"This is going to sound wild to anyone who lives in the US, but for any two-story rowhouse in Tokyo, the owner can by right operate a bar, a restaurant, a boutique, a small workshop on the ground floor β even in the most residential zoned sections of the city. That means you have an incredible supply of potential microspaces."
Via: https://kevinlynagh.com/newsletter/2022_07_tidy_workflows/
Pretty much everywhere I've ever lived in the US ended up looking like:
[Beautiful spokesmodel with big smile awkwardly gesturing at repulsive view of wide streets crammed with cars and giant ugly signs]: "Come down town where you can sample a selection of our finest national brands!"