tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post4060926001535606028..comments2023-05-18T03:08:41.920-07:00Comments on 1000 Things About Japan: Will Miss #8 - convenient public transportation (reflection)Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-70301329736971073742013-01-15T22:57:41.146-08:002013-01-15T22:57:41.146-08:00I think the "failing" you're feeling...I think the "failing" you're feeling is the gradual transition from a pedestrian mentality to a car mentality, out of necessity. That change can be very difficult, as you are used to the convenience that not having a car entails, and you are instantly conscious of the costs involved in going anywhere. <br /><br />Good luck with the transition, and remember it's easier to go backGizmotechhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01293214187055167556noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-71780920630669671872013-01-13T15:23:27.929-08:002013-01-13T15:23:27.929-08:00My wife has found this to be a similar frustration...My wife has found this to be a similar frustration. She's Japanese, and she absolutely loved living one place where we rented which was central to most things and didn't need to own a car. I owned one to commute to the burbs, but she worked downtown and it was a 5 minute bus ride. Then we moved closer to my work after she quit as I didn't feel like wasting 2 hr of my life a day Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06755963482025935674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-66329751967036443682013-01-11T08:47:54.384-08:002013-01-11T08:47:54.384-08:00The way in which stations functioned as hubs of ac...The way in which stations functioned as hubs of activity was one of my greatest joys in Tokyo. My husband and I would pick random stations and just go to those areas to explore around them as well as go up and down their shotengai (shopping streets/arcades). This centralized nature really did make public transport easy. I've noticed here that, around most Caltrain stations, things are really Orchid64https://www.blogger.com/profile/07132543155589881288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-72259454476778097062013-01-11T08:44:17.196-08:002013-01-11T08:44:17.196-08:00I think you and I must be in very similar situatio...I think you and I must be in very similar situations, though the walking here is, perhaps, somewhat better. The place where I'm currently living offers quite a lot of shopping if one is willing to walk for a fair amount of time (and I am). In various directions, I am a 20-minute walk away from two large markets and a 45-minute walk away from a big shopping center area. I'm also an hour Orchid64https://www.blogger.com/profile/07132543155589881288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-89628612310269748772013-01-10T18:45:06.739-08:002013-01-10T18:45:06.739-08:00You hit the nail on the head--the thing I miss mos...You hit the nail on the head--the thing I miss most about Japan (from a US perspective) is being able to walk almost everywhere. The public transport in my town in Japan's manufacturing heartland wasn't as convenient in other areas; whether this was related to the car companies's hold, as people surmised, I don't know. It didn't matter, though, as within a stone's throw ofAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-52120815097025107202013-01-10T10:11:00.616-08:002013-01-10T10:11:00.616-08:00Where I live everything is too spread out. So wal...Where I live everything is too spread out. So walking for the sake of a nice walk is rather boring. And going the store is usually a car drive, unless I walk down to the 7-11 which is pretty much snacks and overly priced milk. The 7-11 at that is even a ways away. :( I have actually considered going the bike route because the cost of us owning 2 cars is stupid when we really only need 1.thegypsiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01019720222734603445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-976456828264368152013-01-10T09:59:18.693-08:002013-01-10T09:59:18.693-08:00Moving is not so simple as choosing one aspect and...Moving is not so simple as choosing one aspect and acting in accord with that. My husband is in grad. school. We can't simply decide to move to a metropolis based on my hatred of driving as there are ties that can't be simply severed (including family, which provides a minimal support network - but mainly the school situation). <br /><br />I never asserted that the U.S. *should* adapt a Orchid64https://www.blogger.com/profile/07132543155589881288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5103914919249706024.post-67709729514791703692013-01-10T09:51:13.287-08:002013-01-10T09:51:13.287-08:00If you really hate driving that much then why not ...If you really hate driving that much then why not move to a metropolitan city/state? As for Japan vs the U.S. on transportation services you have to think of it from a different viewpoint than the one your portraying. I've heard many a people complain why can't the U.S. get more trains like Japan? Simple it is an unnecessary expense. Unlike Japan we have ample space the build roads and JustMehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10566471948372402476noreply@blogger.com