Originally Posted by
bocastephen
To the OP: where are you planning on renting the car in Japan (and drive it), and have you driven right-sided before?
It's actually fairly easy to pick up. The very first time I rented there, which was the first time I drove right-sided, was in the Mt Fuji lakes region where traffic was fairly easy going, roads were simple and I had the balance of the day to get used to it. Of course later that night after missing the train back, we drove to Tokyo and I had a crash course driving around Tokyo and fumbling for toll coins (make sure you get an ETC card with your car), then driving back to another suburban location to drop the car.
After that interesting experience, I've driven comfortable in Osaka, Nara and Kyoto, and compared to Florida, it's a much more pleasant driving experience all around - but I still wipe my windows when flipping the turn signal, or signal when I need to wipe my windows.
I'm actually fairly used to driving RHD by now - I've been in and out of Japan for many years now, but I realised the other day that I was planning on renting in Hokkaido and that even though it's been a decade I've been coming and going and renting, I've never actually reviewed the insurance part. I used to decline it, then someone scared me into paying it, then I just got it into my head that I'm okay and started declining it again... and just a few days it occurred to me that you know, maybe I should figure it out once and for all.
My crash course in learning RHD was driving a midsize car through the streets of Takatsuki and Kobe, which, while quite different, have a bunch of REALLY narrow streets where you have no idea how a human can pass - much less a two-way traffic with buses. So after a series of consecutive heart attacks, I decided if other people manage it, then so will I - somehow - and I've soldiered on.
The wiper thing still confuses me. What makes it worse is that it's entirely arbitrary. Japanese cars will have it fully mirrored. LHD cars (imported ones) are obviously "normal". But then you have the lazy Germans, who just move the steering column to the other side and don't flip the stalks. So all of a sudden your wiper is on the right and flasher on the left ... but you're sitting on the right of the car. Hilarity ensues.