Job Discussion Forums

nonsmoker · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:18 pm Post subject: Driving in Japan

Does anybody know the position of the clutch pedal in manual transmission cars in Japan? Is it to the left of the brake pedal like it is in left-side-driver cars or is it to the right of the brake pedal?

Are in-car cigarette lighters the same as those in the States (So I can plug in my iPod FM transmitter)?

Also, can you take a left on a red light in Japan like you can take a right on a red light in the USA?

Are Japanese roadsigns confusing (do they have English subs)? Are there any particularly unique signs that I should be aware of?

What's the speed limit - street and freeway?

How do Police officers deal with speeding, parking violations etc. Are they uber-enforcers or can they be more lenient? Are cars often towed for parking where they shouldn't? How hefty are the fines?

How brutal is the rush-hour traffic and at what times?

Any other J-driving related information would be much appreciated.

Your faithful comrade,
NSMKR
Cheers.

Henry_Cowell · Joined: 27 May 2005 Posts: 3352 Location: Berkeley

Among those extremely urgent questions, you forgot the most critical:

Do Japanese automobile seatbelts have straps that cover the mouths of annoying passengers who jabber, pester, and otherwise chatter too much? I hope the answer is "Yes".

nonsmoker · Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2007 7:59 pm Post subject:

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

ironopolis · Joined: 01 Apr 2004 Posts: 379

You'll most likely find there ain't no clutch pedal at all - the vast majority of cars here are auto transmission. I much prefer manual but ended up going for auto when I bought a new car because all the advice I got was that re-sale values for a manual would be significantly lower as hardly anyone wants them.

You can't turn left on a red in Japan, unless there's a separate green filter arrow for left, which doesn't happen much.

I've never driven in the US but I understand that traffic light rules in Korea, where I have driven a lot, are similar to the US. If that's true there's one other thing you'll find different at traffic lights - in Korea, if there's a plain green light and a left pointing green arrow, they usually will not be showing simultaneously and left-turners MUST wait until plain green changes to green left arrow before they can proceed. (Same in the US? - if not, apologies and skip this paragraph). In Japan, this is different - as well as the left/right direction being reversed obviously, here if you're a right-turner at lights you CAN turn right on the plain green light; even if there's a right filter green arrow later, you don't have to wait for it.

On the subject of traffic lights, I've never seen a red light violation camera in Japan and it's very common practice for drivers to race through just after it turns red - kinda understandable given the ridiculous amount of totally unnecessary traffic lights they have here.

Probably the biggest driving cultural shock you'll have is parking. By law, you must have a parking space and documentary proof thereof before you can even get a car. Sometimes your parking space will be measured to check it's sufficient for the car you're getting. If you're getting a car with the job, this would probably already have been arranged, however.

nonsmoker · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Driving in Japan

G Cthulhu · Posted: Sat Jun 02, 2007 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Driving in Japan

Yawarakaijin · Joined: 20 Jan 2006 Posts: 504 Location: Middle of Nagano

Quote:

By the way: I am an excellent driver.

This is from the guy who hopes to find enlightenment and teach the way of Tao to all us lesser beings. My friend, statements like this just show everyone on this board.......ahhh forget it, not worth my time.

Quibby84 · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 643 Location: Japan

Driving in Japan sucks and even though we have access to a car on weekends we use the public transportation because it is the smartest choice. The roads are very small and always crowded....it really is bad..you will want to use the trains and buses...

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Spend 1000 yen and buy a set of Rules of the Road from the Japan Automobile Federation. Postage is extra.

Be aware of the greater number of international symbol signs here than in the USA. Or at least on their dependence on such.

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

nawlinsgurl · Posted: Tue Jun 05, 2007 2:01 pm Post subject:

Just paid 15,000 yen for my first parking violation. It hurt really really bad to fork that over to the police. And before I "could" pay it, he gave me a 30 min. speech, in Japanese, about how I wasn't allowed to park in no-parking zones. To which I nodded and pretended to understand. What I DID understand was that fine, and I will never park in a No-Parking zone again!

Also don't talk on your cell phone w/o a headset- you will get a ticket.

And seriously don't speed--the police hide in unmarked cars just like the States! Crying or Very sad