Japan's Four Golden Rules for Making Cities More Livable

Japanese cities consistently rank high for livability, with Osaka securing seventh place and Tokyo climbing to tenth in the 2026 Global Livability Index by the Economist Intelligence Unit. This achievement makes Japan the sole Asian nation with multiple cities in the top 10, underscoring its success in creating environments that are both stable and accessible.

Beyond strong performance in healthcare, education, and infrastructure, residents and urban planning experts point to intentional design choices as key to Japan's urban success. Josh Grisdale, a wheelchair user and director of Accessible Japan, notes that the country is "built so that it works for everyone." The same ramps, elevators, and spaces he uses are beneficial for parents with strollers, the elderly, or travelers with luggage.

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Japan is built so that it works for everyone. The same ramps, elevators, and spaces that I use as a powered wheelchair user also help a parent with a stroller, an elderly person, or someone arriving from the airport with a suitcase.

Architect Francis Aguillard emphasizes that even simple details significantly impact daily life. "Livability often comes down to reducing the friction of everyday life," he states. The core principle is enabling residents to navigate their cities easily for work, shopping, and social visits without relying heavily on cars. This is evident in the prevalence of vibrant "shotengai," or covered shopping streets, which are lined with independent businesses and allow for convenient, walkable access to daily necessities.

For many Japanese residents, this seamless integration of daily life into the urban fabric is the norm. Patrick Lydon, an American expatriate living in Osaka, found that switching to bicycles from cars after moving to a walkable neighborhood transformed his grocery shopping experience. This focus on human-scale design and accessibility fosters a sense of ease and convenience, making Japanese cities models for urban planning worldwide.

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Livability often comes down to reducing the friction of everyday life. Can a person get to work, to school, to the grocery store, to a park, to the doctor, and visit friends without having to organize their entire day around the car?