What it's like as a foreign family in Japan (480sq ft apartment tour) 

Have you ever tried small space living?

Ha, this is pretty crazy to see. I did the reverse move: I used to live in Japan and loved it, but after I got married and had a kid I moved to the states and started homesteading. I'm the type of person that likes to keep moving, so the temptation to head back to Japan is always there. I'm really curious to see how the kids do over there.

Honest question: How are you managing your children's education while there? Are you homeschooling with the plan to let them attend Japanese schools later if you do settle down?

That shot of the river with the forest in the background is gorgeous! Looks like a beautiful country. Can't wait to see what comes next!

5:04 is an absolutely amazing moment. Kids are so fun, and they treat you like superstars. Who needs to be famous, rich and powerful when your kids see you as all 3 and love you even if you weren’t?

Keep the Videos coming guys! Very inspiring ❤

Started watching you all because of your homesteading, but to be honest, I find your slowsteading more meaningful (despite what some of your negative commenters say about you all, which makes me sad!). Don't need someone to live the way I want to in order to appreciate the perspective. Loved getting a glimpse of why you're doing what you're doing, beautiful perspective as usual. 😃And, as I said in another video comment (I think), your perspective on financial minimalism has really started to take root in me and influence how I see things.

I have so many mixed emotions dude. I mean you're the guy that taught me how to build my coop. Moving away somewhere new is something I've always wanted to do. How did you afford this move to a place where there ISNT a job waiting for you ?? Did you guys have to save like a year's worth of income for the adventure?? I live in Nova Scotia where the cost of living is slowly killing us. I want to get out but dont know how financially

Your videos and editing are beautiful. Best of luck to your family on this journey ❤️

That's insane. Homesteading to a tiny apartment. That's a complete 180. You went from non consumerism lifestyle to a consumerist lifestyle. You guys cant always be going to these nature parks everyday right? Japanese city is like all cement. It definitely seems more like a long-term vacation type of deal though. Not really a sustainable type of life style. I guess if you guys are financially free to do so then why not. I guess. But I just find it that many people would take the opposite approach to life now rather than you guys approach. City life to homesteading instead of homesteading to city life. I feel like apartment living is a dead end. You can't go past beyond the room. But homesteading you can go past beyond the room to outside and be with your plants and garden and animals. It's almost as if like you guys are imprisoning your family. Though i guess you guys are pretty rich so you guys can do whatever you guys want.

I find this super inspiring. My wife and I are moving to Japan after living in Zürich for 3 years, a VHCOL living, and in the Bay Area and Seattle before that. I'm going to miss our nice apartment, but adventure calls, and we loved Japan much more than here.

Just curious why you bothered to fold up the kids beds. Couldn't you just closed the closet doors?

I totally relate to your reasons for wanting to move from the US to Japan. I'm currently homesteading in Austin, TX and the cost of living is insane. it feels like everything doubled in the past two years (chai lattes are now $8 wtf). I was just in Japan visiting family and was shocked that you can still get a nice bowl of udon for 600 yen, it seems like inflation hasn't happened in the last decade there. I just subscribed and am excited to see where you guys end up! our plan is to homestead in Japan in the next 10 years or so as well once my parents retire and move back there :)

I had to lean the huge difference between Zen literature and modern day expat life. I think it will be fabulous for about a year but the culture is cool to outsiders, the language barrier is exhausting and isolating as time goes by and the. bureaucracy is often insurmountable.

Nevermind. I understand why y'all gave up your homestead. This is amazing. New favorite channel. Now that you are on that side of the world, you should look into vacationing in New Zealand sometime in the future. Most beautiful place in the world.

Hire an attorney for every real estate dealings in Japan. Otherwise you will fall victim of the real estate mafia. They have a legal way to take you to the cleaners. Be careful. Good luck!!!

Oh, it’s a shame that y’all didn’t take a vantage of that living out of the city getting something in the countryside program that Japan has going on. You have to live in Japan, a certain amount of time to take advantage of this program? Is this where you’re probably gonna try to head in the future?

I was there within the last week solo hiking Along the Nakasendo Trail between Matsumato Castle and Nagoya Castle with train trips between boring spots. There is deep valley, there is water and there is abandoned agriculture for purchase. Its well worth consider there.

Very interesting! No maintenance - he says as the beds go out and then away everyday. You escaped the hustle culture to go to Japan where dedication to one's job is supremely valued (salaryman, overwork deaths-karoshi) and going after work to fraternize with coworkers and bosses late is also expected. Keep a balance in all perspective. Excited to see more.

Wishing you the best guys 💕 Enjoy the only life we got ✨⭐

Here everything is getting expensive, I love Puerto Rico, but would dare move somewhere cheaper if I wasn't taking care of my handicapped brother.

that's awesome!!! what is your main source of income?

This video was so inspiring! 🌸

I am ready to find out if you found some where small in quite in the country side!!!

Which apartment rental service? Visa type?

Great video, Mike! Very "natsukashii" for me. I love the Arashiyama shots. Did you climb up to Kameyama-koen Park above the river there? You asked whether we've ever tried small space living. Well, one of my favorite apartments in Kyoto was less than half the size of your present Osaka flat. I mean, your present place is palatial compared to my old place on Yoshida-yama in Kyoto. Of course, it was just me in that place, so I guess it's all relative. By the way, if you don't want to wind up with "senbei-buton" or "mannen-buton," you gotta hang out those futons on a clear, dry day and beat them with a broomstick. That's the sound you hear in a suburban neighborhood in Japan on a sunny day.

Whoa, nice! I have a homestead in Yamanashi. You should come visit.

30k for something in the country side? I am in.

I just started following you all. Does your ancestry come from Japan?

Did I miss where you keep your clothes? We are moving into a 600sqft cabin and I am watching your videos for ideas. lol

I hope you reach your dream goal - good luck :)

The bunk beds in the closet, i need a couple of those!!

wow beautiful!! also side note but I would totally leave those 2 mattresses like they are in the closet, it seems like a waste of time to have to fold up the mattresses each morning when you can just close the closet doors.

I enjoy watching your videos! Life is so short! As long as everyone is happy.. that's all that matters! Best of luck to you and your little family! ❤

you have great editing skills!

I love your videos thanks for sharing your journeys. It's rare to find families that are able to do this so well and also don't make their kids perform. Much respect ❤

Wow! What a change of lifestyle! I hope it gives you joy. 😊

I enjoyed this video so much! Thanks for sharing!

I feel these people are exoticizing Japan and its culture.

Your channel is fascinating to me because we're living a somewhat - but not as extreme - lifestyle. We've been moving to different states across the US and it's been quite an adventure. There have been challenges for sure, and one of the hardest things is knowing many of our family/friends are unsupportive or kind of roll their eyes at us when we move again. But I honestly can not imagine having stayed in 1 place. How boring!! 😂and dull. You only get so much from going on vacation. To really live somewhere you can soak it in, in a completely different way. My children are similar ages (I think) to yours, and I have moments of thinking - what am I doing to them?! But then, I think they're living a unique life, something that will become stories in their greater life journey, and something to open their eyes to different places. I'm hoping this will spark in them an adventurous spirit and they will be able to embrace change as they grow older; and think outside the box. We're thankful my husband is able to work fully remote, so he has been able to have his job, while I'm home with the kids for now. It's been a wonderful adventure and we've loved exploring such diverse areas of the United States (east coast, midwest and south, we have not lived anywhere in the western states- yet! 😉)

How great! Your kids look really happy.

I am really curious about the immigration process it took for you to come and live in Japan. As for the kids, I was pretty sure that school in Japan was mandatory and homeschooling prohibited. How is it really? 😊

What town in Washington state did you live in

You took the right decision, can you please share about your business there in japan? Will you start homesteading there?

Love your move from a homestead to Japan, unique/ appreciate your perspective, keep the awesome videos coming :)

This is exactly the informations tht i was looking for, but i have some questions. Do u guys ever reserched abt the government's regulations regarding moving & living in japan with kids? I heard tht they would support families with kids who willingly move there financialy.

you want to work less but you movie to a nation known for people literally being worked to death?

Wanderlust doesn't go away. One way or another, you'll feel the urge.

Green valleys, clear running streams, ancient temples and zen-like atmosphere. Well, there are many places like that in Japan, but how you choose? The one way is that you rent a van and travel through Japan, but that takes time and kids need to go to school as well. The next best thing is to ask someone who have done that already or doing that right now. Like them www.youtube.com/@RoyandAimee Or you ask someone who already settled in countryside with renovated-Akiya like them www.youtube.com/@maigomika There are several others on youtube if you search. My personal suggestion is to stay away from the areas where they got too much snow unless you like to deal with them, more than 10 feet deep, that eliminates most of Tohoku region and north of Japanese alps. Then how about Iya Valley in Shikoku. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-eZmWIPXZM0g.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9HiNFrC1be4.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IMpS68PT1H0.html ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AyrDVkUvA2Y.html Now they have some tourism, that means running a Guest house with a renovated Akiya is one possibility. There are so many other places you can consider, and of course you have to consider your kids education and other things as well. So happy researching and Good Luck!🙂😊

I stumbled upon your chicken coop video awhile back and will continue to follow y'alls journey in the Land of the Rising Sun. I thought moving the family from California to the south was big. PNW to Japan...is it hard to buy trousers to accommodate them huge balls? Hahaha. Looking forward to your next vid.

I love your content!

How do you make money?

Look for high ground and water. Don't wanna go through another Tohoku.

Every video I watch there is one hater comment….that means they are jealous and you are doing something right.

I just recently found your channel through another one that I watch (Justin Rhodes). I don't know that I could move to another country but I can identify with your reasoning. I also am looking to live more minimal with less STUFF. But my plan is to live in an RV and be able to go where I want, when I want. I am working toward that goal every day and getting rid of unnecessary stuff while I do. Good luck on your future endevore.

Funk ya! Looks great! I'm feeling a bit jeli over here.

This is just beautiful 😢

Bilingual, travelled childhood. YES!!

Hopefully your kids don’t have to face bullying and/or racism in Japan. Especially your daughter, Japan society is still pretty misogynistic. You’ll never be treated like you’re one of them no matter how fluent your Japanese is or how long you’ve been living there. Schooling in Japan also sucks so I hope you have taken your kids future into consideration before moving to Japan. Source: I live in Japan

My family lives on very little $$, but unfortunately we live in the USA and I have to keep working full time to have decent healthcare.

Have you read up on how dangerous the Japanese country side can be?

Beaucoup regardé, mettez un pouce ❤

Do yall homeschool!? So confused on how they are schooled lol. I believe in wild schooling too like I bet yall are teaching them ALOT. But there’s still some reading and math that should be taught etc

Ohhhh nooo whhhy. 😢. My subscriptions dropping quick. Sorry to your kids a farm to a closet

I can get behind living more simply, but you lose me at sleeping and sitting on the floor!

I think you should have watched some more of Japanese RU-vid to know what you are getting into. Many homes in the countryside must be torn down because of earthquake regulations. Not to mention the never ending paperwork of Japan. I know you have lived in Japan before but I don’t really think you know what you are getting into and will ultimately abandon this citing reasons that you would have known if you have have talked to people who have moved to these places (once again-just like your homesteading idea). Or looked at RU-vid videos citing all the difficulties people have faced. Have you talked to people about what your kids experience will be like as they learn the language? (probably much quicker than you). Overall there is a difference between wanting new experiences and being starry eyed taking unnecessary risk for your family. I hope you get a bit more realistic about life instead of romanticising things for your audience.

This feels like watching a scripted tv show, not like real people

Very strange decision for sure