How Japan Builds Suburbs That Don't Suck

Video Description

Tokyo's suburbs are not what you'd expect. In this video, join me in Tachikawa, 23 miles from Tokyo Station, to uncover why this suburban city has a bustling downtown, incredible public transit, and a monorail. What makes this possible, and why is it so different from city building in North America? We'll take a deep dive into the profitable railway companies, like JR East, and their unique approach to land use that creates a virtuous cycle of development and transit ridership. We'll contrast this with the common challenges of urban planning and zoning in US cities and explore how a different approach can lead to more choices, more affordable housing, and a better lifestyle for everyone. If you're a railfan, urbanist, or simply curious about infrastructure and urban planning, this video is for you. Learn about the policies that have made Tokyo one of the most affordable and livable megacities in the world, and what North American cities can do to become more like Tachikawa. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro 01:35 Explaining Tachikawa's Railways 05:10 The Virtuous Cycle of Japan's Railways 08:00 Japanese Urban Planning 10:05 Benefits of the Japanese Model 12:32 How We Fix North American Cities 13:59 End Credits Music (in order of appearance, all from Pixabay.com): Japan Trap Zoom Out by u_0lj0ng68ek 18021603 - Jazzy Pop Piano / Japan City by WELC0MEИ0 Japan Origami by FreeGroove The Great Days of Chicago by TokyoRifft soft synth music by Soul_Serenity_Sounds Morning In Japan by oldways_music Japan by carvit56 #Urbanism #PublicTransit #Tokyo #Japan #UrbanPlanning #ZoningReform #Infrastructure #Railfan #CarFreeKeith #CityPlanning #Tachikawa #JREast