Cost of Living in Rural Japan | How Much You Need to Live in the Japanese Countryside

[@DIYJapan]

Are the prices in rural Japan reasonable compared to where you live? What do you think? Leave a comment below 👇 Also, here is the list of expenses for easier reference: Rent: ¥0 Food: ¥47,000 ($330) Daily Necessities: ¥20,000 ($140) Leisure: ¥16,000 ($112) Electricity: ¥14,000 ($98) Water: ¥4,500 ($32) Phone and Wifi: ¥14,000 ($98) Gasoline: ¥8,000 ($56) Car Insurance: ¥3,000 ($21) Parking: ¥0 Streaming Subscriptions: ¥2,000 ($14) Occasional: ¥10,000 ($70) Total: ¥138,500 ($971) This the typical cost but it varies if we go out more. Usually ¥150,000 is the max we spend.

[@larsbee]

dairy necessities.... that's the cutest thing I've seen this week... doesn't that belong to the food cost?😊 hopefully I'm moving to nakajima soon... this may be very helpful!!!

[@EvralTatum-Mcfield-ov2mi]

Less than $1000 for a 3 person household not bad, that mean, a single person with no vices, can live good on a $1000 a month, there's no bus routes Or trains, where you live?? good music selection, Leaning on his everlasting arms, amen to that,regards from Boston MA!

[@autumnislovely]

That is very reasonable! Also, I know that Rent is $0, but how much are your property taxes? 🤔 I ask since often times in the U.S., our mortgage payment also includes money to be set aside for our property taxes + home insurance. (And taxes are usually factored into the price of rent.)

[@Grizz030]

In the US, food these days is that a week for a three person home

[@OnigiriKaizoku]

@@EvralTatum-Mcfield-ov2mi well, that's with no rent, since they own the house, if you have to pay rent it will probably add another 30k+ yen, I'm not sure what's the prices over there, but even like that it's still not that expensive for a whole family

[@erms111]

From the WHOLE video I got one sentence. *Things here are enjoyable without having to pay a fee*. I moved into a small town with 10k people 3 years ago coming from one of the biggest metropolitan areas in the world with more than 10 million people and it pains me to see how much I relate to that. I should've moved a lot sooner. In the big city I would easily spend 100 usd on stuff I didn't need on weekends regularly, here I go 3, 4 days without even using money as long as I'm organized with my shopping. Very few unnecessary purchases here, I notice myself being less anxious, more focused, enjoying nature and a lot more "present" in the moments I live. There's no incentive to consumerism and I find myself reading and exercising a lot more to fill my free time. At 35+, I have never been healthier. Just this year I gained 7kg of lean mass. I only eat organic because I buy directly from the local farmers. It's definitely not for everyone and it is NOT just romance (there's a lot of problems with living in the middle of nowhere, health needs are arguably the worst to deal with) but I can say for sure that I'm not moving into a big city ever again. Now my goal is to buy more land and keep expanding my agroforestry system so I can produce my own organic food sustainably in a few years.

[@DIYJapan]

It's good to see like minded people. I wish more people would see it from our perspective. Consumerism doesn't benefit anyone. I find myself unconcerned about the latest things and, like you, just enjoy the moment in nature. It's not for everyone... but I think everyone should give a try at least once in their lives.

[@GinJ1337]

consumerism is truly useless and just damages the environment but companies / media push it obviously because they profit off it

[@mikenakagawa2664]

​@DIYJapan everyone needs to try this once in their life for sure! Please tell my wife that so I can join you on your journey.

[@andrewjohnsonsr6847]

​@@DIYJapanconsumerism definitely only truly benefits corporations not so much for the consumer.

[@IyseHexxo-br8uo]

I would love to live there away from the toxic drama by me. I love nature.

[@dirkaloha]

Glad you were able to move to a nice place after all the cool things DIY has done. Your daughter is having a great life thanks to the efforts you both have made!

[@DIYJapan]

It was a lot of work but we are so happy it turned out this way.

[@TD-qj1rn]

Lovely family. Thank you for sharing about your life in Japan with us!

[@DIYJapan]

We’re glad you liked it!

[@BSPJapan]

We live in a rural area in Japan too and we love it! The cost of living is much better than in the big cities. Travel is not cheap in Japan. You must always plan accordingly.

[@DIYJapan]

Yeah, car ownership is expensive compared to train travel in the cities but there are always compromises.

[@dehvinsimms]

didnt expect to see you here brother BSP!

[@user-sz9vf4jt5m]

I hearded about this, is trains go fast i dont Even would think in buying a car,also there is alot of those big spaced traditional houses isnt it? I like cities or big plazas but also a chill area would be sick

[@lauskisilmars]

Thank You for this amazing cost brake down. It's so helpfull. I'm living in country side as well now for 2 months already and I love the phase of life around here. Have a great day!

[@DIYJapan]

That's awesome! The life is much calmer in the countryside for sure. Good luck! ✌

[@hg2.]

Thanks for making and sharing. Many of us in 'the west' are hearing about living in Japan's countryside. Looks great :)

[@DIYJapan]

It seems to be a popular topic. We’ll try to make more videos to make living here more transparent.

[@velvetvideo]

the West disappoints me in every way imaginable.

[@gaurdiandevl13]

Thank you for the thorough explanation and sharing your experiences!!

[@DIYJapan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@cocolenchojapan]

Awesome video. We live in the countryside of Yamaguchi. I really love giving away excess Kaki, Kuri, takenoko etc and we get many vegetables in return from our neighbors. We really love the countryside!

[@DIYJapan]

It’s really nice to live in the countryside and exchange gifts with your neighbors, right? Hope all is well on your side of the countryside!

[@cocolenchojapan]

@@DIYJapan yes it is! all good here. Y'all are welcome to swing by and visit in Yamaguchi.

[@julioalvarez4481]

Awesome video! I was glad to see the Mrs. was also making content. You guys are great!

[@DIYJapan]

Thanks Julio! We are trying to team up more lately!

[@jonb3189]

Allow me to give my two yen worth. I lived in Aizu-Wakamatsu for just over five years. Then moved to Tokyo. In terms of cost, for me living in Tokyo is cheaper. But, of course it depends how you live. In Tokyo, cost of a meal is usually under 1000 yen. Of course you can pay as much as you like for food, but I keep it under 1000 yen. Tokyo trains are extremely convenient and ridiculously cheap (I can go from one end of Tokyo to the other for under 250 or 300 yen at most). Compared to needing a car in the countryside, along with its taxes, insurance, gas, maintenance, parking fees, etc. the costs cannot be compared. My rent living east side of Tokyo is only 75000 yen (around $500 with current exchange). If I lived in the west side, rent costs would increase easily three, four, five times that. When I lived in Aizu, my employer paid my rent, so I am uncertain of this. Keep reading however that renting in the countryside however is not very expensive. Cost of water, electricity, are comparable. Personally I have no LAN phone, television, or WiFi in my apartment but my iPhone is around 3000 yen monthly with Rakutan.

[@DIYJapan]

It’s interesting that you found Tokyo cheaper. I thought it was always much more expensive! Especially the rent. We had lived in Osaka and going out to eat could be cheap if eaten in the right places. But nothing compares to the tranquility of the countryside. Tokyo is great to visit but I find it unsettling after a day... but it's all where you are in life and what you want. I like hiking, sea kayaking and chilling at home. Having no rent also singlehandedly takes the biggest stressor out of the equation too.

[@jonb3189]

@@DIYJapan I'm on the East Side of Tokyo, East of Ueno at Kita-Senju 10 minutes from the train station, and rents here are, as said, 7.5 mon yen/month (around $500). And meanwhile in the US rents are $2000 for a single apartment. For me, paying $500 is easy. Personally, I do like Tokyo, granted I miss skiing at Alts Mountain and spending time boating at the lakes around Aizu.

[@josvanoorschot2958]

I like Japan, it’s tradition and care for nature. Did not see any amount for health insurance which is substantial in most countries. Love you family and way of living. Best regards from the Netherlands.

[@DIYJapan]

Health insurance comes out of our pay checks. Usually the largest earner will cover the whole family. Usually the company will cover most of the cost and it's about $60-$80 for a family of three a month.

[@cynemathis]

Wow! little one has grown so much taller, it's amazing to see how much she's changed. Her reactions are lightning-fast! The moment she caught sight of the horse's teeth, her face instantly lit up, like she was thinking, "No way!" Nice Vid. I'm not one for country living, but I really enjoy watching the videos. Was that a gecko I spotted? Hopefully, I can rent a car soon. My wife has been pretty consistent about sharing her wish to spend a few days out there.

[@DIYJapan]

She's growing up fast for sure. She's a little lady now. We have tons of geckos around the house. They hang out upstairs, a whole family of them. We tend to leave them be since they eat insects. Come come. Weather is great now!

[@merovech7]

Omg I just found your channel … subscribed immediately after watching … looking forward to being part of the journey and wish you all the best 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@DIYJapan]

Welcome aboard! Thanks!

[@jamestruss8817]

Thank you for this. I’ve been looking into cost of living outside the US for awhile now and it’s not been easy to figure out expenses. Japan is the main country I have been looking at, but there are a few others in mind and this video gives great insight on how much it’ll take. Thanks again and look forward to more videos in the future.

[@DIYJapan]

Appreciate it!

[@markneal7528]

It would be good if you could show more of the page of costs and total it up. When the page comes up it is too quick and covered by windows showing other of you videos. maybe you could just show the maximum and minimum in the comments for us.

[@DIYJapan]

Thanks for the suggestion! I just added it in my pinned comment!

[@Dominic_Williams_Videos]

this is the most relaxing sound and music i have heard. please keep it up

[@mr.president1700]

The music is from the song, leaning on the everlasting arms

[@DIYJapan]

Thank you, I will!

[@windansea6702]

Thank you for sharing. I am retired and also living in Japan. I believe the greatest cost for the people here is the opportunity cost. Currently it seems very difficult to create wealth and generational wealth because of economic conditions here. For example, with relatively few exceptions real estate values rarely increase and as you mention there are many vacant homes and those will increase. So while a family can save here and there on living expenses their biggest cost may be low expectations in terms of wealth generation. Thanks

[@whitesamurai]

I agree that the opportunity cost is huge but I see that as more related to career etc. Foreigners rarely succeed in Japan unless they have the backing of a major foreign company, like Carlos Gohsn. Houses tend not to rise very much, even in Tokyo. But that is actually a good thing: houses are for living in, not speculation. If you want to get rich, invest in the market or create a business. The worst thing about the West right now is the giant Ponzi scheme: migrants and young people forced to bail out the baby boomers who bought in 1970.

[@DIYJapan]

You’re right, real estate is stagnant here and not something you can count on to generate a lot of wealth.

[@mysterioanonymous3206]

I disagree. Most people in the city don't have these baller, private banking or lawyer salaries either. Where I am the average person, tradesman, office clerks, hair dressers and so on earn marginally less while living much cheaper. Real estate isn't the way to make money anyways, that's more akin to gambling than business/investments. As many people loose money as win it that way. So I say for the average person you'll have more expendable income/savings in the country side. And there's actually more decent jobs than you'd think. If you have a high end career yeah the city is the place, but you pay for it in several other ways, stress, health, alienation, money and so on... 🤷‍♂️

[@homeswithland]

How did you guys come up with rent in rural areas being a total of 100k+ yen? That's more than a studio sized apartment in Tokyo... Most rural homes (in good shape) are usually less than 30k yen

[@DIYJapan]

I think that cost was meant mostly for large Japanese cities. But, in our town, rent hovers around 75,000 yen which is still a bit pricey considering.

[@johnmeikle7672]

Well done...our budget in Melbourne Australia is about AUD$4900 , JPY 495,000 and that's just me and my daughter..we are renting though and that is about JPY270,000 so a big part as you said!

[@DIYJapan]

It’s amazing how rent can take up so much of the budget!

[@paulwhiteman3625]

Thanks so much for that informative video! Sugoku yaku ni tatsu! 😊😊

[@DIYJapan]

Welcome! Hope it helped!

[@andreahoehmann1939]

Here in Germany, prices are more or less the same. Berlin is an exception: there, apartment rents are twice as high, but restaurant prices are only half as high.

[@DIYJapan]

Someone else mentioned the same thing. I think Germany would be a great place to live then if the prices are similar!

[@keithhogg1963]

Great video. Thank you for sharing. I’m curious on what the winter weather is like there.

[@DIYJapan]

Winter can be tough. We get a lot of snow and night can be hard to heat the house. We are in the process of insulating more this fall in preparation.

[@smudgepost]

Great info thank you! You are sure in a beautiful area, very happy for you!

[@DIYJapan]

We're glad you liked it!

[@jenjen59]

i visited Ine last year May ...very tranquil area..took a boat ride and i remember those soaring eagles? and the floating houses ..very fascinating...it is a very quiet town where time stands still...i wonder how winter is like there?

[@DIYJapan]

Winter can be tough. We can brutal north wind that blow cold air and snow much of January and February.

[@Smithcraft1]

Thank you for the informative video! I noticed a different KZbinr said that the power rate goes up in the winter. I'm wondering if it does for all of Japan, and by how much. I would also like to suggest that for the En to USD comparison you should indicate what the exchange rate is that way we can adjust in the future depending on which way the En might change in value versus USD.

[@DIYJapan]

It's true, it goes up in winter because of demand but also because government subsidies are ending which cover some cost of electricity costs. Also, it's more expensive during the day than at night... so we have a water heater that only heats in the wee hours of the night and retains the heat all day to make it cheaper. I think it would be hard to keep track of the yen to USD rate without going crazy lol It's a roller coaster these days.

[@Smithcraft1]

@@DIYJapan it sure is a roller coaster, but you could just write it at the top of the list.

[@-TheP-]

When I see how much I have to spend in France to feed 4 people, it's crazy. Looking forward to move to Japan. I really plan to do it.

[@DIYJapan]

Is food in France expensive? I would imagine the good stuff like cheese and wine are cheap. It was relatively cheap in the countryside of Italy. I had lived there for a little over a year and found the prices to be reasonable.

[@NickoliKrzemien]

Very nice to see a video on the pricing. Looking for a job in Japan, so good to know. Much cheaper in Japan, even with the lower average pay. The culture and views = priceless.

[@DIYJapan]

Best of luck! Japan isn't as expensive as everyone believes it to be. But if you're a tourist... it can be very expensive. Living and visiting are vastly different.

[@tsi4service]

Thank you for sharing your experiences. 😊

[@DIYJapan]

You’re welcome! 😊

[@evelininjapan]

I really enjoyed this breakdown of your costs and the estimated averages. It's fun to compare with my own costs in the countryside where I live. The view of the ocean from my bedroom window is worth more than the money I paid for my house ^^ some things you just can't put a price on

[@DIYJapan]

I agree! A great view is priceless. I would assume the price is similar where you are.

[@runtheyrcoming]

Thank you for this wonderful video. I really appreciate it as I'm starting to learn more about the possibility of life in Japan. I was wondering if you would share what town you live in or some recommended small, beautiful rural towns like yours? Thank you in advance.

[@DIYJapan]

We live in Ine. A smallish fishing town. It’s a great place but is a popular tourist destination of recent. Property prices have gone up because of that. But if you follow the coast northward and then go westward from there, all the coastal towns are great quiet areas that would be ideal. Prices are still low and plenty of empty homes… although not for “sale” but could be asked about and negotiated. It’s a matter of looking, asking and eventually finding something.

[@runtheyrcoming]

@DIYJapan thank you. I live in the US, in the Pacific Northwest. Your area looks similar to where I live. The problem is that we have so many homeless people living on the streets and in the forests. It isn't safe anymore. Thank you for taking the time to answer.

[@Smithcraft1]

I live in rural King County by Seattle. I was just checking my property tax and currently it's $3800 a year with a payment in April and a payment in October. It's based on the value that the county places on your house. They can raise it or lower it yearly. They've been raising the value to make up for a shortfall in tax revenue, more than the value of my house has increased. My electricity is at $0.14/kWh and drops to $0.12/kWh after 50 kW, but it goes up in January to $0.15/kWh and after 50 kW it goes to $0.13/kWh.

[@DIYJapan]

It sounds like property taxes can be a real burden in Washington, especially if the value is rising quickly! Happened to me similarly in Atlanta. We had to battle our rising real estate tax hikes every year. Japan has a similar electricity tier system as well. More expensive as demand rises in summer and winter.

[@Smithcraft1]

@@DIYJapan They just raise the value to help make up for the short fall! They doubled it one year! The one bright side is that if I haven't moved to Japan in a few years, I'll qualify for the senior discount. Anyways, I'm looking forward to your next video and I hope your family is doing well!

[@touringrat]

Thanks great info! Very different here in Tokyo..

[@yleeey4587]

Really loving this channel! I've been binging all of your videos. Love from Australia

[@DIYJapan]

Appreciate that, hope you find some good info in the videos!

[@andrewdegozaru74]

Very informative Mrs DIY. Sounds affordable compared to where I live but it all depends on how the books balance in the end. Most importantly you have a quality of life that many would dream of. Congratulations, and good on you! 🙌

[@DIYJapan]

Thanks for watching! It definitely depends on what you’re looking for in life, but rural Japan has a lot to offer.

[@prdsatx4467]

Japan is seriously one of my all time favorite countries and I cant wait to go back again.

[@NomadicArtist-p2q]

I'm an artist and do stained glass. I'm going to be moving from the US and haven't decided which country yet. Japan is high on my list because of the amazing artist there. I love Japan.

[@DIYJapan]

I've always wanted to learn stain glass... it's one of my ''when I retire'' hobbies I want to learn.

[@NomadicArtist-p2q]

@DIYJapan If I end up in Japan, I'd be glad to share what I know.

[@zukzworld]

Thank you. The video was really helpful. I always wish to live/retire in Japan. ❤✌🏾

[@DIYJapan]

Hope you make it happen!

[@SwissTanuki]

I live in Switzerland, and the average cost for 2 people eating out is around 17'000 yen for not so expensive food

[@DIYJapan]

I hear it's similar in America. People can still get a tasty meal here for under 1,000 yen (7.50 USD)

[@Brandon-so9fp]

2 people in bend Oregon, food around 1000. Power is around 900. Insurance for car and house 400. Phone is around 200.00 star link 120.00 necessities around 300. We have well water. Gas is 4.00 A gallon. Property tax is 12000. A year. I own my home and land so no rent. USD.

[@j.r.henderson9371]

Power and property tax seem so high to me. You would be very low as far as budget if those two were like they are in Japan.

[@DIYJapan]

Bend is a beautiful area. I think people who own in the states are much better off in this economy. It's a terrible climate for renters I hear. You're costs aren't bad tallied up yearly... but like another person said... the taxes are high! You must have a well valued place.

[@apilgrim8715]

Thank you, it is interesting to hear about the costs of ordinary life.

[@DIYJapan]

You're welcome! I hope it gives you a good sense of what it's like!

[@kamaboko1]

Great video. Thanks for the info.

[@DIYJapan]

👍

[@DiscoveringJapan1]

Great video! Great information! We are also an international couple and preparing to buy a house in rural Western Tokyo. As the major cities are becoming more densely populated and expensive, I anticipate that more people will begin to move into rural areas where they can work online and enjoy the natural beauty that Japan has to offer.

[@DIYJapan]

It is great to see that people are choosing a more balanced lifestyle! Hope you find the perfect place

[@AbdulRahman-lj6sc]

Video was very helpful 🤗

[@DIYJapan]

Glad to hear it!

[@andrewjohnsonsr6847]

Thank you for the cost breakdown.

[@DIYJapan]

You're welcome! It's always good to have a grasp on expenses when considering a move!

[@andrewjohnsonsr6847]

@DIYJapan 100% agreed

[@RhedwanRussool]

Rural KZN towns represent quite good low cost country lifestyles

[@DIYJapan]

They really do!

[@DiedLiu]

If you can DIY solar with energy storage, you can save more.

[@DIYJapan]

I would love to do a solar system! I've been eyeing a project like that for years... the cost and the know-how isn't in my abilities just yet.

[@DiedLiu]

@@DIYJapan YT channel "DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse" have all you need about solar, and you can ask your question in the forum that he build.

[@doudemoiidesuyo-by7hi]

It's quite impressive how you are able to keep your expenses down. I moved to a rural area in Honshu, but I typically spend around 120,000yen for food(we also opt for all organic, but eat a lot), 80,000yen for expenses related to my pet dogs, and around 20,000yen for water, electricity, propane gas, and kerosene. Cars set me back around 20,000 a month, and other daily fees cost another 60,000yen or so for two people. We are able to keep leisure expenses down by using points/miles accumulated via credit card usage for business. We prefer propane over electricity as it hedges power outage risk, and also have solar panels/portable power supply just in case.

[@DIYJapan]

That's a lot of money for dogs! 🐕 we thought about getting a dog but no one really talks about the price of dog ownership in Japan… it’s crazy expensive.

[@2001lextalionis]

Very nice video. We live in suburban Japan near Fuji. Costs are similar, although our mansion mortgage is much less with 77sq meters. Parking is about 6000 per month. Electric is about 10000 and we run Eikaiwa with that cost. The blueberries look marvelous

[@DIYJapan]

It's good to hear you have a nice setup! Your electric must be very efficient.

[@ThouDailyBlab]

Thanks for posting. If we had the internet in my 20's and I'd known how good Japan is I'd be living there now... :) sigh

[@DIYJapan]

It's never too late to try something new!

[@gr1mrea9er82]

Very informative. Thank you, Mrs. DIY Japan!

[@DIYJapan]

You're welcome!

[@mahakaalkalikavatar3449]

Dear please also make a video for a single person's expenses with a small house rent included.

[@DIYJapan]

That's a great idea! I'll try to add that to the list. I should share my experience when I first moved to Japan.

[@greghelton4668]

If somebody owns their home outright in the countryside and you have 200,000 Yen per month, they’ll live very well. Anything above that is gravy. Just make sure to put a few Yen away every month to buy a car every few years. Used cars are super cheap but you’ll need a car in rural Japan.

[@DIYJapan]

You're totally right. I think 200k is a good solid number if you live modestly. A car fund is definitely a must.

[@donaldnewportjr.7678]

Fantastic video!!!

[@DIYJapan]

Thanks for watching!

[@metricstormtrooper]

The steering on your bicycle is a bit crooked. I'm in Australia and drive a Mitsubishi minicab miev EV Kei van and that makes my fuel bill tiny.

[@DIYJapan]

Everyone notices that! I'm surprised! All fixed now though.

[@shocktimetownzer]

Are you spending less on average in the countryside than in the city? At first glance, it seems like inaka life is more of a lifestyle trade than a way to save money on living expenses. Especially considering gas, tolls, and car insurance.

[@korbun6726]

Daily living is likely cheaper but making a trip is obviously something you'd have to account for with the fees that you have suggested.

[@DIYJapan]

The biggest savings cost would be rent. You can purchase a house for cheap and if you pay it cash, like we did, then you can eliminate the biggest monthly cost which is rent. Outside of that, we generally don't care too much about the latest fashion or gadgets and rarely eat out compared to the city which can save you a lot of money and is healthier in general. When we lived in the city, we still had a car and therefore insurance and gas was the same plus we had to pay for parking which was expensive. I would even say that gas might be cheaper because traffic was terrible in the city and wasted a lot of gas for small distances. And the other benefit is school is cheaper because it's better subsidized in the countryside... that was something we didn't talk about. In Osaka we paid about $100 a month which isn't much but here we pay nothing.

[@abelgerli]

How fast is the internet connection in the countryside. We here in Germany just started to get glass fibre to every home even in the countryside.

[@charlesmchoop3007]

Seit 2021 dürfte mittlerweile so gut wie jeder Zipfel Glasfaserinfrastruktur haben. Die ländlichen Präfekturen haben massiv ausgebaut um es für Arbeitnehmer aus Städten & städtischen Vororten attraktiver zu machen. Je nachdem wo man gerne hin möchte, einfach vorher die Präfektur checken zwecks Internet, aber im Grunde hängen wir in Deutschland mal wieder total hinterher.

[@DIYJapan]

Auch die ländlichen Gebiete Japans sind in Sachen Internet im Rückstand. Nicht jede Kleinstadt hat einen guten Zugang. Wir haben Glück, dass unsere Stadt in gutes Internet investiert hat. Trotzdem hat es drei Monate gedauert, bis das Unternehmen kam und das Internet anschloss. Aber mit 120 Mbit/s Download- und 280 Mbit/s Upload-Geschwindigkeit ist es ziemlich schnell.

[@DIYJapan]

Rural Japan is also behind with internet. Not every small town has good access. We are lucky that our town has invested in good internet. With that said, it still took 3 months to get the company to come and connect the internet. But it's pretty fast at 120Mbps download and 280Mbps upload speeds.

[@abelgerli]

@@DIYJapan Thanks a lot. 120 Mbit is enough to work not enough for a webserver but local hosting operators are always an option with enough brandwidth. Thanks for the German translation but have to think half of my day in English as a software engineer 😁😊. Ine is such a hidden gem 😍😍

[@maiy8786]

Can you share which organic supermarkets you go to? I recently moved to the countryside and have a tough time finding them

[@DIYJapan]

We are going to try to work on a organic episode and get more into detail about it. It's definitely something we are passionate about.

[@TheHooy]

02:31 very beautiful scenery. May i ask where this is?

[@DIYJapan]

It's Ine in Kyoto prefecture.

[@qwertyuuytrewq825]

Nice pinned comment with break down of expenses ) I heard that sometimes rural Japan has a dark side due to communities that try to enforce their quite unreasonable and exploitative rules on newcomers. So I wanted to ask to what extent it is true and how common this problem is

[@DIYJapan]

You'll hear completely two different stories really. Some have no problems and others have nothing but. Our experience has been moderate. Although the majority have been great to us... there are a few bad apples. It has nothing to do with being newcomers, it's just that they have very specific way of doing things (I.E. their way) and they can't help but impose those ideals onto you. I'd love to do a video about it... but half the neighbors subscribe so it would be suicide for us lol

[@qwertyuuytrewq825]

@@DIYJapan I got it! Thank you for response ) Now I recall that video on similar topic mentioned a village that wrote down a list of requirements for newcomers and among them were points about being prepared to being watched and judged. So neighbors being subscribers make a lot of sense )

[@AbdulRahman-lj6sc]

What is the cost for buying the house in rural area not on lease total ownership ?

[@DIYJapan]

It varies from town to town. Some places it's ¥200,000 to ¥2,000,000. All depends on where and what house. But there are many gems you can find if you're patient and look hard.

[@jefflambert7513]

Thank you !!!

[@DIYJapan]

You're welcome!

[@kaiinuakuma]

I asume the expenses list is for all three people. Then i must say , the costs are VERY budget friendly.

[@DIYJapan]

We are very budget oriented. Yes, it’s for 3 people although our daughter doesn’t consume much… yet.

[@williamwoods2624]

Thank you . Very informative.

[@DIYJapan]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@Eldr1tchGl1tch]

I've been wanting to live in Japan but I'm not really a big city person, I don't like how loud they get. But I'd still like comfortable access to them. So while I've been saving money and planning for my future move I've been looking for cities that aren't too far from the big city but are still calm. It's been a difficult chase since everything seems to lean one way or the other.

[@DIYJapan]

If you go far enough to have quiet and nature then you’ve pretty much left the city from about an hours drive away. All the big cities sprawl in each direction for hours before you start to see them thin out. Kobe is a great city that is a little more balanced with nature not to far off.

[@Eldr1tchGl1tch]

@DIYJapan I've been thinking somewhere in northern Honshu or Hokkaido cause I don't like hot and humid weather.

[@sophisticatedlife7345]

I thought rural areas prices are less and also minimum salary is structure is not changed since long

[@DIYJapan]

Prices seem to be a the same in terms of food no matter where you go in Japan. Property prices are where you really see the big difference.

[@ltkwok]

Eating out in San Francisco is very high. A least US$25 per person. Fast food is $10-12 per person.

[@DIYJapan]

San Fran has always been kinda expensive though right?

[@StiXX593]

I’m surprised there’s a car tax annually and inspection fees.

[@DIYJapan]

Most American states have similar costs. But the inspection few is very pricey in Japan. Sort of a rip off.

[@LivingRetirement]

You have very reasonable cost of living where you live. I am living in a rural town in the midwest USA, and all is very pricey. Regular groceries per month is about 1000 US$ for just two people. Property tax on my house is close to 8000 US$ per year, and usually going up every year. And then add cost of having a car, home insurance, utilities, health care, and hobbies.

[@DIYJapan]

Yeah, my property tax in America was similar. We couldn't stop it from rising a lot every year. In 5 years our payment grew about $300 a month. It was unsustainable.

[@uncle_dinosaur]

3:21 👀 Children should not feed horses this way; Only adults can do this. Horses sometimes tear off people's fingers, and camels sometimes tear off people's hands. There have been many cases around the world. (Consider this point) 🙏

[@DIYJapan]

Good point!

[@jjsams4387]

The rose bush around 8:00 looks like it is either overwatered, or needs iron.

[@DIYJapan]

Needs less deers too. The deers pretty much eat every flower and leaf any chance they get. Sad really 😓

[@AbeyantHeroAspires]

I thought Mrs. DIY Japan made her own channel! I was paying a lot in Saitama comparatively! True, window shopping DOES rack up unnecessary purchases. I will regret it when I have to move, hah How much was it to harvest the berries as in these clips btw?

[@DIYJapan]

She decided to jump on my channel because she's busy and can't keep up with her channel as much. If we pick our own berries, which are organic btw, then they are about 1/3 the price of the store. A small pack of 200grams blueberries (frozen) is ¥500 and these are ¥1200 a kilo and you can eat your fill as you pick too lol

[@AbeyantHeroAspires]

@@DIYJapan That makes sense regarding your deer struggle, oof. I was trying to grow avocados myself but they take a long time to mature. I'm glad your berries have taken off well. I'm starting w/ the home center specials w/ basil and rosemary since they can be useful in cooking. if you find some useful preferred DIY tools or products, I think that would be helpful for English speakers living in Japan . . maybe adhesives, brands for each tool you narrowed down to, etc

[@tatianaabramovskaya8765]

This is very informative, very useful, thank you very much. Are local farmers' shops / markets common in rural Japan? Does it depend on the region? How much organic food is available through the country? How about real bread? What about hygiene and cleaning products? Are there organic ones? Thank you in advance.

[@DIYJapan]

Most of the cleaning products come from Amazon. We can buy directly from a lot of local farmers which is great. Organic food is gaining traction but Japan is still behind. There is more work to be done though.

[@tatianaabramovskaya8765]

@@DIYJapan Yes, I had this impression. Compared to the rest of the world Japan is really behind with organic agriculture. Statistics: Monsanto's infamous glyphosate pesticides gained popularity these past 10 years not only in industrial agriculture but in households. So it's good to know that there are options. Hope it'll grow. Actually would it be possible for you to make a video about your shopping routine in these local farmers' places? I'd love to see it. With prices :) With full explanation of how it works, what they have, what's the cost compared to regular supermarket... I'm sure people will find it useful. AND maybe - hopefully - it'll inspire more people to support the local farmers and buy organic and seasonal produce (which is good in itself, but also will drive the prices down: in countrie where organic food is a norm it's affordable to everybody).

[@szokebarna6432]

Really enjoyed the video, nice place, where are you guys located in Japan??

[@DIYJapan]

Thanks! We live in Ine, Kyoto.

[@mccreepy2276]

Nah those gas prices are so good at ¥170 per litre. We normally pay around ¥250 in my country regardless of whether you are in the country or in the city. Your average of ¥8,000 monthly isn't even a full gas tank for us

[@DIYJapan]

It really is crazy how different things are from country to country. U.S. is much cheaper. But in Japan cars are not the major transportation tool. Their train system is awesome so maybe that is why gas is cheaper.

[@nirsommer]

I think we're spending double weekly on food, and it's most often not organic

[@DIYJapan]

It's definitely different depending on where you live, but finding cheaper organic produce isn't impossible but it's a scavenger hunt for sure.

[@nick9940]

That area with the homes that have docks looked really nice, what town is that? Is there decent WiFi out there?

[@lassosello1830]

Called INE in Kyoto Pref.

[@DIYJapan]

Our town has pretty good Wifi. 120mbps up and 280 down which is decent.

[@gracerussell9488]

Wow, it's so cheap ! Australia is so expensive $250 - $300 a week for food $400 - $600 Electricity ( 3 months ) Internet- $75 a month Phone - $100 a month

[@DIYJapan]

That is expensive! Australia is very similar to America!

[@noelhaynes119]

Merci beaucoup arigatou gozaimasu yes its not so expansive in rurale but transporte its expansive

[@DIYJapan]

Used cars in Japan are cheap though. But insurance and gas is expensive.

[@jongelinogames5162]

dude the duel is around 1 euro per liter for us its almost 2euro maaybe i really need to leave and life in japan

[@DIYJapan]

I guess it's where you compare it to. In the U.S., it's much cheaper... and I thought Japan was expensive :(

[@Urufu-san]

Germany, I‘ll give values in Yen, currently at 100 Yen being 0,65 Euro (October 2024), for my daughter and me, so 2 persons, per month: Water 10,000 Yen, electricity 16,000 Yen, Heating (natural gas) 28,000 Yen, Internet 6500 Yen, 2 mobile phone contracts 10,000 Yen, house payment 300,000 Yen, property tax 8,500 Yen, trash collection 10,000 Yen, food 80,000 yen, car payment 50,000 Yen, fuel 20,000 yen (we don’t drive much, this is usually a lot more in other families), car insurance 14,000 yen, car tax 5,000 yen… and these are only the basic needs… eating out usually is from 3,000 yen to 4,000 Yen per person, nothing fancy, going to a Chinese restaurant or to an Italian restaurant for pizza. I found eating out to be extremely cheap in Japan, I mean, why would you even cook except that it’s healthier… Life in Germany has become EXTREMELY expensive over the last 10 years. I make close to 1,000,000 Yen per month - and we can live a comfortable life with that, but I‘m certainly in the top 10 percent of earners with that net income.

[@DIYJapan]

Rent is still the biggest cost. Being free of a mortgage is a stress relief for sure. It is cheap to eat out but, like you said, we do it to control our diet and ingredients. Obviously a restaurant is a business and therefore will always elect to use lesser ingredients.

[@Urufu-san]

@@DIYJapan wholeheartedly agree, I cook for the two of us and grow veggies in my greenhouse

[@homebrandrules]

SAIKO, SHINRINYOKU HOTONDO NA JIKUJISOKU SEIKATSU. MUSUME CHAN GA KYODAI DEKITARA II NA. FUTARI NO KYODAI DEMO II.

[@nuellubisTV]

Nice view

[@XRENDERMAN]

I nearly had perfectionist panic attack when I saw how misaligned your handlebar and front wheel are :D

[@DIYJapan]

Good eye lol! I had a tumble a few months back and never realigned it... maybe I should now lol

[@rasiordia7265]

Great video❤

[@DIYJapan]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@monacheung8131]

This type life. Is good if you are young and healthy For retiree we need to live bear a good hospital Any recommendations

[@noelvalenzuela963]

Omg! I wanna visit!

[@DIYJapan]

You should!

[@mommydiaries301]

What about health insurance ??

[@DIYJapan]

That's a little different per person. It get's paid by your employer and you pay a percentage of that out of your pay check. It's hard to calculate as an average.

[@LZZBR]

I live in São Paulo city by myself and my expanses are higher for every item, except for the car related ones, since I don't own a car, and internet. Electricity is about the same if I include my natural gas bill. I should mention that I don't cook at all, so I end up spending a lot on food. I also don't pay rent but I have to pay the condominium fee (that includes water bill) about $280/month.

[@DIYJapan]

It’s definitely cheaper to cook at home and healthier too. But I bet Sao Paulo has great food when you eat out.

[@mrbbkk]

Looks reasonable

[@DIYJapan]

It's been very reasonable!

[@RhedwanRussool]

People talk so much about Warren Buffett coming to Japan coming to Nippon to negotiate deals with the big Japanese trading houses,I prefer if Dangote and Forbes Hurun India billionaires introduced low priced entry leel points commodities big time in super high cost countries like your Nippons,OZ,NZ etc It long oerdue and about time. and strongly in the public interest,would prefer more info from tubers and NHK.

[@ansarogu]

How interesting, in Mexican pesos it would be close to $18,500. That's a bit high considering the current minimum wage here is around $8,500 per month. I make around $12,500 so I guess that salary would be ok (maybe 😂) for two people.

[@DIYJapan]

I think Mexico, in some places, still has a good cost of living.

[@ansarogu]

@DIYJapan most of the country does but only for those that earn enough $$, earning $30k would be more than enough for a family of three for example. But unfortunately, most of the people earn between $8k~$14k.

[@Nacimin]

Hallo, farmer from Italy writing. The cost of eating out here, in yen ( 1 yen=0,0062Euro) is around 3.064 Yen for an economic lunch ( per person and no wine) up to 8064 Yen for a complete course in a mid class restaurant. All cosidered it seems to me Japan is more convenient, especially for monthly food cost. Many greetings of luck and happiness from Italy, Merry Xmas

[@DIYJapan]

Merry Xmas to you too! I lived in Italy for a year. I missed the cheese and wine so much! You're lucky to have such amazing cuisine!

[@metricstormtrooper]

The steering on your bicycle is a bit crooked.

[@DIYJapan]

Yeah... it was, but all fixed now! Poor yellow bike... it's the beater.

[@solarjudgement4575]

In general are women in rural japan traditional or westernized like the city girls?

[@DIYJapan]

No women are westernized in Japan. Even if they are ''westernized'' from living abroad... the moment the step foot in Japan, they are expected to conform and default back to Japanese culture. They might act and think a bit differently but rural or otherwise... expect them to be very similar to people who have never left Japan. Only difference would be rural women tend to be less vain and generally chill.

[@DerTypAusDemREICH]

I always had to smile at the thought that if, for example, you come from the States and want to visit Japan, but you have no idea about the currency and the exchange rate. then you exchange all your money for yen and of course there are big numbers on it. then imagine you go to the club and let it rain tons of papers according to the motto you are the Giga-Chad of the evening. and at the end a guy comes up to you and says wow respect, you just let rained the equivalent of $10, you Gangster. 😂

[@DIYJapan]

Well if you bring dollars then you can roll like a gangsta… the exchange rate has never been better.

[@DerTypAusDemREICH]

​@@DIYJapan 😂 no, that was just an idea. I'm not the type for that kind of thing. I can hardly afford a ticket to there. Inflation has destroyed so much.

[@magnusgodrik9870]

double on most things. triple on some. but im not in a rural area.

[@DIYJapan]

We'd starve at triple the price.

[@jrccanal]

QUE legal meus parabéns sucessos Ibiúna SP Brasil Abraços! Gostei demais que até me inscrevi e dei o Like!

[@Stepz-3110]

Are there any animal products available? Like high quality free range organic eggs, raw milk, grass fed meat, fat, organs, blood and such? How much these type of food goes for there?

[@jewelskitchen]

I don't know about where she lives, but I have had a very hard time finding any organic meat in Gifu. I can't even find beef bones to make broth. I would be interested in a video about buying bulk products like her almonds and honey.

[@Stepz-3110]

@jewelskitchen That's exactly my fear. As time progresses it becomes harder and harder to find proper food, while the slave plant based dystopian "super foods" are basically everywhere and effortlessly available... It's a scary situation

[@DIYJapan]

Good idea. We will try to make an organic video!

[@DIYJapan]

I totally agree. We are so against GMO and it's surrounding us like an evil army. We try our best but it's difficult to find good products. We'll try to share what we do more.

[@janvanspauwen7792]

rent 1500 euro a month??? thats a bit over the top comparing here in Belgium.

[@mrMacGoover]

Japanese dollar would be worth less compared to the Euro.