Conestoga wagons and later, automobiles with left-hand steering, had established right-hand driving as the universal norm throughout the United States.

Why does England drive on the left?

England drives on the left due to its origins as a country where most people were right-handed, favoring a “keep left” tradition to keep their dominant sword hand free to defend against oncoming threats. This practice, already a common custom by the 18th century, was cemented into law with the 1773 General Highways Act to manage growing horse traffic congestion, making left-hand driving mandatory and a precedent for the automobile age. 
Historical Roots

• Medieval Tradition: The tradition likely started in the Middle Ages when most people were right-handed. Travelers on horseback would keep to the left, allowing their right hand, which held their sword, to be free to defend themselves against potential attackers. 
• Roman Influence: Some theories suggest the practice could even date back to Roman times, as chariot riders may have followed a similar left-hand rule. 

Practical Application and Legalization

• Horse-Drawn Carriages: Opens in new tabWhen horse-drawn wagons became more common in the 18th century, the practice of driving on the left became more formalized. 
• Congestion and Safety: Opens in new tabThe 1773 General Highways Act in Britain established the requirement to drive on the left to prevent collisions on increasingly congested roads, particularly in areas like London. 

Legacy and the Spread of the Practice

• Established Convention: By the time automobiles became widespread, left-hand driving was a long-standing and entrenched convention in Britain, making it a natural choice for the new vehicles. 
• British Empire: The practice spread throughout the British Empire, which is why many countries that were once part of the British Empire, such as India, New Zealand, and Australia, continue to drive on the left today.