Japan is known for its education, respect, and honesty. Things are no different in traffic; the Japanese drive while preserving human life, without haste, and respecting all traffic laws. In this article, we will see some curiosities about the streets and traffic in Japan, which serves as a great example to be followed.
If you still don’t know how traffic works in Japan, let’s give a brief summary. In Japan, cars drive on the left with the steering wheel on the right side of the vehicle. There are expressways, toll roads, and express lanes. Traffic in Japan is slow due to the number of traffic lights, few roads suitable for overtaking, and the number of vehicles.
The speed limits on expressways are usually 80-110, 50-60 on city roads, and 30-40 in urban areas. Toll booths are always located at the entrance of a Japanese expressway. There are times when it is cheaper to go by train; a trip from Tokyo to Kyoto can cost up to 9,000 in tolls. To understand more about traffic in Japan, see:
Traffic in Japan – An example to be followed
It is part of Japanese culture to follow traffic laws, which makes driving in Japan much more pleasant and safe. Another thing that helps traffic to function perfectly is the high value of traffic fines. The amounts easily exceed 1,000 dollars, which makes people think twice before committing infractions.
The Japanese even tend to thank in traffic for simple behaviors that are the obligation of any driver. To understand more about behavior in Japan’s traffic and the examples we should follow, watch our friend’s video below:
Driving in Japan does not require haste, but a lot of attention. Since the streets tend to be narrow and have many strange intersections, you must pay close attention. You will find signs saying 止まれ (Tomare – Stop!) and 徐行 (jokou – slow), and sometimes you will come across dashed white lines indicating the possibility of overtaking, solid lines indicating that passing is allowed but must be done with great caution, and yellow lines that should never be crossed.
It doesn’t matter if you are in the middle of an intersection, at a traffic light, on a busy street; sometimes it will always be necessary to stop to allow pedestrians or another car to pass, this is extremely common and no one behind you will get angry.
The streets of Japan
We don’t need to say that the streets of Japan are super clean, well-signposted, and in great condition for pedestrians and drivers. But there are some details that can sometimes go unnoticed; some streets in Japan are extremely narrow and still tend to be two-way.
In some cities at night, these streets have no lighting, becoming completely dark. Many of the streets in Japan have no names; maps usually show block and lot numbers, but not street names. In my opinion, this is more practical for finding addresses.
Walking through the streets of Japan is a unique experience; it all depends on the city and location you are in. You can find everything from busy streets full of people to super deserted streets with many alleys and houses. Still, it is easy to find stores and vending machines.
I hope that traffic in Japan serves as an example for the reckless drivers who roam our streets causing more than 50,000 traffic accident deaths in our country. There is even a saying that goes: It is easier to die taking a bath in a bathtub in Japan than in a car accident.
And don’t even think about driving drunk because that results in a 20,000 reais fine.
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