I thought its actually was a nice relaxing format, especially how you were talking and interact with your wife. Felt like we were exploring with you together.
I actually really didn't like my voice recording for this one as I messed up the levels and it's too hot (that's seriously a technical audio term). Also, I don't like my off the cuff talking, which is why I generally voice over. But thanks for the kind words.
I really enjoyed this video as is! When I went to Japan for a week, everyone asked me what did I do. I told them I walked. I loved just walking through the neighborhoods because it was always so peaceful and interesting. Sometimes a mix of new with old and I loved it.
I did the same thing. People make it sound like it wasn't an eventful thing to do, but when I was there doing it, there was always something new around the next corner. I was staying in a neighborhood similar to the one in this video.
2 minutes in. From all the years I've been watching Japanese vlogs, this is the first time I've seen a bike parking lot - not the one you typically see just at the side of the road but an actual building, similar to car parks. (Edit) Finished watching the entire thing. I think this type of video has charm in it. It's similar to Google maps where you explore using street view. This time, it has an added narration from someone who lives in the area. In my opinion, a small snippet like this is perfect for this sub-channel. Unlike a live feed where you whip out your camera as you walk around the streets, this has some added edits to better describe something of interest.
@@LifeWhereImFromX you should! Or maybe you could create a video to tell how one would commute from their home to their office using bike and train together. I think that would be helpful for people who would live pretty far from train station.
I liked this long format, easy walk, cinema veritas style. Felt like I was just walking through a neighborhood with a pal, soaking it all in. Loved every second!
I'd love to see a video about pharmacies in Japan seeing as most people will do videos about things like daiso/100 yen stores, convenient stores, and grocery stores
Do you mean the drug stores or actual pharmacies? The drug stores, as far as I'm aware, only sell over the counter drugs. You have to go to pharmacies for the prescription stuff, and they only fill orders. Someone please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
@@LifeWhereImFromX I'm not sure which kind you showed, but I guess the ones more for over the counter stuff. Kind of just the type of things they sell in general or, as an example, if someone who was visiting Japan caught a cold or something, what type of otc products they could look out for, seeing as brands especially vary from country to country.
I'm fascinated by huge older houses in the middle of Japanese cities like the one at 38:35 - obviously very expensive and very secluded so the owner probably cares a lot about their privacy, but it would still be fascinating to tour a property like that
I don't know about this one, but in our area, my wife would say, "Oh, that's the house owned by the landlord." As in, the people who own a lot of property in the neighbourhood often had these bigger chunks of land. They would own the apartment buildings around the area.
According to Google Maps, the old house with the little shrine on the corner is actually a Buddhist temple! I'd be super curious about what it's like inside (and at least as curious if it were a private home in that style!)
It'd be interesting hearing more about the shotengai. The history of how they developed, the challenges they're facing now. Maybe you can meet and speak to some of shop owners.
@@LifeWhereImFromX You breifly mentioned it but the tofu store may be interesting to go into/see. It's definitely something that most non-Japanese viewers would not be familiar with.
I really enjoyed the Japanology episode on shopping streets, though it had a wistful tone because most are disappearing due to Costco etc. A 2021 update, especially after the effects of the pandemic would be extremely interesting. Ganbatte shotengai!
@@LifeWhereImFromX I used to work on one in Ooyama in Toshima-ku, "Happy Road". It was busy and thriving back in 2003 when I was there but now it seems very run down and a lot of the shops are vacant - maybe a good place to try?
If you have comments about a specific thing, please put a timecode, like (01:27 Are those bike police?) This is a really rough, highly unedited video of me doing a walking tour of the neighbourhood around Shin-Koiwa station. Please forgive me for any mistakes and feel free to correct me. The reason I made this video was because a Patreon supporter asked me what you could expect to find around a neighbourhood in Tokyo. So I'm doing this as kind of a practice video to show you what's around. If you can tell me what you're interested in knowing more about, then I'll try and make a more focused video (or several of them) on the main channel. So please, ask away and even though I may not know the answer right away, I'll try and find it out for you. Peace! Greg
Love the covered mall. Smart they don’t have to have AC our heating system. Question why would the police question you with the camera. If there was a bike park like that in nyc bikes would be gone.
very chill & relaxing video. felt like i was on a casual stroll w/ you & your wife. as far as in-depth videos, maybe more about : - shōtengai (many shōtengai have their association office in a building nearby, so possibly interviews w/ members about what they think the future holds for them) - pharmacies (how to navigate & find basics - had the hardest time finding simple medicine for upset stomach for my friend) - police (this would be difficult & would probably require tons of red-tape & back & forth emails; but if possible, their daily tasks, how to ask for help, etc.)
This is great! I would love to see more tours of different Tokyo neighborhoods. It's a great way to showcase each area's unique features. Could be a fun series?
This wasn't part of your tour, but I remember that Tokyo has designated some major streets (like the Ome Kaido) as some kind of emergency streets. I think in case of a major emergency (e.g. a strong earthquake), those streets are reserved to emergency services only and I think they're repaired with top priority if damaged. I think that might be an interesting topic, including what emergency plans the metropolitan government has planned in such emergency situations and how does streets will be managed / used. Or maybe just a general "this is what would happen if a major earthquake hit Tokyo" - where do people evacuate to, how are those evacuation centers managed, what will people find there, how will they be provided with foods, etc.
I thought it was very interesting to see the small businesses that are the ground floor of apartment buildings/homes. I'd enjoy learning more about those sort of shops or zoning set ups since we don't have much of that where I live.
Yeah, it'd be kind of cool to interview various owners about their businesses and homes. I think the tricky thing would be to get them to agree to open up access to some random dude. But I very much like the fact that by default it's completely legal to run many types of businesses from your home anywhere in Japan (with some exceptions, of course).
@@LifeWhereImFromX It would be nice to educate/draw attention to that style of shop, but I completely understand that it wouldn't be easy to set up! Thank you for all the fantastic videos, always brightens my day to see a new one :)
Second this. Of course it is understandable if some of the shop owners are too shy for an interview, but there must be some that wouldn't mind extra publicity. For me it is very interesting to know what are the rules/policies for having a small business in Japan. Just from this video it seems there are many very small shops , does that mean that is it fairly easy to start your own business?
OMG when my girlfriend and I were studying abroad we stayed in a room share near this station. We called this area home for 28 days and still talk about going back and how awesome it would be to live there permanently. It was very quiet there. There were so many little shops that gave the area character. There were many people who were willing to put up with our very limited amount of japanese. A woman even helped translate for my girlfriend when she was being denied at a nail saloon because we didn't have an appointment. I don't know when we will be going back to Japan but we are definitely spending a few days back in Edogawa by Koiwa Station.
This was great, super interesting and relaxing. No questions, sorry, but I'd love to see more videos in this style about different places in Tokyo/Japan!
Ah, I actually want to make a video about all the different types of bikes you can buy in Tokyo. I also wanted to make a video about the rental bikes they have (which can be conveniently found at most 7-Eleven's in Tokyo).
@@LifeWhereImFromX the rental bikes would be super interesting for when I come to visit Japan. Maybe even if possible where one can rent one in the countryside to bike among the small islands. I really enjoy all of your videos so I wouldn't mind both 🙂
Buying a bicycle is quite straight forward, probably the same as where you live. Go to a store, look at the bikes they have, tell them which one you'd like to buy (or order one, I guess), pick it up a few days later. In Tokyo, all bicycles must be registered with the police, and the store will already do that for you usually (if not, go to the next police box with it).
This video reminded me of your bike around tokyo video and I LOVED THAT how relaxing and enjoyable it was. I'm not gonna lie but i love this type of videos and thank goodness someone asked you to show because this is really good. I don't know if it's possible to do more in the future but this format of just walking around relaxing and pointing out stuff is the best for me. Thank you so much for showing this!
Glad you enjoyed. I don't think I'll do this kind of format with any kind of regularity, but as a way to practice before making some more focused videos, I think it did its job.
懐かしい！！！I lived in Shinkoiwa a couple of years ago. You kinda walked by my old apartment at one point haha. Thanks for showing what it's like these days!
I thoroughly enjoyed this, I didn’t find it boring at all. I liked the informal commentary while going slowly through different areas. Closest thing to being there.
4:10 quite the opposite here in America, Drug store items are overpriced. We do all our shopping at walmart for all supplies. The only time you would use would use a drug store is when everything else is closed and or medication cannot be found at other stores. They usually have everything you need when it comes to medication
I would like to see a video on how clean and tidy public spaces are and how that relates to Japanese society and customs. I liked that you mentioned how people around the water park took turns cleaning the area.
I enjoyed this a whole bunch! Tbh I didn't expect to as much, next to your other videos. After actually being there, this is the next best thing and I do love to wander round new places. Your commentary was super interesting as well, so much that is done differently. This was like a relaxing armchair walk through a part of Tokyo. Thank you so much!!!
In regards to businesses running out of residential blocks/ homes, that isn't unusual in UK cities. For instance, many of the supermarket chains only get planning permission for new stores if they include apartments above the store (this might include affordable housing too). Or you see large semi detached or detached houses, that have their ground floor, or entirety, used for a business, such as a dentist, chiropractor, nursery, etc. Generally you can apply to the local council for a Change of Use of most buildings, but there are restrictions on types of businesses allowed in certain areas.
The last five years before 2020, I spent a lot of my time in Japan in/around the Shin-Koiwa/Koiwa area. So this has been really nostalgic and really has me itching to be back.
Greg these videos may have lesser views than your videos at lwimf. But the narrative with no music and the down to earth, honest sense of the vlog was simply phenomenal. I can’t praise this enough or express my appreciation. Thank you; arigato gozaimasu.
Yes most of us actually did make it that far into the video. Non-scripted videos have their own charm and for me they are also stress relieving. I played this while studying and ended up preponing my study break to watch all the things and places you kept pointing at. Thanks for the upload.
I think it's fairly normal for wallets to be returned in Tokyo. I was more leaning on the side of not touching it, since I didn't want to seem like we were stealing it. But I do think it was better to go to the police with it, as you never know, someone might have not taken it back.
@@LifeWhereImFromX Are there any cases where the wallet is actually stolen in Japan? Because stereotypically it would seem that wallets are generally returned to owner or just left on the ground. There are also news portals outside Japan where reports such as "Police are bored and lazy in Japan because there's so little crime" . Just truly curious about that side of the story. Also, the keeping 20% of the money thing, I'm really surprised that is such a thing, I've never heard of that before! That's fascinating
@@toya.channel from wikipedia "According to the 2016 UNODC statistics, Japan's rate of intentional homicide per 100,000 population is the lowest in the world at 0.3 per 100,000 inhabitants." I wouldn't say the cops are bored, but they may be pretty inexperienced when it comes to certain crimes, like murder.
Please create more of this Greg. I felt like traveling with you and your wife. It’s very helpful especially people are unable to travel yet. I’m missing Japan so much. 😌
At the start of the video (around the 3:00 minute mark), you showed a Lawson and across from that was a small hotel (3:15) with a restaurant on the first floor. I stayed there in February 2020 for a few days. I never expected to see that area on TH-cam and your video really brought back the memories. I hope to be able to visit Japan again someday so all the miscellaneous information you've discussed are very helpful. Thank you.
Ah, that's good idea. After I shot the video, I realized I didn't highlight any of the community gardens. Usually there are community plots scattered throughout the neighbourhood that people can rent. I think it works on a lottery system, but I'm not 100% sure. And the reason that small scale farming (like greenhouse farming) can still work economically, even in a dense city like Tokyo, is because I believe the taxes charged on land used for farming is much less than land used for homes or businesses. So I think it's a good way for someone to hold on to their land without putting a building on it.
This was the neighborhood I stayed at when I was studying in Japan. This entire video made me so nostalgic, so thank you. 😭💕 I loved the Shinkoiwa area so much, it was quiet but it wasn't too far from central Tokyo. The people were always so kind and I just loved the vibes the area gave. Hopefully the next time I go to Tokyo, I can give this area a visit once again. 😊
I loved this entire video. I don’t know if you plan to do any more videos of just neighborhood walking tours, but I found this video so captivating, like I was exploring the area with you. Thanks for sharing!
I loved this and would love more videos just like it. I’m the kind of person that likes to spend time exploring a city in Google street view and this scratches that itch but is way more interesting!
Thank you for the neighborhood tour. As many have said I like this format. Even though you think it's a "rough" guide, you pointed out a lot of interesting details. A few things if you could zoom in in the next videos: 1. What is the big building at 33:15 in the background behind the greenhouses? Mansion or business? 2. Are shotengai doing well in Japan? In the US most shopping malls are fading because of change in shopping style and lifestyle. 3. What's the meaning of the diamond signs on the road such as at 29:03? Here they mean for carpool vehicles, but they are usually on highways and big streets, not small roads.
I watch your videos and I think this is the first "walking video" I've seen from you...? The shots are GREAT No shaking of camera I dont get dizzy when I watch. And so wonderful to see those places. Thank you for sharing this video.
I absolutely love how you use city planning facts in your videos as well. It's quite technical, but I am so into that. I love the look of urban areas in Tokyo. The store that just sells tofu is interesting, because this probably doesn't exist in Western countries. The greenway looks so cozy around minute 9. The river park is soooo beautiful! Especially with the cherry blossoms The potted plants are so cool, to have them standing in front of you house seems so Japanese to me
I think a video on the different types of Universities and other adult education in Tokyo would be cool to learn about. It would be interesting to see how the campuses look like in a large compacted city like Tokyo. I'm clueless on Japan's higher education system so if you haven't already made a video on it, I think its a cool idea.
I absolutely loved the longer unedited video. We used to live in Yokosuka integrated early 2000s and we really miss seeing the neighborhoods. Thank you.
I really enjoyed this format of a guided tour around a Tokyo neighbourhood. I'd love to see more of this exact thing, actually! Just giving us a sense of what it's like actually living in some of the bigger areas/cities - the quick change between hustle & bustle, and quiet suburbs, is so cool.
You briefly mentioned how you and your wife will pick up specific things at the drugstore vs the supermarket. I would love to see an explanation on how Japanese families, couples, and/or young professionals do their standard shopping! As an example- My husband and I have no kids, and live in a large city in the US, and we do 1 weekly shop for groceries, and monthly trips to Target for household goods (paper products, cleaning products, etc).
I don't really have any useful feedback on what I'd like to see on the main channel, but I enjoyed the whole video, kind of vicariously having a wander through the town. I love just walking around places I visit, and those green ways seem so beautiful!
Love this video. It’s my favorite Japan / Tokyo tour video because it’s factual and objective. You’re not trying to glorify certain things you just say it how it is. If you ask me, I would like more video tours of this format! Thank you for all your videos!
I was literally thinking "This basically looks like any street in a city of Japan" right before you had said it yourself! Much appreciated video. I've probably walked between 500-1000 miles on foot around Tokyo when I lived there just exploring like this. Unfortunately I did not know what I was looking at a lot of time, so having you explain just the little details was very interesting! I'd love to see more of these videos maybe exploring different neighborhoods that have a unique twist.
@@LifeWhereImFromX if it's on a corner like this then 100% it's because of the visibility on the intersection. But I've seen these panels (or peep holes even) along the side as well and those are just for people to look at the construction.
Kyde and Eric (their name and channel name) have a lot of videos talking about the Japanese rental system. What to expect, pay, rules, etc. A short summary is there's a lot of money to be spent initially and it's not just for the monthly and utilities you'll be using.
Loved this video! I really enjoy seeing more residential sectors. Usually, people focus on the more commercial thoroughfares. I really like the greenways.
I love that kind of "walk & film" videos. When I watched the video, I was able to escape reality for a short time and dream a bit. Sometimes i get lost on Google Maps street view exploring random streets in Tokyo.. I love your videos. They so often show the most beautiful sides of Japan. Thank you for that. Keep up the good work.
what a nice and chill video! enjoyed the narration with input from your wife. would really enjoy a narrated walk like this, of different kinds of areas or neighborhoods, once in a while! some people do them as live streams but all that "hello x, hello y, thanks for the super chat" and answering random questions, makes them rather boring to watch later. this video though has just the perfect mix of soothing walk with extra context to know what is what!
Awesome video. I've been getting more and more interested in visiting Japan, and (to me, in the US) it's crazy to see that many people out, shopping, and doing stuff given the pandemic. I hope I can see Tokyo and the rest of Japan for myself soon
This is such a cool video! I love all of your stuff and all the production work that goes into it, but this “stripped down, just taking a walk“ vibe was really nice. I’ve only visited Tokyo a few times but I’m absolutely in love with it, and it’s nice to see and understand more about the little intricacies of an average neighborhood. I’m blown away by the little bike wheel conveyor belt, the construction site peekaboo panels and the fact that they wash the panels when they leave. So cool! Keep it up!
I liked the slow, relaxing pace of this video and all the small seemingly mundane details of everyday life you were able to highlight. The land use info was really interesting as well. I would love to see more of these in other neighborhoods with a brief historical background of the area if possible. Keep it up!
I really really enjoyed this sort of casual walk-around. I'd love to see more exactly like this, just different kinds of areas or even more of the same and a running commentary on what we're looking at. It's both calming and interesting, a really pleasant video experience.
Great video! I really like this casual style. Everyone does videos on food in Japan. But it's nice to see someone give their thoughts and point out various things in a Japanese neighbourhood.
Hey Greg, great content. It was informative and to the point. I enjoyed all the practical details you share like bike parking, grocery shopping, mixed-use properties, map information and transportation. Learnt a lot. Been a long time fan of your style of narration. Thank you for sharing.
This video format is a very nice addition to the channel. It reminds me of the "Tokyo By Train" video, which was also very nice. That shop only selling tofu was quite intriguing. Would be nice to find out more about it. And also shops on rice and miso as well. These are all very intriguing because Japan tends to have a lot of depth and detail behind every ingredient.The walks through the green belt were also very nice to look at. I was mesmerized to see how clean and pretty the neighborhoods are もっと桜をお願いします 😍
I know you wanted feedback on specific things that we had questions on. But I personally wouldn't mind more videos of this format. Essentially Rambalac but with commentary.
really love this kind of video. Would be amazing to have more of these for random stations all throughout Tokyo. I especially love the little parks and shrines and random small stores!
I loved this video! It gives me a better slice of life of what Tokyo is like. I'd like to see more about these neighborhood-scale shops and streets, it's a side of Tokyo I don't see a lot of (mostly lots of metro and tall buildings)
That was a great video for those of us who love Japan and want to learn more about normal everyday life and how infrastructure works. It would be interesting for you to do a short video on some of the regular street signage. Not a language lesson but just some of the more commonly seen signs (like the green ones you see on poles that I only recently learnt mean it is a school route) and store names like くすり for chemist. Just a thought. Love what you do Greg, keep up the great work. We are itching to get back to Japan soon.
Greg, this is amazing! You should send it to someone responsible for social media in the public administration or even a real estate association and make more of these as introduction videos for foreigners thinking of moving to the Tokyo area. Have one for each of the most popular neighbourhoods amongst Tokyo commuters and use them to introduce potential buyers/renters to the different places. Keep up the good work! I watched the video while running on the treadmill and it was almost like being there.
Super interesting video, thanks for creating it. I find this video format interesting in itself, so I'd be exited if you decided to make more of these. Maybe in an upper class or an unpopular neighborhood. Many people pointed it out already, but the Shotengai would make for a great topic for a future video. Also, you'd make a really good podcaster!
You could consider making more videos like this one! I think they are easier to make and with your narration are very relaxing and interesting! I just exercised with the elliptical while watching it and it was like taking a stroll around Tokyo with some friends! 😁
Hey Greg! Thanks for putting up a rough cut like this! Gives an interesting angle as the viewer into how much work you put in, just exploring and looking for interesting locations and potential subject matter for your main videos. A few pieces that got my interest are: Have you done a video about the bike parking and storage systems in the Tokyo metropolitan area? I know some of the storage systems can get really elaborate and it would be cool to see how they work. Also, cities tending to grow organically with the needs of the people who live in them, how does city and neighborhood planning operate in Japan and how has it differed from the West? Finally, I noticed how the drug store you and your wife walked past as you arrived at the station, had a lot of it's wares just outside on those shelves instead of in store. I'm curious how that works. Do they pull those shelves inwards when they close up at the end of the day, have they ever had to deal with thefts of those kinds of products? Finally, I'm really interested to learn more about how Shotengai function, compared to Western style malls. Also are there any particularly famous ones, or ones that put a neighborhood on the map? Hope these thoughts and questions are helpful. Best from the Puget Sound region!
Lots of good questions! I haven't done a video about bike parking, but since a lot of people are asking, I think I will. Zoning is different in that it's done at a national level, then pushed down to the city level. Cities can create their own rules and have special regulations and what not, but the standards start nationally vs. locally. How it all actually gets decided though, I don't know. For the drug stores, yes, they pull in all the goods every night. No clue about the theft rates. Yes, there are famous shotengai. There are also many that are in decline. I could do a single video just on shotengai. From what I read, they're really different than a North American mall or strip mall in that everyone generally owns their own property and shop. So it's a bunch of local retailers. However, chains have been moving in lately, so it's changing.
Awesome video, i liked it because i can get to see normal neighborhoods of a city like Tokyo more like I'd see it if I were to br walking there, something i dont think I'll do any time soon
Thanks so much for this video!!! I was living in Koiwa for a year so this is such a nice throwback. There's also a really nice park behind shin-koiwa station where people played baseball and there was sitting under sakura trees :)
I thought its actually was a nice relaxing format, especially how you were talking and interact with your wife. Felt like we were exploring with you together.
Thanks
@@LifeWhereImFromX you can call the format, "Explore together".
If there is VR version of videos like this, i wont be lonely anymore
I really liked the style of the video.
Mainly green narrow street .
I think Greg should consider ebook narration. He has the perfect voice for it.
I actually really didn't like my voice recording for this one as I messed up the levels and it's too hot (that's seriously a technical audio term). Also, I don't like my off the cuff talking, which is why I generally voice over. But thanks for the kind words.
@@LifeWhereImFromX Hearing someone talking while walking is indeed sort of unsettling, voice over is a good call.
yes, I agree 100%
What genre?
@@LifeWhereImFromX the pacing and softness of your voice is so similar to what I am listening in audible. 😁
I really enjoyed this video as is! When I went to Japan for a week, everyone asked me what did I do. I told them I walked. I loved just walking through the neighborhoods because it was always so peaceful and interesting. Sometimes a mix of new with old and I loved it.
I’m just like that, too. I think walking around in multiple areas is the best way to feel the city.
I walked a lot also. I also took the train everywhere.
I did the same thing. People make it sound like it wasn't an eventful thing to do, but when I was there doing it, there was always something new around the next corner. I was staying in a neighborhood similar to the one in this video.
2 minutes in. From all the years I've been watching Japanese vlogs, this is the first time I've seen a bike parking lot - not the one you typically see just at the side of the road but an actual building, similar to car parks.
(Edit) Finished watching the entire thing. I think this type of video has charm in it. It's similar to Google maps where you explore using street view. This time, it has an added narration from someone who lives in the area. In my opinion, a small snippet like this is perfect for this sub-channel. Unlike a live feed where you whip out your camera as you walk around the streets, this has some added edits to better describe something of interest.
This makes me want to do a video centered around bike parking. There are actually so many different kinds!
@@LifeWhereImFromX you should! Or maybe you could create a video to tell how one would commute from their home to their office using bike and train together. I think that would be helpful for people who would live pretty far from train station.
I liked this long format, easy walk, cinema veritas style. Felt like I was just walking through a neighborhood with a pal, soaking it all in. Loved every second!
I'd love to see a video about pharmacies in Japan seeing as most people will do videos about things like daiso/100 yen stores, convenient stores, and grocery stores
Do you mean the drug stores or actual pharmacies? The drug stores, as far as I'm aware, only sell over the counter drugs. You have to go to pharmacies for the prescription stuff, and they only fill orders. Someone please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.
@@LifeWhereImFromX I'm not sure which kind you showed, but I guess the ones more for over the counter stuff. Kind of just the type of things they sell in general or, as an example, if someone who was visiting Japan caught a cold or something, what type of otc products they could look out for, seeing as brands especially vary from country to country.
@@LifeWhereImFromX I think both would be interesting.
I'm fascinated by huge older houses in the middle of Japanese cities like the one at 38:35 - obviously very expensive and very secluded so the owner probably cares a lot about their privacy, but it would still be fascinating to tour a property like that
I don't know about this one, but in our area, my wife would say, "Oh, that's the house owned by the landlord." As in, the people who own a lot of property in the neighbourhood often had these bigger chunks of land. They would own the apartment buildings around the area.
According to Google Maps, the old house with the little shrine on the corner is actually a Buddhist temple! I'd be super curious about what it's like inside (and at least as curious if it were a private home in that style!)
It'd be interesting hearing more about the shotengai. The history of how they developed, the challenges they're facing now. Maybe you can meet and speak to some of shop owners.
Never thought of that angle. It's a good idea.
Yes. They are in some ways reminance of European medieval cities where people lived in the same building they have their business. A great idea!
@@LifeWhereImFromX You breifly mentioned it but the tofu store may be interesting to go into/see. It's definitely something that most non-Japanese viewers would not be familiar with.
I really enjoyed the Japanology episode on shopping streets, though it had a wistful tone because most are disappearing due to Costco etc. A 2021 update, especially after the effects of the pandemic would be extremely interesting. Ganbatte shotengai!
@@LifeWhereImFromX I used to work on one in Ooyama in Toshima-ku, "Happy Road". It was busy and thriving back in 2003 when I was there but now it seems very run down and a lot of the shops are vacant - maybe a good place to try?
If you have comments about a specific thing, please put a timecode, like (01:27 Are those bike police?) This is a really rough, highly unedited video of me doing a walking tour of the neighbourhood around Shin-Koiwa station. Please forgive me for any mistakes and feel free to correct me. The reason I made this video was because a Patreon supporter asked me what you could expect to find around a neighbourhood in Tokyo. So I'm doing this as kind of a practice video to show you what's around. If you can tell me what you're interested in knowing more about, then I'll try and make a more focused video (or several of them) on the main channel. So please, ask away and even though I may not know the answer right away, I'll try and find it out for you. Peace! Greg
Love the covered mall. Smart they don’t have to have AC our heating system. Question why would the police question you with the camera. If there was a bike park like that in nyc bikes would be gone.
So quite
BEST. VIDEO. EVER. Please make more of these videos! Even without narration or commentary, just film and put notes about the places and things around!
More content of you just walking and giving this type of narration style would be amazing! It’s really chill and informative.
very chill & relaxing video.
felt like i was on a casual stroll w/ you & your wife.
as far as in-depth videos, maybe more about :
- shōtengai (many shōtengai have their association office in a building nearby, so possibly interviews w/ members about what they think the future holds for them)
- pharmacies (how to navigate & find basics - had the hardest time finding simple medicine for upset stomach for my friend)
- police (this would be difficult & would probably require tons of red-tape & back & forth emails; but if possible, their daily tasks, how to ask for help, etc.)
This is great! I would love to see more tours of different Tokyo neighborhoods. It's a great way to showcase each area's unique features. Could be a fun series?
Agreed!
I'm interested in urban planning and Japan is so particular in this specific field, i love this kind of neighbourhood tour, thanks Greg !
This wasn't part of your tour, but I remember that Tokyo has designated some major streets (like the Ome Kaido) as some kind of emergency streets. I think in case of a major emergency (e.g. a strong earthquake), those streets are reserved to emergency services only and I think they're repaired with top priority if damaged. I think that might be an interesting topic, including what emergency plans the metropolitan government has planned in such emergency situations and how does streets will be managed / used. Or maybe just a general "this is what would happen if a major earthquake hit Tokyo" - where do people evacuate to, how are those evacuation centers managed, what will people find there, how will they be provided with foods, etc.
I thought it was very interesting to see the small businesses that are the ground floor of apartment buildings/homes. I'd enjoy learning more about those sort of shops or zoning set ups since we don't have much of that where I live.
Yeah, it'd be kind of cool to interview various owners about their businesses and homes. I think the tricky thing would be to get them to agree to open up access to some random dude. But I very much like the fact that by default it's completely legal to run many types of businesses from your home anywhere in Japan (with some exceptions, of course).
@@LifeWhereImFromX It would be nice to educate/draw attention to that style of shop, but I completely understand that it wouldn't be easy to set up! Thank you for all the fantastic videos, always brightens my day to see a new one :)
Second this. Of course it is understandable if some of the shop owners are too shy for an interview, but there must be some that wouldn't mind extra publicity. For me it is very interesting to know what are the rules/policies for having a small business in Japan. Just from this video it seems there are many very small shops , does that mean that is it fairly easy to start your own business?
OMG when my girlfriend and I were studying abroad we stayed in a room share near this station. We called this area home for 28 days and still talk about going back and how awesome it would be to live there permanently. It was very quiet there. There were so many little shops that gave the area character. There were many people who were willing to put up with our very limited amount of japanese. A woman even helped translate for my girlfriend when she was being denied at a nail saloon because we didn't have an appointment. I don't know when we will be going back to Japan but we are definitely spending a few days back in Edogawa by Koiwa Station.
I used to lived in a sharehouse in Koiwa too ☺
This was great, super interesting and relaxing. No questions, sorry, but I'd love to see more videos in this style about different places in Tokyo/Japan!
I'd love to hear more about renting/buying a bike in japan and all the little things that goes with it
Ah, I actually want to make a video about all the different types of bikes you can buy in Tokyo. I also wanted to make a video about the rental bikes they have (which can be conveniently found at most 7-Eleven's in Tokyo).
@@LifeWhereImFromX the rental bikes would be super interesting for when I come to visit Japan. Maybe even if possible where one can rent one in the countryside to bike among the small islands. I really enjoy all of your videos so I wouldn't mind both 🙂
Buying a bicycle is quite straight forward, probably the same as where you live. Go to a store, look at the bikes they have, tell them which one you'd like to buy (or order one, I guess), pick it up a few days later. In Tokyo, all bicycles must be registered with the police, and the store will already do that for you usually (if not, go to the next police box with it).
@@SandroMathys cost of new bike ?
@@LifeWhereImFromX You could also go over bicycle insurance, registration with the police, and the relatively recent "driver recorder" packages.
Thank you for showing Japan in a very good way.
This video reminded me of your bike around tokyo video and I LOVED THAT how relaxing and enjoyable it was. I'm not gonna lie but i love this type of videos and thank goodness someone asked you to show because this is really good. I don't know if it's possible to do more in the future but this format of just walking around relaxing and pointing out stuff is the best for me. Thank you so much for showing this!
Glad you enjoyed. I don't think I'll do this kind of format with any kind of regularity, but as a way to practice before making some more focused videos, I think it did its job.
I Love this kind of videos, you should do more and your commentary is very nice
This was delightfully diverting- I wouldn’t change the format much
Really enjoyed this video approach, Greg. It's great to be able to look at all the little details in a less edited way. Cheers!
懐かしい！！！I lived in Shinkoiwa a couple of years ago. You kinda walked by my old apartment at one point haha. Thanks for showing what it's like these days!
Greg I like this kind of stuff! Just a random walk in areas where normal tourists will never go. Thanks 🙏
I thoroughly enjoyed this, I didn’t find it boring at all. I liked the informal commentary while going slowly through different areas. Closest thing to being there.
Even in a more unplanned video you are so super informative, that's what I love about your channels.
4:10 quite the opposite here in America, Drug store items are overpriced. We do all our shopping at walmart for all supplies. The only time you would use would use a drug store is when everything else is closed and or medication cannot be found at other stores. They usually have everything you need when it comes to medication
Very true! Like convenience stores, they are open on holidays and times when other places are closed. You have to pay for the" convenience"!
I have never shopped at a Walmart and that is by choice.
Japan never cease to impress me - honesty and integrity is so prevalent. This really is the best place to raise kids. Thank you for making this video.
I would like to see a video on how clean and tidy public spaces are and how that relates to Japanese society and customs. I liked that you mentioned how people around the water park took turns cleaning the area.
This has actually been one of my favorite videos so far. A very calming video to watch during my lunch break.
It would be cool to see a video talking about how hospitals/doctors clinics in Japan operate!
I enjoyed this a whole bunch! Tbh I didn't expect to as much, next to your other videos. After actually being there, this is the next best thing and I do love to wander round new places. Your commentary was super interesting as well, so much that is done differently. This was like a relaxing armchair walk through a part of Tokyo. Thank you so much!!!
In regards to businesses running out of residential blocks/ homes, that isn't unusual in UK cities. For instance, many of the supermarket chains only get planning permission for new stores if they include apartments above the store (this might include affordable housing too). Or you see large semi detached or detached houses, that have their ground floor, or entirety, used for a business, such as a dentist, chiropractor, nursery, etc. Generally you can apply to the local council for a Change of Use of most buildings, but there are restrictions on types of businesses allowed in certain areas.
The last five years before 2020, I spent a lot of my time in Japan in/around the Shin-Koiwa/Koiwa area. So this has been really nostalgic and really has me itching to be back.
I used to live in Koiwa too ☺
Enjoyed the video! I like the pacing and the tone. Good stuff to watch on a weekend. Thank you! 👍😊
Greg these videos may have lesser views than your videos at lwimf. But the narrative with no music and the down to earth, honest sense of the vlog was simply phenomenal. I can’t praise this enough or express my appreciation. Thank you; arigato gozaimasu.
Yes most of us actually did make it that far into the video. Non-scripted videos have their own charm and for me they are also stress relieving. I played this while studying and ended up preponing my study break to watch all the things and places you kept pointing at. Thanks for the upload.
Very lucky that honest people like you and your wife found the wallet! I'm sure that when the person realized they lost it they were in a panic!
I think it's fairly normal for wallets to be returned in Tokyo. I was more leaning on the side of not touching it, since I didn't want to seem like we were stealing it. But I do think it was better to go to the police with it, as you never know, someone might have not taken it back.
@@LifeWhereImFromX here in the US the credit cards would have been used and the money would be gone😒 Sad, but true!
@@LifeWhereImFromX Are there any cases where the wallet is actually stolen in Japan? Because stereotypically it would seem that wallets are generally returned to owner or just left on the ground. There are also news portals outside Japan where reports such as "Police are bored and lazy in Japan because there's so little crime" . Just truly curious about that side of the story.
Also, the keeping 20% of the money thing, I'm really surprised that is such a thing, I've never heard of that before! That's fascinating
@@toya.channel from wikipedia "According to the 2016 UNODC statistics, Japan's rate of intentional homicide per 100,000 population is the lowest in the world at 0.3 per 100,000 inhabitants." I wouldn't say the cops are bored, but they may be pretty inexperienced when it comes to certain crimes, like murder.
A video on lost and found with the police and transit would be interesting.
Please create more of this Greg. I felt like traveling with you and your wife. It’s very helpful especially people are unable to travel yet. I’m missing Japan so much. 😌
At the start of the video (around the 3:00 minute mark), you showed a Lawson and across from that was a small hotel (3:15) with a restaurant on the first floor. I stayed there in February 2020 for a few days. I never expected to see that area on TH-cam and your video really brought back the memories. I hope to be able to visit Japan again someday so all the miscellaneous information you've discussed are very helpful. Thank you.
Ah those cherry blossoms
Ah, that's good idea. After I shot the video, I realized I didn't highlight any of the community gardens. Usually there are community plots scattered throughout the neighbourhood that people can rent. I think it works on a lottery system, but I'm not 100% sure. And the reason that small scale farming (like greenhouse farming) can still work economically, even in a dense city like Tokyo, is because I believe the taxes charged on land used for farming is much less than land used for homes or businesses. So I think it's a good way for someone to hold on to their land without putting a building on it.
@@LifeWhereImFromX it might be a bit niche, and not super popular...but I'd love to know more :D
This was the neighborhood I stayed at when I was studying in Japan. This entire video made me so nostalgic, so thank you. 😭💕 I loved the Shinkoiwa area so much, it was quiet but it wasn't too far from central Tokyo. The people were always so kind and I just loved the vibes the area gave. Hopefully the next time I go to Tokyo, I can give this area a visit once again. 😊
I used to live in Koiwa, just a station away from ShinKoiwa
I loved this entire video. I don’t know if you plan to do any more videos of just neighborhood walking tours, but I found this video so captivating, like I was exploring the area with you. Thanks for sharing!
As an American, I am so surprised at how quiet it is 😬
I loved this and would love more videos just like it. I’m the kind of person that likes to spend time exploring a city in Google street view and this scratches that itch but is way more interesting!
I enjoy calm walking tours where there is narration, nicely done Greg!
Thank you for the neighborhood tour. As many have said I like this format. Even though you think it's a "rough" guide, you pointed out a lot of interesting details.
A few things if you could zoom in in the next videos:
1. What is the big building at 33:15 in the background behind the greenhouses? Mansion or business?
2. Are shotengai doing well in Japan? In the US most shopping malls are fading because of change in shopping style and lifestyle.
3. What's the meaning of the diamond signs on the road such as at 29:03? Here they mean for carpool vehicles, but they are usually on highways and big streets, not small roads.
I watch your videos and I think this is the first "walking video" I've seen from you...? The shots are GREAT No shaking of camera I dont get dizzy when I watch. And so wonderful to see those places. Thank you for sharing this video.
I absolutely love how you use city planning facts in your videos as well. It's quite technical, but I am so into that.
I love the look of urban areas in Tokyo.
The store that just sells tofu is interesting, because this probably doesn't exist in Western countries.
The greenway looks so cozy around minute 9.
The river park is soooo beautiful! Especially with the cherry blossoms
The potted plants are so cool, to have them standing in front of you house seems so Japanese to me
I think a video on the different types of Universities and other adult education in Tokyo would be cool to learn about. It would be interesting to see how the campuses look like in a large compacted city like Tokyo. I'm clueless on Japan's higher education system so if you haven't already made a video on it, I think its a cool idea.
I absolutely loved the longer unedited video. We used to live in Yokosuka integrated early 2000s and we really miss seeing the neighborhoods. Thank you.
Glad to see you doing videos on my neighborhood!
Watching this makes me homesick. There are neighborhoods in Hawaii that look a lot like this in the back side streets.
I really enjoyed this format of a guided tour around a Tokyo neighbourhood. I'd love to see more of this exact thing, actually! Just giving us a sense of what it's like actually living in some of the bigger areas/cities - the quick change between hustle & bustle, and quiet suburbs, is so cool.
You briefly mentioned how you and your wife will pick up specific things at the drugstore vs the supermarket. I would love to see an explanation on how Japanese families, couples, and/or young professionals do their standard shopping!
As an example- My husband and I have no kids, and live in a large city in the US, and we do 1 weekly shop for groceries, and monthly trips to Target for household goods (paper products, cleaning products, etc).
Thanks for showing us the neighborhood and slowing down to admire the flowers
Please make more videos like this. this is the perfect companion when working from home.
I don't really have any useful feedback on what I'd like to see on the main channel, but I enjoyed the whole video, kind of vicariously having a wander through the town. I love just walking around places I visit, and those green ways seem so beautiful!
Love this video. It’s my favorite Japan / Tokyo tour video because it’s factual and objective. You’re not trying to glorify certain things you just say it how it is. If you ask me, I would like more video tours of this format! Thank you for all your videos!
I was literally thinking "This basically looks like any street in a city of Japan" right before you had said it yourself! Much appreciated video. I've probably walked between 500-1000 miles on foot around Tokyo when I lived there just exploring like this. Unfortunately I did not know what I was looking at a lot of time, so having you explain just the little details was very interesting! I'd love to see more of these videos maybe exploring different neighborhoods that have a unique twist.
Loved it! Reminded me of Norm from Tokyo lens. Peaceful and calming exploration. Thank you
I enjoyed every minute. Thanks for this one and thanks to you wife for her comments.
Thanks for taking us around with you, Greg. I was in Japan for a few months in 2019 and loved just walking around residential areas like this.
13:30 the corner was see-through so drivers/cyclists can see better if anything's approaching from the right angle street
Ah, good point! That makes sense. Is that true for all the see-through panels you see, or just for this specific case?
@@LifeWhereImFromX if it's on a corner like this then 100% it's because of the visibility on the intersection. But I've seen these panels (or peep holes even) along the side as well and those are just for people to look at the construction.
@@mopslikvonstein Got it! So some really are just for curious people!
i'd love to learn more about the renting system in Japan- such as finding property, the do's and don'ts of seeing an estate agent, pets/no pets etc
Kyde and Eric (their name and channel name) have a lot of videos talking about the Japanese rental system. What to expect, pay, rules, etc. A short summary is there's a lot of money to be spent initially and it's not just for the monthly and utilities you'll be using.
Yeah, I probably won't ever get into the ins and outs of how to do it. I tend to talk more about why things are the way they are.
Definitely wanna know more about these slot machines
Paolo in Tokyo / Tokyo Zebra has a video out recently about renting in Tokyo
Loved this video! I really enjoy seeing more residential sectors. Usually, people focus on the more commercial thoroughfares. I really like the greenways.
Thank you for this walking tour of Tokyo. Greatly appreciated!
I love seeing all the plant pots - all full of plants! Good for Tokyo!
I love that kind of "walk & film" videos. When I watched the video, I was able to escape reality for a short time and dream a bit. Sometimes i get lost on Google Maps street view exploring random streets in Tokyo..
I love your videos. They so often show the most beautiful sides of Japan. Thank you for that. Keep up the good work.
This video was so good. A portion of tokyo for everyone to dive into. Thank you and all the best wishes and greetings from austria!
what a nice and chill video! enjoyed the narration with input from your wife. would really enjoy a narrated walk like this, of different kinds of areas or neighborhoods, once in a while! some people do them as live streams but all that "hello x, hello y, thanks for the super chat" and answering random questions, makes them rather boring to watch later. this video though has just the perfect mix of soothing walk with extra context to know what is what!
Love this style of video! Would like a series on each neighborhood from the ones we all know to the ones we may not.
Awesome video. I've been getting more and more interested in visiting Japan, and (to me, in the US) it's crazy to see that many people out, shopping, and doing stuff given the pandemic. I hope I can see Tokyo and the rest of Japan for myself soon
This is such a cool video! I love all of your stuff and all the production work that goes into it, but this “stripped down, just taking a walk“ vibe was really nice. I’ve only visited Tokyo a few times but I’m absolutely in love with it, and it’s nice to see and understand more about the little intricacies of an average neighborhood. I’m blown away by the little bike wheel conveyor belt, the construction site peekaboo panels and the fact that they wash the panels when they leave. So cool! Keep it up!
I liked the slow, relaxing pace of this video and all the small seemingly mundane details of everyday life you were able to highlight. The land use info was really interesting as well. I would love to see more of these in other neighborhoods with a brief historical background of the area if possible. Keep it up!
I loved this video so relaxing it’s like I just took a stroll through Tokyo. Would love to see more like this
I loved this, reminded me a lot of channels like Rambalac that do continuous shots of Japan during a walk. More of these, please!
I really really enjoyed this sort of casual walk-around. I'd love to see more exactly like this, just different kinds of areas or even more of the same and a running commentary on what we're looking at. It's both calming and interesting, a really pleasant video experience.
Love seeing the different neighborhoods, would to see more 😁
Great video! I really like this casual style. Everyone does videos on food in Japan. But it's nice to see someone give their thoughts and point out various things in a Japanese neighbourhood.
Hey Greg, great content. It was informative and to the point. I enjoyed all the practical details you share like bike parking, grocery shopping, mixed-use properties, map information and transportation. Learnt a lot. Been a long time fan of your style of narration. Thank you for sharing.
This video format is a very nice addition to the channel. It reminds me of the "Tokyo By Train" video, which was also very nice.
That shop only selling tofu was quite intriguing. Would be nice to find out more about it. And also shops on rice and miso as well. These are all very intriguing because Japan tends to have a lot of depth and detail behind every ingredient.The walks through the green belt were also very nice to look at. I was mesmerized to see how clean and pretty the neighborhoods are
もっと桜をお願いします 😍
I know you wanted feedback on specific things that we had questions on. But I personally wouldn't mind more videos of this format. Essentially Rambalac but with commentary.
really love this kind of video. Would be amazing to have more of these for random stations all throughout Tokyo. I especially love the little parks and shrines and random small stores!
Great video Greg. I like the just walking around a see what we see. Gives a looks at a typical Japanese neighborhood.
I love this style of video. So informative! Please do more.
Spent most of my last trip in Hirai, which is one station down from Shin-Koiwa, great to see it all again while I can't get back there, thank you!
I loved this video! It gives me a better slice of life of what Tokyo is like. I'd like to see more about these neighborhood-scale shops and streets, it's a side of Tokyo I don't see a lot of (mostly lots of metro and tall buildings)
Please make more of these videos! Excited to see what this practice video will be for in the main channel
That was a great video for those of us who love Japan and want to learn more about normal everyday life and how infrastructure works. It would be interesting for you to do a short video on some of the regular street signage. Not a language lesson but just some of the more commonly seen signs (like the green ones you see on poles that I only recently learnt mean it is a school route) and store names like くすり for chemist. Just a thought. Love what you do Greg, keep up the great work. We are itching to get back to Japan soon.
Greg, this is amazing! You should send it to someone responsible for social media in the public administration or even a real estate association and make more of these as introduction videos for foreigners thinking of moving to the Tokyo area. Have one for each of the most popular neighbourhoods amongst Tokyo commuters and use them to introduce potential buyers/renters to the different places.
Keep up the good work! I watched the video while running on the treadmill and it was almost like being there.
(In partnership with them I mean, not just to let us hear your soothing voice :D )
Super interesting video, thanks for creating it. I find this video format interesting in itself, so I'd be exited if you decided to make more of these. Maybe in an upper class or an unpopular neighborhood. Many people pointed it out already, but the Shotengai would make for a great topic for a future video. Also, you'd make a really good podcaster!
You could consider making more videos like this one! I think they are easier to make and with your narration are very relaxing and interesting!
I just exercised with the elliptical while watching it and it was like taking a stroll around Tokyo with some friends! 😁
Wow. First time I completely watched a 45min youtube vid!!! Awesome, thankyou.
Hey Greg! Thanks for putting up a rough cut like this! Gives an interesting angle as the viewer into how much work you put in, just exploring and looking for interesting locations and potential subject matter for your main videos. A few pieces that got my interest are: Have you done a video about the bike parking and storage systems in the Tokyo metropolitan area? I know some of the storage systems can get really elaborate and it would be cool to see how they work. Also, cities tending to grow organically with the needs of the people who live in them, how does city and neighborhood planning operate in Japan and how has it differed from the West? Finally, I noticed how the drug store you and your wife walked past as you arrived at the station, had a lot of it's wares just outside on those shelves instead of in store. I'm curious how that works. Do they pull those shelves inwards when they close up at the end of the day, have they ever had to deal with thefts of those kinds of products? Finally, I'm really interested to learn more about how Shotengai function, compared to Western style malls. Also are there any particularly famous ones, or ones that put a neighborhood on the map? Hope these thoughts and questions are helpful. Best from the Puget Sound region!
Lots of good questions!
I haven't done a video about bike parking, but since a lot of people are asking, I think I will.
Zoning is different in that it's done at a national level, then pushed down to the city level. Cities can create their own rules and have special regulations and what not, but the standards start nationally vs. locally. How it all actually gets decided though, I don't know.
For the drug stores, yes, they pull in all the goods every night. No clue about the theft rates.
Yes, there are famous shotengai. There are also many that are in decline. I could do a single video just on shotengai. From what I read, they're really different than a North American mall or strip mall in that everyone generally owns their own property and shop. So it's a bunch of local retailers. However, chains have been moving in lately, so it's changing.
Awesome video, i liked it because i can get to see normal neighborhoods of a city like Tokyo more like I'd see it if I were to br walking there, something i dont think I'll do any time soon
I enjoy your videos and topics so much. Please, keep making more material
Thanks so much for this video!!! I was living in Koiwa for a year so this is such a nice throwback. There's also a really nice park behind shin-koiwa station where people played baseball and there was sitting under sakura trees :)