Driving on Japan’s expressways can be challenging at times. There is speeding. There is frequent undertaking. Many drivers appear to believe the fast lane is a perfectly acceptable place to live permanently. And tailgating is apparently a favourite pastime. I experienced the consequences of that last year, when the driver behind me failed to stop in backed-up traffic and crashed into my then three-week-old car. Two months of chiropractic treatment and three months of negotiat

Cyclists, chaos, and cultural contrasts on Japanese roads The other day I had dinner with a Swiss friend, who was visiting Japan for the very first time. We settled down for a pre-dinner drink, and he started telling me about his day in Akihabara, Tokyo’s buzzing shopping hub packed with electronics stores, and a magnet for overseas visitors. The place is like Disneyland for tech geeks - you can find anything from a simple camera to a robot that will do your laundry, and ma

More chaos, courtesy, and contradictions behind the wheel In my previous post I recounted my experience with a 'part-time one-way street' and the traffic offence I inadvertently committed, as I hadn't even been aware of the sign indicating that I was driving down a street with certain restrictions. But truth be told: Even if I had actually noticed the sign, chances are that I would probably still not have understood it anyway... The thing is that Japanese authorities are mast

A Swiss driver confronts Japan’s roads, rules, and surprises First of all, here is a bit of trivia: There are 64 countries in the world where cars drive on the left - including Japan. What the countries basically have in common is that they all have a colonial past with the British Empire. So when was Japan colonised by the Brits, you ask? Well, it wasn't! So how come then that people in Japan drive on the left? There are two common theories: The first goes that at the time o