Walking School-Bus System

What makes this walk safe is the practice of 集団登下校 (shūdan-

tōgekō, walking school bus (WSB) or traveling to school in a group).

Although some schools don’t officially run this WSB, teachers usually
recommend children walk with their classmates who live in their
neighborhood.

For instance, in my childhood, our school operated WSB only once a

week. My teacher led the group of us—six or seven kids from 6 years
old to 12 years old—and we walked in a line to our homes.

On other days, I always walked with my best friend who lived in the
house next to us. We picked foxtail together in summer, played the
recorder, and ate snow during the winter on our way home