Government policy (*1) recommends taking 8,000 steps per day.
However, the percentage of Tokyo Metropolitan residents actually walking 8,000 steps or more per day is only roughly 50% for both men and women (age 20-64) (*2).
Adding 1,000 steps, or about 10 minutes of walking daily, not only enables the person to get sufficient exercise but also helps to prevent lifestyle diseases and loss of the ability to function in daily life as we age—and even alleviates stress.
If it is difficult for you to find the time or opportunity to exercise, first start with a smaller number of steps. If you want to set your goals high, challenge yourself to walking courses of 10,000 steps or more.
1. The Active Guide designed for health-building by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare recommends that men and women between the ages of 18 and 64 get exercise in the form of 8,000 steps per day.
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/seisakunitsuite/bunya/kenkou_iryou/kenkou/undou/index.html（External link）
2.National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare) Statistics re-taken for Tokyo residents over the period of 2012-2014.
