00:00:01 John Daub: Hey everyone, welcome to Tokyo. It's a beautiful sunny afternoon. It's almost like springtime out here and I wanted to spend some time with you and answer questions in March 2025 about your travel trips here. I've been here a very long time. I've been all across the country several times over. Every prefecture four times or more. If I can help you at all, please ask away. Thank you to my Discord and Patreon supporters for their contributions and for asking questions there as well. I'll open it up and just go right at it because I think this is the best way. As everybody starts to filter in, I'll look at some questions from the chats.

00:01:15 John Daub: Why are there a lot of abandoned homes in Japan? Japan's population is decreasing and there's lots of families that used to live out in the countryside. Their kids went to university in Tokyo or Osaka or the cities. They left home and don't want to return because of work. The parents pass away and typically the house sits there. There's always an intention for the younger generation to go back to their hometowns, but it never really happens. Then they pass away and their grandkids have no connection to that house. They never lived there. These houses end up abandoned in the countryside. There's lots of different reasons, but it has to do with Japan's declining population and movement to the cities because there's not a lot of jobs in rural areas or reasons to live there. Younger people are waking up to it and finding ways to invest in their hometowns, but revitalization of Japan's countryside is going to take a lot of work and incentives. If there aren't jobs or much for young people to do, it's going to be tough. That's a big part of why Japan's population is declining. If there's nothing for people to do, they're not going to want to live there, which is why Tokyo's population is increasing and the countryside is decreasing. That trend looks like it's going to continue.

00:03:00 John Daub: It's an opportunity to come here and live in Japan, but before considering buying a house, visit Japan and understand the local area because you could get into a tough situation. Japan is not a paradise for everybody. My first years were very challenging. If you don't know the language or culture, it's very safe with wonderful delicious food, but there's a helicopter hovering—it came before I started the livestream—it's not for everybody. There are frustrations, people get homesick, and the majority I've met over the years have left Japan. I'm like the lone survivor from a group 27 years ago. Good question though.

00:04:20 John Daub: It's March now and cherry blossoms are starting to come out. Yesterday I showed some varieties. According to the schedule, they start blooming March 24th in Tokyo, but they open at different times across the country, so it depends where you're going. For Tokyo, March 24th to April 5th is a sweet spot, but you can catch them up to Golden Week and beyond in Hokkaido in May. Even sooner in Kochi, a couple days earlier. Typically mid-March to the first week of April for most of the country.

00:05:20 John Daub: Great questions. Are there property taxes on homes? I believe so, but I don't know much about that. For relocating to Japan, I have a friend named Chani in Japan. She's an up-and-coming YouTuber, really good, with countryside experience in Wakayama—search CHANI JAPAN. I met her in Kagawa last year. She's Australian, bought an abandoned home in Wakayama, had challenges but overcomes them well on her channel. I'll take you to abandoned homes around the country too.

00:06:30 John Daub: There's a ton of questions. If you don't get one here, join Patreon. We have a postcard club—for just a dollar you can direct message me about traveling to Japan. It supports the channel, which I appreciate.

00:07:00 John Daub: Are you doing an episode on the new Suica app launching March 6th? Sounds big—I'm excited. Big step up: buying Shinkansen tickets, etc. Thanks Norway Guy. You'll see changes in Japan's digital systems. Suica, Pasmo (IC cards), regional cards are on a national network. Buy in Kagoshima or Osaka, use in Tokyo. It evolves—you won't need the physical card, just a smartphone app that auto-senses at gates like highway E-ZPass tolls. Right now we're in between. News says Pasmo and Suica cards back in spring. Don't know why it's a big deal—YouTubers say "Japan has changed." I scroll past that. It hasn't changed much; we still read newspapers and use fax machines. Suica cards were always available with registration—even foreign phone numbers if lost. Police return them if registered. Best: get Suica with your name, good for 10 years. If from 2014, use soon or balance expires, but deposit refundable.

00:09:30 John Daub: Mohammed: Don't go home empty-handed. I will not! Can I and Leo are visiting grandpa today. I'll edit at home and get sunshine. Can't believe I'm wearing shorts for the first time this year on March 1st—maybe not great in February, but now it's okay. Crazy—get some vitamin D.

00:10:30 John Daub: Can I buy a condo in rural Japan? In Housu Kichi (abandoned house sales)? You can do almost anything these days—they want to sell. But risk with foreign buyers: resident or second home? Agencies and YouTubers streamline for internationals. Japan needs your tax dollars as declining population strains services for elders and pensions. Expats worry: why pay in if no return? But you must. Do research—it's trendy, but earthquakes are scary. Lived through March 11, 2011 in Tokyo—traumatizing. World shakes violently, out of control. Weakest here stronger than New York's strongest. Consider living near Mt. Fuji—eruption talk. Low crime, good society, but assimilate—bureaucracy frustrates 10x US.

00:13:00 John Daub: Even ambulances: case-by-case. Leo had 104-105 fever, days long—called ambulance (free for kids). Waited 15 min in ambulance as they called hospitals—no beds, even Tokyo midnight. Concerned about emergencies—short doctors/beds. Live near hospital? I changed diet/exercise to stay healthy.

00:14:30 John Daub: Walter L. Walters: Afternoon John, enjoy a cold konbini beverage. Thanks—showed Sakura green tea from Ito En. Ordering a case—gave to Kanae (my wife), she loved it. Drank most, saved half no backwash. Get more for cherry blossom season.

00:15:30 John Daub: Sean: Wish to live in Japan like you. Been here long, used to it. Conversational Japanese, not fluent—criticized, but don't care. Do live TV on inbound tourism. Comfortable, but millions better. Consider language if moving here. First stint 1998-2003: hitchhiked country, learned people/safety/kindness despite weirdos. Made it home—more than half my life.

00:17:30 John Daub: How's Ramadan in Japan? Good question, not religious myself but believe in it. Hard—strong communities, mosques exist. Halal food challenging but improving.

00:18:30 John Daub: Been to China recently—like Japan 40 years ago? Went 1998/99: bicycles everywhere, Beijing guesthouse, rode to Tiananmen—smiling crowds, photo prop. 2018: smog, few bikes, Tesla rides, highways like America—Chinese brands dominate, saw Fords. Don't wait till retirement—travel post-college 3-6 months. TV ≠ reality. Saw Japan pre-internet via Shogun, James Bond, Karate Kid, Lonely Planet.

00:22:00 John Daub: UFO Bob came 70s/80s—massive shifts every 5 years. Repeat visits fascinating. Space Boat behind—great view. Lea here in 2-3 weeks—perfect timing.

00:23:00 John Daub: Get paid to teach English, gov arranges housing? Came as eikaiwa (English conversation school) teacher—not JET (hard to get). Friend convinced: travel, save, good food. Eikaiwa = business, you're salesperson. Kids: fun first; adults: drink socially. Not public school—make them love English before teaching it. Took a year—became "mommy killer" keeping parent contracts. Do your best—got promoted to Hiroshima, bonuses, backpacked world.

00:28:00 John Daub: Parlayed into 16 moves, set up Only in Japan. Roommate Japan major inspired—odd but smart. JET first, he's gone; I'm here, better Japanese.

00:30:30 John Daub: Life: do something well—doors open. On Sumida River near Monzen-nakacho, across Chuo Ward.

00:31:30 John Daub: Nuisance streamers? Legal Mindset covers entertainingly. Impacts me—more "no live streaming" signs post-Somali JS. Be careful—risk > reward mindset here. Critical culture.

00:33:00 John Daub: Wild boars attack? Seen inoshishi (wild boar)—like little bulls, crossed road. Don't anger monkeys—poop-throwing Miyajima incident 20+ years ago.

00:34:00 John Daub: TV shoot setup—dramas on river. Bears in Hokkaido/Tohoku—not Tokyo/Kyushu. Hikers wear bells. Hidden cameras in business hotels? Check—APA [?] good? Sleep in car lately.

00:35:30 John Daub: Moon Island? Tsukishima meetup? Great—monjayaki. Favorite Godzilla: early with Mothra—entertaining.

00:36:30 John Daub: 90-day reset? Weekend Korea trip works—not recommend. Get work/digital nomad visa.

00:37:00 John Daub: Agriculture? Good question. Not working big gov much—waiting video approval. Expat retiree visa? No—old people problem; want young workers.

00:38:30 John Daub: Fukuoka attracting startups—amazing, startup hub. Bollywood Love in Tokyo remake talk. Nagoya potential—Chuo Shinkansen soon. Fukuoka food better/cheaper than Tokyo. Tonkotsu ramen funky smell.

00:41:00 John Daub: Feature film? Main episodes are. Kickstarter Blu-ray at onlyinjapan.tv—2017 Europe hitchhike doc with Kanae commentary.

00:43:00 John Daub: Hitchhiking best learned Japan. Karate Kid lookalike since '84—love to meet Ralph Macchio.

00:45:00 John Daub: Greetings Netherlands/Belgium—friends in Almere/Hoogstraten/Antwerpen. Shin-Okubo strawberry ice cream. Haus Ten Bosch (Dutch theme park) possible. Dutch/Swedish viewers—Uppsala/Småland memories, X2000 train.

00:48:00 John Daub: Jobs in Japan? Come first, network expat bars, Japanese-size business cards (91x55mm)—assimilate. Write letters—personal, disruptive.

00:50:30 John Daub: Postcard Club special. Discord 19k—celebrate 20k. Photo section great. Patreon DMs prioritized.

00:52:00 John Daub: Walther: Great stream. Can't go empty-handed—cake/gyoza for family. Business cards key for trust/jobs/backpacking contacts—old school > digital sometimes.

00:54:00 John Daub: Write letters—most appreciated. UFO Bob's meant much. Q&A monthly—get off beaten path: Nishio, West Tokyo. Great trip—matane. Shorts since Oct 24th—shock! See you tomorrow.