Living in Japan at 50: My Drab to Fab Summer Makeover 🇯🇵🔥

You are Mr. Rogers for grown up children. Calmness, serenity, mindfulness. I don't have exact tools to measure it, but I feel about 92% stress free after watching your videos, they are like a little meditation and mindfulness practice. I'm so grateful to have found some really great people and content on YouTube. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, Chani. I wish you to continue enjoying every moment of it.

Why I love the internet - I'm 35, I just recently finished therapy with a psychologist and started living my life over again, but I'm still afraid that I've already missed everything in this life. That I won't have time to experience anything, I won't have time to be anywhere. And then I came across your channel. Where you say with full confidence that at 50 you can easily move to the country you have long dreamed of, and live a quiet and peaceful life, which you have long dreamed of, to do your own thing, and just live.... Thank you so much for the inspiration!

If only people in the US were that concerned about being good neighbors. I’d feel so much more sane 😂

日本人でさえ日本の蒸し暑い夏は厳しく、寝苦しさで睡眠不足になりがちですので、 お互い少しでも心地よく夏を乗り切りましょう！

You're an absolute legend! Beer garden, BBQ, overalls, gardening, DIY, thongs, camping, and relaxing with beer's and shopping. It proves you may take the Aussie out of Australia but you can't take the Australia out of the Aussie! Love your work mate! 😊👍🏽

I like how your videos show us the day to day of your life in Japan, Chani. It's nice to see touristy stuff sometimes, but I love most just seeing how it is to actually live in a different part of the world. And you're so relaxing to listen to. 😊 Millie is adorable and I imagine she's going to enjoy camping! Looking forward to your upcoming adventures. Xoxo Robin❤

日本の夏は湿気と暑さが厳しく、特に西日本でさらに空き家のような古い家だとなおさら暑くて大変かもしれません。しかし、お祭りや花火大会など楽しいことも盛り沢山なのが夏です。どうかチャニさんも猫ちゃんも、熱中症に気をつけてお過ごしください。

That cat is too cute. I love that you're making the house your own.

I love having those natural bamboo screens for privacy on my veranda in Tokyo. Even though I’m 14 stories up (on the roof) these bamboo screens actually seem to attract tombo (dragonflies). They like to perch on top of the strands of bamboo while hunting for insects. Your side patio is really cozy now !

I moved to Stockholm from San Francisco about 4 years ago and your videos have helped me and my husband reflect on all of the challenges we’ve overcome together. Great video and thanks for sharing your adventures.

Thanks!

You have become Japanese, due to the fact that you have managed to set up a vegetables & flowers garden together with a 'beer garden & Barbecue table' to boot, within a small, confined space at the back of the house! Also, you spoke about traveling/camping light with compact stove, cooking wares & utensils, etc. all designed to fit inside a small Kei camping van, still with enough room for a table and (foldable) bed. I remember lugging/pushing 2 rollable luggage pieces and sweating profusely especially at train stations in my first Japan trip in 07/1998; my Japanese friends only had a small carryon along with a tiny laptop (about the size of today's 10-in tablet) to communicate with their grad students.

Beef on the barbie with beer! Bravo, Chani! 👍👏🥰

I am sure you feel that your house in Japan is cramped beyond comparison with Australia. In spite of such inconvenience, you have managed to spend your days in a spiritually rich way, which is very impressive. From now until the middle of July, the humid and rainy season begins. Please take your time to enjoy a cup of tea and enjoy the elegance of the rain falling on the leaves of the trees and the plants on your balcony.

The outside area looks lovely now! Japan has great fertile soil for gardening. I can’t wait for the camping Kei van!

I grew many veggies and herbs. When I had issues with aphids on my tomatoes, I would buy lady bugs and praying matis since they eat aphids and softer bugs. I found this a good way to protect my garden from bad insects.

You are great! I enjoy your videos so much, even though I don’t plan to move to Japan (I do plan to visit every year). It’s amazing what you are doing within a tight budget, and what a cozy home you have created. Thank you!

Thanks

I love it when you take us along on your shopping trips. It’s so interesting seeing what they sell there and learning about what life is like on a daily basis.

Really loved another glimpse into what you are doing. Nice to see all the ways you are living your best life!