Within metro areas? I agree. Go outside a bit? Cars are mighty convenient.

And Japan's urbanization rate is 92%, so car ownership in Japan doesn't make sense for most people.

I've been to tons of tourist spots and onsens in Miyagi by train/shuttle bus with no issue.

In Korea, because of the high car penetration rate for young people and new families, many attractions are inaccessible without a car.

"Urban area" doesn't mean people don't need car for living. Maybe threshold of "urban" is too low than we think.

You're just a tourist so you may can't see everything, but didn't you saw many small/family cars run on Miyagi at trip? Sendai city in Miyagi, maybe ranked TOP 10 city for great public transport in Japan, 75% of family still buy at least a one car. Rest of the place is far worse than Miyagi for transport. Of course they buy cars becaues it makes sense.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1027885/japan-share-car-...

https://www.eidaihouse.com/support/column/334/

I lived in sendai for 3 years, and I have lived in Seoul currently for 5 years. Sendai Station has a giant underground bicycle parking, the likes of which I've never seen in Korea.

There are cars in Japan, of course. Families own one because it's convenient, of course. Also there are more cars in Japan than Korea, mostly because more people can afford it. But I'm quite sure that, at comparable income levels, Koreans own more cars per capita.

Korea has a very car-centric infrastructure, and people own massive cars, and drive recklessly, because the roads allow you to and people are used to it. Children are taught to never cross the road if they see a car, no matter if they have the right to cross or not.

I'm not saying Japan is a car-free country, of course. But car culture and car safety is a lot more reasonable.

Totally agreed for sendai.