I'm Japanese, some additional information. ・This town is a typical “town where young people have left due to aging, inconvenient transportation, and concentration of affluence in the city”. It is not so rare (not even many) to find such towns dotted with ruins and many closed stores. Rather than saying that western Japan is deserted, it is more accurate to say that towns with poor access to cities are dying out. ・Because the sidewalks are kept clean and there are a number of people and cars, stores with shutters in the city center may not have happened to be open on business days. (Of course, it is more often the case that shops are closed in these cities.) ・This Itoigawa city is the starting point of a large fault called "Itoigawa Shizuoka Tectonic Line" which has a very important geological significance. It is said to be the place where the Eurasian plate and the North American plate collide. It is also famous as a production area of jade, which was treated as a valuable trade item in ancient Japan. Compared to other towns, there are tourism resources because there are fisheries resources and famous scenic spots, It is true that the city is desolate, but it's hard to say "worst". ・I think that the "worst city in Japan" is as follows. · Yubari, Hokkaido: The only city in Japan that went bankrupt. The population is down to 7% of its peak. · Nishinari, Osaka: Most famous in Japan as a so-called "Doya" town where day laborers and homeless people gather. Staying at a 500 yen hotel might be a good content (beware of ticks!).
Thank you for improving our knowledge of your fascinating country. I love adventurising videos, but this and Mr Bald's unfortunately didn’t sit right with me, particularly as my own experience in rural Japan was not negative. I enjoyed staying with the locals in these out of the way places, and have always felt safe. I hope others figure out for themselves that not every place in Japan is a picture postcard, but the sense of culture still runs strong, even in these semi-abandoned towns.
definitely agree with your point that Itoigawa is not in the slightest chance the “worst” town in our country… in fact where I’m from looks very much the same or even worse😂
I visited Japan and (almost accidentally) ended up in Itoigawa while heading up to Niigata, as my mother-in-law lives in Toyama and we were exploring the area. In sunny days the road that crosses the city is absolutely stunning. Plenty of nature and a nice ski area where you could see the sea from the mountains. Even though the city itself was quite small and there was mostly old people living there, it was far from a "rough" place. Also near Itoigawa (Joetsu) there's an Amazing aquarium and nice tourist attractions. I liked this area quite a lot to be honest.
I watched BALDs video first then came to watch yours I love how you both separate what you film for the most part so we can all see it form both views and it's not the same.
if you are wondering about that abandoned hospital .its called Himekawa Hospital opened in 1987 and played a central role in providing medical care in the region. However, management deteriorated due to a reduction in medical fees and a shortage of doctors caused by changes in the structure of the clinical training system. In 2007, it went bankrupt with a debt of about 2.2 billion yen.
Ben said they were kicked out of the place but the guy was simply saying they cannot serve tea and coffee around 18:30. The place seems to be a local izakaya. The place mostly serves Japanese traditional foods (sashimis/grilled fishes etc) and people go in to get alcoholic drinks. It was still a daytime so the izakaya probably had some japanese style set meals for lunch. The guy probably thought the Bens want some "western style" light meals (like sandwiches)/or were looking for cafes (and get coffee and cakes) and insisted on saying "No" because they clearly cannot fulfil the demand. The guy, however should have explained more (even in japanese language) and said something other than just "No."
Great videos. And yeah the guy was just saying they have no tea. But his customer service sucked. He prob just couldn’t be bothered with the random foreigners… no excuse for piss poor service though. By the way the next time you come to Japan, come to Fukuoka. Best city in Japan 😀
How humiliating is that the "Japan worst town" looks better than "Israel best town". I mean, just the toilet is more advanced than our whole banking system.
Thank you Ben for sharing this maybe legendary trip with Mr. Bald in Japan 🇯🇵 Japan is a unique country with their own culture, language and history. Look forward to visit it one time.
At 30:45, the machine that also measures your body temperature recognized that you don't wear a mask and so it begs you to wear one ("Masuku wo tsukete kudasai"). I was laughing out loud.
Ben, wife and I are so happy to see you traveling again! Video of Japan was well done as always. To see the empty buildings and towns was interesting. Was in Tokyo 5 years ago and never thought about empty towns…sad actually, because my wife and I really enjoyed our visit to Tokyo. Keep up the great work and continue to go to “OooHoo” places.
Japan is my favorite country I’ve ever been to. Great weather, cold dry winters, stunning springs and autumns (fallls) but never went on summertime and heard it’s hot. Super expensive, like ridiculous. Found the cheapest place as was in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore and to save time, travelled with no winter clothes and bought them there. Found Uniqlo which, according to all the Japanese and expats who we encountered, was the cheapest place. It was not cheap, but not too bad, £30 for a zip top but great quality. The Japanese were embarrassed that we went there and took us to designer store first which would’ve been £300 for similar top. Street vending machines with hot coffee were everywhere and worked which blew my mind (this was 2003 after all). Great cities, clean, crazy like New York on steroids, but also great temples etc. only went for 5 days first time, and 7 days second. Was withdrawing from opiates first time and loved it still, the only place that’s happened, the closest being Barbados were the weed was so good, with a secluded hammock just off the beach. Detoxed in Malay, Thailand, also and was hell, until found they sell Valium in Thai pharmacies over the counter cheap, but that led to waking up with a prostitute with no memory and freaking out and kicking her out (what can I say? I was young and a drug addict). Ahh the memories. To guy I took, because the first time I went, I wasn’t expecting to, and his sister had lived there (Osaka. Went by Bullet Train from Tokyo) pfor 20+ years, so he came with me the next time I went to Asia where my dad worked in Ipoh, Malaysia, and we stayed with her (first time spent a day with her and her whacky Australian boss). Her apartment was comically small. All the houses were but had porches etc parked outside. My Dad paid to upgrade us from KL direct to Osaka to business class… first and only time I’ve ever flown long distance (8 hours if I remember correctly). That was like a holiday itself. I could’ve stayed on that flight happily for 18 hours easily. Anyway, my mate died of a heart attack in 2020 at 57, the whacky Australian died in hid 40’s about 10 years ago, and my mates sister had cancer and last time I saw her, she had come back to England while she still could physically. Don’t know if she’s still alive as I lost contact after my mate died and they were a bit wary as I took drugs, but also I took their son/brother to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and to see his sister for a week in Osaka Japan, all travel and accommodation paid for. So they ‘put up with me’ I think. I also helped him renovate a house in Scotland (Dunoon) that he just about finished before he died, and they inherited and I got sweet fa. I’d known him for 25+ years, since I was in 6th form and took days off to play golf where I was a member and he worked as a Greenkeeper. I wasn’t expecting, well anything, but looking back, a token gesture would’ve been nice. But nothing. His brother who I got on with, and actually sold me his morphine, got his new car he’d had 2 years at the very most, when he died and his van, which you could stand up in and was renovated with a makeshift kitchen and fold down bed with mattress. His own kids don’t speak to him, had 3-4 wives, real and common law, all left him. My mate always complained to me he kept having to bail him out, like thousands at a time, so we bonded over having brother who were always not just a financial burden, but absolute bullshit artists, telling everyone how successful and awesome they were to their kids, when neither were true. They both ignored their kids, but were around, and spent beyond their means only to keep getting bailed out by family. And I was the ‘druggy’ cos I took heroin, went to rehab, but carried on dabbling, like Hunter Biden I guess. Semi successful- using too much to be a real success but never enough to ruin everything so was maintainable, or ‘sustainable’ to use a contemporary buzzword. Sad, but life does end. Lost many friends, and an insane amount of acquaintances as you have to get heroin off the same people as everyone else, which is the argument for legalization… a question I really don’t know the answer to, but it’s not black and white, something creative and truly revolutionary needs to be done, tested small first, then wider scale, then take the results and take it nationwide… the USA being the perfect place to do that with the States being thought up in order for them to have the autonomy to do stuff like that easily. But, fentanyl seams to have completely changed to game over there, so I don’t see a solution (or trade off, as no solution doesn’t involve trade offs as they’re never perfect). Anyway, I’m bored so gonna play some internet golf. WGT. I’m getting pretty good. My addictive personality could land me with trips to the monthly finals they have with the DP World Tour (the old European Tour, but with Dubai and couple other Mid East oil rich states holding tournaments there). Been to Dubai, too, which I kinda enjoyed. Bought my girlfriend a gold cross, as we were both Catholic and gold is very cheap, mainly due to zero tax. We ‘were’ both Catholic, not are as she committed suicide almost exactly a year after my mate had his fatal heart attack. Sad indeed. But the party must go on…right?
Not sure why the hell I've not come to your channel after watching Bald for some time now... It's really cool having 2 different perspectives on the same trip!
It strikes me watching this after following your other travels just what a difference keeping a country clean and tidy makes to the overall feel of a place. Even run down towns on a cold rainy day don’t seem as bad.
Rural Japan is mostly depressing like this. The west coast of Japan in particular has a tough climate, with a shit load of snow in the winter (100-200 inches per year even at sea level), which makes it even harder to inhabit.
The whole umbrella situation is hilarious! Watching Balds video, he just goes in and asks to take one....literally borrow one and agrees to one hour of "borrowing time"......and on his way back to you, is laughing about it...meaning, having only gotten one and you not having one. Do you watch Balds videos? I wasnt expecting him to be such a fibber about it! "They only have one"? Watch his video when he grabs that umbrella and count how many others are in the umbrella holder. Just do it lol. Good on him for getting you one too. I think you missed out being the driver though lol.
I like watching youre vlogs when you two get together. You do provide good info added the bantering that goes back and forth, hilarious mosts. Thanks for putting these out. Cheers Myles from Canada. 16:09
You just come into this town, know nothing about it, and claim it is the “worst town in japan”. You don’t know anything about Itoigawa. It is a wonderful city and great place to live if you give it a chance. The people are wonderful and the scenery is beautiful. Yes, there are some abandoned infrastructure, that is common in many rural areas in Japan. love this town, and if you took the time to get to know the people and learn the history about it I think you would like it too
came from bald, i must say i see the camera quality difference, atleast in the fps! still great video (24fps, instead of 50 or 60 just look akward in movement)
Ah, that's why you and Bald Ben aren't in the same screen most of the time. BTW, your hospital exploration section are more intense and creepier. I like it.
@Backpacker Ben stay safe, Ben. Anyway, in case mr. Bald miss some Eastern Europe and Balkan vibes in Asia, just visit Java, Indonesia. While there isn't much to do in the city aside from enjoying local cuisines in a Dutch colonial building, you can have a lot of natural destinations to visit such as camping ground, pine forest, beaches, waterfall, volcanoes, megalithic sites, and a beautiful plains of geopark in Sukabumi West Java. When you go to the rural area, there's a real adventure begin. But if you want to stay in a city here's my picks: Jakarta, Bandung (my hometown), Majalengka (if you want sky gliding), Garut (stay away from the rural side this time, there's a lot of wild stories involving a supernatural happening), Semarang, Yogyakarta, and Solo. I never went to East Java, tho. But I'd heard that Dieng volcano and Ranokumbolo lake was a very beautiful.
Great vlog. Ben I'm worried about that nail, I hope you don't have lockjaw in the next video. Also, I think you would benefit from taking vitamins with all your travelling.
hi Ben i can wait to see the Tokyo footage one of my fave cities in the world! Also for dangerous areas and slums you need to go to Osaka - south Osaka to be more accurate it's the Glasgow/ Liverpool/ Naples/ of Japan! Meaning it's a great city with very friendly people and osaka has an edge to it unlike Tokyo
The exact reason honest vlogers like you and Bald get hassled and the government frowns on people visiting abandoned buildings is the jackasses that destroy everything. Its very sad.... To me it is the historic importance and the natural order of decay that make such worth the time and most interesting. I salute you and appreciate you.
Ben, when the security man handed you your mask, you mindlessly grabbed it with two fingers; you had just explained the importance of the emphasis placed on respect and accepting & passing things with two hands.
Wow, I stayed at my mates sisters apartment in Osaka and that rail crossing at 16:18 is just like one near, and had a station on the left, as it’s shown here. There’s so many as Osaka is unimaginably large, yet is completely dwarfed by Tokyo which makes LA’s urban sprawl seam quite small scale. It’s insane!!!
Ben bro! How u got me hooked on travel videos! I’ll be honest, you’re bants!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂 it’s like chilling with my most relaxed mate on holiday doing dope stuff 😂😂😂 London tuned In
Very nice video Ben! I enjoyed it a lot. You should be more cautious using the videocamera in Japan, the first bar you went to the old men were probably mad at you because of the camera and of the shoes, the second place was great btw and yeah, prices are high af
Welcome to Japan. Thank you for providing us with some not-so-common images along with Mr. Bold. Rest your body for the long drive with jet lag. The scene where you borrow an umbrella is fun and gentlemanly no matter how many times I see it. Itoigawa had a big fire in town in 2016. Enjoy Tokyo too. Try to use the train too.🚅🚋
I love the duo and the entertainment that comes, it may not be like India with random people yelling and adding chaos. This is pure, and I really enjoyed it. Japan is a really cool country to explore so I hope there’s more to come. Next stop could be Antarctica and still be wicked entertaining with you two, share with bald please. -Friend
Hi Ben I really like your channel and have you ever been to golden triangle on the borders of china Laos and Thailand.? Would like to invite you visit there 😊
No wonder Bren thinks Japan is expensive. @23:23 Ben puts in a 10,000 Yen note to buy a 600 Yen dish. That scene looks like it had an editing pause so I hope it gave him the note back and he then put a 1000 in.
Excellent video. It's put together much nicer than Balds version with explanations and much easier to follow sequence of events. Including the eating and lodging parts are always a plus. Also not including all the unnecessary perverted stuff is much appreciated.
Hey Ben, Watched both yours and Balds video and enjoyed them both! From what I can tell you're using a dji pocket 2 and Bald has a sony fdr x 3000? I think the color looks a tad better with the sony but more importantly... why does Balds video look 60fps while yours appears 30fps? Genuine question as I'm thinking of buying a pocket 2. Are you filming in 30fps in this video?
Different angle to Bald‘s video. I can finally see how he handles his camera, still not sure what model and how he gets it so smooth & not shaky while walking though. That town looks the same on Street View, probably from a few years ago.
Fan meet up at Show Club Manilla tonight at 9pm. See you guys there!
Where is the Club? Can I get to it fast from Germany? 😂
Bring the lube!
@@LiamDoi schaffst du nimmer, dasn 12 stunden flug 😢🤣
i'll see you at Show Club Tokyo in Manilla
Same here is my favourite India fan.. name Sachin gutte
I'm Japanese, some additional information.
・This town is a typical “town where young people have left due to aging, inconvenient transportation, and concentration of affluence in the city”.
It is not so rare (not even many) to find such towns dotted with ruins and many closed stores.
Rather than saying that western Japan is deserted, it is more accurate to say that towns with poor access to cities are dying out.
・Because the sidewalks are kept clean and there are a number of people and cars, stores with shutters in the city center may not have happened to be open on business days.
(Of course, it is more often the case that shops are closed in these cities.)
・This Itoigawa city is the starting point of a large fault called "Itoigawa Shizuoka Tectonic Line" which has a very important geological significance.
It is said to be the place where the Eurasian plate and the North American plate collide.
It is also famous as a production area of jade, which was treated as a valuable trade item in ancient Japan.
Compared to other towns, there are tourism resources because there are fisheries resources and famous scenic spots, It is true that the city is desolate, but it's hard to say "worst".
・I think that the "worst city in Japan" is as follows.
· Yubari, Hokkaido: The only city in Japan that went bankrupt. The population is down to 7% of its peak.
· Nishinari, Osaka: Most famous in Japan as a so-called "Doya" town where day laborers and homeless people gather. Staying at a 500 yen hotel might be a good content (beware of ticks!).
Thank you for providing some content about the "abandoned" cities in Japan.
Thank you for improving our knowledge of your fascinating country. I love adventurising videos, but this and Mr Bald's unfortunately didn’t sit right with me, particularly as my own experience in rural Japan was not negative. I enjoyed staying with the locals in these out of the way places, and have always felt safe. I hope others figure out for themselves that not every place in Japan is a picture postcard, but the sense of culture still runs strong, even in these semi-abandoned towns.
Thanks for the info. Great to read such background!
definitely agree with your point that Itoigawa is not in the slightest chance the “worst” town in our country… in fact where I’m from looks very much the same or even worse😂
I visited Japan and (almost accidentally) ended up in Itoigawa while heading up to Niigata, as my mother-in-law lives in Toyama and we were exploring the area. In sunny days the road that crosses the city is absolutely stunning. Plenty of nature and a nice ski area where you could see the sea from the mountains. Even though the city itself was quite small and there was mostly old people living there, it was far from a "rough" place.
Also near Itoigawa (Joetsu) there's an Amazing aquarium and nice tourist attractions. I liked this area quite a lot to be honest.
I watched BALDs video first then came to watch yours I love how you both separate what you film for the most part so we can all see it form both views and it's not the same.
Well said mate and thanks for watching
@@BackpackerBen love the channel!!! Much love from Indiana!!!!
So do I,Love see behind the scenes how Bengamin,Bald and Bankrupt shoot
Agreed i love it, i just watched Balds video and now I watched this one, i love watching the same trip but from two different angles.
Thanks for watching mate
if you are wondering about that abandoned hospital .its called Himekawa Hospital opened in 1987 and played a central role in providing medical care in the region.
However, management deteriorated due to a reduction in medical fees and a shortage of doctors caused by changes in the structure of the clinical training system. In 2007, it went bankrupt with a debt of about 2.2 billion yen.
Well now it’s a pile of crap just like the entire country.
Nice seeing Ben happy and not fearing for dear life for once!
Ben said they were kicked out of the place but the guy was simply saying they cannot serve tea and coffee around 18:30. The place seems to be a local izakaya. The place mostly serves Japanese traditional foods (sashimis/grilled fishes etc) and people go in to get alcoholic drinks. It was still a daytime so the izakaya probably had some japanese style set meals for lunch. The guy probably thought the Bens want some "western style" light meals (like sandwiches)/or were looking for cafes (and get coffee and cakes) and insisted on saying "No" because they clearly cannot fulfil the demand. The guy, however should have explained more (even in japanese language) and said something other than just "No."
Ah really? Fair enough 😎
Great videos. And yeah the guy was just saying they have no tea. But his customer service sucked. He prob just couldn’t be bothered with the random foreigners… no excuse for piss poor service though. By the way the next time you come to Japan, come to Fukuoka. Best city in Japan 😀
You’re my favourite TH-camr nowadays for regular content. Genuinely look forward to new videos. Obviously lots of love for Bald too. 😀👍
Appreciate it bro
I watched Bald's earlier. Great vids. I like seeing things off the beaten path and not the usual bollocks other channels show!!
Appreciate it mate
First bald...😊😊😊
Nice Pink Floyd reference at 8:56
How humiliating is that the "Japan worst town" looks better than "Israel best town".
I mean, just the toilet is more advanced than our whole banking system.
And whole of England
Ben & Ben, epic adventures!🇯🇵🙂
Bald, bankrupt and boobs.
I love their videos, they make a great team! Videos from two different perspectives.
The flowerpot men
Thank you Ben for sharing this maybe legendary trip with Mr. Bald in Japan 🇯🇵
Japan is a unique country with their own culture, language and history. Look forward to visit it one time.
enjoy ,mate!
thank you guys! you both helped me through cancer! I'm cancer free 2 years now! ty again!
At 30:45, the machine that also measures your body temperature recognized that you don't wear a mask and so it begs you to wear one ("Masuku wo tsukete kudasai"). I was laughing out loud.
Ffs 😂
Ben, wife and I are so happy to see you traveling again! Video of Japan was well done as always. To see the empty buildings and towns was interesting. Was in Tokyo 5 years ago and never thought about empty towns…sad actually, because my wife and I really enjoyed our visit to Tokyo. Keep up the great work and continue to go to “OooHoo” places.
Appreciate it guys :)
Great video, my friend! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next Japan episode
Cheers mate! Keep up the awesome videos
Japan is my favorite country I’ve ever been to. Great weather, cold dry winters, stunning springs and autumns (fallls) but never went on summertime and heard it’s hot. Super expensive, like ridiculous. Found the cheapest place as was in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore and to save time, travelled with no winter clothes and bought them there.
Found Uniqlo which, according to all the Japanese and expats who we encountered, was the cheapest place. It was not cheap, but not too bad, £30 for a zip top but great quality. The Japanese were embarrassed that we went there and took us to designer store first which would’ve been £300 for similar top. Street vending machines with hot coffee were everywhere and worked which blew my mind (this was 2003 after all).
Great cities, clean, crazy like New York on steroids, but also great temples etc. only went for 5 days first time, and 7 days second. Was withdrawing from opiates first time and loved it still, the only place that’s happened, the closest being Barbados were the weed was so good, with a secluded hammock just off the beach. Detoxed in Malay, Thailand, also and was hell, until found they sell Valium in Thai pharmacies over the counter cheap, but that led to waking up with a prostitute with no memory and freaking out and kicking her out (what can I say? I was young and a drug addict).
Ahh the memories. To guy I took, because the first time I went, I wasn’t expecting to, and his sister had lived there (Osaka. Went by Bullet Train from Tokyo) pfor 20+ years, so he came with me the next time I went to Asia where my dad worked in Ipoh, Malaysia, and we stayed with her (first time spent a day with her and her whacky Australian boss). Her apartment was comically small. All the houses were but had porches etc parked outside. My Dad paid to upgrade us from KL direct to Osaka to business class… first and only time I’ve ever flown long distance (8 hours if I remember correctly). That was like a holiday itself. I could’ve stayed on that flight happily for 18 hours easily.
Anyway, my mate died of a heart attack in 2020 at 57, the whacky Australian died in hid 40’s about 10 years ago, and my mates sister had cancer and last time I saw her, she had come back to England while she still could physically. Don’t know if she’s still alive as I lost contact after my mate died and they were a bit wary as I took drugs, but also I took their son/brother to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and to see his sister for a week in Osaka Japan, all travel and accommodation paid for. So they ‘put up with me’ I think. I also helped him renovate a house in Scotland (Dunoon) that he just about finished before he died, and they inherited and I got sweet fa. I’d known him for 25+ years, since I was in 6th form and took days off to play golf where I was a member and he worked as a Greenkeeper.
I wasn’t expecting, well anything, but looking back, a token gesture would’ve been nice. But nothing. His brother who I got on with, and actually sold me his morphine, got his new car he’d had 2 years at the very most, when he died and his van, which you could stand up in and was renovated with a makeshift kitchen and fold down bed with mattress.
His own kids don’t speak to him, had 3-4 wives, real and common law, all left him. My mate always complained to me he kept having to bail him out, like thousands at a time, so we bonded over having brother who were always not just a financial burden, but absolute bullshit artists, telling everyone how successful and awesome they were to their kids, when neither were true. They both ignored their kids, but were around, and spent beyond their means only to keep getting bailed out by family. And I was the ‘druggy’ cos I took heroin, went to rehab, but carried on dabbling, like Hunter Biden I guess. Semi successful- using too much to be a real success but never enough to ruin everything so was maintainable, or ‘sustainable’ to use a contemporary buzzword.
Sad, but life does end. Lost many friends, and an insane amount of acquaintances as you have to get heroin off the same people as everyone else, which is the argument for legalization… a question I really don’t know the answer to, but it’s not black and white, something creative and truly revolutionary needs to be done, tested small first, then wider scale, then take the results and take it nationwide… the USA being the perfect place to do that with the States being thought up in order for them to have the autonomy to do stuff like that easily. But, fentanyl seams to have completely changed to game over there, so I don’t see a solution (or trade off, as no solution doesn’t involve trade offs as they’re never perfect).
Anyway, I’m bored so gonna play some internet golf. WGT. I’m getting pretty good. My addictive personality could land me with trips to the monthly finals they have with the DP World Tour (the old European Tour, but with Dubai and couple other Mid East oil rich states holding tournaments there). Been to Dubai, too, which I kinda enjoyed. Bought my girlfriend a gold cross, as we were both Catholic and gold is very cheap, mainly due to zero tax.
We ‘were’ both Catholic, not are as she committed suicide almost exactly a year after my mate had his fatal heart attack. Sad indeed. But the party must go on…right?
EPIC as well! Edit: Honest mistake as everyone was checking those two out, TwoPie is where I was going in my head as well.
I saw both,Both are brilliant in there own way....Bald dramatise every situation...deep and commanding voice
Not sure why the hell I've not come to your channel after watching Bald for some time now... It's really cool having 2 different perspectives on the same trip!
It strikes me watching this after following your other travels just what a difference keeping a country clean and tidy makes to the overall feel of a place. Even run down towns on a cold rainy day don’t seem as bad.
See you in Toopi mate!
Loved it! Loved it! Was waiting ,you two are awsome and even more together! And wherever!
Cheers Vincent
Rural Japan is mostly depressing like this. The west coast of Japan in particular has a tough climate, with a shit load of snow in the winter (100-200 inches per year even at sea level), which makes it even harder to inhabit.
The torch in the hotel room is there in case of an earthquake and a resulting power blackout.
Yet another brilliant upload Ben, keep up the great work 👍🏻
Thanks, will do!
6:37 Wait those were Bald's old soviet sneekers 😂😂😅😅
Great video. Backpacker Ben has very quickly become by second fav youtuber. After Bald of course
Japan where you can be in the future and the ancient past at exactly the same time!
22:43 Get crabs for 2200 in Japan. You can get crabs in Philippines for 2200 also, but different kind of crabs. But more fun to catch. LOL
The whole umbrella situation is hilarious! Watching Balds video, he just goes in and asks to take one....literally borrow one and agrees to one hour of "borrowing time"......and on his way back to you, is laughing about it...meaning, having only gotten one and you not having one.
Do you watch Balds videos? I wasnt expecting him to be such a fibber about it! "They only have one"? Watch his video when he grabs that umbrella and count how many others are in the umbrella holder. Just do it lol.
Good on him for getting you one too. I think you missed out being the driver though lol.
1:35 "Japan is bloody expensive" that was 25 years ago mate, everything in Japan is cheaper than 'back home'
Is Japan the only place where cigarettes are cheaper than strawberries?
@@stuartclarke3171 Korea too
Great video as always. Enjoyed seeing the additional perspective and what Bald omitted. Hoping to see some videos from Tokyo as well.
Always such great content. Thank you for sharing it.
Cheers bro
I like watching youre vlogs when you two get together. You do provide good info added the bantering that goes back and forth, hilarious mosts. Thanks for putting these out. Cheers Myles from Canada. 16:09
You just come into this town, know nothing about it, and claim it is the “worst town in japan”. You don’t know anything about Itoigawa. It is a wonderful city and great place to live if you give it a chance. The people are wonderful and the scenery is beautiful. Yes, there are some abandoned infrastructure, that is common in many rural areas in Japan. love this town, and if you took the time to get to know the people and learn the history about it I think you would like it too
T'pie, isn't that what they eat in Wigan?
Hey Ben, you're not supposed to wear slippers in a tatami mat room. You were them only on wooden floors.
came from bald, i must say i see the camera quality difference, atleast in the fps! still great video (24fps, instead of 50 or 60 just look akward in movement)
The worst that could happen is finding two bears love making in an abandoned love hotel. 😂😂😂
That garage you guys walked through(the use of asbestos has been prohibited since 2006) you guys might have still needed your umbrellas.
yeah I did fear that lol
Ah, that's why you and Bald Ben aren't in the same screen most of the time.
BTW, your hospital exploration section are more intense and creepier. I like it.
was creepy indeed!! never again hahah
@Backpacker Ben stay safe, Ben. Anyway, in case mr. Bald miss some Eastern Europe and Balkan vibes in Asia, just visit Java, Indonesia. While there isn't much to do in the city aside from enjoying local cuisines in a Dutch colonial building, you can have a lot of natural destinations to visit such as camping ground, pine forest, beaches, waterfall, volcanoes, megalithic sites, and a beautiful plains of geopark in Sukabumi West Java. When you go to the rural area, there's a real adventure begin. But if you want to stay in a city here's my picks: Jakarta, Bandung (my hometown), Majalengka (if you want sky gliding), Garut (stay away from the rural side this time, there's a lot of wild stories involving a supernatural happening), Semarang, Yogyakarta, and Solo. I never went to East Java, tho. But I'd heard that Dieng volcano and Ranokumbolo lake was a very beautiful.
My god not what one expects to see in Japan. Brilliant video once again Ben. I love the ones you do with Bald. You blokes are a riot.
Thanks Deb 😎
its like bald is pissed and Ben is stoned .....
So good to see you view of Japan after watching Balds
I'm sure Kat is jealous of Bald spending time at the love hotel with you.
;)
Ben thinking about taiwanese ta-pie! 🤣
Ben, I'm sure someone's already mentioned, but love hotels rent by the hour, not the day.
I'm glad that you have come to japan. I'm looking forward to seeing you in the city😆
Thanks for watching mate
Ben and Bald in Japan...Wicked 👍 ❤
Your video is so much better than Bald's in Japan lol, you've recorded way more which is good. I love seeing Japan and hope to visit one day.
Yo Benjamin... 😂 did Mr bold try stealing some of your eyebrows 😳
Great vlog. Ben I'm worried about that nail, I hope you don't have lockjaw in the next video. Also, I think you would benefit from taking vitamins with all your travelling.
Great that you are travelling with mr Bald again! Also, this is a side we never see from Japan, it's always the technology from Tokyo. I like it!
Thanks for watching mate
That Hospital was like out of a Zombie movie 😮
Ta-Pie Taiwan...I hear its nice this time of year ;) Great video mate
Hahah cheers mate
That was epic. 👌🙏
Thanks for watching mate
hi Ben i can wait to see the Tokyo footage one of my fave cities in the world! Also for dangerous areas and slums you need to go to Osaka - south Osaka to be more accurate it's the Glasgow/ Liverpool/ Naples/ of Japan! Meaning it's a great city with very friendly people and osaka has an edge to it unlike Tokyo
Tokyo is amazing mate
@@BackpackerBen Agreed! just wish it was cheaper or i knew someone there
Your channel deserves more subscribers
Thanks mate hopefully it does
The exact reason honest vlogers like you and Bald get hassled and the government frowns on people visiting abandoned buildings is the jackasses that destroy everything. Its very sad.... To me it is the historic importance and the natural order of decay that make such worth the time and most interesting. I salute you and appreciate you.
Thanks bro 😎
Oh! Mate your back with Mr. Bald nice to see you again. Keep safe
Thanks for watching mate
You guys should have a tv show. Millions would watch
Coming soon
Hi bald, nice to see you!
Ben, when the security man handed you your mask, you mindlessly grabbed it with two fingers; you had just explained the importance of the emphasis placed on respect and accepting & passing things with two hands.
Facial recognition thing took your temperature (98.4F). Nice to see you vlogging with Mr. Bald.
Oh yes!
great video - informative and funny. brilliant
( meanwhile ) @4:55 that old Samurai would beat " tha bloody piss " outa all the #kingsgaurds by himself 😂
Wow, I stayed at my mates sisters apartment in Osaka and that rail crossing at 16:18 is just like one near, and had a station on the left, as it’s shown here. There’s so many as Osaka is unimaginably large, yet is completely dwarfed by Tokyo which makes LA’s urban sprawl seam quite small scale. It’s insane!!!
Be careful, some of the towns in Japan are abandoned because they are haunted.
HaHa...
Ben wakes up every morning and just thanks God that his parent's last name wasn't Dover.
Love this video cheers lads
Cheers mate
Looks great, I hope to go there one day
Ben bro! How u got me hooked on travel videos! I’ll be honest, you’re bants!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂 it’s like chilling with my most relaxed mate on holiday doing dope stuff 😂😂😂
London tuned In
Looking forward to more videos about Japan 🇯🇵
😎👌🏼
18:31 I like how they just barge in asking for tea in typical British fashion
20.38 mins in the back ground some walks past a black shadow.
The tourist sites are still relatively quiet because the Chinese tourists haven't been let back in yet.
Doesnt the chinese and japs hate eachother ?
I just love Japanese customs very sensible people
Very nice video Ben! I enjoyed it a lot.
You should be more cautious using the videocamera in Japan, the first bar you went to the old men were probably mad at you because of the camera and of the shoes, the second place was great btw and yeah, prices are high af
Cheers mate !! Yes it’s hard to understand this culture 😆
Welcome to Japan. Thank you for providing us with some not-so-common images along with Mr. Bold. Rest your body for the long drive with jet lag. The scene where you borrow an umbrella is fun and gentlemanly no matter how many times I see it. Itoigawa had a big fire in town in 2016. Enjoy Tokyo too. Try to use the train too.🚅🚋
Just watched Bald's Vid so straight over to the Backpacker, well done interesting viewing indeed. Keep it up
😎👍 legend thanks mate
Awesome 👍 you're absolutely correct JAPaN is indeed CLEAN/Beautiful
I love the duo and the entertainment that comes, it may not be like India with random people yelling and adding chaos. This is pure, and I really enjoyed it. Japan is a really cool country to explore so I hope there’s more to come. Next stop could be Antarctica and still be wicked entertaining with you two, share with bald please. -Friend
I’d love to go Antarctica 🇦🇶
Hi Ben I really like your channel and have you ever been to golden triangle on the borders of china Laos and Thailand.? Would like to invite you visit there 😊
Lots of rotten broken buildings , deserted villages, tidal wave damage i guess..
No wonder Bren thinks Japan is expensive. @23:23 Ben puts in a 10,000 Yen note to buy a 600 Yen dish. That scene looks like it had an editing pause so I hope it gave him the note back and he then put a 1000 in.
Hahaha yeah it came out
Just took ages so edited it out
A little history of the castle would have been nice
Is it really abandoned? Because the town I live in is not considered abandoned, but looks worse than Itoigawa.
Great Content!
What was the difference between the 5000 and 2000 crabs? You mentioned this, but you didn't say.
£19?!?! Omg.... that's an outrage!
Your content is superb, Ben. Cheers!
Thanks for watching mate
Thanks to Bald, I’m a new subscriber 😉
Cheers mate welcome 🙏🏼
The bridge and umbrella bit was hilarious
bald hogged it hahaha
Awesome video, you guys are legends! x)
😎👌🏼
You are from the UK and a "spot of rain" bothers you that much? To this yank, that looks just like England would....why is it depressing?
Excellent video. It's put together much nicer than Balds version with explanations and much easier to follow sequence of events. Including the eating and lodging parts are always a plus. Also not including all the unnecessary perverted stuff is much appreciated.
You both compliment each other....a die hard Ben fan... But you are finding ground!!! Cheers
Cheers sunny
Hey Ben, Watched both yours and Balds video and enjoyed them both!
From what I can tell you're using a dji pocket 2 and Bald has a sony fdr x 3000?
I think the color looks a tad better with the sony but more importantly... why does Balds video look 60fps while yours appears 30fps? Genuine question as I'm thinking of buying a pocket 2. Are you filming in 30fps in this video?
Walking around the abandoned hospital reminds me of the beginning to a half dozen zombie movies.
Different angle to Bald‘s video.
I can finally see how he handles his camera, still not sure what model and how he gets it so smooth & not shaky while walking though.
That town looks the same on Street View, probably from a few years ago.
Decent camera to be fair
This is that time Mr. Balder stole the umbrella. (Accidentally)