Vancouver is located at higher latitude than Tokyo, but I feel it is rather warmer. The warm sea water is one reason for that, but we can't forget the role of the great heating system in this city. Central heating system is so popular here that most buildings have its own boiler. We can easily find this kind of chimneys giving off white steam when we walk around in winter. I think it's really a great system because it's effective, cheap and safe. Though my apartment is more than thirty years old, it has own boiler system. On the other hand in Japan, we have only separated heating system for each room in most houses except for large sized buildings. Kerosene heaters, gas heaters or electric heaters are used in each room. As most wooden houses in Japan are drafty, they are colder with these ineffective heaters. They are very dangerous because they can easily catch fire in case of abuses or accidents of the heaters. Furthermore, we have weekly earthquakes. I know why central heating system is not so popular in Japan. It is the issue of space. A boiler needs a spacious room and most houses in Japan don't have it. The issue of space is traded off with safety. What a sorrowful reality!
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