I fail to see how cars are the problem since cities like Tokyo function with similar road layouts and hardly any pedestrian-only roads. (Source: I'm temporarily living in Tokyo right now)

Tokyo is extremely overcrowded, but its services and zoning are somewhat able to handle it, if you're okay with living in a 100sqm box and being squeezed into the train like a sardine and shove through the sidewalks / crossings during rush hour.

There's a reason why the Japanese government is always trying to incentivize people to move out to it's rural areas.

That being said, American cities cannot even handle a fraction of those population levels. It's not the cars that are the problem, it's the mismanagement of public resources and city planning that leads to lack of GOOD public transportation and zoning.

So until those US city leaders can figure out their shit, I'd suggest living in a small town, it has the wishlist everyone is always wanting here. Walkable end-to-end, bikeable, co-ops, fresh air, etc. Luckily we already did the hard work to connect these towns together and we have a LOT of land.

Have you actually been to Tokyo? It's insanely crowded everywhere. Just walking across intersections and navigating train stations is insane. Hotels are the size of your closet and apartments are the size of your closet. Japan has one of the higher depression rates. If anything this proves high density cities are unhealthy.