Many Japanese suburbs have developed around what were once small villages and towns rather than as divisions or subdivisions carved out of unpopulated farmland. This gives suburbs the feeling that they are simply overgrown villages which are connected by railroads to each other, but which nevertheless maintain a distinct and autonomous identity. Clustered around each suburban train station are numerous small shops where commuters and housewives shop on a daily basis. Travel to the stations is generally by foot or bicycle as the suburbs are usually compact, small, and densely populated.