Rural Japan: Slow Alternative Lifestyle in the Japanese Countryside

Thank you to everyone following this channel! I know a lot of people are waiting for more house updates. Thank you for your patience. I wanted to share some backstory - I’m trying to keep things as chronological as possible. :) more house things will follow!

Wow, I just found your channel and I’m so excited to binge watch every video! New sub!

I just found your channel. Thank you so much for sharing your story. I feel like I’ve been hitting my low point here in Japan after several years of dedicating myself to my career. It’s wonderful seeing someone who took the leap and made it on the other side. I too hope to strive and give it my best.

This is actually the way we should be living. How we are living now is the ‘alternative lifestyle’, which is slowly killing us all.

I just love the videos i have watched so far and I would love to experience the life you’ve shared. Me and my husband are nearing retirement. We have 2 small farms in the Philippines and a house as well. But I don’t see myself retiring in the Philippines considering that it is starting to become Westernized. I need a place which is quiet and will give you space to become creative during my retirement. I may not have a lot of years to live but I want it to be worth my lifetime. You maybe busy but would love to exchange ideas about living in Japan via e-mail.
Thank you for the inspiration.

Loved this thanks for sharing

Really nice piece of music.

Accidently read your story today. you are different than most young Americans. You overcome your fear and bravely got out of your comfort zone finding yourself more than what American people are struggling for here in the United Stated. You are now to live your world to live your way of life. You will find the simple but high quality of life in Japan where people are friendly. Once you pass the test, you are enlightened.

ok but how do you make a living ?
god I hate my life

My wife and I are moving to Ehime this June to live in her family’s Akiya. We are moving from Los Angeles and I’ll be studying computer science online. It’s interesting to see your video and I’m looking forward to seeing your future videos.

Hey there..Im from Bangalore, India...all the best for your journey.

Two things we nornally do as foriegners in another country and should avoid it: When in Japan leave behind the American thought process and stop using what you have learnt untill now as skillset...Stop comparing between your homeland and Japan which is normal thing to do for any foriegner

Learn the culture, food, language as is...understand why it is the way it is...learn your skillset the way Japanese do it...reciprocate the love and respect in the local way...always remember you are there to learn their way of life and not to change it that has been there with them for centuries

The reason I say this is because unlike the West, in East we are more emotional, open, help people more without expecting anything in return which many people from West take advantage....Im saying this in general and ofcourse there will be exceptions both ways in East or West...If you do this you will see a new meaning to your life...ofcourse initially this will be a huge challenge since we are usually brought up in a certain way, but try it and see what I mean.

I have seen a lot of westerners come to India for spirituality and peace in life and Ive also lived in the west for sometime to know the difference in cultures and hence I recommend you this...your healing will be exponential and will have huge success in life..enjoy

Took a photo of that same bus while driving from Kyushu to Honshu via Ehime during 2015 Golden Week. Not entirely surprised it's still there.
I remember getting off the ferry in Misaki, and driving through the pininsula on route 256 at night. At some point, I started to hear music outside the car, while driving. I didn't quite understand where it was coming from, as it was pitch black outside and there was nobody outside, and no music playing in my car. I started freaking out that I was having some kind of hallucination, but quickly realised it was coming from the road itself, or more precisely my car driving onto this pattern on the road that was designed to play music when car drive on it. It was a magical moment. Is it still there??

I am not able to afford to stay in Japan for two months, let alone one year, however if I can save up for two weeks, that would be a blessing.
I have some obstacles in the way of that.
Nevertheless, I appreciate your videos. They are calming, positive and uplifting.
Continued joy, peace and prosperity to you.
Arigatou gozaimasu!

★ i'm getting a little serious
about living in a countryside
in japan, after seen a few vids
of yours, ThankYou Bitsii !

Love your story from Indonesia

Lovely to see your journey and thank you for letting us experience it with you! Can I ask, are you officially employed in Japan and do you have a work visa? I’ve been thinking of going to Japan for a longer period (I studied Japanese in university and I’ve lived in Japan for 5 months before during my studies) but it seems that to be able to stay longer than 90 days I’d need to have a work visa.
Can I ask how you're doing this?

This looks like the type of place I want to live, the type of people I want to meet. It's really quite beautiful there.

I’m coming to Japan 🇯🇵 and living there for a while .

This is my dream! Thank you so much for sharing this. I have always wanted to study the language and culture in a rural part of Japan but not sure if there are any schools for foreigners in the remote countryside. Could you make a video about your planning step and settling down too? I'm so moved by your lifestyle as part of a community :) Remind me of the time I studied in Estonia <3

I discovered your channel today. You go!! With yourself and make it happen. This is absolutely beautiful. Please keep us updated. You are an amazing spirit.

So what is the meaning of inaka n your language

Both are same name m also inaka from india nagaland north east

i hope things go well for you! really rooting for ya!

This video is beautiful :') it's like a real life harvest moon / stardew valley story

amazing

This comment may sound silly, but your story reminds me of the movie The Last Samurai (in a good way)

I visited Shikoku with my family for week last summer and fell in love. I wondered what it would be like to get a home and retire there, and now I get to see that through your eyes. Thanks for taking us along on your journey.

Another absolutely beautiful vlog! Thank you for telling your back story! It really helps put into perspective some things. But how did you learn the language so fast? Or had you studied Japanese before you came?

素敵なチャンネルを発見出来て嬉しいです💕

Wow - this is fantastic - triggers so much nostalgia for the years I lived in an old akiya . . .

Your courage is inspiring 😮 I think maybe I can sort of identify with how you felt before your move. I’m planning to relocate to Japan; will start my search for old countryside properties in a few months. Hope I do half as well as you! 😂😅

I'm chasing my dream to get there now. It's hard work and frustrating but I am looking forward to it!

what kind of Visa you use to live in Japan ?

Could you please have subtítulos in portuguese? Congratulations on the beautiful pictures!

Why am I crying? :(
I moved to Australia with nothing 8 years ago and now I have my own house, good job and yet I feel like when I had less I was so much happier…

Also, I’m so curious to know how you got the house and if you already knew Japanese before moving to Japan. Are you renting or belongs to you? Are you a citizen? Sorry so many questions 😂😅

Hi, thanks to you, to share with us this life change.
Love old house, living in a (at least..) 250 years old one, and i'm so curious about how you would transform it with time, in this beautiful environment !

I think as an American what you have done is courageous and amazing. I wish you all the best on your new adventure in life.

What is the name of the village where up you live?

I wish I had your courage to change.

This is such a beautiful video. Thank you for telling your story and for showing such love and appreciation for the history and culture of your new home. I love old buildings and old traditions and it breaks my heart when things are lost. The respect you show for the former owner of your new home is so touching. I'm so glad you're there renovating so this lovely house can be preserved and enjoy a new life.

II really like your attitude and approach to your new life. Working with and fitting into a rural community is so important if you are determined to put down roots. In 2017, I upended my 18+ years of life in Tokyo--the Big Mikan had just worn me out--and moved to a smallish fishing town on the coast of the Sea of Japan in Toyama Prefecture. I renovated an 80-year-old 'machiya' along a canal, turning half of it into my home and the other half into a bar (This was definitely NOT a DIY effort). Not quite as many cultural challenges as perhaps you're experiencing, but still a very different, much slower life than I had in Tokyo. I haven't regretted it.

Oh, and if you can, do preserve the 'Showa glass' (the patterned/embossed glass I see in your house) windows/doors--they don't make them like that anymore, and the history of Showa glass is kind of fascinating. 🙂

Love Shikoku. Can’t wait to visit again. Thanks for sharing your experience! It’s very inspiring.

We love your choice in lifestyle and particularly Shikoku. We just spent 1 month in Shikoku and absolutely love this Island, it people, scenery, and incredible culture. We are coming back in spring for 3 months. We look forward to seeing more of your adventure and life.

thank you for sharing your experience with us 🤗

How did you get a visa?

wow, such a nice video.

Subscribed. Thank you for sharing! My heart is also in the countryside, though for now ... I'm still working, commuting, grinding, hanging on. But someday, I too will break free!! :-)

What a lovely story. Not to flirt, but I admire the cadence to your subtitles.