In Japan, We Walked for a Living

One thing I didn’t fully appreciate until after leaving Japan was just how much movement was built into everyday life.

In Japan, we walked for a living.

We walked to the train station.
Then through the train station.
Then up and down what felt like endless stairs before getting on the train.
Then more stairs when we arrived.
Then out through the station and on to wherever we were going.

And once you got there, the walking often wasn’t over.

If you were visiting a shrine, temple, castle, park, or even just out exploring a neighborhood, there was always more walking to do.

It was just part of life.

I was reminded of that this past weekend when some friends of ours and us decided to take a trail walk with our spouses and kids. We didn’t really have a plan. We just started walking and ended up making it all the way to a conservation park and back. Later, when we checked our steps, we realized we had basically done two 5Ks without even meaning to.

It felt like such an achievement.

And yet at the same time, it made me laugh a little, because that kind of movement used to be so normal for us in Japan.

A regular day there could easily mean 10,000 to 20,000 steps for me. On especially active days, I’d hit 30,000. Not because I was trying to work out. Just because that was daily life.

That’s one of the things I miss about living there.

Staying active didn’t always feel like one more thing to squeeze into the day. It was already woven into how we lived. And when you pair that kind of movement with the food, the portion sizes, and the overall rhythm of life, it’s easier to see why staying in shape and maintaining good health felt more natural.

Now, it takes more intention.

I have to make an effort to go outside and walk every day. I’ll park farther away at the supermarket just to get a little extra movement in. I look forward to park time with the kids because it gets all of us outside and moving.

My son is signed up for the spring soccer league right now, and I’ve really been enjoying going outside with him daily to practice. We do runs, drills, and play little best-out-of-10 games. It helps him build his skills, but it’s also become a good way for me to stay active too.

I’ve realized how much I want to keep being that kind of parent. The one who plays tag, runs around outside, and stays present in those little moments.

I also take a karate class with my son once a week. At first, it was mainly to help keep him accountable. But honestly, I think I’ve benefited from it just as much, if not more, than he has.

The older I get, the more I realize how easy it is to become sedentary if movement isn’t built into your environment.

And in a place where daily life doesn’t naturally require as much walking, you have to become more intentional about it.

But there are ways.

Take walks with your family.
Play outside with your kids.
Park farther away.
Take the stairs when you can.
Join the cardio class.
Do what you need to do to make movement part of your life.

Because staying active doesn’t only benefit your body. It helps your mind, your energy, and even the way you show up for the people around you.

Living in Japan taught me that exercise doesn’t always have to look like exercise.

Sometimes it just looks like living well.