House hunting in Japan | Americans finding their Japanese home pt 1!

[@laurak0797]

House viewings in different countries are sooo interesting to me! I am from Germany and have lived in both England and Ireland before, but this is a completely different experience! Thanks so much for sharing! 😍

[@OurStorytoTell]

That’s awesome you’ve had experience living in multiple countries! We love it! 💗 Thank you for watching and commenting! 🫶

[@onsendeyukkurishitai]

Hey, new viewer here. Welcome to Japan! Love your smiley family and hope that you found the right house for you. Just for your future or for someone else who are thinking of moving to Japan, there are things you should watch out for. ①Make sure to check the house when it's raining and at night time, because you will be walking, riding bikes, or taking buses a lot more than in your countries. Especially if you have children who go to local schools, they will be walking home, and during winter time, sun set is around 5pm. (Many junior high and high school kids attend committee or clubs and they tend to come back late. Others go to tutoring schools and/or take private lessons like piano, swimming, etc.) ②Window are important factor. If the window is single glass, you can easily get condensation and mold. There are mosquitoes and cockroaches in summer time, so screen windows are must. ③Extra fees uprise when renting a house. 敷金 (shikikin) is a security deposit, just in case you destroy something. You can get a refund when leaving. 礼金 (reikin) is a key money, a fee giving to the landowner in order to "thank them for letting us rent the house." This fee will not be coming back. Some areas have 自治会 (jichikai) or 町内会 (chounaikai), which are neighborhood associations. They require you to "join them", meaning you gotta pay them for something like collecting your garbages, joining local festivals, and so on. Not all rental houses have these fees, so choose wisely. I think I made you scared😂, but as a person who lived in US and UK and visited many other countries, I am more satisfied and feel safe raising my children here. I hope you can feel the same way too. Looking forward to your next video❤

[@lyndaf.6329]

I think the US Government will be paying their rent, or a good portion of it. I think they said that Willa will be attending an American school on the Naval Base, so walking to a local Japanese school will not be needed to be taken into consideration.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Hello and welcome! Thanks for the suggestions and recommendations when looking for a rental home. As the other comment has stated, we are fortunate to have most of the rental costs covered through my (Tanner’s) work and the rental process is closely inspected by a special office at my work to ensure we are taken care of during our time here. As for schools, we’re fortunate that a bus will be taking our daughter to and from school, so not much walking will need to be done. We (including our daughter) is very excited to be attending a local Japanese school to make local friends and experience more Japanese culture. Again, welcome! Thank you for the kind comment and making sure we are prepared.

[@jjivy6310]

That is so exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Noah sure is growing up fast!! Her crawling is so fast! She will be walking soon. Blessing on your journey. Thanks for taking us along.

[@OurStorytoTell]

She is walking now!! It was really so fast! Thanks for the comment! 💗

[@barbarafrings9231]

I really liked that little cute garden, but I have to watch the video again, to see which house it belonged to. 😃 Hopefully in the meantime you have comfortably settled in the house you have chosen. Just love watching Willa and Noa, cherish the moments, they grow up so fast (my two daughters are now 24 and 26). Many greetings from Germany. 🌷

[@elaineatthecraftshed1993]

So interesting to see and such a variety. I think I would have been chosen something with the most light inside. Whatever you have chosen, the most important thing is that you are happy with it!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for watching! Yes Risa loves having a lot of light too! Stay tuned to see what one we end up with (hint none of these lol) 😂 it’s been a journey to say the least!

[@malouurban7270]

wow thank you so much for uploading this video. I'm totally new to the Japanese culture and everything is so interesting to me! I'm looking forward to more vlogs!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww thanks so much for watching it!! We are happy you enjoyed it and are excited for you to see more adventures! 😊

[@arnikakiani8014]

Whaaaaa! I want to know! The view of Fuji and that big terrace/balcony was amazing. Having an actual garden would be amazing, too. I can´t decide whether I like the more westernized-looking houses better or the ones that look like straight out of an old-fashioned animé. You are right about all the other factors that have more to do with location than the house itself. How much of a commute are you factoring in? Good luck!

[@OurStorytoTell]

You’ll have to stay tuned! We surprised ourselves with the decision, but we were initially looking for something with a 10-15 minute commute… As for the styles, we went back and forth on several of them but honestly preferred living in a more modern style. Although, Tanner really did like several of the traditional style homes, we had to think about how easy it would be to keep a tatami room safe from two young energetic kids 😆.

[@memories511]

Wow how fun to find a home. Cannot wait for you guys to let us know which one. Till then take care and be safe. Thank you again for sharing your journey with us !!!!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you! Keep posted, I think it’ll surprise you where we ended up choosing 😊

[@memories511]

@@OurStorytoTell 😁😁Can't wait.

[@seeryu42]

Thanks for bringing us viewers along (always love house-hunter videos :-) ), and seems like lots of good choices. Was surprised to see a sauna in one of them, and that view of Mt. Fuji from the bathroom was jaw-dropping! More ovens than I expected, as many apartments in Tokyo just have the fish grill and stove top. As we love modern, some things we looked for were: Auto-filling bathtub (one button and it will heat it to the perfect temperature), dishwasher (small, but they're very efficient), garburator/sink disposal (rarer, but amazingly convenient), new washlet toilet (we can't live without it now), ice maker in the fridge (Germany seemed to hate ice makers, but we love ice in drinks), screens on windows (helps keep out the bugs in the hotter months), and a short walk to a convenience store. Often people have to buy their own curtains, fridges and washing machines, but if they're included that makes it easier. Excited to see what you choose next time! Hope you can get some good beach access 🙂

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you! Yes we were super excited about the sauna & the views of Mt Fuji too (clearly 😅)! Thanks for giving us some insight! It is so cool to us that there are auto filling tubs. Can’t wait to use that feature haha! Our fridge will be an American one from base sadly because we know there will be no ice machine. We love having one like you do it sounds like. :) Also a little freaked out about the summer bugs, but if people can do it… we can too haha!!

[@Alex-Rocks]

It's super rare for japanese homes to have an actual oven so tthat's a big +!!! EDIT: Good luck on getting the house! Daumen sind gedrückt!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Agreed! We know that the American population has greatly influenced the larger oven to be installed in many of the homes we are looking at.

[@annaeylert9983]

Happy to see, you have found a new family place! Hope you will make lovely memories there... Enjoy your time in Japan! Take care. Sending lots of love to you guys. ❤

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you Anna🫶 We always appreciate your Insta and KZbin comments!!

[@hhcarbee]

Thanks so much for taking us with you. So exciting! ❤

[@OurStorytoTell]

We are so happy you enjoyed it! 😊

[@Herzschreiber]

OMG so many awesome houses. I fully understand why this has been a nervewrecking hunt! They are so different from European houses but still sooo fascinating in their unique Japanese way, espacially the more traditional ones with the tatami rooms and rice paper shutters and so on. But also the modern ones look so awesome and some of the balconies / little gardens were so wonderful. And what have we got now? The first "Our Story to Tell" video ending with a real cliff hanger! LOL. I am so excited to find out which one you have chosen in the end! :)

[@OurStorytoTell]

We love the comment!! It is going to be a cliff hanger for awhile too because we are still in temporary furniture and still waiting to see how the house hunting journey will unfold ourselves 😅🤣! We are happy to hear you enjoyed seeing what the insides of the homes looked like too!

[@Herzschreiber]

@@OurStorytoTell ❤

[@Kikifriedmann]

Very interesting houses. My favourit was the house with the beautiful view where Tener first said maybe this is the one. The house which you choosed seems a little dark insind but still beautiful! Japan looks very nice and interesting!🙏🤗🩵🧡💙

[@bele00DE]

Thank you for taking us with you on this journey! It is so interesting to see the housing concept in different countries. Hope you ended up with "the one"!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you for watching and commenting!! The house we are hoping to move into soon is actually not one shown here sooo… stay tuned!!

[@berndgaal7689]

Very difficult to pick the right one!! As long it has a washlet (spraying toilet) and a nice view......wow!!!! Good luck!!!

[@OurStorytoTell]

It is!! Thankfully all the homes are equip with a nice fancy toilet 🤣 Thank you!!

[@momingermany1084]

Love that they actually have closets

[@OurStorytoTell]

Us too! It’s a game changer.

[@udomann9271]

The sound you put as a background is fantastic.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks!

[@avengerofthedisenfranchised]

All these written instructions in the houses😛 I would prefer the houses with yard or garden.

[@Americanmapping44]

I have never really been interested in Japan but since watching your videos there I definitely have gained some interests. I personally probably would pick the 1st house as far as looks and the view on the balcony. But the one with the garden was really lovely too! But darn what a cliff hanger lol

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much for watching! It is definitely a cliff hanger & unfortunately part 2 won’t be coming out for awhile because we are still in temporary housing! 🤣

[@michaelabahr1195]

I was so surprised by the Palms in the Streets. I´ve never thought about Palms in Japan 😳. It must be a ride to find a house in Japan , Love from Cologne

[@OurStorytoTell]

That was our thought too!! Sending love right back! 🫶

[@roesi1985]

So interesting to see the different houses! I guess I would have taken the one with the cute traditional garden - I really like to dive into the traditions of a new culture, and when I go to another country, I want to live as true to the culture as possible. Btw, it's common in Japan to take a shower and wash your body before taking a bath, so you step into the tub clean. Bathing is for relaxing, not for cleaning. That's why shower and tub are a unit. Most Japanese people take a bath every day, and then they clean the whole bathroom after bathing, so everything is clean and ready for the next day. Looking forward to see more of you getting to know the Japanese culture!

[@OurStorytoTell]

This is so fun to read! Thanks for sharing your thoughts and hearing what house you would have picked! The information about Japanese showers and baths is very helpful! We love learning more about their culture!

[@Sara-vd2sv]

Seeing current single houses in Japan was so interesting! I’m Japanese, but I’ve lived in the U.S. for years. I’ve never lived in a single house in Japan. I really miss a Japanese bath! There’s a control panel with a button for temperature, water volume, timer, reheating, etc. Many Japanese people take a shower and then soak in a bath in the evening every day. BTW, probably you two know, but PewDiePie (I didn’t know him until recently) also currently lives in Japan with his wife & baby.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We are happy you enjoyed it! Thanks for the comment! We are very excited to have a Japanese bathtub honestly! It sounds so fancy and relaxing.

[@gwynethglas-brown9171]

Wow that so interesting seeing Japannees houses Just the Different lay outs amount of Rooms they had etc. didn’t realise they didn’t come with an oven at least a few did have thats a plus 🤞😊 Looking forward to to hear which house you have Gone for 😜 Have a Good weekend 🥰take care

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes we actually picked one with a stove! We haven’t moved in it yet (& it’s not shown in this video actually) so stay tuned!! 😊

[@wizardm]

The windows in many Japanese houses take some getting used to. They are often closed with blinds or opaque. The walls are similarly crappy as in the USA. There is often no proper heating either. Nevertheless, there are some really nice houses in your footage.

[@dreasbn]

Never Seen more or less modern Japanese houses or flats. Very different. From the video perspective I found many of them narrow even from a European view.. though I know that Americans might have much bigger spaces than us Europeans.. but still this applies foremost to hallways and the freaking narrow toilets.. a sumo ringer probably got stuck in there… and mostly no gardens.. or I missed them. I am excited to know what you eventually found. With two toddlers it’s a bit of a challenge too with greens playgrounds facilities etc.. what a contrast to your Oberpfälzer area.. I am a Stadtkind anyway but I like a cozy neighborhood even if it’s in the city.. have fun. Greets from winter Germany

[@OurStorytoTell]

They are definitely different from our German home, but we have been pleasantly surprised with the houses here!! Much bigger than we expected and the toilets are actually super fancy. You are correct about the narrow hallways or stairways. Some Americans have to hire a lift to put their furniture in from the second floor because of it 😂

[@dreasbn]

@@OurStorytoTell oh even we would have too… yeah I saw that the toilet bowl itself are those „clean you you inside out“ 🤪 bowls with classical music, Deospray and weatherforecast included 😂 no seriously they are wild and I wish we could purchase them here easily. Yeah the houses themselves looked really spacious but very often it seemed as if you can give all your neighbors are handshake through the window.. I am very curious about how those dishwashers will work.. the fish grill is fancy for us but probably usable for other stuff too. And those cabins with bathtub and separate shower but in one room is interesting. Never Seen or heard of. What I am curious to know if the walls separating one room from the other are more like paper or more stable? I mean is it very hellhörig (easily noises are heard from the next room) ? So happy for you to be successful that quickly. Keep the videos rolling.. 👏👏👏 stay safe

[@witty2u]

I also liked that cute garden, but I'm not really into traditional, Japanese, living culture, so I would choose a modern one. - There is a lot to consider though.... The distance to work, stores, kindergarten, safety to play for the kids, and so on. I'm looking forward to the reveal. 😄

[@OurStorytoTell]

We really like the modern ones too!! We are excited for you to see what ends up happening with our housing! Thanks for watching 😊

[@witty2u]

@@OurStorytoTell since I've never been to Asia, I'm really interested to watch how life is for people, who don't speak the language, and who come from a different cultural background. My American friend said that the Japanese culture is closer to the American, than that of a German. - She might have thought of our directness, and that we speak our mind, without beating around the bush. 😄 I'm impressed with Willa, how well she adjusts to the new surroundings and to all new food. 🙂

[@veronikam3836]

I think location is very important. There is a saying in German: "You can change anything in a house except for its location - Man kann an einem Haus alles ändern, außer der Lage". Good luck!

[@OurStorytoTell]

That is very true!! Stay tuned because the house (are still in the process of reserving for us) is not shown in this video!! 😅

[@SuperLittleTyke]

First, I'm surprised that there are so many empty houses ready for occupation. None of the houses in this video really grabbed me, so if it were me choosing, I'd say, well, I'm only going to be here for two-plus years anyway. But nothing came close to the lovely house you had in Germany. It's surely got to be the commute, shopping and schooling that are the deciding factors, though with so many houses to view, it must be a nightmare to choose one.

[@V100-e5q]

Views like Mt. Fuji are not a factor. After a while you don't notice it any more. The most iportant factors are the layout, like how many steps you have to negotiate daily, the arrangement of rooms and storage, does your yard fill up with leaves, preferably from the neighbor, how to get into the garage and from there with the groceries ino the pantry. And how close it is to walking/hiking, traffic from thoroughfares ennerving you etc.

[@OurStorytoTell]

You’re right! We definitely take into consideration all those things. I’ll think you’ll be surprised to find out what house we choose. Stay tuned!! A view of Fuji would be superrr cool though 🤣

[@christinehorsley]

A lot of folding doors. And every one of the toilets a technical wonder 👍👍👍

[@OurStorytoTell]

Technical wonder is accurate 🤣 Haha we love a fancy toilet!

[@wardarcade7452]

I understand that any Japanese guests will appreciate your family's willingness to shed shoes inside the abode. However, they also have 'toilet slippers' that cut down on stuff getting tracked into the rest of the abode's floors (and are worn in no other room). Something to consider whether to invest in for the guests' sake and/or wanting to preserve the floors. You seem to have found somewhat larger abodes than many families there live in but I know which ever place you choose, you will make it your own family home! Good luck with the search!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oh we had never heard of the toilet slippers! Interesting and nice to know! Maybe we will snag some. Thank you. 😊

[@ALTAJR-07]

@@OurStorytoTell I wondered why there were 2 pairs of slippers in the Japanese hotels I stayed in until I found out 1 pair was for the Toilet ONLY,lol

[@moonistew]

What part of Japan were they hunting for apartments? (Japan Sea, east side, Pacific Ocean or southern Japan?) The modern second home, the environment and other homes were unlike the typical Japan it was fantastic. Watching another video I got a hint of the area: Zushi, Mt.Fuji, Sushi (?).😅

[@OurStorytoTell]

We were looking in Yokosuka, Zushi and surrounding areas :)

[@joyceandrada8697]

Hallo guten Tag Herr Taner - Frau Risa und kinder😊....oder Kunichuwa! Mein name ist Joyce, ich bin Filipina😊 (of course from Philippines)...when I arrived here in Deutschland last quarter of 2021 and at the same time scrolling YT I accidentally drawn my attention n your thumbnail...were you guys new in Deutschland that time too until I subscribed you. ....anyway😅, my suggestion to you guys that you are now hunting house to live in Japan maybe you need to consider if the house can withstand if there's earthquake, the view of the ocean and mountain is really nice but maybe you need to consider if there's tsunami - where you should run or go when natural calamities would occur...in other words not only you are sooo excited with a comfortable and a furnished house (meaning with complete kitchen appliances, storages, shower rooms). Maybe ( I suggest) ...consider too if there's emergency you guys can get out from the house easily....stairs for me not good since you have baby or kinder (with stroller), if you'll have your future car must be accessible and easy to go out from garage, house must also be close to Taner's workplace and future kinder schule, must close to markets and hospitals and pharmacies. I am just concern ...because like my home country, Japan is also belongs to "ring of fire". Family must be prioritized first when it comes to safety. But just as I said...I am only suggesting... Wish you luck n your new life in Japan ....danke schön oder arrigato ❤ from 🇩🇪 😊

[@OurStorytoTell]

Hello Joyce! Thanks for your concern about our wellbeing. We’ve definitely thought about all of those considerations when looking for a house… even though it is a lot and difficult to think about them all at once. We feel like the decision we made is a sound one for many reasons, so stay tuned to find out which one we chose 😃.

[@starseed8087]

When you're in a new place, everything is always exciting at first, but that goes away after 1-2 months. I don't know what it is about Japanese interior design, but a lot of it always reminds me of retirement homes. Another tip from me, always ask if anyone has died in the house before. Haunted houses are no joke and are particularly common in Japan where many die stjll at home..

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oh now that’s an interesting thought…. The last house was a brand new build so that was lucky for us!

[@flipsibobbel4613]

I like them all. I would probably take the light-flooded one with the open air bathtub, even if the neighbors would then know what I look like. Take care of yourself even if you drive on the wrong side of the road.

[@OurStorytoTell]

It’s fun to hear your thoughts of what house you’d take! Thanks for watching! We have a video about driving here coming out soon so stay tuned! :)

[@sushi777300]

I'm amazed how big those houses are. I expected them to be significantly smaller

[@starseed8087]

Prices would be interesting to know

[@witty2u]

They are significantly smaller, but if you are able to pay the price for a bigger one, you'll find them. 🙂

[@OurStorytoTell]

Well said. Our situation is a bit different than most since the houses that Americans (US Military) rent will be several times more expensive than what they would be for a Japanese family to rent. It was the same in Germany where we had friends who paid roughly €2000/month to rent a two bedroom house, whereas a local might have paid somewhere around €800-900/month for the same house.

[@OurStorytoTell]

I’ll have to look more into the rent for what locals pay, but the range of homes for what we looked at ranged from ¥250,000 - ¥450,000 per month. Quite the range but as you can tell with some of the homes being in beach towns and views of Mt Fuji…. that comes with a higher price tag most of the time.

[@starseed8087]

@@OurStorytoTell Interesting, thanks for the information. So the American military pays your rent? And in both Germany and Japan, landlords are raising prices because the military pays so much?

[@twowheelsintokyo7039]

I love house hunting, even when I'm not looking for a house. Japan has so many things to offer, from tropical islands to mountains and forests, to concrete jungles. When my wife and I were looking for a home in Japan, schools were the priority. I didn't want our kids to go to Japanese schools. I have nothing against Japanese schools, but our family is "international," and we thought it best to send our kids to an international school with an English curriculum. This greatly narrowed down our choices, for better or worse. We ended up settling in Roppongi, which is probably the most "international" district in Japan, and so far, we have had a great time here. We have friends who come from places around the world, and there is always something to do or see. On the negative side, Roppongi real estate makes the Bay Area, or even NYC's upper east side look like bargains.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks so much for your comment! So interesting to hear about your experience and where you guys chose to live! We love that you’ve had a great time there!! Thanks for the comment! :)

[@beckys7884]

The last house is the best one IMO

[@kgspollux6998]

Yes, spaces are narrow in Japan - everywhere. But it may lead to a new kind of thinking: what do I really need to experience a fulfilling life ? Compact houses or tiny houses are still of growing interest also here in Europe. . .

[@OurStorytoTell]

YES that is very true! They seem very efficient with their space here, even if it’s much smaller! We know we should downsize too a bit

[@kgspollux6998]

​@@OurStorytoTell Please see, where this is originated from: a community of about 120 million people gathered within a quite narrow stripe of habitable zone - a chain of isles aligned from north to south limited by the sea on the one hand and by impassable highlands on the other hand where only tea bushes or terraced rice can grow as economic plants. The high speed railroad tracks mainly are stretching across a north-south-direction straight along the coast line. So you should look forward to the next cherry blossom (Sakura) during spring time - when all TV-stations will announce its maximum each day, starting from the warm south to the colder north . . . Then experience Japanese nature-crazy people celebrating the new life with a lot of sake, sleeping happily under blooming cherry trees . . . .

[@achimschroter8046]

always sunny over there. I am kinda jealous.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We are loving that part so far!!

[@monikadeinbeck4760]

a bathtub with a view on Mount Fuji. WOW.

[@OurStorytoTell]

RIGHT!! We couldn’t believe it!

[@CloudPlaya-k5o]

Japan is one of few countries where housing costs isn't straight insanity. Even the greater Tokyo area is pretty affordable

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes we find it so interesting and great too!

[@martinkasper197]

N ice cliffhanger... Until next week...👍🤘🤣

[@OurStorytoTell]

Except not until next week… 🫣😂 We are still house hunting in live time sooooo… stay tuned a month or so! It’s been an adventure to say the least lol!

[@Shambles7698]

Great video want more Japan content

[@OurStorytoTell]

That’s great to hear because it’s coming!! 😊

[@van03de]

These houses are so much bigger than the ones I have seen in Tokyo. BTW, in September I could practice German with Willa and show you around in Tokyo if you are interested...

[@OurStorytoTell]

Ohh thank you so much for that offer!! How long will you be in Tokyo?

[@van03de]

@@OurStorytoTell Three weeks until Sept. 30.

[@DamaxThomas]

Happy you get a place. Walkability is an issue because it is not perceived as an issue by Japanese, so nothing is done. I don’t know for you but I found easy to rent (and buy) places in Japan. There are a lot of places on the market and at a proper/cheap price.

[@SimonTmte]

If the population is decreasing by around a million a year I would think there'd quickly be a lot excess housing

[@gabrielegener7331]

Mount Fuji or sea side?? I think sea side is better for the new house . Have a nice time. I am from germany near Frankfurt am main. .

[@OurStorytoTell]

Seaside and a view of Fuji! :) And so fun to hear where you’re from! We wish we would have explored more of the Frankfurt area!

[@koraamis5568]

"the biggest thing is how we feel about the house" Trying to explain that to architects for years, but it has been like talking to a wall.

[@Stopit77]

What are the rental prices of these homes?

[@OurStorytoTell]

Ooh that’s a good question! We should have included that! They raise the price up because they know we are Americans and we have a specific budget depending on job status. So, you might find the same house in Japan for cheaper somewhere else, but here they ranged from about 280K-400K Japanese Yen per month.

[@berndhoffmann7703]

17:15 - omg - some of these houses / flats bathrooms and kitchens remind me of my grannies bathroom and kitchen, but actually my grannies were more modern😮, and in fact she has not had renovated hers for 50+ years.... So they are either stupidly old or odd looking.

[@geab.2182]

I loved the last one with the white cupboards and such 🤍🤍🤍

[@janikwaller]

so cool. nun sind zwei meiner abos in japan. vielleicht können die reutters euch in der einen oder anderen sache helfen. die blogs ähneln sich, vor allem, da ihr nun auch in japan seid. wäre spannend, wenn ihr sie mal treffen würdet. viel spass beim entdecken von "life in japan"

[@destiny2238]

What are you working to live in so different countries? How can you afford to spend so much time with travelling?

[@OurStorytoTell]

Tanner is a Certified Industrial Hygienist and Safety Professional working for the US government. We are living abroad for his career.

[@destiny2238]

@@OurStorytoTell Thank you for your answer. Good luck in Japan!

[@lyndaf.6329]

Another interesting video but to be honest all these houses felt cold and lifeless, not one felt like a home. Even when you have your furniture in it will still feel like just somewhere to live and not really a place to enjoy and relax. I'm looking forward to following your journey in Japan but up to now your videos confirm my previous thoughts that Japan is somewhere to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. I'd have stayed in Germany and carried on exploring Europe more. It will be interesting to see if you can build up some sort of relationship with the locals or if your social life, and Willa's and Noa's experiences will be centerd on the American Base. Whereas in Germany you were more immersed in the culture and Willa had German friends.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We get it, it’s different. It’s not Germany, but we weren’t expecting to find a home as amazing as the one we had in Germany (would be a cherry on top). That said, I think we had adjusted our expectations when looking for places to live before moving here. We have to be honest many have surprised us and we would be happy with several of the homes that we toured, despite the differences. As for relationships outside of the American community, time will tell, but we are planning to do our best, while also realizing the language barrier is much more difficult here than it was in Germany.

[@lyndaf.6329]

@@OurStorytoTell Hi, by home I meant warm and cosy, an environment for a lovely family like yours. All the houses you showed looked more like an hotel apartment and uninviting. I know you are keen to experience other cultures and I hope it works out for you. I seem to be only criticizing and at the end of the day I’m sure you are making the right decisions for your family. I just hope the Japanese Kindergarten works out for Willa, they have a completely different concept to child development than the Germans. Anyway I wish you all only happiness and look forward to following your journey in Japan.

[@あらいきみこ-p1f]

お元気で安心しました。私は寂しいです🎉

[@lisapebley6039]

I absolutely love Willa’s ( sorry if I’m spelling it wrong)laugh it’s so cute 🥰 blessings from Oklahoma 💜💜💯

[@OurStorytoTell]

You spelled her name right! We love her laugh too 💗 Wishing you the best!

[@Naontaes]

Wish You a great time in Japan.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you 🫶🫶

[@cherylsemrau7100]

I am from Canada. I watch a lot of Japanese videos. It is always good to do research. I would love to go to Japan.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We hope you can sometime!! 😊

[@EV_fox8]

Brexit also tanked the trade adviser service industry. Before they have been in great demand by countries like Vietnam. But now not so much anymore. The track record of home country is like a recommendation letter. UK's one ist lately in the ...

[@Steven91637]

No comparison to your former nice House in Germany 🇩🇪.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We definitely did not go in to this experience expecting to find one that even came close to comparing! That house was gold 🌟

[@gregh7457]

i'm lookin at houses in osaka right now and my biggest complaints is why is the bath tub on the first floor and why is there no toilet on the 3rd floor where the bedrooms are? japan staircases are the scariest stairs for us big footed westerners. they're steep and the steps aren't wide enough for our long feet. Its almost like climbing a ladder! So in the middle of the night you have to navigate these stairs half asleep to use the toilet. Don't get me started on the lack of insulation and rooms the shape of shipping containers with no windows. Their only saving grace is that they're dirt cheap. Oh and that oven in the first house is a very rare item indeed. 99.9% of the houses here only have fish fryers

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes that is true!! We wondered the same thing about why it was close to the kitchen and not up by the bedrooms! 🤣 Japan staircases are intense too haha!

[@misterfu-to4kd]

Just a friendly suggestion, why don’t you provide some basic details such as general location of each option etc that way viewers have a reference otherwise it is just a bunch of images flashing by

[@jonathanchan7448]

How much is the house in Japan, US dollars?

[@OurStorytoTell]

They told us around 400k USD!

[@Stopit77]

What do you both do for a living? Is it just KZbin?

[@OurStorytoTell]

No Tanner is an Industrial Hygienist and Certified Safety Professional and Risa is a Registered Dietitian. Tanner works full time in his career and Risa does part time with KZbin on the side!

[@kucnimajstor2901]

All houses are well maintained with nice patio, however those toilets, well at least you'll save money on toilet paper..

[@hljs081]

Can you share the price?!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes they ranged from about 300K-400k Japanese Yen per month in rent!

[@OurStorytoTell]

They would very likely be cheaper if they weren’t close to a US base because all the Americans are given a housing stipend.

[@K__a__M__I]

Japanese houses are a hoot. Especially for american tastes and compared to your last residence. I could never get a clear answer why the japanese are opposed to proper windows, though.

[@wasabichips933]

Houses are built densely and people are very careful about not letting anyone see inside their homes to the extent that most people keep the curtains shut 24/7 on any windows facing the street.

[@Mwoods2272]

Why don't you stay on the base?

[@OurStorytoTell]

Good question! We are actually not allowed to. They use the on base housing for all active-duty!

[@田仲座]

What are u doing for living?

[@OurStorytoTell]

Tanner works as an industrial hygienist (think workplace safety from industrial hazards and Risa a Registered Dietitian, but she’s mostly focused on YT and raising our little ones.

[@michaelkloters3454]

Shin'ainaru minasan, kon'nichiwa. Ima wa sutoresu no ōi jiki o sugoshite iru to omoimasuga, go takō o kokoroyori oinori shite orimasu. Mijikai futari no jishin ni michita sugata o miru koto ga dekite ureshīdesu. U~ira wa mite iru no ga oitsukanai hodo kyūsoku ni seichō shite ori, noa wa itsumo kagayaite ite, itsumo kōkishin ōseide waratte imasu. Nihon de tanoshī jikan o sugoshite kudasai! Maikeru/ hanōbā

[@felixklusener5530]

All the houses already had a kitchen installed, even including details like a sink and an oven. What an interesting concept. 😂

[@OurStorytoTell]

Haha to us it’s not because that’s how it is in the States but we totally can imagine how weird it is watching from Europe!! :)

[@quo33]

Nicer in Germany is not having all these wiring/electric cables out, it kinda ruins the view.. The houses are kinda werid too, very old/old fashioned stuff and then some very minimalistic things I don't think fits together

[@OurStorytoTell]

From what we’re recognizing and have been told, Japanese really like to use buildings (and I’m sure many other things) for as long as possible. That might mean the exterior or interior of many homes may not be as nice looking/constructed as we were used to in Germany or the US. However, we notice there are many newer homes/apartments being built, along with preserving more traditional Japanese styles. It’s not Germany, nor the US, but that’s what makes it part of the experience and what we expected to find during our time in Japan.

[@IwanTimmermans]

Where can I sign the petition for you to go back to Germany? 🇩🇪

[@starseed8087]

😂

[@Mwoods2272]

When you are in the military, you go when and where they tell you to go.

[@lyndaf.6329]

He’s not in the military, he works for them as a civilian and the family chose to relocate to Japan.@@Mwoods2272

[@OurStorytoTell]

Give it a few years and we’ll see where life takes us 😊

[@rrl4245]

Sorry, I miss Germany

[@OurStorytoTell]

Totally understandable! Germany is awesome!

[@pietg.6249]

you also have to take financial possibilities into account. Most Japanese people have to live in "shoeboxes", which are also overpriced. So, these house hunting are already exceptional luxury..

[@wasabichips933]

You're talking about Tokyo which is still a lot cheaper than most major cities. The average rent nationwide for a 1 Bedroom apartment is 345 dollars. I don't know where you're from but that feels dirt cheap to me.

[@carynkabat4208]

They are small, close to each other and dark. Don’t envy you guys. Germany was so much nicer good luck

[@OurStorytoTell]

We actually were surprised to find them better then we assumed! It’s hard to compare them to our house in German though. Not sure any house will ever compare honestly!

[@steinarhaugen7617]

This is far from the Scandinavian house standard. I thought Japan was a rich country.

[@pomme800]

Relator????? What's that? I know what a realtor is, but relator?? no idea

[@OurStorytoTell]

Hahah 🤣 Yeah we could work on that!

[@isana788]

When I see your toilet I feel like I'm in the Middle Ages.

[@starseed8087]

Yes, the most modern toilets, but the power cables are hanging open everywhere outside. Japan is a country of contrasts..

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes the toilets are super fancy here!!

[@j134679]

@@starseed8087 easier to fix overhead cables with frequency of earthquakes and typhoons

[@isana788]

the cables are outside because of the earthquakes. The good thing is that new Internet technologies can be installed very quickly. This makes Japan a leader in the world. In Germany we still have the old Nazi telephone network that was set up for nuclear wars. This is why laying the fiberglass took so long.@@starseed8087

[@StephanEngine7878]

No offense, but to be honest, i don't like anything you showed here. It looks all like very little space, tiny, small, cramped, tight and narrow. And the style...not my style...old, conservative and like the 60s...1860s not 1960s. ;-) Appliances looked also mostly like very old and rusty. I prefer modern houses and lots of space. But that seems to be rare in japan. I wouldn't wanna live there anyway. Not my type of culture and too many people on too little space. What i like though, is the shower...that the whole bathroom is basically a shower. Great idea, i love that. I am sorry, just my opinion. But you can and will enjoy your time hopefully. Japan just isnt right for me, but so are probably more than 100 countries, i wouldn't even wanna visit as a tourist, let alone live there. And the prices...450.000 yen are almost 3000 euro, so over $3000 per month. Thanks, but no thanks. 😂

[@fardeadok]

Бесполезно. Где это место? Сколько стоит?