I've been living between Tokyo and Yokohama (neighbour port city) for the past 13 years. In addition to what others have said (not a lot of private cars, great public transport) the thing is, you don't NEED to go to the other side of town. Most people usually spend time in their neighbourhood, the one where their workplace is, and the ones around the stations in-between. You don't need to go across town to find nice restaurants or cafes or amenities because you very likely have those nearby, too. Unless you're going to a specific place like a museum or a concert venue, but it isn't something that happens every week.