My Neighborhood by the Tokyo Bay

I live in a predominantly single family TOD residential neighborhood called Mabori Kaigan. The seaside neighborhood is about 25 years old, and I think it was built on "new land" reclaimed from Tokyo Bay. From what I've seen in other parts of Yokosuka, my neighborhood is pretty homogenous - meaning it's mostly residential. However, there is a large commercial retail center at the train station which is a short walk from most homes.

For an urban Japanese neighborhood, the homes and the lots are large - however by American standards the homes are well below average size, and the lots are miniscule. The house we are renting is 1,300 square feet, and the lot is 1,900 square feet. There is a small side yard, but other than that, there is only about four feet surrounding the home on the back and sides.

One of the appealing things about my neighborhood is that it is laid out in a easy to learn grid pattern on east-west and north-south orientations. The streets are all two way, yet are only about 18-20 feet wide. There is no on-street parking permitted. Smaller interior streets connect to the slightly larger streets - there are no dead-ends or cul-de sacs. Most of the interior streets have no sidewalk, but all of the larger streets have sidewalks and street trees. The land is very flat, although there is a gradual slope as you walk inland (toward the train station). Due to the proximity to the sea, and the tendency for strong storms, the homes are constructed about five feet above street elevation. Short retaining walls line most of the streets - this restricts sight distances at intersections. Speed limits are posted for 30 or 40 km/hr (18-25 mph).