From what I remember, I started doing chores around the house such as folding my clothes and putting them away since I could ride a bike. In my opinion, I think society has gotten a lot more dangerous for younger kids to be on their own, as the crime rates have increased immensely over the past 10 years. So, I think that unless parents can trust their kids being on their own, I personally think that it’s good for kids to learn the Japanese ideals because it gives them a sense of responsibility. From what I remember. I started using transit with parents at the age of 7, but I was only confident in my ability to get around by myself when I was 11 or 12. But I’ve always gone to school by myself as the previous schools I’ve went to have only been 5-10 minutes away, which is probably the first place I’ve travelled alone to.