Walkability in Japan heavily location-dependent, according to a new study!

I definitely walk more here in Japan than I ever did in my home country, but I'd never really thought about some areas being significantly more walkable than others. I do think my lack of thought in that regard is a bit ironic, since I have lived in two different parts of the country (Tokyo and Niigata) which definitely have huge differences in walkability at different times of year.

According to a new study by researchers at the University of Tokyo (reported on via The Japan Times), where you live in Japan may have a bigger impact on your step count than you realize, and I can see it making perfect sense. 

This time of year? Fab for a stroll most days in my local area. The dead of winter = a much different story!

The researchers found that people living in Japan's most walkable municipalities take almost twice as many daily steps as those in the least walkable areas. Unsurprisingly, dense urban neighborhoods with plenty of shops, services and public facilities nearby tended to encourage more walking.

For many expats, I think that probably rings true. Living in central Tokyo, Osaka or another major city often means train stations, restaurants, supermarkets and parks are all within easy walking distance. In more rural areas, however, a car can quickly become a necessity. It can also be impacted by things like terrain and weather conditions...in my area, for instance, walking to the supermarket or convenience store is not always a great idea in the dead of winter.

The study found that Tokyo's Toshima Ward recorded the highest average daily step count, while the city of Kobayashi in Miyazaki Prefecture ranked at the other end of the scale. Areas around Tokyo and Osaka generally performed well, while lower step counts were more common in parts of Hokkaido, Tohoku, and southern Kyushu.

What I found most interesting was that the researchers noted walkability isn't the whole story. Employment status and other socioeconomic factors also appeared to influence how much people walk.

If you've lived in multiple places here in Japan, did you notice much difference in walkability between your local areas?