Unique Japan

I just finished listening to a podcast about the most livable cities in the world. Tokyo made #3 on the list. We got beat out by Zurich (The Beverly Hills of Europe) and Copenhagen. According to Monocle’s Global Quality of Life Survey 2009, Tokyo’s plans to plant 1 million trees and its transit system that runs like clockwork, gave it the number 3 slot this year.  Tokyo is bustling yet safe, futuristic yet culturally attentive, and its 18+ train lines stretch to every corner of the city.

If you’ve lived in Tokyo then you know that you don’t need a car. Unlike many metropolitan cities in America, Tokyo provides its citizens with what I like to call “The Freedom of Movement”. It’s the idea that no matter what type of transportation you choose to get around town, there is space and a right-of-way for you. There are trains, bike paths, large sidewalks (on most major streets), highways, and pedestrian only shopping arcades.

With around 13 million people living in a relatively small urban area how does crime stay low, and people not topple over one another? Well, as it turns out, people mind their own business and are generally respectful to others. It seems every time I go to the States someone asks me for money on the train, believe me, I don’t look like someone who would have a lot of cash to magnanimously spread around, but I suppose it comes with the territory.
One of the more sensational things about living in Tokyo is the moment when you realize where you are. When the kimono clad lady makes her way up the escalator, or when the Tofu seller blows on his horn as he walks down the street with his cart trailing behind him. It’s the mingling of the Japanese traditional culture among the western-influenced backdrop that makes Tokyo a little more interesting than my old home town 3,000 miles away.

Safety is important to me, but it’s more about peace of mind. As I don’t drive or have a car, I don’t have to worry about gas prices, car insurance, my expired license, or the stress of being stuck in traffic. I’m a bit safer from getting into a car accident but more importantly I don’t have to be concerned about a silly machine that will inevitably cost me an arm and a leg.

Tokyo has given me many opportunities to reevaluate what Quality of Life means. In the end, the most important thing is good health, happy family, nice friends, and decent food. These soft comforts can be appreciated much easier once a decent infrastructure is in place, like in Tokyo.

I hope that you can come and visit Tokyo and experience it for yourself. You can bring what you’ve experienced back home, so everywhere can be a great place to live.