[jefurii]

When I lived in Japan I would pass dozens of small shops every day on my way to and from work: in my neighborhood and in the areas around the train stations I passed through. On weekends I went in to the city to buy things I couldn't buy otherwise, or just to browse around. On one hand, I spent a lot of time on trains or buses or walking around looking that I could have spent doing other things. On the other hand, I got a lot of exercise that I don't get now and I spent a lot more time outdoors. I felt like I had more energy and I slept better.

[blackearl]

Japan is way more compact than the average US city, though I do love a place that's really walkable like Montreal or Boston