Driving in Japan is much more of a social experience than other countries (with the possible exception of Singapore). When you drive in Canada it can literally be hours before you encounter another car; in Sweden driving an hour to go to the store is normal, and you might be alone on the road for much of the distance.
But in Japan, you have to share the narrow roads with other cars. And pedestrians. And bicycles. And trucks stopping at the side of the road to make deliveries. And did I mention the pedestrians?
That there is so much traffic, and that you all have to share the road, means you need to behave completely differently than in traffic environments where you are basically alone on the road. So here are ten things to avoid when driving in Japan.
1. Force Your Way
When traffic is so compact as it is in Japan, everyone has to cooperate for things to go as smoothly as possible. To let others in, wait your turn, and make sure other drivers understand your intentions is the basis for the Japanese traffic flow.
When someone breaks the rules, it will mean an angry bleep from the horn of those who feel they have been wronged, or that you put them in a dangerous situation (which may actually be the same thing).
To keep things smooth, do not force your way in traffic. Wait for your turn.
2. Not letting motorcycles and scooters pass to the left
In Japan, it is perfectly legal for a motorcycle, scooter, or moped to pass you on the inside. You have to make space for anyone trying to pass on the left, and make sure not to squeeze them when you turn.
Look in the left-side rear-view mirror to see what is going on at the inside as well as the outside of the car. And take scooters into account.
3. Not Letting Other Cars In When Waiting For A Red Light
When you hit a red light and get stuck in a line behind other cars, look not only at the cars in front, but cars coming from the side.
On Japanese roads, there are often side roads or lanes where cars may be coming. As traffic is flowing you only need to watch out that they do not turn into the road just when you are coming; but when the traffic us lining up in front of a red light, or the traffic starts moving again as the light turns green, it is considered very nice to let the waiting cars into the line.
4. Not Watching Out For Pedestrians In Intersections
It may even lead to accidents if you drop your attention even for a minute, but pedestrians in Japanese traffic can appear from everywhere. And they have the right of way.
Be especially careful when you are the first to turn (right or left). If the pedestrian light is about to turn red, there may be people rushing into the crosswalk. Or even worse, cycling across at breakneck speeds. Keep an eye on the pavement edges.
5. Not Using The Turn Signals
In the congested Japanese cities, it is imperative to make sure other cars know what you intend to do. Otherwise they may think you want to do something else, misinterpret your actions, and there will be an accident.
That is in particular true when you are turning, whether right or left. If you turn without signaling, even if it is safe, you risk the oncoming cars or cross-turning cars not realizing what you are doing, and you will have an accident.
6. Not Flashing The Lights When Someone Is Kind To You
When you let someone into the line in front of the red light, they will usually flash the hazard lights at you (the turn signals on both sides).
That does not mean they are stopping, it means they thank you. Often, when it would not disturb others, they will give a very short honk of the horn instead.
If you do the same, people will appreciate you; it will help make things smoother in the Japanese traffic.
7. Not Using Your Brake Lights To Warn Others
In Japan, the brake lights are not just an indicator showing that you are reducing speed; they are also an indicator to cars behind you that something is going on.
Quickly braking to flash the brake lights when you spot something dangerous at the side of the road is a way to make traffic safer for everyone.
8. The Ibaraki Maneuver
The Ibaraki prefecture north of Tokyo is largely rural, and has a reputation for boorishness. Perhaps that is why the name “ibaraki maneuver” has been given to when the car first in line makes a right turn before the oncoming cars on the other side of the road have had a chance to start.
One word: Don’t. It is easy to misjudge and if there are people crossing on the road you turn into you will get stuck and block other traffic.
9. Driving Too Slowly
You may want to see where you are going, but driving slowly down the street to make sure you take the right turn among the many identical lanes is not only unappreciated – it is actually prohibited.
Driving too slowly, holding up other traffic and blocking other drivers, will cause problems in the congested Japanese traffic, where everyone trusts each other to make sure traffic flows smoothly. So don’t.
10. Not Taking Your Turn
The Japanese city traffic is a jigsaw puzzle with moving pieces, and like a zipper, every piece has to take its turn in moving. Especially in intersections with cars going in different directions it can be hard to decide whether you should go first or not.
The rule is that the cars who would drive straight should go first, and have priority in turning. But when there are multiple cars turning across each other, you take turns. Make sure to take yours.
Did you find this useful? Then chances are that you will find my book “Driving In Japan” even more useful. You can read the table of contents here, and get the book right away here.
Japan Top 10 