This actually happened to a friend of mine.
A born-and-raised Tokyoite, he was on a business trip to Osaka.
At the station, he stepped onto an escalator and stood on the left side—leaving the right side open, just like he always did.
Then, a middle-aged man behind him said:
“Hey, kid. You can’t stand there.”
What just happened?
Believe it or not, in Japan, which side you stand on when riding an escalator depends on where you are.
It’s one of those oddly specific rules that somehow runs deep.
In this article, we’ll dig into the big “why” behind it—
and close with a perspective of our own, straight from Not All Sushi!
1. The Puzzle Begins
In Japan, there’s an unspoken rule about where to stand on an escalator.
And oddly enough, that rule changes depending on where you are.
In Tokyo, people stand on the left.
In Osaka, they stand on the right.
This is the generally accepted practice.
My friend, unaware of this local custom, stood on the left side in Osaka—
and was promptly told:
“You freelancing this escalator or what?”
The logic behind leaving one side open—for people in a hurry—is something many countries can relate to.
But in Japan, this practice is followed with particular consistency.
If you and a friend stand side by side, blocking both sides,
you may face harsh consequences—Japanese style.
Cold stares.
Maybe a quiet word from someone behind you.
Of course, simply saying “it depends on the region” isn’t always helpful in practice.
So here’s a rough guide:
Right-side standing (Osaka style):
Kansai region (Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hyogo, Shiga, Wakayama), and parts of Shikoku (Tokushima, Kochi)
Left-side standing (Tokyo style):
Everywhere else
(Note: Some areas show no clear consensus.)
So—
Why do the rules differ at all—left here, right there—within the same country?
In the next section, we’ll look at the most widely accepted theories,
including one of our own from Not All Sushi,
and examine how each of them holds up.
2. Some Widely Held Theories—And How They Hold Up
Several explanations have been proposed to account for why people in Tokyo and Osaka stand on opposite sides of the escalator.
In this section, we’ll introduce the most commonly cited ones—
and offer a Not All Sushi! perspective on each, under the label “NAS’s Eye.”
2-1. The Expo Theory
In 1970, Osaka hosted Expo ’70—the first world’s fair held in Japan.
To help manage the large crowds moving through the venue, organizers reportedly implemented a rule:
Stand on the right, walk on the left.
Since the event welcomed visitors from around the world, signage and traffic flow were designed with international standards in mind.
Some claim the “right-stand, left-walk” rule was modeled on the system used in places like London at the time.
And from there, the custom took root in the Kansai region—or so the theory goes.
NAS’s Eye
At first glance, it sounds plausible.
Escalators began appearing more widely in Japan’s major cities in the mid-20th century.
In fact, Tokyo may have adopted the “left-stand” habit even before the Expo.
(One source notes that a sign in the Toei Subway system, opened in 1967, already instructed riders to stand on the left.)
So it’s entirely possible that the two cities developed their own practices early on, leading to the split.
But here’s the problem.
After 1970, escalators became more common nationwide.
If Expo ’70 truly sparked the “right-stand” custom, why did it take hold only in the Kansai area—and in a few parts of Shikoku?
Why didn’t it spread outward from Osaka like a ripple?
Why did the Tokyo-style rule become dominant even in regions far from the capital, like Kyushu?
In short:
The Expo might have been a trigger, but it doesn’t explain the whole picture.
2-2. The Traffic Law Theory
In Japan, traffic regulations advise pedestrians to walk on the right side of the road.
This rule was designed with safety in mind: since vehicles drive on the left, having pedestrians walk against traffic flow—face to face—allows both parties to see each other and avoid accidents.
If we were to translate this principle to escalators, it would mean standing on the right.
However, in places like train stations and commercial buildings—areas with no cars—pedestrian flow is often treated as traffic in its own right, and these spaces are designed to support left-side walking.
In Tokyo, where such infrastructure is especially advanced, some believe this design logic naturally extended to escalator etiquette:
stand on the left became the norm.
NAS’s Eye
This theory is interesting in that it tries to explain escalator behavior in terms of architectural traffic design.
Its systematic approach feels refreshingly rational.
However, the theory suffers from a serious flaw:
Osaka, too, is a city dense with commercial infrastructure.
And even more decisively, it overlooks a simple fact—
No one has ever been hit by oncoming traffic while riding an escalator.
2-3. The Speed Stereotype
This one’s almost a joke—but still worth mentioning.
It goes like this:
People in Kansai are in a rush. They want to walk fast.
So they needed the left side clear.
That’s why everyone started standing on the right—and over time, the habit stuck.
If you’ve ever watched a morning crowd in Osaka,
with businesspeople moving at high speed,
you might find yourself thinking—
maybe it’s not entirely made up.
NAS’s Eye
Credit where it’s due:
this theory is unique in tracing the difference back to regional temperament.
It’s a human-centered explanation, and that makes it appealing.
But ultimately, it doesn’t hold up.
Yes, Kansai locals are often described as fast-moving and energetic.
But Tokyo has its own reputation—Edokko (old-school Tokyoites) are famously impatient, too.
And really, isn’t that true of most big cities?
More importantly:
Since when does being in a hurry mean you prefer the left?
We’ve never heard of that.
2-4. The NAS Original Theory: Swords and Wallets
This final theory comes from Not All Sushi! itself.
It is a bold new hypothesis drawn from history, habit, and how the human body is carried.
Edo (the Tokyo region) — The Land of the Samurai
It’s well known that Edo was once home to a large population of samurai.
Samurai carried their swords on the left side of the waist,
and it’s possible they came to see that side as their “safe zone.”
From this, the custom of standing on the left and leaving the right open may have emerged—
a legacy of sword etiquette passed down into modern escalator behavior.
Osaka (the Kansai region) — The Merchant’s City
Meanwhile, Osaka has long been known as a center of commerce.
Merchants were said to keep their wallets tucked inside their kimono.
And as is traditional, men’s kimono fold with the right side tucked under the left.
That means the inner layer opens more easily from the right—
making it easier for a pickpocket to reach in from that side.
So perhaps merchants preferred to keep their right side protected—by standing on the right, with people passing on their left.
That way, the more vulnerable side would be turned away from strangers.
And so, from swords and wallets,
Tokyo came to stand on the left,
and Osaka on the right.
NAS’s Eye
We believe we’ve arrived at a theory that is not only unique,
but also rich in cultural insight—if we may say so ourselves.
That said, history teaches us a painful truth:
even Copernicus wasn’t believed overnight.
And let’s be fair—this theory does come with certain terms and conditions:
- You must fully accept the idea that assassins and pickpockets routinely hide on escalators.
- You must never mention that, as noted in 2-1, the geographic distribution of escalator customs doesn’t align with this theory either.
- And you must kindly overlook the fact that nearly a century passed between the age of sword-carrying samurai and kimono-clad merchants—and the rise of the modern escalator.
3. Final Thoughts: So What’s the Truth?
We’ve explored several popular theories about why people stand on opposite sides of escalators in Tokyo and Osaka.
But in the end—none of them quite hits the mark.
The truth may be lost to history, known only to the gods by now.
There’s only one thing we can say for sure:
Escalators are so convenient, you almost stop caring about where the rule came from.
…What’s that? That kind of attitude isn’t fair?
Well then, let’s wrap up with a handy little phrase—perfect for trivia night or impressing your friends with questionable facts:
“There are theories.”
