Some good comments, so figured I'd condense them into one post.
I’ve gone to Japan occasionally on business since 1985, and we host high school kids for a year’s stay at a time thru an exchange students program, so we have a pretty good ‘connection’. In fact the wedding of one of our former students is what brought us over there this time. Our ‘Japanese kids’ and their families have come to visit us since their exchange stay, and we tour with them when we are in Japan. We also have two daughters adopted from China, and have visited that nation three times.
True, I overstated the near zero theft rate. Unfortunately, even Japan has suffered an increase in (mostly) non-violent crime over the past decade. I was in Japan a few times in the '80's when the economy was in it’s prime and unemployment was at about 2%, and crime really was nearly non-existent. Unemployment has lead to a homeless problem, and some of the parks have become blue tarp tent cities. On previous trips I saw few locked bikes at all. Now most have something that at least makes it unrideable, but still, rarely are they locked to a fixed object. Even the expensive bikes.
I threw in the price of gas for impact, but it does further encourages average folks to leave the car at home and ride a bike for short errands. Car ownership has always been expensive aside from fuel, as a comprehensive inspection every two years (beginning on year #3) can run thousands when parts are factored in, and relegates most cars over 5 years old to the recycle bin. It is not just emissions, but mechanical, safety, structure, etc. Some say it is a part of the economic engine that drives Japan, pointing out that approximately 1 in 10 earners are somehow tied to the auto industry. Interesting.... Road tolls are also high. I remember on a previous visit a day trip to a neighboring city running on the order of $50. And who really needs a car when you can zip along at 165 mph on the Shinkansen (bullet train)? All levels of train service are superb, but not cheap either.
Helmet use? Nearly non-existent. It is strange seeing parents riding double with their very young kids in plastic bucket seats, and no helmets on either. Heck, we even saw cyclist with two kids – one in front, one in back. But then they are only now just beginning to use car seats for kids. I think the record sighting for us was a family of 4 on a bike – but that was three years ago in Nanchang, Jiangxi, China….
Basic bicycles…. None of the excess, outdo your neighbor types of rides. None of those chopper bikes with 6” rear tires! Interesting comment about the Dutch. I was in the Netherlands and Belgium two years ago on business, and would agree – simple, basic transportation cycling.
Funny, but my daughter asked if she could bring her razor scooter with! The only wheeled objects on this trip were the luggage, and a tiny travel stroller for the little one. I did lust after some of the nice folding bikes I saw in a shop, and did think about bring one of them home for future travel!