Journey Across Japan: Non-Stop-North STARTS NOW! - 2,000km. -21 days on the road through north Japan. Just one problem. We need a vehicle. And so with a budget of $1,000 we head off to buy the cheapest, tiniest car that we can find, for our longest, most epic journey yet. Away we go!
Yo! 1:22 there was a editing mistake if im not wrong. Right at that spot is dimming effect like there shouldve been a text or image but there was nothing there
love the shot of chris and natsuki peacefully eating chocolate almonds in their little abode of a car with a heavily modified supra glaring through the rear window at 12:00. like a predator stalking its prey
This channel has come a long way from the early days of that first cramped apartment. Love that the humor has never changed and that Natsuki is still a frequent guest, now co-host on the channel.
Buy a car, take a friend, go on a trip. It's THAT simple. I'm the last person to say, this, but... I wanna do something like that. I'll definitely be tuning in every day for these, 100%
Yeah. I'm sure they have proper conversations since Chris speaks fluent Japanese. But for the benefit of the viewers we get to hear the results of the English lessons Natsuki presumably spent playing his Gameboy.
Commenting on a person's weight is common in Asia, not really a big deal. But I did notice that Westerners tend to get taken aback by it, pretty sure Chris is very familiar with it by now.
Pro tip: Key fobs like the one for the Kei Car you bought tend to be iffy when they get cold, so if you have problems starting the car by pushing the "start engine" button with your finger, you should be able to start it by pressing the key fob against the "start engine" button. It even works if the key fob battery is dying. And if the car won't start even with the fob pressed against that button, the car battery's completely dead.
Another alternative is to warm the battery. Wouldn't recommend taking battery out and holding in your hand. But just holding key fob in hand for about 5ish minutes should help.
I seriously thought he half complimented Chris that the car will be safe since his weight will keep the car down ... its not going to be empty with luggage and them, wouldn't that help ?
@@DotabiatchI’ve heard of people putting sand bags in their trunks to help weigh down cars during the winter for better traction so I understand your thought process
But as soon as it's a small car (a used to be normal sized car) in america. People want to complain that it's too small and unsafe because of the vehicles around it 😂
@@p.herrmann4538seriously! 😂 I can't wait till more of the SUV/minivan kei cars show up. Right now in America most places just bring in the trucks with the dump beds. Those sell $12,000 minimum in my town for a 1996 or something lol
My brother, this series is such an accomplishment. Sure, you didn't do daily uploads, but this journey is why we love your channel. I can sit back and escape the grind with these videos. Thanks for this.
@@lumare everyone who has one weird friend like Natsuki in their social circle is blessed. There should be more people like Natsuki who is open-minded, weird, and fun at the same time.
Car from a granny that was only used to get groceries = always good deal. 70.000 km is nothing. But I really hope you got the right tyres. That is the most important part in cold and snowy/icy weather to be safe on the road. Also fill up the antifreeze and get a windshield cover 🤝 Totally stoked for the upcoming videos. Best of luck and good journey guys!
Chris has been nagged quite a bit to make sure he gets good tires. Like half of the last live he did. 😂 this is also the area he lived in in Japan so he’s well acquainted with the weather. He told a story in his book about how his first Japanese car got stuck in the snow right at the entrance of the school he taught in. I’m sure the mortification taught him well. 😂😂😂
Finally covering Tochigi! I lived there for a while and have been disappointed you haven’t covered it since it’s such an amazing place. Can’t wait for next episdoe
Seeing Natsuki interact with other Japanese people makes me wonder what they think of him. 😂 He sure is a wonderful, funny, one of a kind individual. 😇🥰
Lol. It’s alright because that particular car was actually pretty shit, but it’s all good. They probably got the okay to film and everything in advance and gave them a general heads up.
Natsuki doing the best he can with limited language skills (I would do no better!) is my favorite part. He says things that crack me up with him likely having no idea why it might be funny. Such a genuine guy.
Natsuki has extremely high standards: Does not want Grandma-smelling cars, does not want a toy car, does not want to get in a potentially fatally dangerous car and claims Chris is too fat for tiny car and has no problem telling the car salesman that the car is shit. I have a stomachache from laughing
To be honest, im very excited to see the capabilities of your Kei car. I'm willing to bet this will serve as a benchmark for those who are interested in this class of vehicle, especially for those in North America. Unfortunately though, it seems like the country is trying to ban them 😢
Nothing scares the North American auto industry more than affordable, small, fuel efficient, easily repairable cars. They've spent way too much money convincing the average office worker they need a $100k pickup truck to drive into the office every day.
@@aeingal Small hatchbacks are indeed common in Europe. The size of kei-cars they are not. Kei-cars are limited to a width of less than 148cm and a length of 340cm. My goods trailer from Hungary is classified and registered as a 'kei-car' here in Japan, but other than small trailers, there is not one European vehicle that can be registered as a 'kei-car'. Mostly, this is due to engine size and being larger than the permissible dimensions. The Jimny is perhaps the most well-known 'kei-car' on the European and indeed, global market. However, it is the 'Jimny Sierra', ordinary vehicle version with a wider wheelbase and an engine that surpasses 660CC. Both versions are sold in Japan. The Jimny (with kei-car spec) and the Jimny Sierra.
@@andrewjones-productions You are right. This car looks bigger than i thought it realy is. But we had vechicles this size in Europe for example Fiat 126p which was produced in Poland till year 2000. Of course it isn’t such thing to compare those two, but in US that size of an car is still ridiculous.
Kimura-san was a great sport! If this video is indicative of the quality of this series I'm really looking forward to it. Well done Chris and your entire team, hopefully all the planning pays off!
I regularly drive a Smart car in German traffic and I have to say that I fell in love with it - drove a Mercedes E-series before and decided to downsize as I live in a city now. When I visited Japan, I was surprised how many kei-cars you can spot on their roads. They know what’s good!
@@bjthedjdutchdude1992I used to drive a 2004 Panda! I drove it from The Netherlands to Latvia (1800km) within one day, no stops other than gas and toilet. Sadly had to get rid of it as it had ECU issues and a leaking exhaust manifold + head gasket, but I'm so proud it made it to Latvia and back. Now I have a perfect condition Citroën C1, planning to make that drive again next year. :)
See Chris, the editors did a great job. Sometimes you just need to let others do some work for you so you can create good content more often. I'm excited for the new content. It's a Christmas miracle!
This really puts me in mind of the old Top Gear specials I watched growing up: Finding a cheap car and hoping it lasts a long journey while hilarity ensues. Very excited to watch this series!
I enjoyed their Race across Japan special, but I would’ve loved to see Clarkson, Hammond and May race each other in kei cars! “Clarkson you big fat slob, if you get in that car it won’t be able to move!” 😆
The only thing missing is the technical info like weight, horse power, hp to weight ratio etc etc. 0-60(if it can even achieve it), fuel tank, fuel consumption
I was stationed in Okinawa in the early 70's. I had a Toyota Publica 2 door. 360cc aircolled engine, manual transmission, no a/c. Actually the car was quite adequate. Highest speed limit on the island at the time was 45 mph and the little car could make it quite easily. If I had one now I would be happy with it. Gas mileage was terrific. I would feel safe driving it around town and doing my shopping, etc. Would I take it on a 4 lane or Interstate? Not on your life.
My wife and I just bought a Suzuki Jimny at Big Motor here in Japan. After we did the paperwork and the salesman brought us to the car to show us where all the buttons are, he turned on the radio and the news was reporting on the scandal at the company about ripping off customers and over charging insurance companies 🤣 it got so awkward lmao
Gotta love Chris. Most TH-camrs are like "I spent 4 KAJILLION dollars on a CAR and painted it METALLIC LIME green (not clickbait!)" Whereas Chris goes "I need a new car. Let's get something small and cheap. And drive it through the mountains in winter."
I drove a Nissan cube for many years in Texas. It was a great car, only issue was driving over 70mph on the highway, a small gust would make me hang on for dear life on the steering wheel....
I appreciate how small the width of the front seat is, cause when filming it feels a lot more like two friends sitting on a couch, and not as disconnected as filming in a car usually does.
Natsuki’s style is improving as he gets older. I love those glasses. He’s entering his 70s film director era. I hope that car takes chains, etc - good luck in the snow!
12:00 is that a…. SUPRA?! 😂 Awesome start to the next season of Journey Across Japan - my wife and I are so excited to watch over the coming weeks! Good luck with the drive; I’ve always personally fancied a Kei car here in the UK so I’m already invested in this adventure 😂
The Journey Across Japan series is without doubt the best travel show on youtube, going from strength to strength with each iteration. Extremely well shot, presented and edited. Great work Chris and team.... and most importantly Natsuki!
I love that they have the FULL price on the sticker, with the fees including in the price. Makes it MUCH easier to shop for a car. Wish we had that over here...
"Thank you so much to Kimura-san for putting up with Natsuki" That poor man didn't know what he was getting into when he agreed to be a part of a video selling a car 🤣 Chris is like a parent trying to control their out of control child at the grocery store wanting everything LMAO
It was impressive that you could get a car for such a small budget 😂. Can't wait to see more of the Tohoku region of Japan, especially with snow all around 😁
Yeah, I paid $3k for my Nissan here in America and it was rusted outside and stained all inside. AC worked for 4 months and the car worked for less than a year after I put a lot of money into it to fix it and then I had to junk it. Total waste. I was really shocked and impressed by the state of that car for $1k in the video. The inside and outside look pristine and it's a very cute car. If I could get a deal like that, I'd invest in another car. If this is what $1k can get you in Japan, think about what you can get for just a little more 😭😭
@@Joopisthat’s what I’m saying. I paid 1k for a Nissan a few years back that only worked for 2 years total out of the 4 I owned it. At that’s not 2 years straight either. 😂 1k for that? That tiny car be sold less than a day if that was here in Murca
My most exspensive car so far been £500 tho may bought another for 550 lol just see if it turns up and. 2 my best cars were £200 and they lasting years
Wow I'm really impressed with the production quality of this episode - the comedic timing, the editing, the sound effects - reminds me of an episode of Top Gear/Grand Tour. Very polished. Keep up the good work 👍
Natsuki has so much swagger, he's just so homegrown and charming. I'd love to see some new extended interviews with him discussing more about punk rock and his hometown and the old days
Chris, you should be able to change the cabin air filter out to help get rid of the smell when the air is running. It's usually as simple as popping a plastic panel or two off from under the dash to swap out.
LOVE Natsuki. All he does is being himself, innocently and candidly, and it's brilliant or hilarious or both. Chris: Kei car. Natsuki (in earnest): Kei car is light car. You are heavy. And he was not even reading from the script.
Where/how did you buy one in the states? I want to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle and I love the little car as it'd be perfect for my everyday needs
@@L.AShmuckThere can be third party dealerships or you have to import it from Japan. The car needs to be 25 years or older and it depends on which state. The reason it has to be 25 years or older so it doesn’t have pass emissions. If you get one make sure to register it as a classic vehicle through insurance like Hagerty. It makes the dmv process easier. My uncle has imported two kei cars.
@@Mosssflower It doesn't matter. Think of some of the postal service vehicles that are right hand drive as well. Plus if it's an imported vehicle most places spend more time in awe than actually caring about anything else. Drive through restaurants are fine too since they are so narrow you can just lean over.
@@Droidking13 Technically you can import cars less than 25 years old, but to get it road legal you'd need to buy 2 of them and have one of them crash tested. Pretty dumb considering most all the cars unavailable in the US less than 25 years old are just different trim levels of cars that are already sold in the US.
9:25 this might be one of the better disclaimers on TH-cam any person able to stay as professional as Kimura San with Natsuki horsing around deserves thanks.
Honestly the car doesn't look too bad. Definitely way better than most used cars in America. The only real leery thing for me personally would be how easily it seems to be pushed around by the wind.
The car itself is light in weight, but also has tall form factor. Perfect recipe for rolling over on really strong wind, I'd say. Hope his equipment is heavy enough to allow it be driven safely (given it's already being pushed by wind on highway, I don't think it is)
@@chnet968 Don’t worry. Tens of millions of these things are on the road in Japan. As long as you’re not driving in a real storm, you and the car will be fine. The Japanese weather service is quite good about inclement weather warnings. After that, it’s mostly about your driving speed, since it’s less about the car actually flipping and more about losing control at high speed, but you wouldn’t be driving that fast in a K car on the highway anyways.
Loved driving in Japan this year. City driving , especially Shinjuku was a little nerve racking. Must admit not using etc was a mistake as, some tolls have gone cashless. As a car guy i couldnt miss the well mentioned Supra in the video, i took a ride out to Daikoku, onto Gotemba and spent 2 days with Fun to Drive. A fantastic experience and well worth the wait of Japan reopening.
I am so excited for the day by day adventures. It’s one of the things I really loved about the original JAJ. Having single guests for different legs of the journey is also pretty great! Not gonna lie tho, that car terrifies me. Not knowing when it’s going to break down on you makes me so nervous (also reminds me of your bike breaking). Have fun, take each day as it comes, and please get proper sleep so you don’t get sick!
i tried not watching this series until now because i plan to watch it during Ramadan. but finally now Ramadan has started i can watch it one by one every day and that's just perfect ❤ btw, starting a 2000 km with Natsuki is just a blessing 😂😅
so happy for journey across japan!!!! i dont comment much, but your videos are true quality. my brother and i have watched your videos for years and im so excited to have this be a part of my daily routine :D
I'm so hyped for this series! I rewatch the OG journey across Japan every year as background noise when i'm doing something. I know it must've sucked for you on the road but as a viewer, it's like being on the road while in your living room. Glad that i can now use a different journey across Japan as background noise!
JAJ is my favourite thing on this channel, and that's saying something. I love this series and it makes me happy every time it comes around again. I know it's a lot of work but the end result really shows the effort you and everyone else puts in. Cheers!
OMG that classic Journey Across Japan theme song at the end gets me all the time. Every time i here it i get goose bumps. Its classic and brings a flood of good memories. Keep up the good work Chris :) can't wait to get some great travel ideas from watching you in the next 21 days :) KEI CARS 4 LIFE :) From a fellow Kei car owner (2005 Nissan Cube)
I was shocked you got a car with good history of the previous driver and well maintained car as well. I want to see the incredible journey you two about to start and bumps along the way.
Your friendship with Natsuki is so heartwarming to my cold asian heart I sometimes become depressed imagining what things would be like if Natsuki didn't stumble across Chris that one night
Congrats on finding a car at such a great price. Hope to hear more about how safe it feels to drive over the course of the trip. Best of luck Chris and enjoy the journey!
These small Kei cars are also getting popular in other countries in East and South Asia as Japan keep dumping used tiny cars in these markets. For example, these are very popular in India and Sri Lanka. Considering their high pop density and smaller roads, these small Kei cars fits their needs very well.
Love your videos. Keep it up! I was on Misawa when you last journeyed across Japan. Now I am gonna binge all your episodes so far. Netflix needs to pickup this series.
😂 it’s funny how vehemently Natsuki didn’t want you to buy the car. It was giving the energy of car being his instead of yours 😂 I love the color of the car. I hope you guys don’t have too much trouble in the snow. Maybe bring extra chains for the tires unless any break.
I spent a few months as an international student in japan this year, and god i miss it so much. Watching these videos really help me cope with it so i'm thrilled to watch this journey unfold!!
That thing looks mint, and also seems really modern. It's probably very well made and I bet it also drives just fine. You'd never get a 10 year old car like that for that price in Europe!
You deserve every inch of success. Your videos always bring such a cozy feeling to my heart. Thank you for all the hard work all this years, to the whole gang. If you ever doubt what you are doing, don’t, your fantastic work makes a lot of people happy 🙏
I wasn’t familiar with the channel in the first JAJ so I’m happy to be here for round two as it happens! Will definitely be something to look forward to during these frosty fresh nights. Warm wishes from the UK 🇬🇧
I don't know why I love that so much, I really enjoy Chris travelling video and learning about the different little things about each villages/towns and the culture.
It looks mint condition. I'm guessing many people in Japan also look after their cars very carefully? In the USA or even many European countries such a car would look like a wreck after over 10 years and 70,000km. Not all, but many are quite tatty at this point. This thing you paid very little for looks incredibly tidy cosmetically. I'm impressed you can get such a set of wheels for such a low price, as small as it is, it is ten times more comfortable than any scooter or motorbike for an extended journey.
I'm willing to bet the previous owner being an elderly person might just be part of it as well. A lot of elderly folks just don't drive all that much. It's much easier to keep a car nice if it's only being used once a week for errands, potentially even less given a lot of essentials in Japan are within walking distance.
I love my mom dearly, but we're having to share my car (which, I do admit, she helped me with affording, but only because I'd been laid off for months and go figure RIGHT when I get a job offer, my prior car died. I had no money at all to get my own vehicle), but she has aged my 2019 vehicle about 10 years in the few months we've been sharing it. She smokes so now there's ashes in all the crevices and crumbs that I'm certain weren't there before (I do sometimes eat lunch in the car, but only once a week, at most. I work from home 4 days a week, and I try to be very careful so as to not attract ants). And then she spilled something with vinegar. She stopped the spill with baking power and I vacuumed it and used a wet vac on it, but it still smells like vinegar and there's still some white residue. I'm going to just wait until she gets her own car because I'm fighting a loosing battle until then. Her car always looked rather trashed and I don't want mine to look like that. Thankfully, she no longer works an hour and a half away from home, so my car isn't taking a physical beating (that I know of...) and I recently had an oil check snd system flush. No lights are on with the dash. But I need my car back to being mine 😂. Making sure it lasts until it's paid off and many years beyond is how I intend to finally be able to afford a house or at least, not live paycheck to paycheck.
I love the Kei car idea. Going to japan and seeing the tiny box trucks, ambulances, trash collection vehicles... i dont know why but it just vibes with me! i absolutely love it!
@miskatonic6210 doesn't matter how safe, if you accidently lose grip and slide of the road it doesn't matter how good the other drivers on the road are, if the car is made out of literally cardboard you can get badly hurt. Sorry not sorry.
if u compared to the numbers of pickup truck drivers who thought they are the beast in snow and drove into others, u will laugh how dumb those guys were... F150 and dodge ram 😂
Cars are tools, not toys and not status symbols. It looks like a very practical vehicle, and I think you made a great choice for the budget you had. I rented a kei van in Kyoto and drove it to Aomori and back (~4400km) last year, stopping at all of the 100 famous mountains of Japan in the Tohoku area and sleeping in the back of it most nights and it was absolutely fine. Granted, it was early Autumn, not Winter and I didn't have to put up with Natsuki for that entire time, but aside from making some concerning sounds while driving up mountain roads, the van held up beautifully. I think you are going to have a blast!
I'm driving across Tohoku with my family next year for the first time so this is perfect timing for me to get some ideas on itinerary :D Thank you for your work !
The K car seems terrifying on the highway, but in all honesty, seems like a decent car to have for cities. All in all, I'm excited for this series to really kick off. Hope there are some good spots so I can make plans to visit when I finally make it out to Japan.
@@robertchandler2063 America it would be scary, everyone divining 63-67mph while your in that tiny car. i get passed up daily on a 2 lane road driving 63 mph everyday thats a 55mph road
I drove across Europe (The Netherlands to Latvia) in a Fiat Panda within one day, no stops besides gas and toilet. Best trip ever. Driving is not about the car, it's about the driver.
Journey Across Japan: Non-Stop-North STARTS NOW!
- 2,000km.
-21 days on the road through north Japan.
Just one problem. We need a vehicle. And so with a budget of $1,000 we head off to buy the cheapest, tiniest car that we can find, for our longest, most epic journey yet.
Away we go!
Been lookin forward to this, good luck!
I’m so excited
Yo! 1:22 there was a editing mistake if im not wrong. Right at that spot is dimming effect like there shouldve been a text or image but there was nothing there
This will be 21 days of fun
Natsuki was like ”Gay…car!? No no no, dangerous!!” 😂
love the shot of chris and natsuki peacefully eating chocolate almonds in their little abode of a car with a heavily modified supra glaring through the rear window at 12:00. like a predator stalking its prey
That Supra is a beauty 🔥
with a full TRD 3000GT kit no less
Nice spot!
mmmm supra
Haha I immediately went to the comments to see if anyone else saw. Awesome shot
This channel has come a long way from the early days of that first cramped apartment. Love that the humor has never changed and that Natsuki is still a frequent guest, now co-host on the channel.
Yes from a cramped apartment to a cramped car. Look at our boy grow🥲
@@kunsan3121 vvvvípĵ11ķ😊r
Buy a car, take a friend, go on a trip. It's THAT simple. I'm the last person to say, this, but... I wanna do something like that.
I'll definitely be tuning in every day for these, 100%
The ease of of how he says "Kei light car, you're heavy" is just astounding. That's a good friendship.
Yeah, who need enemies when you can have a friend like Natsuki? 🤣🤣🤣
in japan its common to make fun of fat people.
Yeah. I'm sure they have proper conversations since Chris speaks fluent Japanese. But for the benefit of the viewers we get to hear the results of the English lessons Natsuki presumably spent playing his Gameboy.
Commenting on a person's weight is common in Asia, not really a big deal. But I did notice that Westerners tend to get taken aback by it, pretty sure Chris is very familiar with it by now.
Pro tip: Key fobs like the one for the Kei Car you bought tend to be iffy when they get cold, so if you have problems starting the car by pushing the "start engine" button with your finger, you should be able to start it by pressing the key fob against the "start engine" button. It even works if the key fob battery is dying. And if the car won't start even with the fob pressed against that button, the car battery's completely dead.
Another alternative is to warm the battery. Wouldn't recommend taking battery out and holding in your hand. But just holding key fob in hand for about 5ish minutes should help.
Honestly that car is super good value and looks much much nicer than what you can get almost anywhere else for 2k....
so true
Natsuki's words of wisdom:
"Kei car is light"
"You are heavy"
Feel your pain Chris. Feel your pain indeed
I seriously thought he half complimented Chris that the car will be safe since his weight will keep the car down ... its not going to be empty with luggage and them, wouldn't that help ?
So this is the ultimate excuse for Chris! He's not overeating - he's adding weight to the vehicle for safety. Have another portion you heroic bastage!
very good so the car wont blow away!
@@DotabiatchI’ve heard of people putting sand bags in their trunks to help weigh down cars during the winter for better traction so I understand your thought process
As a Kei car owner, I realised the importance of weight. I lost weight and my fuel average immediately increased🫣. This is the impact😂
Beauty of a small car is that everything is within instant reach and you feel closer to the outside world yet protected from the weather.
But as soon as it's a small car (a used to be normal sized car) in america. People want to complain that it's too small and unsafe because of the vehicles around it 😂
@@Steve.._. in a Silverado or Escalade you dont even see that small car XD nor feel it when you push it off the road
until you get stuck in it, like they likely will! lol
@@p.herrmann4538seriously! 😂 I can't wait till more of the SUV/minivan kei cars show up. Right now in America most places just bring in the trucks with the dump beds. Those sell $12,000 minimum in my town for a 1996 or something lol
kichigai gaijin devil worshipper!
My brother, this series is such an accomplishment. Sure, you didn't do daily uploads, but this journey is why we love your channel. I can sit back and escape the grind with these videos. Thanks for this.
Can’t believe Natsuki actually asked the guy if the owner died in there😂😂
#awkward
Your friendship with Natsuki is so great, I love that the local weirdo just adopted you as his friend and goes on adventures with you.
U are a weirdo lol jk. Natsuki spirit is just precious and needs to perserved for later generations to enjoy at all costs :D
Natsuki is not a weirdo. He's just... Natsuki. :)
@@plux3740 he's definitely a weirdo, just the fun quirky kind.
@@lumare everyone who has one weird friend like Natsuki in their social circle is blessed. There should be more people like Natsuki who is open-minded, weird, and fun at the same time.
@@subiantohong6173 100%! Fun good natured weirdos like Natsuki keep the world interesting
No one going to talk about how cheap those luxury cars were at the beginning..
There is something poetic about being in japans smallest cheapest K car and at 12:00 having one of their most legendary cars behind you.
oh my god is that a Supra tho?!
I thought I was seeing things when I saw it out of the corner of my eye, ty for pointing it out
i knew i wasnt the only one who realised theres a supra behind him hahahah
just saw you comment. I thought the exact same thing.
Try buying a Supra in the UK for under £20k these days. 😮
Car from a granny that was only used to get groceries = always good deal. 70.000 km is nothing.
But I really hope you got the right tyres. That is the most important part in cold and snowy/icy weather to be safe on the road. Also fill up the antifreeze and get a windshield cover 🤝
Totally stoked for the upcoming videos. Best of luck and good journey guys!
let's upvote this comment so Chris can see it and potentially not die on this trip
Also get a mini-shovel / brush / rubber mallet for the snow & ice buildup on the glass & mirrors.
Chris has been nagged quite a bit to make sure he gets good tires. Like half of the last live he did. 😂 this is also the area he lived in in Japan so he’s well acquainted with the weather. He told a story in his book about how his first Japanese car got stuck in the snow right at the entrance of the school he taught in. I’m sure the mortification taught him well. 😂😂😂
Agreed my Kei van has 110,000 km and has been nothing but reliable.
Good reminder, he might have already forgotten though he was living in Sendai until this year.
Finally covering Tochigi! I lived there for a while and have been disappointed you haven’t covered it since it’s such an amazing place.
Can’t wait for next episdoe
Seeing Natsuki interact with other Japanese people makes me wonder what they think of him. 😂 He sure is a wonderful, funny, one of a kind individual. 😇🥰
Rockstar personality is universal
Probably quite a shock dealing with someone so unhinged haha
Top salesman: TRASH PRICE, SMELLS LIKE A OBACHAN DIED 😭😭
Edit: "piece" to "price" 😵
Poor Kimura-san haha.
He is Japan's crazy (but lovable) uncle.
I am in awe of the absolute balls of natsuki to loudly proclaim "k-car is shit!" right in front of the sales man. 😂
He nodded though xD
Lol. It’s alright because that particular car was actually pretty shit, but it’s all good. They probably got the okay to film and everything in advance and gave them a general heads up.
Savvy & bold negotiating tactic to drive the price down.
I got money for the Car $2500. Natsuki "K-car is Shit!!", OKay the car is now $850, please buy it.
He's a strangely charismatic lovable scoundrel.
Natsuki doing the best he can with limited language skills (I would do no better!) is my favorite part. He says things that crack me up with him likely having no idea why it might be funny. Such a genuine guy.
"Journey across Japan isn't about fun, it's about pain, and suffering". He knows what we're here for
Natsuki has extremely high standards: Does not want Grandma-smelling cars, does not want a toy car, does not want to get in a potentially fatally dangerous car and claims Chris is too fat for tiny car and has no problem telling the car salesman that the car is shit. I have a stomachache from laughing
The most fun cars are the ones that want to kill you.
Shame they couldn't find a Subaru R1 though.
Because personality disorders are fun...
To be honest, im very excited to see the capabilities of your Kei car. I'm willing to bet this will serve as a benchmark for those who are interested in this class of vehicle, especially for those in North America. Unfortunately though, it seems like the country is trying to ban them 😢
Nothing scares the North American auto industry more than affordable, small, fuel efficient, easily repairable cars. They've spent way too much money convincing the average office worker they need a $100k pickup truck to drive into the office every day.
@@CheezMonsterCrazyabsolutely nothing scares them more
In europe is pretty common to see small hatchbacks this size, and those cars are realy great to moving across city
@@aeingal Small hatchbacks are indeed common in Europe. The size of kei-cars they are not. Kei-cars are limited to a width of less than 148cm and a length of 340cm. My goods trailer from Hungary is classified and registered as a 'kei-car' here in Japan, but other than small trailers, there is not one European vehicle that can be registered as a 'kei-car'. Mostly, this is due to engine size and being larger than the permissible dimensions. The Jimny is perhaps the most well-known 'kei-car' on the European and indeed, global market. However, it is the 'Jimny Sierra', ordinary vehicle version with a wider wheelbase and an engine that surpasses 660CC. Both versions are sold in Japan. The Jimny (with kei-car spec) and the Jimny Sierra.
@@andrewjones-productions You are right. This car looks bigger than i thought it realy is. But we had vechicles this size in Europe for example Fiat 126p which was produced in Poland till year 2000. Of course it isn’t such thing to compare those two, but in US that size of an car is still ridiculous.
Kimura-san was a great sport! If this video is indicative of the quality of this series I'm really looking forward to it. Well done Chris and your entire team, hopefully all the planning pays off!
I regularly drive a Smart car in German traffic and I have to say that I fell in love with it - drove a Mercedes E-series before and decided to downsize as I live in a city now. When I visited Japan, I was surprised how many kei-cars you can spot on their roads. They know what’s good!
Kei cars are ok. I drive a 2014 Fiat Panda. A European kei car 😂
@@bjthedjdutchdude1992 It is huge, compared to a Smart Fortwo.
@@bjthedjdutchdude1992I used to drive a 2004 Panda! I drove it from The Netherlands to Latvia (1800km) within one day, no stops other than gas and toilet. Sadly had to get rid of it as it had ECU issues and a leaking exhaust manifold + head gasket, but I'm so proud it made it to Latvia and back. Now I have a perfect condition Citroën C1, planning to make that drive again next year. :)
@@Henning_RechWouldn't say huge. Height and width is nearly identical, the Panda is just a bit longer than the Smart.
@@KremlinBot7
Fiat Panda: 3.65 m
Smart ForTwo: 2.7 m
A K car must be no longer than 3.4 m.
This level of production value being put out daily is going to be almost legendary to see especially with a relatively small team, good luck Chris!
That line from Natsuki about the Kei car being light and Chris being heavy had me in stitches, it was a burn I never saw coming.
8:17 I really like the way how the salesman took or received the money ☺
See Chris, the editors did a great job. Sometimes you just need to let others do some work for you so you can create good content more often. I'm excited for the new content. It's a Christmas miracle!
Apart from leaking the licence plate! At least they edited the video since so it's not there anymore, but it's out there now.
This really puts me in mind of the old Top Gear specials I watched growing up: Finding a cheap car and hoping it lasts a long journey while hilarity ensues. Very excited to watch this series!
I enjoyed their Race across Japan special, but I would’ve loved to see Clarkson, Hammond and May race each other in kei cars! “Clarkson you big fat slob, if you get in that car it won’t be able to move!” 😆
The only thing missing is the technical info like weight, horse power, hp to weight ratio etc etc. 0-60(if it can even achieve it), fuel tank, fuel consumption
@@HDproductionnal 0-60 if it has a strong tailwind
I was stationed in Okinawa in the early 70's. I had a Toyota Publica 2 door. 360cc aircolled engine, manual transmission, no a/c. Actually the car was quite adequate. Highest speed limit on the island at the time was 45 mph and the little car could make it quite easily. If I had one now I would be happy with it. Gas mileage was terrific. I would feel safe driving it around town and doing my shopping, etc. Would I take it on a 4 lane or Interstate? Not on your life.
My wife and I just bought a Suzuki Jimny at Big Motor here in Japan. After we did the paperwork and the salesman brought us to the car to show us where all the buttons are, he turned on the radio and the news was reporting on the scandal at the company about ripping off customers and over charging insurance companies 🤣 it got so awkward lmao
LOL
1) hows the car now? Hhahaha
BIGMOTOR😂
😂
As soon as I saw Big Motor mentioned I knew where this was going haha 😂
That's the Daihatsu crash rating scandal they've been doing since the 90s
Gotta love Chris. Most TH-camrs are like "I spent 4 KAJILLION dollars on a CAR and painted it METALLIC LIME green (not clickbait!)" Whereas Chris goes "I need a new car. Let's get something small and cheap. And drive it through the mountains in winter."
I drove a Nissan cube for many years in Texas. It was a great car, only issue was driving over 70mph on the highway, a small gust would make me hang on for dear life on the steering wheel....
I appreciate how small the width of the front seat is, cause when filming it feels a lot more like two friends sitting on a couch, and not as disconnected as filming in a car usually does.
This car seems big compared to a Smart.
Natsuki’s style is improving as he gets older. I love those glasses. He’s entering his 70s film director era. I hope that car takes chains, etc - good luck in the snow!
Pure love for you guys... 21 days of great content. Thanks a million! ☺
12:00 is that a…. SUPRA?! 😂 Awesome start to the next season of Journey Across Japan - my wife and I are so excited to watch over the coming weeks! Good luck with the drive; I’ve always personally fancied a Kei car here in the UK so I’m already invested in this adventure 😂
I knew I'm not going to be the only one who recognize it! 😁
And with a TRD 3000gt kit too. Rare asf
Lol, saw it too and said exaclty this line in my head :D I really don't know why I always think of this specific line when I see one.
@@R3Yoru Very nice indeed! :D
@@olarul99 Literally the same! Couldn't help contain my excitement when I saw it cruising in the background :D
The Journey Across Japan series is without doubt the best travel show on youtube, going from strength to strength with each iteration. Extremely well shot, presented and edited. Great work Chris and team.... and most importantly Natsuki!
PPPETER is great too
chris cashing in on that pre-christmas extra add revenue i see with the regular december videos - i appreciate it !
I love that they have the FULL price on the sticker, with the fees including in the price. Makes it MUCH easier to shop for a car.
Wish we had that over here...
"Thank you so much to Kimura-san for putting up with Natsuki" That poor man didn't know what he was getting into when he agreed to be a part of a video selling a car 🤣 Chris is like a parent trying to control their out of control child at the grocery store wanting everything LMAO
Many many thanks for the up north series. Really help me planned my own trip this Dec 24. Yamagata is awesome!
It was impressive that you could get a car for such a small budget 😂. Can't wait to see more of the Tohoku region of Japan, especially with snow all around 😁
There's going to be snow all around the car when it slides into a ditch at the first whiff of snow.
Yeah, I paid $3k for my Nissan here in America and it was rusted outside and stained all inside. AC worked for 4 months and the car worked for less than a year after I put a lot of money into it to fix it and then I had to junk it. Total waste. I was really shocked and impressed by the state of that car for $1k in the video. The inside and outside look pristine and it's a very cute car. If I could get a deal like that, I'd invest in another car. If this is what $1k can get you in Japan, think about what you can get for just a little more 😭😭
@@Joopisthat’s what I’m saying. I paid 1k for a Nissan a few years back that only worked for 2 years total out of the 4 I owned it. At that’s not 2 years straight either. 😂 1k for that? That tiny car be sold less than a day if that was here in Murca
@@Joopispretty sure it was ~3000,-$ not 1000,-$... no it was like 2000,-$
My most exspensive car so far been £500 tho may bought another for 550 lol just see if it turns up and. 2 my best cars were £200 and they lasting years
If this prologue is anything to go by, this is going to be a really special and entertaining series! Looking forward to more!
Wow I'm really impressed with the production quality of this episode - the comedic timing, the editing, the sound effects - reminds me of an episode of Top Gear/Grand Tour. Very polished. Keep up the good work 👍
Natsuki has so much swagger, he's just so homegrown and charming. I'd love to see some new extended interviews with him discussing more about punk rock and his hometown and the old days
Chris, you should be able to change the cabin air filter out to help get rid of the smell when the air is running. It's usually as simple as popping a plastic panel or two off from under the dash to swap out.
This reminds me a lot of your older videos in a very good way, keep it up Chris!
LOVE Natsuki. All he does is being himself, innocently and candidly, and it's brilliant or hilarious or both.
Chris: Kei car.
Natsuki (in earnest): Kei car is light car. You are heavy.
And he was not even reading from the script.
As a Kei car owner in the US, I can attest they are so much fun to drive.
Where/how did you buy one in the states? I want to buy a more fuel efficient vehicle and I love the little car as it'd be perfect for my everyday needs
@@L.AShmuckThere can be third party dealerships or you have to import it from Japan. The car needs to be 25 years or older and it depends on which state. The reason it has to be 25 years or older so it doesn’t have pass emissions. If you get one make sure to register it as a classic vehicle through insurance like Hagerty. It makes the dmv process easier. My uncle has imported two kei cars.
@@Mosssflower It doesn't matter. Think of some of the postal service vehicles that are right hand drive as well. Plus if it's an imported vehicle most places spend more time in awe than actually caring about anything else. Drive through restaurants are fine too since they are so narrow you can just lean over.
@@Droidking13the real reason isnt emissions or safety. Car makers lobbied to stop people from importing to try and protect local industry.
@@Droidking13 Technically you can import cars less than 25 years old, but to get it road legal you'd need to buy 2 of them and have one of them crash tested. Pretty dumb considering most all the cars unavailable in the US less than 25 years old are just different trim levels of cars that are already sold in the US.
9:25 this might be one of the better disclaimers on TH-cam any person able to stay as professional as Kimura San with Natsuki horsing around deserves thanks.
Honestly the car doesn't look too bad. Definitely way better than most used cars in America.
The only real leery thing for me personally would be how easily it seems to be pushed around by the wind.
You never know what might be wrong under the hood if you're not a mechanic. Then again, it only needs to last him for 2000 km.
It looks brand new! Considering that it is 10 years old with 70k km on the clock it looks amazing! Good work Gulliver I guess^^
It looks more like a town only car, i would be surprised if it does well on snow and ice
The car itself is light in weight, but also has tall form factor.
Perfect recipe for rolling over on really strong wind, I'd say.
Hope his equipment is heavy enough to allow it be driven safely (given it's already being pushed by wind on highway, I don't think it is)
@@chnet968
Don’t worry. Tens of millions of these things are on the road in Japan.
As long as you’re not driving in a real storm, you and the car will be fine. The Japanese weather service is quite good about inclement weather warnings. After that, it’s mostly about your driving speed, since it’s less about the car actually flipping and more about losing control at high speed, but you wouldn’t be driving that fast in a K car on the highway anyways.
Kei car! Huh?! Is your head ok? 😂
Loved driving in Japan this year. City driving , especially Shinjuku was a little nerve racking. Must admit not using etc was a mistake as, some tolls have gone cashless. As a car guy i couldnt miss the well mentioned Supra in the video, i took a ride out to Daikoku, onto Gotemba and spent 2 days with Fun to Drive. A fantastic experience and well worth the wait of Japan reopening.
I am so excited for the day by day adventures. It’s one of the things I really loved about the original JAJ. Having single guests for different legs of the journey is also pretty great! Not gonna lie tho, that car terrifies me. Not knowing when it’s going to break down on you makes me so nervous (also reminds me of your bike breaking). Have fun, take each day as it comes, and please get proper sleep so you don’t get sick!
I'm so hyped for this series to continue!
i tried not watching this series until now because i plan to watch it during Ramadan. but finally now Ramadan has started i can watch it one by one every day and that's just perfect ❤
btw, starting a 2000 km with Natsuki is just a blessing 😂😅
so happy for journey across japan!!!! i dont comment much, but your videos are true quality. my brother and i have watched your videos for years and im so excited to have this be a part of my daily routine :D
The "Journey through the windscreen" comment after reminding Natsuki to put on a seatbelt got me, this series is going to be fantastic
I enjoyed the irony that the sun flare at 00:33 looks like a Mercedes logo 😆 Love the videos!
Just this episode is enough to know this is going to be the most ridiculous and fun JAJ yet. Chris, here's to what 2023 has been, and 2024 to come :D
I'm so hyped for this series! I rewatch the OG journey across Japan every year as background noise when i'm doing something. I know it must've sucked for you on the road but as a viewer, it's like being on the road while in your living room. Glad that i can now use a different journey across Japan as background noise!
Nothing less to expect fromNissan, I personally have two Nissans ans I am extremely happy with them. I am looking forward to every video this month!
JAJ is my favourite thing on this channel, and that's saying something. I love this series and it makes me happy every time it comes around again. I know it's a lot of work but the end result really shows the effort you and everyone else puts in. Cheers!
What an awesome prologue! The cinematography was top-tier as usual and this left me with such a sense of excitement for things to come
12:00 That Supra in the back 😍. I love Japan.
Safe travels! Really looking forward to seeing this series! Something tells me you haven't told Natsuki that there's no smoking in the car.
12:00 Is that a Supra?? 😂 Great video Chris. Natsuki's negotiation techniques are world class. Gonna be strapped for the next 21 days
I can’t help but smile through the whole video 😊 I can’t wait for the rest of non-stop north!
OMG that classic Journey Across Japan theme song at the end gets me all the time. Every time i here it i get goose bumps. Its classic and brings a flood of good memories. Keep up the good work Chris :) can't wait to get some great travel ideas from watching you in the next 21 days :) KEI CARS 4 LIFE :) From a fellow Kei car owner (2005 Nissan Cube)
“HAPPY…… BATH DAY!” This is epic, can’t wait for more Natsuki and Chris, these guys are hilarious
12:00 a shy and engine wild supra mk.4 appeared behind you
I was shocked you got a car with good history of the previous driver and well maintained car as well. I want to see the incredible journey you two about to start and bumps along the way.
really enjoy this format :) feels like you're able to bring all the stuff around a production that we'd usually miss out on center stage
Your friendship with Natsuki is so heartwarming to my cold asian heart
I sometimes become depressed imagining what things would be like if Natsuki didn't stumble across Chris that one night
Congrats on finding a car at such a great price. Hope to hear more about how safe it feels to drive over the course of the trip. Best of luck Chris and enjoy the journey!
These small Kei cars are also getting popular in other countries in East and South Asia as Japan keep dumping used tiny cars in these markets. For example, these are very popular in India and Sri Lanka. Considering their high pop density and smaller roads, these small Kei cars fits their needs very well.
Love your videos. Keep it up! I was on Misawa when you last journeyed across Japan. Now I am gonna binge all your episodes so far. Netflix needs to pickup this series.
😂 it’s funny how vehemently Natsuki didn’t want you to buy the car. It was giving the energy of car being his instead of yours 😂 I love the color of the car. I hope you guys don’t have too much trouble in the snow. Maybe bring extra chains for the tires unless any break.
I spent a few months as an international student in japan this year, and god i miss it so much. Watching these videos really help me cope with it so i'm thrilled to watch this journey unfold!!
That thing looks mint, and also seems really modern. It's probably very well made and I bet it also drives just fine. You'd never get a 10 year old car like that for that price in Europe!
You deserve every inch of success. Your videos always bring such a cozy feeling to my heart. Thank you for all the hard work all
this years, to the whole gang. If you ever doubt what you are doing, don’t, your fantastic work makes a lot of people happy 🙏
I wasn’t familiar with the channel in the first JAJ so I’m happy to be here for round two as it happens! Will definitely be something to look forward to during these frosty fresh nights. Warm wishes from the UK 🇬🇧
Hell yeah!! A Toyota Supra at 12:00 with a TRD hood and body kit!!
I don't know why I love that so much, I really enjoy Chris travelling video and learning about the different little things about each villages/towns and the culture.
Chris has truly proven his BRITISHNESS with this Top Gear style of challenge !
Love that TOYOTA SUPRA on rear mirroir on minute 12:01 *-*
It looks mint condition. I'm guessing many people in Japan also look after their cars very carefully? In the USA or even many European countries such a car would look like a wreck after over 10 years and 70,000km. Not all, but many are quite tatty at this point. This thing you paid very little for looks incredibly tidy cosmetically. I'm impressed you can get such a set of wheels for such a low price, as small as it is, it is ten times more comfortable than any scooter or motorbike for an extended journey.
Again depends, my mom bought a citroen that was owned by an old lady before, it was so pristine the plastic lining in the boot was still there.
The car may have been detailed by Gulliver before putting it out on the lot for sale. Many used car dealerships in the US do that.
I'm willing to bet the previous owner being an elderly person might just be part of it as well. A lot of elderly folks just don't drive all that much. It's much easier to keep a car nice if it's only being used once a week for errands, potentially even less given a lot of essentials in Japan are within walking distance.
I love my mom dearly, but we're having to share my car (which, I do admit, she helped me with affording, but only because I'd been laid off for months and go figure RIGHT when I get a job offer, my prior car died. I had no money at all to get my own vehicle), but she has aged my 2019 vehicle about 10 years in the few months we've been sharing it. She smokes so now there's ashes in all the crevices and crumbs that I'm certain weren't there before (I do sometimes eat lunch in the car, but only once a week, at most. I work from home 4 days a week, and I try to be very careful so as to not attract ants).
And then she spilled something with vinegar. She stopped the spill with baking power and I vacuumed it and used a wet vac on it, but it still smells like vinegar and there's still some white residue. I'm going to just wait until she gets her own car because I'm fighting a loosing battle until then. Her car always looked rather trashed and I don't want mine to look like that. Thankfully, she no longer works an hour and a half away from home, so my car isn't taking a physical beating (that I know of...) and I recently had an oil check snd system flush. No lights are on with the dash. But I need my car back to being mine 😂. Making sure it lasts until it's paid off and many years beyond is how I intend to finally be able to afford a house or at least, not live paycheck to paycheck.
@@ltsiver To varying degrees of success
I love the Kei car idea. Going to japan and seeing the tiny box trucks, ambulances, trash collection vehicles... i dont know why but it just vibes with me! i absolutely love it!
Just watched the whole 21 days backwards over the last few weeks and completely loved it 🙌 😊
I've always thought JAJ adventures had a Top Gear vibe (the glory days!) so this is a perfect start! Can't wait to experience the rest of the journey.
Driving a cheap death box in the wintery north of Japan in December of all times? Absolute genius, can't wait to see what hilarious adventures unfold!
@TheRealCatof And Kei car is pretty common as well. Also likely Japanese drivers are well disciplined. Even street racers over there have standards.
We're not in your crappy country. It's safe here.
@miskatonic6210 doesn't matter how safe, if you accidently lose grip and slide of the road it doesn't matter how good the other drivers on the road are, if the car is made out of literally cardboard you can get badly hurt. Sorry not sorry.
As I Japanese,I agree😂😂😂
if u compared to the numbers of pickup truck drivers who thought they are the beast in snow and drove into others, u will laugh how dumb those guys were... F150 and dodge ram 😂
I actually want a small car right now, it looks fun. Not safe, but fun. Gotta follow through this journey Chris and the team!
This looks like so much fun. Can't wait for the rest of the videos. I might just rewatch the first season of JAJ
I've got a feeling this is going to be a series I watch back again and again like the first one. Exciting!
Seeing Chris and Natsuki so happy in the car is worth the entire price of the car!
Cars are tools, not toys and not status symbols. It looks like a very practical vehicle, and I think you made a great choice for the budget you had.
I rented a kei van in Kyoto and drove it to Aomori and back (~4400km) last year, stopping at all of the 100 famous mountains of Japan in the Tohoku area and sleeping in the back of it most nights and it was absolutely fine. Granted, it was early Autumn, not Winter and I didn't have to put up with Natsuki for that entire time, but aside from making some concerning sounds while driving up mountain roads, the van held up beautifully. I think you are going to have a blast!
Glad to see you back! Please be safe and enjoy the trip man. ❤🎉
I'm driving across Tohoku with my family next year for the first time so this is perfect timing for me to get some ideas on itinerary :D Thank you for your work !
The K car seems terrifying on the highway, but in all honesty, seems like a decent car to have for cities. All in all, I'm excited for this series to really kick off. Hope there are some good spots so I can make plans to visit when I finally make it out to Japan.
I would buy it to drive locally but not across Japan especially not north Japan.
@@robertchandler2063 America it would be scary, everyone divining 63-67mph while your in that tiny car. i get passed up daily on a 2 lane road driving 63 mph everyday thats a 55mph road
@@knightwolf3511 lol no I meant locally in Japan but not all across it. I use to live there.
@@knightwolf3511they don't go slow in some places of Japan neither, I've done cruises 80 mph in a keicar just to keep with the traffic
I drove across Europe (The Netherlands to Latvia) in a Fiat Panda within one day, no stops besides gas and toilet. Best trip ever. Driving is not about the car, it's about the driver.