Real Japan living: What no one tells you! My Akiya discoveries 🇯🇵 

Painting the walls white looks so much better. ❤

I love how real your videos are. This is genuinely how most people live.

This is really an inspiring channel. I'm 42, and am trying to move to Ecuador, where my parents are from. I had many doubts because of my age, but this channel really pushed me to just do it. Problems will come, but that's life. We only live once.

Definitely the right choice, painting the walls white is the oldest trick in the book to make a small dark space become alive and feel bigger 👌

I do agree painting the walls white makes it brighter especially for the entrance

My wife is Japanese and I’ve been to Japan two months. I still learned a lot. Great stuff. Renovation looking good.

The white wall definitely gives it a beautiful bright look

For about a year now I have become enamored with Japan and its culture. I occasionally fantasize about living there (Okinawa for being a blue zone), not permanent but maybe for a year. I congratulate and admire you for actually DOING what I only fantasize about. Thank you for the videos. They are very informative and I enjoy them.

You did an amazing job w the new home. It looks cozy. The white color brings wonderful light to the room. Kitty is looking happy and cozy in the new home. I’m looking forward to the next vlog.

I love how they were bewildered by the concept of a laundry room lol

Really enjoy your narrative about living in Japan. You’re honest and humble and you speak your mind. ⭐️ I’ve lived near Tokyo (off and on) for many years. Years ago when I first got married to my Japanese wife, we visited Japan quite often. Her parents lived in a house built in the 1930’s. After hundreds (if not thousands) of small earthquakes over the years, the beautiful old tiles on the roof had shifted a bit and it had started to leak. Back in the booming 1980’s they called a roofing company and were quoted some crazy price like the equivalent of $150,000 to replace the roof. Being a young naive American, I decided to climb up on the roof and see if there might be an easier way. I ended up going down the street to the local hardware store, buying a bag of mortar for ¥500 and one by one, I just reset the few tiles where the roof was leaking. Problem solved ! My in-laws were impressed ! 😂. It was a good thing, because not too many years later a big construction company offered to buy their house and land and now there’s a huge 14 story mansion. We now live on the top floor, exactly 14 stories above where the house used to sit and can enjoy the beautiful rising Sun every morning. Now I have to go outside and scrub the big rooftop veranda several times a year to keep the Tokyo grime at bay… what have I gotten myself into ? 😅 🪣🧽💦. The mansion is actually showing its age a little now too, so I’ve started to upgrade a few things whenever I’m over there. We are planning to retire in Japan very soon. Life has gotten crazy expensive in Seattle, and our precious dollars go ALOT farther in Japan (Yes ! We can actually afford to eat out once in awhile !). Anyway, I really like your philosophy. Life is short and we should strive to do the things we WANT to do. Eating cake for dinner… yeah ! 🍰 😋… why not ?!!

Thank you for the content. I'm a young man looking into living in Japan as an ALT for a few years. Content like this helps me understand the things not often covered by larger channels

I’m an Aussie and learning Japanese! I love your videos. My dream would be to live in Japan so I love your pointing out the everyday dilemmas and not romanticising life in Japan. Can’t wait see more of your content. Good luck with your renovations 😊

I'm so glad I found your channel, it's all so interesting. And YES the white is looking great on the walls :)

Your videos are such a breath of fresh air in the whole Japan content creation sphere. Love seeing the nitty gritty, and getting to experience all the little obstacles and discoveries you make as a new resident in the country. Will definitely be following along your journey, keep up the great work!

The fact that there’s no garage in Japan and people park their cars 🚗 outside just shows how safe Japan is 🇯🇵🇯🇵. I didn’t notice that and that’s true about parking outside. Japan is truly community.

Crows are very intelligent. My favorite birds. If you give them cherries and pennies, you'll have a personal army.

I love the wall. You've done an excellent job of painting it 👏. It certainly brightens the house up 🫶

The white wood looks great in the hall. Really interesting video and makes me realise how much better at efficiency and thinking of the environment Japan is.

🇧🇷🇧🇷 The world doesn't need to move to Japan. What we MUST DO TO is LEARN FROM JAPAN. Period..🇧🇷🇧🇷

I found it all absolutely fascinating. Wonderful how you are melding your own preferences into your Japanese home.

Once it hits June, it's gonna start to get real humid. You might see black mold popping up where you put that washing machine, the tatami room, and anywhere that doesn't get used/ventilated regularly. Nothing you can really do to keep it dehumidified permanently, it's just how the weather is in the summer seasons. Loving the videos. Good luck out there

I’m thrilled at your house purchase! It looks very nice, now that the initial problems have been solved. I’m something of a DIYer and sometime handyman myself, and love the changes and improvements you’ve done. Yes, the painted surfaces are definitely an improvement and I am looking forward to seeing more of your home improvement journey. Good luck!

Love the recycling scheme. What a great idea and incentive!

Baby oil and a soft cloth for stainless steel, you only need a small amount on the cloth and wipe over comes up like new.

I’d love to make an artist retreat in Japan: find one of those old rural homes and set it up to take 4or 5 artist for a couple weeks to explore and work. I think that would be a nice retirement. I use to dream of having a book/video/ small gallery/ creative space by the sea on the NSW coat somewhere but Japan looks so interesting

This is absolutely impressive. I’m Japanese living outside Japan more than half of my life and am in my 50s. Started thinking about maybe I want to move back eventually but I’m too comfortable where I am in the US. Your video helps me see what I need to know if I were to return. I’m also considering Akiya but that means I have to go somewhere I don’t know as I am from near Tokyo🥹 I’m so following your video. Thank you for sharing Chani🙌

Thanks for the awesome video ❤

The outdoor is starting to look cheerful. It reminds me of the space in a st Kilda flat my friends rented in our 20s we still had a good time drinking, bbqing and talking

Cool, I found all that fascinating! Thanks for sharing. I agree, the entrance looks way better with the white paint, brightens it up heaps. Great video!

I agree. The wall looks much better painted white as it makes the room brighter.

The hole in the floor in the kitchen is for cold storage like potatoes, fruits and things that don't need to be refridgerated but stored in cool space. i loved mine!

Thanks for the video. I find it fascinating to learn about everyday life in Japan, with the perspective of a new migrant.

I used Windex to clean stainless surfaces. You can also use windex to clean your laminate cupboard doors, fridge doors, bathroom stalls, bathtub, any porcelain finish, etc. Windex is also great for cutting down grease in the kitchen.

Absolutely yes love the change in your wall

I’m so glad I found your channel!! It’s so refreshing to see someone I can relate to who is doing something I dream of doing. I can’t wait to see more of your journey!

Excellent video Chani, totally love this!

FYI - I lived in a house with a water heater like that. You can actually get a subscription service to have them refill it for you. Super easy.

Cool

So fascinating, thank you!

I worked in a tourist park in Australia and it had a few older cabins with the good old timber ply panelling. One of them had had a smoker living in it and a square metre of wall area would turn a bucket of water a dark tea colour 😮 but after a good sugar soap scrub and paint with a light beige colour it was transformed. I have seen some nice "shabby chic" painting with a light blue base coat then a white overcoat lightly sponged off before it dries, giving a beachy vibe.

Wow, your handyman was quite a find!!

This was a cool little bit of insight, and I liked the edit, as well as the home renovations you've done.

Beautiful video. I love the painted plywood. Beautiful house.

I love the recycling machines outside of the supermarket. I have multiple recycling bins but the council picks them up only once a month and sometimes we have to take the excess to a local centre. No points though! Very interesting to see how another country functions.

Like the white paint. It brightens up the area.

All the very best Chani from Melbourne. Really look forward to every video that you will put out on your progression in Japan. I'm 35 bogged down with work, kids and everything else to do what you did...inspiring to see you take the leap and maybe will help me make the same call down the line.

It is wonderful to see daily life in Japan. Every thing looks wonderfully clean and orderly. Your personable and practical explanation is so refreshing. Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to your postings.

I worked for an eco cleaning company in Byron Bay 10 years ago. To clean and polish a stainless steel bench we would use bicarb soda and vinegar mixture to do an initial clean and we would use a little drop of olive oil on a clean cloth to shine the steel benches. Try it out 👌

Chani, wow nice improvements to the house. The garage, washing machine in the house, trap doors. The house must be happy to have you as an owner. The white color paint on the wall looking nice!

Love the white wall, much brighter

Loving your down to earth, real life insights of your Japan experience. Looking forward to more.... the white looks 100% better on the walls as there's plenty of other wood/wood colour accents around!

Yes, the white paint does make it better as it makes it brighter. I would keep doing this.😊

Oh yeah the white is definitely an improvement! There's nothing I hate worse than that dark feeling like the walls are closing in on you. It's looking really good so far!

Interesting video 😌☺️😲🇯🇵

The white walls are lovely! You just make that place your own. Have a blessed day!

ps. regarding the stainless steel counter top, u prolly already know this, but make sure to always keep them dry to avoid water stains. it was always very satisfying for me to wipe them down at the end of doing the dishes.

🇧🇷🇧🇷 The world desires a japanese society . Prepare to be amazed: BRAZIL has more japanese descent than the WHOLE Japanese society in JAPAN ITSELF. DID YOU KNOW THAT? BRAZIL HAS THE BIGGEST japanese society in the world outside Japan. We have A " SECOND JAPAN" in BRAZIL. YOU DIDN'T know that, did you? Among all people on eath , WE BRAZILIANS wish the ENTIRE JAPAN WOULD MOVE TO BRAZIL. WE LOVE THESE PEOPLE in all ways. We have a lot to learn from them. JAPAN , YOU ARE WELCOME IN BRAZIL!! 🇧🇷🇧🇷

Wonderful and congratulations 👏

Very interesting, I'd like to see more of the renovations you do over time.

Nice sharing

The white paint is very nice. It's also a way of adding your energy into the house rather than living with the previous owners' choices. A bit time consuming to paint the grooves, but patience is free and painting one of the cheapest, easiest and quickest ways to refresh a space. Also a lot less mess than ripping it out and putting up sheet rock/drywall/gyprock --whatever it's called in Australia. Good move with the washing machine. It's always fun to see a team of Japanese people figure out how to do something no one has asked them to do before.

Just found your channel ❤ I love how you are showing us all the little things that most people don't show of living in Japan!

This is fabulous so interesting can’t wait for more and yes white is great ❤

Just back from 6 weeks in Hokkaido. Fabulous country.

Love the white walls!

Interesting. Thank you.

The white color works nice job

Please keep doing you are genuine and my wife love your channel

Thanks for your lovely video and information.Love Sweden🥰

I love your videos very informative for people like me that are interested in moving there and what to expect. The more info the fastest or easier the decisions can be made to move.

Was really refreshing to watch your channel

1:10 look at Millie she's so funny on the shelf there ❤

Wow, you are living my dream! This was very informative, thank you. The white on the entry wall looks a lot better and brighter. ❤

The white is lovely. You’re doing a terrific job!

It looks great. Have fun decorating. Love your place

Your videos are really interesting. I love hearing about day to day life in Japan!

Thank you for such an interesting video. Love the white wall, and your beautiful cat.

Love your RENOVATION S..TO YOUR HOME 🏡.🙏❤️👌👍

I really like your series. I'm hoping to retire with my wife (a Japanese national) in Japan in a few years and your videos have been a great resource.

Thank you so much for all your videos! I find them so interesting and inspiring.

Cool 🏠 housr😊

Very interesting insight into a different culture. And yes! I like the painted wall better than the wood!

Hi! New to your channel. Love your journey. Inspiring. And yes I like the white painted wall more, brightens the area well. Please keep us updated.

Really enjoy following your life in japan is encouraging and brave.

Yes, the white looks better. Thank you for showing us your daily life. Grretings from Finland.

Thank you for sharing your adventure, so happy to discover your channel. I lived in Australia Japan and Malaysia a long time ago, and am seriously considering leaving America and going back to Japan. If you are up for questions I may have some along the way. Btw, the white paint on the entry was a huge improvement and opened up the space and knocked the age of.

The white colour is great, it brightens the area! 👌

I had planned to move to Japan after I graduated but COVID set me back educationally. Hopefully I can still do it. Thank you for this actual real video! It was so nice to watch!

It seems like a very nice neighborhood you live in. How do they manage the cleanliness over there? It is very impeccable!!! Best of Luck and happiness in life. Ciao!!!

I love the everyday videos, how the rubbish goes out the hot water system ect thank you

Yes! The white looks so much better. White always looks clean and really makes the area seem larger.

That was a fun video

wow looking good !! I learn a little bit more about japana thanks to your videos, really entertaining. Cheers from Chile

This is so informative! Thank you so much for sharing ❤

Yes the White wall looks great!

It's great just learning about such strange everyday things. For me it's just so close to life. Thank you :)

Wow so different and interesting ❤

Really enjoyed your video! I think that painting over the dark wooden paneling gives your home a brighter and more updated look. I would have done the same.

Hi. I stumbled onto your channel. I really enjoy your videos. It’s a fresh perspective on day to day living in Japan. I hope you are enjoying Japan. I am Japanese, but born and raised in the USA. My family loves visiting Japan, and now that I am getting close to retirement age, I plan to visit more often and for longer periods of time. By the way, I like the white color wall.