I just spent a month in Japan and lost 20 lbs.
Walked around 20,000-30,000 steps a day.
I find the sweet spot for losing/maintaining weight is around 18,000 steps a day. If I walk at least that much, I don't worry too much about what I'm eating because I know I'm burning it off.
I used to strap a pedometer to my hip but I use the iPhone to track my steps now. Much more accurate. So far today, I've logged 17,000 steps. Visited a client in Greenwich Village this morning and walked all the way uptown to my 48th Street office. I walked a good mile or so to the subway on the way down there instead of grabbing the station closest to me. That's how you get the steps in even if you have an office job.
Wid same in Europe some years back(worked in Paris and Barcelona for a year).
Walked everywhere(both cities too crazed to drive in anyway).