One Day in Rural Japan - Exploring Kyushu

[@TokyoLens]

FINALLY got to explore my area!! And wow.... and HUUUGGGEE stuff/events/hangouts going down on Patreon this month!! - bit.ly/TokyoLensAugustWOW < -- check this out! **If you are new to the channel: I spend the first while of every video release, chatting in the comments!! Join the notification squad so we can get to know each other!!**

[@thedanielblack]

Kyushu is awesome. I've been here for almost seven years, now. I can't wait to see what you find! Love your channel.

[@Maikigai]

What shoes do you favor for all the walking you do?

[@nicholausbuthmann1421]

If you do go swimming, please be careful. Don't want to see any Currents or Undertoes get you. I'm one of those worry warts.

[@HarleyAMV]

There's way too little rural Japan videos out there! Thanks for bringing this to us. Most everyday/daily life youtube videos are about Tokyo or Kyoto. It's a shame. I find rural/countryside/small town Japan to be very interesting.

[@Zunnunn]

I really like this kind of video, exploring rural areas. It's so relaxing.

[@TokyoLens]

Was a great day!

[@Zunnunn]

@@TokyoLens Yes indeed.

[@Kae-Lexi]

Until you get eaten by a bear

[@gadrian7853]

Yea, most of Tokyo Lens videos are relaxing and super fun to watch.

[@993pain7]

wow

[@CptPatch]

The sign at 4:26 is a hell of a ride. "The Kumaso (the name of a group native to Kyuushuu) cave, where the Kumaso people once lived, is about 5 meters from here. The Kumaso leader Kawakami Kakeru was executed by Yamato Takeru Mikoto (a quasi-historical Japanese prince) who was dressed as a woman, so this is also known as the maiden's clothes cave." (It then goes on to explain the shape of the cave and that one of the entrances is blocked.) Aaaaand now I'm going down a Japanese mythology rabbit hole again, damn it Norm.

[@steemlenn8797]

Japanese Mythology is great! You can definitely see where modern strangenes is coming from.

[@morre6748]

Sounds like the Clan of the Otori book series borrowed some elements there.

[@megamcee]

Ohh, more rural content! Love me some beautiful rural Japan. Thx for the vid, Norm.

[@TokyoLens]

Me toooo!! 😊

[@Shanyandao]

That was so fun! Thank you for taking us along :) Not gonna lie, the cave wasnt what i expected to see at all, but kinda interesting?? :‘D And the lady at the end was really sweet ~

[@TokyoLens]

She might be my favourite lady of the week! Lol Thanks Shanise!

[@MageThief]

"I have achieved absolutely nothing",, yes you have, you have achieved Adventure! Man, I love caves like that, well not with electricity and funky paintings, but just caves, especially those that have a history to them. Yeah, I love to spend hours and days just walking and exploring a new area when I come there, no matter where. And you are right, the locals always know the best Smultronställe

[@MrWordcat]

Hey Norm, I've been really down lately but every time I get to see one of your videos it lifts me up. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us!

[@TokyoLens]

Glad that I could help add to your day even if just a little Hope things pick up for you soon See you again next week!

[@ChocolateMilkMonster]

Please do more random exploring of rural areas. There's so much about the cities of Japan but I feel Japan really shines brightest in it's rural areas. They're so beautiful .

[@epicfactsbooks]

Love this sort of stuff especially in rural japan.

[@mardimccabe6207]

I am an artist. I grew up in Japan, went to an american school but was there for my teen years and had a huge manga collection. I absolutely adore the painted cave! it is a living breathing work of art that you can enter into! I would love to go back to Japan for a visit if only to see this cave. My parents both embraced Japanese art and culture and showed us how that for Japanese people making things aesthetically pleasing is one of the primary human values. From the careful arrangement of the ikebana and tokonoma to the placement of food on the plate and the arrangement of the plates and dishes on the table, everything is done with the primary focus on its aesthetic experience. Thank you for sharing this wonderful cave!!

[@epicfactsbooks]

thanks a lot for experience it reminds me of the interviews on the book Abundance of Less.

[@sarahramos2919]

Another great day of exploring! The unexpected art in the cave made my day. Thank you! Take care!

[@TokyoLens]

Really threw me off But it was a very interesting discovery!!

[@allyd3778]

Omg Norm, you’re insanely brave to go on this cave all by yourself ! 👏🏻 👏🏻👏🏻

[@TokyoLens]

I’ll be honest The second I saw the sign… All nervousness went away lol

[@mhurgle]

*_"This cave was made for me!"_*

[@AbigailinJapan]

I’m from a small, rural area in the US so the video really called to me from the title. Nature is very relaxing to experience and even just walk through. The cave was unexpected but awesome to see. Please take us on more explorations in the future!!! 😊

[@Janreytendo]

Wow Kyushu is such a beautiful place. Thanks norm for bringing us along in your adventures❤️

[@TokyoLens]

The best part is… This is literally just the area around my house! There’s still so much more to explore!!

[@tcwhiterabbit]

I find Tokyo lens videos some of the easiest AND most rewarding videos to rewatch. It’s very much reinvigorated me to study Japanese again so I can one day visit this beautiful country. I hope to be able to make a connection with someone while there. The respect that is shown towards one another there blows my mind. Thank you Norm for sharing.

[@DANSDEAD]

This channel has quickly become my favourite channel on KZbin. Its 1am in Scotland rn and I literally love watching these videos before I go to bed. They help me relax and chill out. Thanks for sharing

[@thegastrotraveler]

Blimey; now I need to add a trippy day-glow cave to my Kyushu list!

[@TokyoLens]

Hahaha oddly worthwhile

[@mariarea4851]

Amazing...it was packed full of great gems...that cave..the waterfall...the sunflowers...can't wait for explore lens full tour of that spot you stopped at 😁

[@the80scyborgninja39]

I love watching your videos with my kids. All of the scenery reminds my family of the best memorable scenes from many of our favorite animes.

[@TokyoLens]

Thank you!! Hope you enjoyed this one!! 😊

[@NecroBanana]

Need more vids like this, bro. Keep them coming!

[@robotunicorn6462]

What a cool cave! I like the painted walls it makes the space so vibrant!

[@Ohhcrystaal]

The sunflowers next to the airport made my day 🌻 I can only imagine how nice it would be to be in the plane and looking down to beautiful sunflowers

[@CLARKSIDEGAMING]

Kyushu looks amazing! 😍 After 4 visits to Honshu, I’m ready to visit some other places outside of the main island. Looking forward to seeing you explore more places around your area and have your adventures inform what I’ll do in the future. Keep it up, Norm! 👊

[@ShintyShinto]

the good kind of fog... i can breathe the fresh air through my screen

[@elflass5544]

Sooo much greenery! Love those Choose Your Own Adventure staircases...though those log steps look like a twisted ankle waiting to happen 😱 Totally didn't expect that wild cave. Really interesting to learn about the '80s tourist attraction history. The power company's yuru-kyara also made my life. 😄 So much covered in this one video; thanks!!

[@TokyoLens]

Hahaha Every part of your comment here made me smile!! See you over on discord and all that!

[@elflass5544]

@@TokyoLens 🌻😊

[@michelleg.4587]

Thank you for traveling around rural Japan. I miss living there as a child and still to this day, the memories are vivid❤️

[@shannondore]

What an absolutely beautiful area. And that cave was incredible!! Glad your friend sent you to this awesome spot. What an amazing find.

[@Sobbouka]

I don't adventure in my area as much as I could, but Norm always inspires me and reminds me just how easy it is to go on a fun little adventure

[@WhiteWulfe]

That outtake at the end where it's revealed the lights are on a timer was definitely cute. Loved the exploration!

[@RShakes]

5:39 What a satisfying noise haha! I'm not sure which is better, the places you explore or that you meet people just happy to share things like where the good sunflowers are.

[@abbyroadme]

This video was just fantastic! Those cave paintings were so beautiful.

[@sarahspiri652]

We have some pretty forests in Germany as well, actually some very pretty forests but this is so different. In Germany you might come across a castle or two but that cave in the middle of the woods is pretty awesome. A piece of history just there for everyone. And the shrine in the woods is just stunning, so peaceful. Also all those sunflowers welcoming the planes is really cute. Love that ending because I know if that actually happened to me I would either faint or beat the World Record time for sprints down those stairs and to my car, I would be out of there so fast😂

[@becks5867]

This was beautifully filmed, there are so many gorgeous spots in the area. The cave has me asking a million questions, but I love it so much and am happy someone took the time to paint it and rig up lighting 💜

[@TennZen77]

Yeah, I always explore my new areas. Love finding the little hidden gems.

[@acacia895]

Japan is so beautiful, thank you for sharing your journey. I went on a 3 week group exchange to Japan when I was 16 and absolutely loved it. I'd love to visit again one day.

[@Kiesmander]

I absolutely love these videos. So relaxing. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada which is a boring, flat wasteland with nothing interesting to see for a very long distance, but if there was, I'd be exploring like this all the time.

[@ownzies100]

I was born in Winnipeg and can attest that it is definitely a flat wasteland. There is a decent EDM scene though if you're into that, but also even more gang activity :(

[@sobashimee2445]

Exactly the kind of relaxing video you would want to tune in to on a Sunday afternoon. Thank you so much for sharing Tokyo Lens!

[@SuperbFairy]

I found you a couple months ago, and don't think I've seen a single video of yours I didn't greatly enjoy watching. Love your enthusiasm and the way you cover so many different aspects of Japan

[@deniseveirum9170]

Rural areas in Japan are so mesmerising, what a wonderful area you live in! And wow that cave was really awesome too! Japan always seize to surprise!

[@PaulSmith46122]

11:59 you could post an hour video of just the sights and sounds of shrines and I’d watch it daily. The beauty of Japanese shrines and the country itself is awe inspiring.

[@thetypebeast]

What a good friend! They really knew what you’d like! This video was really fun! I’ve been wanting to do several excursions since I moved to Seattle, but also haven’t had a chance to really find my special spot, but I do have one I like well enough to visit weekly!

[@jenniree29]

Gosh, I wish I was healthy enough to trek across Japan. What an astonishingly beautiful country. Thank you for taking us along on your journeys! 😊

[@amycole3403]

Lush scenery, impressive waterfall, trippy cave, treacherously fun stairs! Couldn't help but think how much backbreaking labour went into constructing all those stairs, so that we could have adventures. So sweet of that lady, directing you towards better sunflowers! 🌻 Really needed this today, thank you! 🌸

[@shoesinpairs]

I totally experienced the kindness of locals in Kyushu when I got to travel there for work before Covid. Beppu is a sister city of a small town in NZ (where I'm from) and they locals were so excited to talk about the similarities between the two areas and gave me tips on places to go. They made me love my time there even more.

[@otakuchan3173]

Rural japan is sooooo my cup of tea.. I love these kind of vids and man, Japan roads are so clean..

[@timmyZert]

Brilliant video as always Norm! And of course you also like plane spotting too, should've seen that coming! Been a while since I've done that but I haven't try to search good spots for plane spotting on my city either.

[@yvan2218]

NEW TOKYO LENS VIDEO LETS GOOOOOO!!! Heyy norm hope you had an amazing day!!

[@TokyoLens]

Heyyy!! Moving back to Tokyo for a bit from tomorrow So it’s been a busy day But a good day!

[@yvan2218]

@@TokyoLens back to the Tokyo backstreets and city lights for a bit then!

[@TokyoLens]

Absolutely!!

[@jayphillips4942]

Awesome video!!! Thank you!!! I call it getting lost, I quit looking at a map and try to get myself lost in a new city. My favorite moment of that was in Paris, I got “lost” and ran into an elderly gentleman, we sat and talked and shared a beer and he took me to some of the most beautiful places in Paris I would have never found without him!

[@muniaisworthit]

Can't tell you how much I love rural Japan.In 2017 I watched a Japanese movie Wood job, since then I'm totally in love with rural Japan. It's my dream to move there, if not then visit rural Japan someday.Thank you for taking me there with you. Your videos are always a treat to my eyes and soul.So full of life.

[@WiscoMel]

Im so confused and yet amazed by the painting in that cave. Whatever the reason it’s such a cool space and fun surprise to explore!

[@frenzyaintit]

Yes, finally!! A new walk in nature upload! I’ve been rewatching your old videos where you explore nature since you’ve not uploaded new ones. So this is really just what I need, thank you!!

[@250kmonths]

even if i'm not actually there I feel really at peace and it's really calming watching this, literal serotonin release

[@wanderingronin9028]

That shrine was so immaculate. Definitely worth a full video in the future.

[@muazshams7052]

This is the Tokyo lens vid I've been waiting for 😌. But man, your bravery to go such places is to be admired for somebody like me whose having a hard time going into an unlit and enclosed spaces. Excellent video as always ✨

[@SvengelskaBlondie]

9:50 "The gems, the real hidden stuff" In Sweden, we call these places "Smultronställen" or "wild strawberry places". It can both mean a place where such berries grow and a place to go to feel happiness, joy and well-being.

[@brayleighhope4246]

I am always so amazed at how beautiful the Japan landscape is. So breathtaking. Thank you for sharing this beauty with us. ♥

[@confracto]

I totally go out and explore the area and find hidden little spots. That you make videos of the same is what attracted me to this channel in the first place. Your constant upbeat enthusiasm is what makes me stay though.

[@monktondown]

The cave was incredible . It’s so awesome when people go to the trouble to make spaces like that more interesting. Thanks for sharing the journey.

[@tankeryy1566]

another tokyo lens adventure nice!

[@jerryx2381]

Japan has so many breathtaking places.Its truly a content goldmine

[@katewagenbach8907]

What an awesome video! I've been following your lead and exploring my own area. I've found so many adventures and hidden gems. I wish I could share them with you!

[@TokyoLens]

That honestly makes me so happy Kate… Thank you for sharing that! Reading it, definitely put a smile on my face!

[@CoversbyPatYam]

I love the cave, the waterfall, the shrine, and the sunflower field!

[@Pryexel]

The Painted Cave was amazing!

[@Niso_Sopas]

I always come back to your videos because of the effortless joy you exude. Just pure joy. Love ya, man. Cheers from the other side of the Pacific.

[@luac5829]

I thank you so much to showing a lot of sides of Japan, Rural Japan seems really mystic

[@icy_thomas]

I love your vids dude it's so chill and wholesome to watch, I also wish to go on adventures in japan when i get older

[@zebrobertson]

it's nice when you meet up with others and all, but I think I most enjoy your videos like this, with you exploring and just taking us with you...!

[@MulinaTheAngelWolf]

Not me almost LOSING IT at the lights out ending. 10 outta 10

[@lindalangy4714]

I did not expect that vivid colour display in the cave! While really cool, I think I preferred the stairs, the trees and the waterfall. Thank you so much for another rural exploration video - I've fallen in love with these!

[@P3x310]

3:20 Norm quite explicitly and consciously choosing the path less traveled made my morning. Edit: and promptly made it even better by joining the wide and comfortable path soon after, achieving nothing tangible except enjoyment along the way.

[@metricstormtrooper]

That shrine is exquisite, beyond beautiful.

[@michaelabillings9034]

cool to learn that a lot of abandoned things happened in the 80s but they didn't keep them up for the future japan is beautiful as always. enjoy seeing the more rural side of japan

[@Rowan_Waters]

#ExploreAlways! I love how you were just exploring without intention of finding anything like an abandon farm or village and TA-DA! You found it. This is what I love most about exploring is when you actually find something along the way!!!

[@VerhoevenSimon]

I love rural content like this, and please do make that longer tokyo lens explore video you were talking about!

[@artfromtheheart4391]

It always intrigues me about these empty and decaying buildings and I always try to imagine what it would be like if you were standing in the same place when it was inhabited. I cannot help but feel a little sadness when looking at the bones of habitation. Cross this with the interaction with the driver and you can maybe imagine the cheeriness that once inhabited those buildings. Thanks Norm!

[@jobellet.6443]

I've always been a viewer and I never comment but this video has to be my favorite for some reason. So comforting

[@aminat599]

Your videos always come up at the perfect time just when I need a mini escape and whether it’s exploring a mall or the countryside your videos are always the little mini break I need in my day so thanks Norm! ☺️ Hope you’re having a great time exploring your new area it looks stunning!

[@Lily_0.0]

This video was so much adventurous! That cave literally seemed like some other world! Really loved the video💗

[@carlfarmm]

Kyushu is on my list for sure. The final location looked like something out of a shortfilm I love it.

[@MsDekaStar]

I love going out to walk in nature and explore new places. Idk how to explain but I feel home out there. It isn't safe to do this kind of activity here so I just don't, but seeing these amazing places just reminded me of how much I miss it. Thanks for the video, I could return to the outdoors through it.

[@tonka_bean12]

That cave was amazing! The paintings and the lighting (as you say - why?!?!?) but oh my goodness it was just cool! Love the rural videos, such contrast and not a side of Japan you see overly often .

[@sgmque9400]

Those rural area videos are my absolute favorite. Keep i t going :)

[@TokyoLens]

And there’s so much more to explore!!

[@DSZeroe]

There was so much beauty both natural and man made this week. I love vicariously experiencing these cool spots through your videos

[@Seisei16]

This is the kinda video i love to watch on the weekend, It felt like I’m in a trip to japan :D

[@Hacckyy]

I prefer exploring rural places like this... really gives me a peace of my mind. Love the video as always Norm!

[@0bjectr]

These are the kind of places I want to visit when I return to japan. Love the country side of japan

[@ebonyuiduldam6040]

My only desire is to explore the natural beauty of Japan's country side and culture 🥰 so thank you @TokyoLens for showing me all of what I dream about seeing and visiting 🙏

[@hollywallace1806]

I've never lived is a place with a lot of walkable nice areas, besides living in the campground of a lovely park for a bit for medical reasons, so I would spend days and days just walking around Japan. Love this kind of video, you're really amazing at showing off wonderful places!

[@kristinacetinski]

So many hidden gems in this video! Looks like the perfect Japanese summer day in the countryside. The cave in particular was very unique

[@ThorPalsson]

Always such great cinematography

[@atharvadeshmukh47]

Some of the shots totally reminded me of the movie ' Grave of Fireflies'. Rural areas seem so soothing and relaxing to the mind!

[@rosequartz9208]

I love the countryside. It’s very calming.

[@AudioDragon51]

It's fascinating that temples in japan can be anywhere. That's why I love the idea of prying at a temple, in contrast to churches where some can be in eye sore.

[@tabarejmomin]

this is what I'm subscribed for!!! Great Video Norm!!!

[@elihinata1]

Watching Summer videos in Japan leaves me with the feeling that you will continue hearing the cicada cries even after the season's over lol Thank you for the video, Norm! :D

[@henby_]

@ the question around 9:25 ishh in my own town when I get the chance I loove to go walk around and enjoy the nature, typically with a camera on hand so I can get some nice shots. it's always so rewarding tbh! getting to know those little spots that few others go to is always nice, especially if it's a calming area. absolutely love the greenery in this video, that one shot with the mushroom and the dragonfly felt like it was right out of a storybook tbh

[@adrian83628]

I couldn't help but gasp too after seeing that cave! 😄 The visuals of that hike just kept getting better and better.

[@auberginebear]

That waterfall and riverside was beautiful. And I would love to see a video on that shrine and surrounding area.

[@briannakwiatkowski7965]

such a cute video! Love going back and finding new things in places you've been before. Kind of like little surprises!

[@thecolortwelve3784]

love that I recognized the Tori gate of the shrine and knew where you were from the previous video. also glad you had the chance to visit the shrine as it was something that popped up when googling the area.

[@DCSquirrel]

Norm, I’ve been a subscriber for so long now, but I haven’t kept up with your channel. So happy to discover your channel again.