Why do they stand on escalator on left side in Osaka vs right side in Tokyo?

While in the late 1980s, people in Tokyo started to stand on the left side only. It seems there was no instruction on how to take an escalator such as an announcement like there was in Osaka. People naturally decided to stand on the left side when taking an escalator.

Which side of the escalator do you stand on Japan?

left
It is a customary to leave one side of the escalator open so that those in a hurry can pass. In Tokyo, people stand on the left side, and leave the right side open, whereas in the Kansai region, people stand on the right side, and leave the left side open.

Do people in Japan walk on the left?

, 40 years living in Japan. Fluent Japanese reading, writing and speaking ability. Walk on the left unless you are riding (standing still on) an escalator in Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe) or you are walking down the aisle of a train or other corridor that has hand-grips or railings on both sides.

Why is Osaka escalator on the right?

In order to avoid accidentally hitting each other with the sword sheaths, they were walking on the left side of the road. Osaka however, was a city of merchants, and many people were walking while carrying baggage in their right hand, so they were walking on the right side of the road.

When were escalators introduced in Japan?

In the year 1967, people created escalators as a connection from the 1st floor to the 3rd floor at Umeda Station in Osaka. Station yard broadcasting announced to the people who were taking escalators that they need to stand on the right side and should keep space on the left side for those who need to walk.

Why do we stand on the right on escalators?

The side chosen for disembarkation was the left hand side and this is the origin of their convention that riders should stand on the right, so that the walking riders would not have to cut into a standing line of people to exit.

How do Japanese walk?

Even today, the scholars argue, a bit of the namba has survived in the way the Japanese walk: they say that many Japanese bend their knees slightly and swing their arms less when walking than Westerners do, and that the Japanese are more likely to step flatly or forward on their toes, while Americans and Europeans step …

What side of the road does Japan walk on?

right side
Pedestrians should walk on the right side of the road, while automobiles and bicycles should travel on the left side. Between automobiles and pedestrians, pedestrians get right-of-way. You should obey all traffic signals and road signs.