Learning from Japan: Transportation and Housing Must Go Hand in Hand
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The commuting lifestyle or daily travel from home to the workplace has become an inseparable part of life for residents in major cities.
However, this pattern is deemed workable only if supported by adequate public infrastructure, particularly public transportation and housing.
Housing observer and member of the Housing Expertise Group at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Mohammad Jehansyah Siregar, assesses that commuting is not an issue as long as the government can provide decent and integrated public transport and housing.
“Commuting has indeed become a lifestyle in big cities. It’s fine, as long as the infrastructure is provided by the government, especially public transport and public housing,” he told Kompas.com, quoted on Wednesday (06/05/2026).
He added that a lack of attention to the quality of public services, both in transportation and housing sectors, can directly impact public safety and comfort.
As a comparison, Jehansyah cites Japan’s system, which is considered successful in integrating public transport and housing effectively.
In cities like Tokyo and Osaka, public transport (densha) and public housing (danchi) are managed professionally.
Public transport in Japan is operated by Japan Railway, while public housing is managed by Urban Renaissance. Both are state-owned enterprises (SOEs) that deliver high-quality public services.
“Both are SOEs that provide high-quality public services because they serve the urban middle class that works to support city and national economic productivity,” he said.
He emphasised that Indonesia can learn from this practice, particularly in ensuring that public transport and housing operate in tandem to support urban life.
The government needs to promptly conduct a fundamental evaluation of the direction of national housing policy.
To date, the absence of public housing programmes and self-help housing has made market mechanisms the sole determinant of development direction.
According to him, this condition must be changed by introducing the government’s role as an orchestrator capable of designing an integrated people’s housing system.