In this video, I journey to the island of Shikoku to meet up with author, @Alex Kerr to look at how he’s been restoring old, vacant and abandoned houses in the Iya Valley and Utazu, amid Japan’s rapid urbanisation.
More from Alex Kerr on his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/alexakerr1
Intro 00:00
Utazu houses 03:27
Chiiori 15:03
Village of dolls 28:16
Vine bridge 32:29
Kominka restaurant 34:46
Ochiai houses 37:13
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Books (affiliate links)
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Lost Japan by Alex Kerr: https://amzn.to/3vhGBzU
Dogs and Demons by Alex Kerr: https://amzn.to/3z3jmuw
Another Kyoto by Alex Kerr https://amzn.to/3OxLZWt
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Stay
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Chiiori: https://www.chiiori-stay.jp
Utazu Co-machi-no-ie: https://www.co-machi-no-ie.jp/en/
Ochiai Tougenkyo-Iya https://www.tougenkyo-iya.jp
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Restaurants
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Nakochi Life Share Cottage (reservation only) https://nakochi.jp
Kouraku Kura Cafe http://ryoutei-cafe-kouraku.com/kuracafekouraku/
In between videos I’m posting at
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyo_llama/
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If you’d like to support the channel I have a Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/tokyollama
or just buy me a coffee! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/tokyollama
Merchandise: https://tokyollama.myspreadshop.com
Also, subscribe to my other channel @Tokyo Llama Plus for more videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/TokyoLlamaPlus
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Music
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State of Zen – Mandala Dreams
80 Days – Water Mirrors
Greensight – Epocha
Waking Dream – Mandala Dreams
Chi chi – Epocha
Mountain Mist – Lucention
All music from Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/referral/1eenp2/
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Credit
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Demographic data: https://data.worldbank.org
https://www.videvo.net/video/an-aerial-view-highlights-the-tokyo-skytree-towering-over-other-buildings-in-tokyo-japan-1/617918/
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Shimogawara_Tatsuno_Hyogo_pref01n4272.jpg
https://unsplash.com/photos/_h1IO0AHilM?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditShareLink
Kawazu-Nanadaru Loop Bridge: FoxyStranger Kawasaki, CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
#shikoku #japan #renovation
21 Comments
Thank you Jaya! It was great spending a few days with you in Iya, and the weather was good to us since we saw the magical mists at their best. I'm so impressed at how you produced this video, maybe the most beautiful ever done of Iya and the houses. And it's not only beautifully filmed, but you cover the social and heritage issues, as well as the practical challenges of restoring these old houses. It also might be the only one in any depth about Utazu. Now I want to come and visit you in Ibaraki!
I loved this episode. Thanks for this glimpse of Japanese life. But the ending was the best, lol.
Thank you for sharing this journey with us. 👌🥰🙏
The houses would have had businesses in them. And that's the key to their preservation and restoration. As a landscape architect the courtyard gardens are hidden treasures.
@Alex Kerr Thank you for preserving lives well lived. Jaya you are the 2nd person I know of with the name Jaya, the other is my brother. The dolls have a haunting impact. Wonderful video.
Since 10 years or so I have a dream of going to live in Japan and renovate old houses. I hope this will happen one day. Thank you for your beautiful videos. It inspires me every time! <3
Great documentary! Thanks for taking the time to dig into a level of detail that more 'typical' documentaries just brush over.
I want to so much to have money to live in such a place.
fantastic video, good work as always!
also, Gotta love the little bits with your wife XD
well played!
yes when hihhh ……… ( your wife is whaiting for 2 years ? ) thanks for the video
would love to buy that house at the begginin, but man the financial burden it will require to restore would be too much , yet its an aswesome place o.o
ow, that is beautiful. thank you for sharing it
Amazing interview!
That ending, the whiplash.
wow 40 mins long
Wonderful video. I really enjoyed it. And then finally-When are you gonna finish the deck. haha. Classic.
It may have taken abandonment to get the house prices down to where young people would consider it a possible investment.
I lived in Kansai for nearly 18 years and everyone I spoke to told me that foreigners couldn't buy or own property in Japan regardless of size or location. Maybe I should've pressed it a bit harder, but I would've loved a challenge like this! Good luck in all your endeavours! It must be very satisfying!
Fantastic video!
LOL at the end! When ARE you gonna finish that deck?
PS Japanese subtitles would be a great add for this video to help more Japanese folks learn about changes in their own backyard
Hi Jaya. Thank you for doing this video. It is fascinating to see what has been done and can be done to preserve this unique slice of Japanese history. Please keep doing these videos. Hope your Missus didn't give you too hard a time about the deck!!