Pros & Cons to Living in Japan 🇯🇵

Ever wondered what the positive & negatives are to living in Japan? Let us share our experiences with you!
Follow us on social media!
Emma: ‪@TokidokiTraveller‬
Sarah: ‪@seerasan‬
Shah: bit.ly/Ano-Cam
Video edited by Daniel
☆JOIN OUR NEW SURVEY COMMUNITY!☆ bit.ly/2Aeu1bb
☆Pocket WiFi & SIM Card Rental Japan - Sakura Mobile☆ bit.ly/sakuramo...
------------
Follow our social media channels for live updates and behind the scenes:
INSTAGRAM: / tokyocreative.jp
TWITTER: / tokyocreatives
WEBSITE: tokyocreative.com/ (for business enquiries)
SHOP: store.tokyocre...

[@TokyoCreativePlay]

Would you guys have any pros or cons to add? Let us know!

[@jc3drums916]

For me, the big negative is the work culture. Related to work culture, for someone who would rather not give or receive gifts, the gift-giving culture is annoying. I also can't stand the summer heat/humidity. Finally, for someone who enjoys cooking, the tiny kitchens and lack of ovens in most apartments are difficult to accept.

[@gallopera]

emma/sarah comedic chemistry on point as always

[@NintendoSushi]

Oh god, Emma, that tiny apartment tour was 8 years ago?… I feel OLD, that literally sent me into a mild identity crisis

[@ClaymorePT]

That's nothing. Just wait until you reach 40.

[@intellectual-bastard]

I liked those videos more 😅

[@debidousagi]

Walking, biking, and transit absolutely blew my mind as an American visiting Japan for study abroad... honestly it's been over 15 years since then and I still can't look at US cities the same. Japan does it so well and the US does it so so SOOOO badly! Golly I miss Japan! Great Video Sarah and Emma!

[@jlee1522]

I swear, they've done this video like 25 times. But I guess it always gets the views/clicks/comments. Emma and Sarah are just that good and cool

[@Brainspoil]

As time goes by things change, perspectives change. So an update now and then isn't a bad idea. Specially now with the Yen being low.

[@camf1991]

it's new to me

[@NoctLightCloud]

​@@Brainspoilagree. and with new tech coming up and new job opportunities in the pipeline

[@pjosxyz]

so what? you go make a video

[@jmessick8163]

I like that Japan has kept so much of their heritage. I wish the rest of the word wasn’t so westernized. I want to be able to submerge into the cultures of different countries. Understanding our differences so we can learn from one another is important and makes us individually better people. We have lost so many wonderful differences by trying to be as one culture.

[@Chuck8541]

I travel the world almost indefinitely, and elements that make Japanese culture amazing, is pretty rare. There's few other places with rich traditions that are similar - Tibet being one of them - but there aren't many. Personally, my theory is that Japan is unique because it was sealed off from the world for over 200 years. That gave time for its culture to mature - until some a-holes came along, and forced it to open its borders for trade. lol But that isolated 200 years was a boon for their culture and traditions. While 'westernized' is the common term, I think a more appropriate term would be modernized? Maybe...I dunno. Because there's lots of countries east AND west, that are very similar. Not that Japan isn't modern, but their culture and traditions, I believe were born from their uniquely isolated history. I think the more 'modernized' a country gets, the more homogenous is becomes with the rest of the world.

[@KolendoTV]

The rest of the world didn't exactly have a choice in the matter, given that most of the world was colonized by Europeans.

[@itsRebeccaRayne]

Last year i finally came to tokyo after wanting to my entire life. I’m 34 and came on a student visa. It really sucks I can’t use the working holiday system but I’ll try to swap to a working visa next year because I love it here so much!!! It’s not impossible when you’re older, just a lot more hoops to jump through

[@Chuck8541]

I was in a similar boat. But I just decided to travel more. Sometimes I want to do the long term student visa thing (to even study Japanese perhaps), but it seems silly to spend thousands of dollars just to stay in Japan longer. That would only last as long as the course of study. I already work online, but when I considered getting a job in Japan, or worse - doing the obligatory English teacher thing - it just doesn't seem worth it just to be in Japan a few more months a year. As an American, I get 90 days max per trip, and 180 days max per year. So, since I like travelling, I just go in and out of Japan every 3 months. It's a nice balance, and I still get to travel the world, and have my freedom to come and go. Other countries get up to 120 or 180 days per trip! (don't quote me, but I'm pretty sure other countries had longer visa-free stays) Whatever you decide, I hope it works out, and you get to enjoy Japan again soon! :)

[@joshuamoore8560]

"The Laughing Devil (Emma.)" I REALLY hope that becomes more of a thing in Tokyo Creative/Tokidoki lore.

[@Brainspoil]

Having a friend named Emma made me screenshot that instantly and send to her. I refrained from writing "This explains a lot", cause you don't really wanna mess with a laughing devil.

[@hayleae.450]

As someone that sees moving to Japan as a possibility in the future, I love watching videos like these. Amazing list of pros and cons. A great follow up video to this would be your experiences about some of the more “paper work” side of things. What were those things you had to find out on your own? What do some of those processes look like? What are some of the resources you have used as an ex pat in Japan?

[@JustJakeTravel]

I've been to Japan 5 times and this video makes me wanna go back again😂

[@tanjalaudien8858]

I am at an age at which you start going to more funerals than weddings. Not beeing able to spent time with my family is my biggest con against moving to Japan. When they are gone I will think of moving to Japan again as I lived there in 2006/07 and really enjoyed it (except during summer).

[@rliveaction]

Very important pros & cons!! Economy has its high and lows so I really hope Japan gets better for its citizens cause I still want to live there

[@andrewwylie8968]

Aloha from Maui 🌈 I'm enjoying the last 10 days of my month in Fukuoka. I am looking forward to calling Japan home when I finish at UH Manoa in about 2 years. You both are great and I am always looking forward to your videos. Thanks for all the laughs, good information, and inspiration. 　行ってきます　🙂

[@Enoxix.]

Both your faces when you mentioned BJ 😂!

[@downundervlogs]

i just had 2 amazing weeks in Japan and loved every single thing about it. You're right the Yen to AUD was super amazing and everything was super cheap compared to here in Australia. Go now if you're planning on going.

[@DHJakon]

You had me at “Goodbye PR.” Anyway, the convenience factor at the metro cities is huge. Folks don’t put a dollar value on that until they go to a place where they have to own a vehicle to do anything.

[@enjoystraveling]

Yes, living in a place where you have to use on a car you have to pay car payments. Unless you buy used car have enough cash, you have to pay car insurance, fuel, oil, repair, and more.

[@dbl0fluff]

Trying to get to Japan next year. Took forever to get my passport. You two make coming to Japan, let alone living in Japan, the adventure of a lifetime.

[@peterzheng1068]

I definitely relate to the points about walkability + cyclability of tokyo vs sydney haha. In sydney all the cycling rules and conditions held me back from getting a bike, but now living in tokyo it's so easy and convenient to casually ride anywhere using bike share (sydney tried to implement those but kept failing).

[@Don_Giovanni]

Oh, wow. I wasn't aware at all. I though America and Canada were the only car-centred countries.

[@wasabigirl2004]

I am more concerned about the poor attitude of drivers towards bike riders in Sydney. 😱

[@derekskelton4187]

@@Don_Giovanni It certainty depends on where you live

[@davidjohnston1374]

The reasons that the hire bicycle system often fails in Sydney is because of the stupid Mandatory helmet rules, who wants to put a helmet on that someone else's sweaty head has been in, yes Drivers have very poor attitudes and whilst Sydney's cycle lanes are getting better, they are often broken and leads you straight onto another road or some clown has parked his vehicle on it. On saying this, I've ridden my bicycle in the Sydney CBD a number of times and it's a lot safer than riding in the Suburbs as there's a blanket 40kph speed limit with speed cameras about. I haven't ridden a bike in Japan yet, but as I'm married to a Japanese National, we are considering a move over there to live, i'll take my bikes over there with me. I'm retired so I don't need to work. To anyone thinking about moving to Japan for retirement, you can get your Australian Pension paid to you....which I believe could be more than the Monthly pay in Japan for an average job.

[@Saluno375]

I feel like we have a reached an era of Emma being more comfortable with themselves and I love that

[@warrenj3204]

“Emma being more comfortable with themselves”? You’re mixing a singular “Emma” with a plural “themselves”. Try again.

[@Pepperoni]

Emma’s pronouns are literally in her bio you muppet. The irony of misgendering her…

[@mrhogan2612]

Just turned 39 and thought about the whole trying out Japan thing for a few years. Think I'm getting tot he point that it would be classed as too old now. Long holidays instead by the sounds of it xD . Love this though, very honest and enjoyable.

[@Mwoods2272]

I am an American living in Japan and I went back to America 5 times last year so traveling is not too bad.

[@sanpedro1337]

Your hair is looking lovely Sarah 👍

[@mica4977]

I watched a yt short talking about how certain restaurants up-charge the English menu prices when compared to the Japanese menus. Some of the commenters were saying how rude/scammy/anti tourist that was, though when placing it in the perspective of how little natives make it'd be bad if prices were increased in general for everyone. Since it may turn some everyday things into luxuries for locals. Such as how the abundance of tourists is increasing the prices of hotels due to limited availability, making it difficult for natives to travel within their own country on their salary & already very limited vacation days.

[@Chuck8541]

Yeah, since Japan is such a hot travel destination, and with locals struggling with a weak Yen, I wish Japan would just charge tourists more for everything. Like, an tourist entrance fee, or something. As well as tourism taxes at all establishments. It would cut down on the 'cheaper' tourism crowds, and the people still traveling would gladly pay the extra tourism prices. I think that's fair. It would cut down on over tourism, help out local businesses, and help the economy all at the same time. As for the rude-restaurant thing, I think I've only experienced it once, out of a total of a couple years travelling there. I went into a place for lunch, and it was totally EMPTY - aside from just one or two other people. I sat down at a table, but then someone yelled at me to sit somewhere else - at a stool at a long bench, for where people alone should dine. I was like oh ok, my bad. But it was strange as the place was EMPTY. Then, someone else came up to me saying something to the effect of, '...we don't take cards, only cash...'. By now, I just had weird anti-friendly vibes, so despite having cash on me, I just feigned that I didn't and walked out. It just didn't feel welcoming in the slightest.

[@shpeen8835]

Im a regular visitor to Japan. Love checking in with the Commonwealth expats, I can easily distinguish from tourists.

[@helvetiqa]

I'm a super persnickety detail oriented person and I actually weirdly kind of am... soothed... by all the paperwork and order that Japan has? I straight up enjoyed trying to figure out how to do our gomi correctly. I also am fully aware that I am not normal.

[@danmoran3318]

More Emma and Sarah!

[@OrsaBear]

Literally flying to japan tomorrow to live and the end was really reassuring 🥰

[@Brainspoil]

Don't forget to drop your pen, to make it really official!

[@zoulara1012]

The walkability of Japan I can't even imagine how amazing it is 🥲 been living in SoCal my whole life and needing a car for everything SUCKS

[@VanillaCoke1956]

I feel like the majority of this video was "Pros & Cons of Living in Tokyo" :P A lot of the points in this video work if you live in Tokyo or one of the other big cities, but even then, some stuff like food options or how nice things are for cyclists are thrown out the window if you go to a place like Nagoya.

[@SongWolf27]

Big con of Japan is that it's not handicapped accessible. Stairs are everywhere! Elevators are rare.

[@Chuck8541]

I disagree, they have similar accessibility laws that the US has. They even stuck a hideous elevator to the side of Osaka castle. Elevators are at most train stations, dining, and shopping establishments, as well.

[@cats_ARE_better_than_you]

six years ago the yen was 107 to the US dollar now its 161! (Borat voice) Very nice... king in the castle!

[@lordofthe6string]

My mum and my sister are very close, and stay with each other about one month a year, but from experience I know if they lived together or saw each other everyday they would fall out and it would be bad. Like being in a super hot onsen, it's nice for a while but you wouldn't want it forever.

[@mortendreier4446]

Tokyo is considered bike friendly? For a Dane (from Copenhagen) it doesn't seem particularly so with what I am used to.

[@KawaiiLisok]

I am from Sweden and lived in a Tokyo suburb for a bit. I biked everywhere in the suburbs but i wouldn't dare to bike in central Tokyo 😅💀

[@wasabigirl2004]

Try Sydney/Australia...

[@Mwoods2272]

They said compared to America and Australia.

[@gazwj]

Me doing a double take and having to rewind thinking they said: DROP YOUR PANTS! COME TO JAPAN! 🤣

[@ElGrompho666]

They tried that thing with the rentable e-scooters and e-bikes here in Germany (and probably in many other countries), too. And let me tell you, this is something that I believe only really works out in a place like Japan where people actually treat stuff that doesn't belong to them with care and respect. Here, people just left their rented e-scooters and bikes standing around everywhere when they didn't need them anymore, threw them in rivers or vandalized them in other ways. Plus, the general carelessness of people using them and the fact that German cities aren't really built for cycling led to a lot of accidents.

[@enjoystraveling]

The rentable bikes I saw in Southern Germany we have to put back into the special metal things for lack of a better word, to be able to I guess stop charging a credit card my friend rented it for me so I’m not really sure, but I saw him putting it back in a certain bracket

[@ElGrompho666]

@@enjoystraveling It might have become better in recent years, but I've moved away from the city two years ago, so I wouldn't really know. I just know that between 2018 and 2019, when those things became really big here, people treated them like trash.

[@enjoystraveling]

@@ElGrompho666 maybe it depends what city in Germany or what region or how they regulate it it as if it’s required to put the bicycle back in a metal bracket to say it’s returned on your credit card or They charge your deposit.

[@ElGrompho666]

@@enjoystraveling Possible, and it might also depend on the company or companies the city has a contract with. All I remember is that in Cologne and Bonn, where I was living back then, people just left scooters and e-bikes standing around left and right and a lot of them even had to be fished out of the Rhine.

[@williamosmith8162]

working in Japan for two and a half years, when you wake up on Saturday, you are in Japan.

[@silverian]

Laughing Devil (kanji) made me LOL 🙂Change you name before moving here 🙂 Listed cons sounded so familiar. When Tokyo Lens presented hermit who lived in the countryside school it also felt familiar, because sometimes when you live in isolated area it requires skills to live (heat oven, carry water, make food,... just thoughts countryside vs urban life.. and they both have pros and cons..)

[@camf1991]

My husband suggested moving to Japan, and man is it tempting to try and see if we can do it. Do you have any thoughts on Tokyo vs Osaka? I've heard Osaka is a bit more liberal, outgoing, and easier to live in as an ex pat

[@Japan_Changed_My_Life]

There are some small towns in the US that are classified as cities that are also very walkable and are nice places for the most part (Bordentown City, New Jersey for example). The rest of the country is horrible for getting around without a car.

[@praeothmint2273]

My favorite country to visit, by far... 😀

[@dragonofparadise]

As for the Yen I think it will get stronger in the next few years again. It has done this cycle before in the past and was due to interest rate differentials.

[@Tessuma]

The cost of living in Australia is also bad right now along with many other countries.

[@Alex-vj1tj]

All good things to know!!!

[@sarahramos2919]

“SAR”makes me laugh because those are my initials, so I sign most things that way. 😊

[@monbern]

Did you mention about Weather! Summer is very hot in Japan

[@dragonofparadise]

I live in America and trying to escape to Japan for many of the reasons listed. The housing market dumpster fire, cost of living dumpster fire, transportation dumpster fire, rampant crime dumpster fire, Healthcare dumpster fire and many more but you get the picture. Moving is a very time consuming process and takes a long time to pull off.

[@VoylinsLife]

Leaving friends wasn't difficult for me, didn't really have any xD Paperwork is often considered to be a con, but I guess the biggest con is working here. Work pressure is high and companies for teaching English are often toxic underpaying places. ^^"

[@James-mi5hi]

Very interesting. Would love to hear more points of view from people living and working in Japan outside of the content creator world

[@reichuru18]

Chicago is just as walkable as New York City. We also have Divy which is exactly like LUUP but here in Chicago.

[@cbauch]

Filling out forms. The struggle is real.

[@marialove30]

being a us citizen, i have to say, if we got out we would never look back. leaving your country isn't always a con....

[@dragonofparadise]

Amen can't wait to leave

[@user-yi2gp8wr2s]

Thank you very much for your posting! This theme is very interesting!

[@sergeykomarov2203]

Girls, I'm subscribed to both of you. I was in Japan 1 time for a short time when I was a sailor. I even managed to buy a right-hand drive car, which I had to throw out as a result. I just have a question.: are you going to continue to connect your life with Japan or are you going to return to Australia and start your life from scratch.

[@enjoystraveling]

Many of the cities were walkable in the United States before cars were invented, and they tore up some of the neighborhoods for the freeways.

[@SenpaiinJapan]

💯% agree with your points 👌😊

[@enjoystraveling]

Just subscribed to your channel thanks very much for the helpful info!!

[@TokyoCreativePlay]

Thanks for the sub!

[@cupcakelikes]

Chicago is a walkable city and public transportation is very accessible

[@neuro.weaver]

When you are not getting mugged, raped, or shot.

[@hikariyami717]

Great video! Just wondering...why don't you do videos with Chris or Sharla anymore??

[@abh4316]

Love you girls

[@loganhanssen6004]

Would my name be too long for application forms in Japan??? My real name is Harold Albert Hanssen III. What does my name look like in Japanese???

[@NamaNikuTV]

"Bill Joe... BJ!!!" - 😂

[@enjoystraveling]

Australia seems a bit similar to United States in that most parts of the United States. Unfortunately, you can’t just walk to the grocery you have to drive everywhere if you want to get just a carton of milk or something plus most cities in the United States unfortunately are too dangerous to bicycle and unlike, Japan and much of Europe !!! It’s also healthier to be able to walk many places because you don’t need to go to the gym exercise. You just receive a lot of walking in your ordinary life.

[@shpeen8835]

@ 10:35 True

[@mushkrizvi]

Omg the public transportation ….I miss it from traveling in Japan. I am living in California and man, the public transportation is actually corporate transportation. It doesn’t work over the weekend. During the weekdays, I am taking the train to LA from Orange County and it is EXTREMELY unreliable, and the only choice you are left with is sitting in traffic or gambling with corporate transportation and wondering how long the delay will be today…..😢

[@PabloMBravo]

Well I have some problems booking stuff online with 2 names and 2 surnames... But aside of fighting forms online, no problem for the rest

[@davi75668]

Should edit title to living and working in Japan

[@realoneamariyanna3282]

Y'all from BAAASTON lol I heard the accent CAAAR it's cute 🥰🥴🤣🤣

[@CA-ye6yu]

I want to move there and work in 3 years. What is your honest take on the earthquakes and tsunamis?

[@Chad_Thundernuts]

So tempted to try living in Japan for a while. I've had enough of NZ lol

[@gewglesux]

what happened to the dude with the fro?

[@enjoystraveling]

Back in the late 1990s yes I know a very long time ago was last time I was in Japan for the first time and last time since I was so busy since then, and the prices were extremely high then and since I was young, I stayed in youth hostels to make it cheaper But still had a great time Meant to go to Japan again before Covid but just as I could arrange things Covid came, but now I’m going in a few months so I hope it’s still as cheap as it is now, I sure didn’t expect it to be that cheap until I started looking at KZbin videos about a month ago But I was supposed to go anyway !! Thanks for the information and I really wish I could live there since Japan is a beautiful country, clean and mostly safe. An extremely good public transportation, I hate driving in the United States. !! not always very safe, people drive after they drank alcohol, doing drugs, etc.

[@BGwControlStop]

Actually bike parking can be a problem in tokyo if you don't know the rules, you can't just park your bike anywhere like you can in many countries

[@Victfil]

no kidding I had to write my full name four times in the same page when submitting my move out of city at the city hall. And I have 3 surnames lol

[@Laylaeditsthings]

What visa did you guys get?

[@daniel-panek]

Did you know that Japan has all 4 seasons?

[@jytan740]

how's the overcrowded in japan and diff charges from foreigners/locals?

[@bytemegeek]

Hey editor the colors you picked for the lower third backgrounds are pretty hard to read at times. Yellow, neon pink, neon green.....accessibility nightmare and just hard to read.

[@Highwind2013]

the paperwork, why must we fill out so much paperwork! 😔

[@allisonmb1930]

Well it would be a quick walk in a city for ice, a lot of cities have convenience stores no?

[@4grazy4]

They don’t catcall but follow you home, YES. Harass on trains, YES.. I prefer being catcalled ..

[@MENTOKz]

yeah i paybills online so yeah i don't have to even go anywhere same with food or anything

[@WatashiWannabe]

The thing about the names is concerning...my last name is 12 letters on its own, and I've already run into occasional issues (even in the US) with fitting my full name on some documents. Deleting the middle name would probably help (especially since the namesake for it was kinda a jerk), but there still remains a first name of moderate length. I'd rather not shorten my last name, if I could avoid it: there's some historical significance to it (dates back more than 1000 years, and directly links to...some rather famous monarchs).

[@LisaSamaritan]

Thanks for fixing the colors. 👍

[@Bloodworia]

Japan is nice, if you don't have to work at Japanese companies. Also rentable E-mobility is just a venture capital sink/abyss. None ofthese scooter companies are profitable, they are just fighting for who will be the one with the monopoly in the end.

[@wrldtrvlrable]

The "maybe not Americans" visa comment has me scared. I lived abroad for many years in SE Asia and now my plan is to continue my career by working and living in Japan. I visited there four years ago and want to return to settle down there. I'd like to move there in the next year or two. Is it more difficult to find jobs as a teacher from the US or is it due to the situation here politically? Does it seem like it may be becoming more difficult to come as an American? I'd love to hear your advice. Love your channel by the way! Subscribed!

[@kageyamareijikun]

They are talking about the US not having working holiday visa arrangement with Japan. Australia, New Zealand, UK and Canada(?) do? I think? As for political situation, maybe only if you are under SOFA (US armed forces) in Okinawa, then things might be dicey. Other than that, you will face the same difficulty as every other nationality, or actually things might be even easier (minus the working holiday thing that some Commonwealth nations enjoy).

[@RBlue9]

I am planning to go next year to study Japanese for 1 or 2 years (I'm 35!) but my biggest fear is that I have dysphagia (cannot swallow solid food, only liquids) soooo... kind of having second thoughts now

[@xXNekou]

Many of the cons are just cons cocerning moving abroad, not Japan specifically. Other than that - a good video,as usual :)

[@enjoystraveling]

I absolutely hate how much of the United States has those stroades and also the gigantic parking lots of Walmart and other stores. A few of them I could walk to, but then you have to walk through a gigantic parking lot with no shade.!! And many of the cars are not always looking for walkers. I even was in a city where you can walk in some of it such as in some parts of Fort Lauderdale in Miami and they have some public transportation however, when you need to cross the street as a walker and you use the crosswalk and you cross on your green signal cars are allowed to turn right and most of the areas and they don’t look for walkers all the time and I had to jump out of the way because one almost hit me. !!! Did you know that much of the United States people not only use their drive-in window to get fast food and so they won’t have to get out the car but there’s also drive-through banks and drive-through pharmacies and drive-through liquor places for people are too lazy to get out of their cars. I never use them because I’ve I feel even if I go for fast food I make myself, get out of the car to stretch my legs at least

[@cats_ARE_better_than_you]

Almost 7 years for me and I still don't speak Japanese. Thankfully I still understand Australian. lol

[@user-rf2qm5zs1x]

girl on right took laughing gas

[@Sabrina96]

My last Italian names would not go easy 😅 in Japan.

[@user-xp8jh6dl3m]

お二人共、ずっと日本に居てくれるのでしょうか😂

[@pjosxyz]

The BOJ keep printing more yen, this is going to be a decades long issue according to the economists and Japan just the first domino to fall :(

[@ufgatorbearify]

Great as usual. Question: y'all were discussing how safe Japan is as it was 30 years ago too when I lived there. But in the early 90s unwanted touching on trains was bad. All my female friends had at least one story. Even I, a 6ft 1, broad shouldered guy was groped on a train. Is that better now? I know Osaka has women only train cars. I'm hoping this was better . It was no big deal for me but I certainly wasn't asking for it and can understand why it would be disturbing.

[@Mwoods2272]

Worse now because there are more people.

[@ufgatorbearify]

@@Mwoods2272 that's very unfortunate

[@cats_ARE_better_than_you]

Also Tokyo is not Japan. Conibinis are not nearly as prevalent elsewhere.

[@not_cardoso]

Oof just my first name is 9 letters long... I might be in trouble

[@StefanHanrath]

too bad they don't make stamps with your address in kanji

[@cathycarroll2405]

What if your Japan name doesn't match your passport?

[@Sock0Puppet]

at around 0:38 Sera looks off screen like someone is holding a gun and just waiting for her to not look enthused. And let me tell you, I lolled.

[@tuhnutuhnu4257]

I did not know sarah worked for black company :(

[@janemuses3031]

A bit disingenuous here - if you are comparing cities to cities then in the US, you can walk around New York City and San Francisco or Chicago. Of course the USA is a CONTINENT, as is Australia, so you are pretty much driving all over the place given the land mass. I know that as soon as you leave Tokyo or go into the suburbs of Japan, you will need a car to get around. And given you are both Aussies, might not want to make broad statements about the USA. We have biking paths pretty much everywhere and drivers here, at least where I live, are extra careful of bicyclists and give them a wide berth. I am not sure I would be that comfortable cycling in Tokyo - the streets are quite narrow and congested - are there really bikes paths? Of course, no one would think about cycling on the freeways but going around by bicycle is totally doable. Just that most people drive cars.