October 21, 2025

An Indian woman’s honest and emotional Reddit post has taken the internet by storm! She shared how her short trip to Tokyo made her regret her past decision to stay in Bengaluru. In her post titled “Regretting my life choices because this country is doomed!”, she said, “It’s only been two days and I walked for over 25 kilometres. And this is the thought I had, India will NEVER be as good as these countries in 100 years.” She was amazed by the simple joy of walking on clean, safe footpaths in Japan. “There are footpaths, well-maintained footpaths. No exposed drains. No waste. No dog mess. No bikes. The main footpaths are accessible for the disabled (wheelchairs) and the blind. I bet there’s not even 1 km of footpath in our country that’s accessible to everyone,” she wrote. Can you imagine that? Despite earning in the top 1% in India, she said, “I am legit scared for my life while I ride my bike around.” Chaotic Bengaluru roads, potholes, and floods during monsoon make daily travel tough and unsafe. She also noticed how clean and well-kept the Japanese streets were. “It’s raining here and there is no mud or dirt. I can use my shoes to walk. The shoes I brought from Bangalore are cleaner after walking in the streets here. And I can’t put my head around that.” This eye-opening experience made her question India’s ability to keep bright minds like hers. “People talk about brain drain and how new graduates should be retained. But what do we have to retain them? What do we have to give to them?” she asked, adding that if another chance came, she would “leave in a heartbeat.” Her feelings touched a nerve with many Indians online. One wrote, “Every time I travel outside India, it’s an eye-opener of how we are deprived of common necessities.” Another user shared a sharp comparison, “In Singapore, there’s literally a separate lane for public buses and ambulances so they don’t get interrupted. People actually use more public transport. And here in Bengaluru, forget buses, people in seven-seaters overtake ambulances without care.” A third user added, “True. I never wanted to leave India. But after visiting Germany in 2022, my perspective changed. Since then, I’ve travelled to multiple countries, and the feeling only gets stronger.” This viral post is like a mirror reflecting the daily struggles of Indians dealing with broken roads, dirty streets, and unsafe travel. While some say India is slowly improving, many feel the pace is far too slow compared to other countries. For now, this candid story opens a much-needed conversation about making India’s cities more liveable and dignified—something millions dream of but rarely experience without stepping outside the country. Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.

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Tags: India, Japan, Urban infrastructure, Public cleanliness, Brain drain, Quality of life,