JAPAN IN
ONE MINUTE 
~Tokyo is left, Osaka is right?~
Let me tell you something! I did the right thing today.
I stood on the left side of the escalator. That’s correct in Japan, right?
Well,,, yes and no. It actually depends on which part of Japan you’re in.
Wait, what? Even escalator rules change depending on the region?
Look at this photo. It’s an escalator in Osaka.
Do you see anything interesting?
Wait a second. They’re all standing on the right side of the escalator!
I guess they know less about Japanese culture than I do!
In Tokyo and the Kanto region,
people usually stand on the left side and leave the right side open for people in a hurry as I explained.
Okay, good. That’s what I did. So far so good.
But if you go to Osaka or anywhere in the Kansai region, it’s the opposite.
People stand on the right side and leave the left side open.
If I stood on the left in Osaka, would I look completely out of place?
Pretty much.
But to make things even more confusing, train companies actually don’t want people to walk on escalators at all.
Oh yeah, I think I’ve seen those signs before. But it looks like everyone’s doing it.
Yes, but it’s not recommended.
You’ll often see signs near the escalators that say, “Please stand side by side and do not walk.”
And yet, everyone keeps walking.
So if you’re not sure what to do, just follow what the people around you are doing.
Makes sense. I’ll go with the flow.
Or just take the stairs. It’s better for my health anyway!
Summary
Escalator etiquette in Japan varies by region:
In Tokyo, people stand on the left.
In Osaka, they stand on the right.
*From a safety perspective, walking on escalators is not recommended.
