Yes, that was common occurrences when I started to drive in Japan for the first time. As mentioned on a previous post, I felt more comfortable driving out in country side of Japan when I first started to drive in Japan. However, when there were no incoming traffic to remind me and especially when I was making a turn at an intersection I often made a turn into right side of the road rather than left side of the road.

It was true in my case that actually having incoming traffic on a road kept reminding me of which side of the road I should be driving.

Another thing, in the U.S. it is common to park a car with front of the car in at a parking space. In Japan it is common to park a car with front of the car facing out at a parking space, backing into parking space in reverse. I was told that there is no traffic rule regarding position of the car at a parking space but all driving schools in Japan teach to park a car that way. It is common to pay and attend a driving school before attempt to get a driver’s license in Japan, I was told that driving test in Japan (both written and driving) is very difficult compare with driving test in the U.S. I was told it is very difficult to pass driving test in Japan by self study, almost has to go to a driving school. But I do not know since I never had to go through that to get a driver's license in Japan.