We made it to Japan & HOLY CRAP! (Americans first week in Japan)

[@hape3862]

Hehe, now you're probably the Japan vloggers with the most German subscribers. You have taken us all with you and we will learn a lot about Japan together with you.

[@theplayah442]

I think mr nippon will have the most

[@avmz111]

In absolute numbers, there could also be more German subscribers at "Abroad in Japan".

[@OurStorytoTell]

Our German subscribers are the best!! Truly means so much you guys are following our adventures all the way over here! WE LOVE YOU 🫶

[@emikomina]

plenty of "real" big german youtubers have already made vlogs in japan, you probably dont see them because youtube doesnt recommend you videos in german language

[@wardarcade7452]

WOW! What a blast! Amazing to discover a bit of a German market inside a Japanese grocery store to say nothing of those vending machines with unbelievable selections! Yes, Japan is quite mountainous with central Tokyo being one of the very few flat areas in the entire nation but also quite an interesting coastline. Since English has its had many Germanic contributions, German is relatively easy to learn compared to Japanese with three different systems of written characters,etc. Thankfully so many machines,etc. are bilingual and the citizens are happy to try to help via gestures,etc. even if neither of you speak a word of each other's languages! Thanks so MUCH for this and I look forward to seeing you four getting more settled (and doing some exploring)!

[@martinkasper197]

You will find a lot of Anime (One Piece, Pokemon, Dragonball,...) related vending machines, Donuts and fast food items. It's kind of a tradition in Japan to get a meal from KFC on christmas or eat it there...🤓 They also have German style Oktoberfest or Weihnachtsmarkt in bigger towns like Yokohama and Tokyo...

[@OurStorytoTell]

We heard about the kfc! We didn’t participate this year but maybe next!

[@Alejojojo6]

BE READY FOR THE BIG FLYING ROACHES! They are everywhere hehe

[@OurStorytoTell]

Ahhh nooooo! We are not ready for that lol

[@chkoha6462]

German Christmas Stollen in Japan?See,you just can't escape us:)

[@OurStorytoTell]

That’s literally what we thought! It brought such a smile of comfort 💗😊

[@Tschoki_12]

So good to see you! Got goosebumps when I saw the notification that you uploaded a new video. Have been thinking a lot about you guys when the news about the earthquake hit. So glad you are ok. Excited about watching you exploring Japan, diving into another culture. Wishing you all the best for this new chapter in your life. Sending ❤ from 🇩🇪. PS: Really got the giggles when, in your very first video from Japan, you are passing by a German bakery. 😊

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww that’s so sweet! The earthquake really was so devastating! We didn’t feel it at all though and were very surprised about that, but grateful! Sending love back to you in 🇩🇪 🫶 And we love the bakery scene made you laugh! We are always seeking one out 😂

[@jutswheezie]

I wish you a great time in Japan. Lots of new impressions - and I am sure you will make lots of new friends and enjoy it - It is in one way a totally different culture and on the other hand sharing our values - so very exiting 🙂 I am already looking forward to learning about Japan through your videos. Stay safe and do not forget about us - greetings from Germany

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you! We are definitely all in for a fun wild ride! & We will never forget about Germany! 😊💗

[@ginster458]

Happy New Year! Hope you were alright with the earthquake, immediately thought of you guys. I can only imagine the culture shocks you‘re going through, I had plenty and I was only visiting, not dealing with flat hunting etc. But a lot of them were pleasant too :) Hope you’re all well and having fun in Japan!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you!! 🫶 Yes we actually didn’t feel the earthquake and we were quite surprised about that. Very grateful though as we have experience a lot of new lately.

[@sherylpross-harraz7353]

I love seeing the joy you all have in exploring your new location! As an international teacher, I applaud your efforts with sharing the new culture with Willa and Noa in such a positive way! They will have such wonderful memories to enjoy as they get older.🤩😁😎

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you so much! It’s fun to see our joy for new places influence Willa’s! She is really loving Japan so far & that has really made the move such a positive one!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Also so cool you’re an international teacher! What a fun career!

[@kix1464]

This is so exciting! I'm half German and half Japanese (was born and raised in Tokyo, moved to Germany when I was 9 years old and have been to Japan once a year since then - I'm in my 40s now) and I've been watching you since about a year. The two countries are very different but I love both of them for equally different reasons. So when I heard that you are moving to Japan I was like "Oh no... But oh yay!" 😄 Hope you will get used to the differences soon and enjoy your time in Japan as much as in Germany! 💕🍀

[@OurStorytoTell]

This is such a fun comment to read! Thanks for sharing a bit about who you are and your thoughts with us! The move is exciting but also sad. Bittersweet is really a good word for it. So far our Japanese experience has surpassed our expectations so that’s great! We are very excited for you to see our next adventures. The video coming Sunday is a fun one!

[@sushi777300]

Yay, the first Japan video 😊 Looks exciting

[@OurStorytoTell]

Woot woot! And you’re the first one to comment on it. 😊 We hope you enjoyed it!

[@DamaxThomas]

Welcome in Japan I’m a European (French) living in Japan for 10 years, I’ll be happy to help you or give you guidance.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Hi!! 👋 Thanks so much for the offer! We would love any of your top travel suggestions! Where do you live?

[@mattsoca1]

If it's a somewhat brief musical tune (from Yuyake Koyake song) that is played at 5:00 PM, including weekends, it is to basically reporting to the neighborhood that the school day is over (in the past, the school week lasted 6 days a week, but is being modified to 5 plus certain weekend days). This tradition is slowly disappearing throughout Japan. When I heard the tune in Kyoto and Tokyo, it reminded me that it was 5:00 PM, essentially a substitute for clock chimes/bells.

[@beyonderprime5020]

Hello you 4, nice that you have finally arrived in Japan I wish you the best of times, happiness and success als auch bleibt Gesund.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you! You too! 🫶

[@Billy-jn6te]

I went to Japan but what an absolute waste of my time you can have the same experience in Australia with less people. Nothing special at all about Japan

[@pramaccra3106]

Wow! Seeing you exploring is so much fun. I love that Willa and Noa are enjoying too. Stay blessed.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes it is a huge sigh of relief that our girls are happy here!! 🥹😊

[@isana788]

I can't wait to see your new adventures. Japan will exceed all your expectations. But since Japan took you away from us, I'll be boycotting Japanese food for 2 weeks.😾

[@OurStorytoTell]

Haha we are learning how good Japanese food is so I wouldn’t recommend it. 😉 We feel the love though and really appreciate it! We miss Germany too! 🫶

[@OneLifeIsNotEnough-d9p]

I hope we can welcome a lot of new japanese followers on this channel. That would be very interesting to hear their point of view. Stay safe my lovelies. 😊

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww we love how welcoming you are! We hope we can share our adventures with them too! 😊

[@geriname7277]

Finally! I am so excited for you…and me learning about Japan. I can feel your excitement through the screen 😅. Looking forward to next Sunday!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yay! Finally is right! Thank you!😊

[@Kikifriedmann]

Hello nice to see you again! I am very exited for more Video in Japan! Grüße aus Hamburg!🥰🥰🥰

[@OurStorytoTell]

Hello 😊 We’re happy to be back here!! Thanks for the excitement!

[@louisderhin7690]

I wish you all the best time ever in Japan. Even if we miss you here in Germany ;) I am just as excited as you are about your new experiences :P (Edit) Oh and I am so relieved that nothing happened to you and that you arrived safely!! (referring to the news)

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you so much!! The earthquake was so big we were surprised we couldn’t feel it! So grateful though! Thanks for the well wishes. It means a lot. 🫶

[@martinkasper197]

Do you miss german Kippfenster? 🤣🤣🤣

[@RobertZander-yz3bg]

Now the next chapter of your story has started. I wish you the best of luck for it. Willa seems to be very excited and full of joy discovering everything with you. Really cool. What an awesome experience for all of you. I'm highly interested to visit Japan one day, so I'm glad to get a view together with you into the life of Japan.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Fingers crossed you can make a visit here sometime! It is really surpassing expectations so far for us. 😊

[@AstronautAcademy]

Hi, guys! Welcome to Japan🎉 I'm super happy to find you guys here and hear you're enjoying the new experience in my country. I'm a Japanese nurse living in the western of Tokyo. I have two big boys in their twenties. Though I heard that each US stationed family can get private medical advice 24/7 from a local nurse of the company which the US military has contracted, I will happily give you answers to your questions anytime. About finding a good house, local rules, child-care, and anything. ;) Hope you all have a bunch of good experience in Japan❤

[@OurStorytoTell]

Hi!! 👋👋 We are super happy to have you as a contact! We actually don’t get access to a local nurse because Tanner is civilian rather than active duty, so we are already seeking a ENT doctor for our girls! Do you have any suggestions? 😊 Thank you for the wishes!! 💗 Share any of your favorite local travel suggestions or restaurants too. 😋

[@AstronautAcademy]

​@@OurStorytoTell I tried to write a lot here and failed.😂 I'll reply on your website! ❤

[@K__a__M__I]

I've been fascinated with Japan since i was little. I read everything I could get my hands on, from magazines to travel- and history books. And even _I_ got some major culture shock and was surprised by a lot of things when I finally got there. You're in for a wild ride! Can't wait.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you! Tell us what you found most interesting about Japan during your studies! We’ve began reading much more since being here and there is so much to explore. We’re excited!

[@K__a__M__I]

@@OurStorytoTell The one thing that struck me most was the 'taking off your shoes-thing'. I thought I had that figured out - you know, you enter someplace and change into slippers, no biggie - but what I was not aware of was the extent of it. And it is not even about cleanliness. It's a hermetic separation, shoes are part of the _Outside_ and *do not enter* the _Inside!_ I was at a friends place and took my hiking boots out of my bag - in the living room - , unused, never worn, brand new; and my friend looked at me as if I was waving a gun around with the finger on the trigger. We went to a clothing store and entered the changing rooms and suddenly THREE employees appeared out of nowhere, frantically and politely pointing at our feet...the changing room had a little raised carpeted area, indicating 'SHOE-CHANGING-TIME'! There's so much more, but noone wants to read a whole TED talk in the youtube comments.

[@marie-josesmeets2805]

Happy new year! Nice to see you again, really like this video. Can't wait to see the next videos about Japan and your family ❤

[@OurStorytoTell]

Happy new year!! Thank you 🫶 Next video is so fun! We are excited for you to see it.

[@christinehorsley]

Good to see you’ve made it safely to your new home country. Noa has gotten sooo big ! Don’t worry about jet lag, in a week you should all have adjusted. Maybe 2 weeks for the kids. Enjoy your new experiences !

[@Cashdummy]

so cool I am excited to see your adventures in japan!

[@rileyxxxx]

I'm impressed how willa has grown up into this wonderful entertaining and happy girl. its so nice to see you all again. and after such a long time seeing you in germany, it now really feels as if we are all experiencing japan through your videos. this video was too short xD cant wait to see more. I wonder if there are many other american families in your base or friends you can make.

[@jjivy6310]

So happy to see this video up this morning! Looks like another adventure awaits. According to my friend who lived there while her husband was a professor, you'd better: love raw fish, and get ready for the gift giving wars 😂. She said you go back and forth with people giving gifts (Japanese are very generous people). Bless your adventures and hang on under something when earthquakes hit! Looking forward to more adventures 🎉❤. Love from Texas!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Ooh we have heard about the gift giving wars! Weve heard that if we give our new neighbors a gift, we will get one back and it will continue until we stop 🤣😂

[@jjivy6310]

@@OurStorytoTell that is what I was told.... good luck at winning that one 😂

[@kgspollux6998]

Who are your Japan- expert mentors, helping and guiding you the first months within a completely foreign culture you have never experienced before . . . ? For instance: you don't need to cook for your own, there are plenty of Cook Shops in every supermarket, which supply your whole family with excellent food to go . . . normally you haven't to cook by yourself at home as an employed person - your nutrition is saved by Bento boxes and really good meals, prepared by street food stands . . . . . . Did you know this, before moving ?

[@OurStorytoTell]

We had to take a three day integration course on the US base. That covered most of the basics! They talked about food but actually didn’t cover grocery stores very well. We did find the fresh food section ourselves though!! It’s amazing truly 😋🤤

[@berndgaal7689]

I know how you must feel!!! Felt similar when I first arrived in Japan. You will love it!!!!! I think 80 percent of the land in Japan consists of mountains.

[@OurStorytoTell]

So cool you’ve experienced it!! We cannot wait to explore the mountains!

[@Mountainmom61]

Hi from Northern California USA Love your channel 😊

[@OurStorytoTell]

Hi!! Aww we love to hear that! Thanks for watching and being here!!

[@loydpryor179]

Welcome to Asia! Looking forward to watching you explore this side of the world!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Can't wait to show you!! 😊🇯🇵

[@shirleym9715]

So good to see your sweet family back. I so look forward to your videos and have missed you!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww that’s sweet you felt our absence! Thanks for the support! More to come soon😊

[@fritzschmidt5764]

Looking forward to your adventures in Japan. Japan has a lot of culture to offer. And a beautiful countryside

[@OurStorytoTell]

We cannot wait to explore the countryside! Any recommendations of where to start? 😊

[@jassidoe]

I have so much respect for Willa that she is so open-minded and excited to make new friends. I hope you all have a wonderful time. Thank you for taking all of us with you on this new journey 😊 One thing about Japan that I learned in uni I think is really fascinating: (cultural) heritage sites and how they are defined and everything was written down in the charter of Venice. Simplified: oh, this is old, this is part of our history and culture, this needs to be protected. But Japan has a different approach: the site matters, the cultural significance matters, but the age of the materials does not. So they rebuild historical buildings like temples in set intervals with historical materials and with traditional technique as well (I think). They are built with wood so of course they will have to be renewed and the emphasis of what really matters is the cultural and historical aspect, not the materials like in our castle ruins. It's 1000 years old, great, but little more than a pile of rubble at some point. So they got their own definition of what a cultural heritage is written down in the charter of Nara. Wonder if that's true? It's an interesting concept, I think, and it makes sense. Although I really love our old castles as well. So I am really interested to see your take on this new culture and maybe you'll trip over answers to my questions as well while you explore Japan 😁

[@OurStorytoTell]

Wow thanks for sharing that information with us! Super fascinating & something we will keep an eye out for when we visit historical buildings. 😊

[@lenny_len]

It's so good to see you and the kids happy in your new hometown! I'm looking forward more videos about your life in Japan & how it is going on there for all of you❤

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww thank you!! 💗🫶 We are adjusting well and very grateful for it! Stay tuned for some fun (& tasty) adventures!!

[@cherylsemrau7100]

Also when you go shopping Japanese do not squish or feel the fruit and vegetables.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Great tip!! Thank you!

[@KeesBoons]

Looking forward to a great year 2024 in Japan for you and your family. All the best wishes on a cold morning here in the Netherlands.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Same to you! Hope you’re staying warm 😊

[@arnomrnym6329]

Ich wünsche euch ein gesundes neues Jahr und einen tollen Start in Japan.🍀 Jetzt müsst ihr nicht nur eine neue Sprache lernen, sondern auch eine neue Schrift. 😉Viel Spaß beim Entdecken einer neuen Kultur. またね Mata ne 🙂

[@OurStorytoTell]

Happy New Year to you!! Haha oh yes It is an adventure already trying to learn! Do you live in Japan? 😊

[@arnomrnym6329]

@@OurStorytoTell No, in Germany. 😉

[@kgspollux6998]

Some additional help from someone getting some Interieur info about this completely different "western affiliate" culture in Asia (besides the South-Corean maybe) The left side traffic. Don't underestimate it. If you want to drive any car by yourself in Japan: Be fully concentrated, even when you want to turn your direction - one fault by inattention may cause an accident. Protection of childhood/youth: In Japan they don't have a special youth protection law (like in Germany and so on), which shelters young people below the age of 18 from sexual access by adult people (that could mean, that some underage Japanese girls will burnish their allowance by serving some nice sugar daddies) - welcome to a different reality . . .

[@user-mf2pm5sl6z]

これからは日本語字幕が必要ですね♪　爆発的に視聴者数が増えると思いますよ☝️😊

[@OurStorytoTell]

YESS great point!

[@herzschlagerhoht5637]

Hope you have a great time there! I really think, Japan ist culturally completely different to Germany! Yes, there are also differences between the USA and Germany, but these ones are obviously much bigger and the cities and places to live are grey and without identity. But spring and summer should change all this and imrove the living conditions. I wish you all the best! ;)

[@christianklier4793]

Have you find "Kohlrabi" in Japan??? 🙂 have a wonderful time

[@MarcusSchmidtRES]

Good to see you guys being back here 🎉 after our recent trip to Japan I'm very confident that you'll love it but be prepared for way more culture shocks coming 😂

[@OurStorytoTell]

It feels good to be back on KZbin! How long were you in Japan? We assume there are so many to come too! 😂

[@MarcusSchmidtRES]

@@OurStorytoTell 3 weeks (Kyoto, Himeji, Osaka, Tokyo, Yokohama, Hamamatsu)

[@100100freak]

@@MarcusSchmidtRES how much did you pay if I may ask? How long did you stay at each of those places? Im planning a 3 week trip as well

[@MarcusSchmidtRES]

@@100100freak it was a self organized trip. Actually the flights were the single most expensive part. The Japanese currency is quite weak at the moment. So as a foreigner you get more for your money. We pre-booked only one hotel. All the rest we booked in Japan. I highly recommend to get a Japan rail pass beforehand your arrival if you want to get around the country. Even though it's more expensive since this year it might still save you a lot of money. And it's kinda flat rate for most of the shinkansen and many local connections especially in Osaka and Tokyo. As we travelled with a baby we obviously had to consider many things differently. Eating out is most of the time cheaper than in Germany. Otherwise there's a huge takeaway culture there. I really can't give you an amount of what we've spent. If I have to guess maybe 4000 to 5000 € including flights and accommodation for 2,5 people and believe me we did a lot of things. Thinking back I'm still flashed by all the things we've seen, done, eaten and experienced. Japanese people otherwise will help you anytime you need an advice or help. They are highly service oriented and even with language barriers they'll find a way to help. Absolutely phenomenal! Try to learn some simple things like thanks, please etc. and respect the rules and behaviours there. There more you do that the more open they'll be towards you. They are actually often very shy as they feel embarrassed of their English skills at first. The ice breaks very quickly though. Any more advice needed feel free to ask.

[@MarcusSchmidtRES]

@@100100freak ah forgot: we stayed at Hamamatsu for 1 week as my wife had a concert there. Osaka 2 days, Kyoto 1 week, Tokyo 5 days. Don't be afraid of distance. The bullet trains are fast. And on time!

[@gwynethglas-brown9171]

Was thinking of you all after hearing about the Earthquakes 🙏🙏 you all safe & Well Thats was so sweet of Tanner coworker to leave the Basket of Snacks for you 😊 . Hope the jetlag is slowly getting beter , your body getting used to to the time difference 😜🤞 . Exciting times for you all .looking forward to next videos learn more about Japan and see it through your eyes How your getting on ,with shopping , etc. Have a Good week take care 🥰🥰

[@Herzschreiber]

So great to see you've reached your destination healthy and the only bothering thing is the jetlag! And how exciting it is to discover this place together with you! Even the base is exciting for us because - show me any German who has experienced an US base in Japan! LOL I am looking forward to watching you going out to discover the "real Japan"! I wish you can overcome your jetlag as fast as possible and hey...... have fun exploring!

[@タカ-k6c]

日本へようこそ、日本は外国人には大変な部分も多いですが自信を持って言えるのは安全で子供が自由に遊べる国です、頑張って日本滞在を良いモノにして下さい

[@wasabichips933]

It never ceases to amaze me how incredibly widespread the myth that Japanese people slurp their noodles to “show appreciation to the chef” has become. It seems like literally every single Westerner who doesn’t live in Japan (and even some who do) believes this.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for the comment! We watched a show about traveling in Japan on our flight here when we moved. We were with ANA and in the video it said this about slurping noodles. That’s why we thought it was correct. But, if it is not a thing we definitely want to know!!

[@wasabichips933]

@@OurStorytoTell No it definitely is a thing but it doesn’t have anything to do with showing appreciation. You do it simply because that’s how they’re supposed to be eaten. Consuming the noodles along with air enhances the flavor and also ensures you get plenty of broth with the noodles. No one eats just the rice in curry right?

[@zunairbirds3984]

Beautiful sharing ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Shaudzie]

She’s CRAWLING? I’m soooo old. Love you all ❤😂😂😂 *edit* Trevor is older just FYI 😂😂😂😂

[@OurStorytoTell]

I know!! It’s crazy! 😊🫶 Gosh we miss you guys and love you old folks 😉

[@jamylareininger3802]

Love to follow your new Journey in Japan🎉Hi from Germany.

[@cherylsemrau7100]

Also that music at 4 or 5 was to tell the children to go home.

[@verenaburkhardt7256]

Hi, Welcome to Japan! I'm from Germany . I Miss you a little. But i whish you a good arrive and a great time in Japan.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you! 🫶 We miss Germany too, but appreciate the best wishes!!

[@MiciFee97]

I love how Willa is so open and happy about the new school 😍🥰

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks! It gets us really excited too!! Big sigh of relief for us! 🫶😊

[@gsmith6897]

YEAH! All is well! nice temp housing! I bet it's so much nicer than when we were there, HA! looks so crazy and all👀🍜🤔, Be careful of the REAL POTENT GREEN TEA! Willa you're a doll and your sis!🛴🌞. take care!🥰

[@OurStorytoTell]

We are happy with our temp housing! Haha you weren’t kidding about the tea! the bit of green tea we have had was much too strong for us. Thank you 😊

[@quo33]

The area is very modern though? Most places could be any big city, if it weren't for the Japanese signs... thought it would be more picturesque. Guess I'm not a city person. XD

[@OurStorytoTell]

We didn’t really show the area yet, stay tuned for the video on Sunday and you’ll see it :)

[@dreasbn]

Happy New Year ! This will exciting. you can tell. I didn't have Japan on my bucket list until only 6 months ago when starting to see reels about Japan, culture and people. Still it freaks me out when seeing all those signs, food, packages and have not the slightest clue what it is.... Here in Düsseldorf we got a huge japanese community and entering the Japanese food markets in Düsseldorf always left me totally ratlos...i was always overwhelmed by the different approach of packeging, colour, signes. Everything is bright and you can hardly ever tell by the package what's really inside.... at least that was my impression. Great to see how Willa is excited and not afraid of anything. Her age i was a little coward hanging on my mum skirt, very shy and would not want to go to Kindergarten ever... they had to persuade me for months... until i finally went. Kitas were not existing at the time.. so i was 4 years of age when eventually starting Kindergarten. But i am the "little one", my sis is 5 years senior and completely different. There you go... Have fun and keep the interesting video coming ! All the best for 2024. Greets from Germany

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oh it’s so fun hearing about you as a little one! Willa didn’t want to go to kita either but she was two so we think that’s normal. It really helped her grow (as you can see!) The culture is so different than in Europe or the USA, but we are coming to really enjoy it too! We are excited to show you more of Japan!

[@duisan8656]

I think what you do is very brave and inspiring. It's understandable that coming from "western cultures" like Europe and the US to an Asian country can be quite a culture shock. The US and Germany will probably only be slightly different to what japan will be. I wish you the best of time here.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww that’s kind of you to say! Thank you! It is a shock, but thankfully it hasn’t been too bumpy of an adjustment!

[@stefanfrank4054]

My poor little Riza ! 2:30 am and the kids are starting partytime. And poor Tanner too. Second day, and you must go working. I Think it's a hard time for both of you😪

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yea it was crazy that he had to go in the next day, but thankfully they were kind to let him come home and take the next week off (for the most part)! Huge blessing because that jet lag was ROUGH! 😂

[@RustyDust101]

Hehe, Willa and Noa are still stealing the show. I am certain with her positive attitude Willa will soon make new friends. I hope all of you are fine and weren't negatively affected by the earthquake and tsunamis. Sending all of you (and all the people in Japan) the best wishes to overcome these adversities together. Still very happy to see you keep up with the Sunday releases of your videos. But again, don't feel pressured into keeping us informed. Get your "Eingewöhnung" , your integration period, done first. Get into the flow and rhythm of your surroundings. We'll be around. Greetings from a very wintery Hamburg.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Such a thoughtful comment! Thank you 🫶 We actually didn’t even feel the earthquake which was crazy! We thought for sure we would, but nothing. A huge blessing as that would have been an emotional experience in an already new place for us. Willa truly has been such a rockstar with this move. We are very impressed! 💗

[@arnikakiani8014]

So exciting! Love to see how you all tackle the new challenges ((()))

[@OurStorytoTell]

Aww thank you!! 🫶

[@redrooster12000]

Museum warship Mikasa at Yokohama port already. Germany and Japan truly are very hard to compare, something like fire and water. Konbini like Lawson Station or Family Mart for grocery shopping and not only traffic is totally different...

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes they are so different! We are finding that out every day. It sounds like you’ve been which is cool!!

[@mvmoni]

I appreciate your honesty Risa! Especially after a few people criticised you guys for moving i think it's really strong from you to show us also your lower moments. I totally could understand how you felt. I felt like this almost with every big jorney/move. But in the end it all turned out great! You guys are so brave and i wish you a great experience in japan!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you so much! It can be hard to be vulnerable about the hard times online, but we don’t want people to get a false impression so we think it’s important too! We are already seeing the move pay off! Happy yours have too!! 😊

[@seeryu42]

Welcome again, and hope the family is keeping positive through the recent crazy new year happenings. Be sure to keep a good mix of comfort meals and new adventures (Tokyo gourmet hamburgers are some of the best in the world IMHO :-) ). Enoshima and Kamakura is a nice trip (check out the huge Buddha statue), Yokohama and Chinatown is great, and of course there's all of Tokyo to explore. And when you're ready to go further check out the Shinkansen (looking forward to see your comparison to Deutsche Bahn :-) ), and hope you get some snow sports in this winter too.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Okay now we are adding Tokyo hamburgers to our food bucketlist 🤣😋 seriously thanks for the suggestions! Fun fact, we actually plan to live *fairly* close to Kamakura!

[@howierfs5471]

Konnichiwa Christensen family. Nice to hear from you again after a long long time(2-3 sunday I guess) Thanks for sharing with us your yapanes experiences. I heard about the vending machines and looks so cool the parking spot inf front of the building. Well, if you dont have the space, the sky is endless. Good that Willa is a noodle fan and I am sure she will find her favourite icecream. Crossing fingers she will soon making new firends. Guess in her age kids are open minded. Guess checking the public speakers is necessary in Japan. I was wondering how much space you got in your temporary residence. You are doing right looking for housing outside the base which will give you more options to dive faster into the new culture. Crossing fingers for you. CU

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes thankfully our temp housing is a good situation! Also Willa has been such a rockstar with the move. We are also very impressed! Thanks for watching and stay tuned for the video on Sunday! You’ll really enjoy it we think 😊

[@SuperLittleTyke]

Ah, your first video from Japan! So much to take in, I'll watch it again later. What I would like to see in the next video is food price comparisons with Germany for essentials like milk, bread, butter, cold cuts, beef, pork, chicken and seafood. Is there any food that stands out as being incredibly expensive. Or incredibly cheap - compared to Germany. Also, do you have use of a car and if so, what's it like driving on the left? And can you take us a short distance into the country so we can compare the scenery.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oooh thanks so much for the suggestions! We just purchased a car and will be coming out with a video about it in the next while so stay tuned! And food has been cheaper than we thought. We did expect it to be super expensive though so at least we went in with those expectations 🤣!

[@dittesque]

Really enjoyed this first glimps of your time in Japan and looking forward to your next adventures! Just one thing I noticed in the video, Tanner; I wouldn’t dare to speak about other adults, espacially from other ethnicities, as “a cute, little guy” or their daily activities being “pictursque”. I know you meant no harm by it, but it made me cringe a little to hear it 🙈☺️

[@OurStorytoTell]

That’s a really good perspective. Thank you for sharing that so I can be more mindful and do better! Also thanks for watching! 😊

[@cs3473]

I'm glad you guys made it! Good luck with dealing with the change in time zones. My dad was never assigned to a post in Asia, so I have very little frame of reference for living in in that part of the world. I look forward to watching your adventures and experiences in Japan. :)

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oh that’s cool your dad had some experiences abroad it sounds like! Thanks for the comment and watch!! We are very excited for you to see next weeks video! ☺️

[@rrl4245]

At least German utilizes the same alphabet - Learning Kangi, just so you can read labels and signs will be much more difficult -

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yeah it is definitely more difficult!

[@Dahrenhorst]

USA and Germany are already quite different in many aspects of daily life, but that is nothing compared to the differences between the USA and Japan. You are in for a lot of adjusting, also because the Japanese are generally much less forgiving for transgressing local cultural standards than Europeans are.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We are definitely in for an adventure! We are optimistic and having a fun time so far. 😊

[@wizardm]

I really envy the experiences you will have. I've been to Japan three times so far, but being on vacation is different from living there. I recommend using your time in Japan to visit Korea. It's only a short flight from Tokyo to Pusan.

[@OurStorytoTell]

We definitely plan to visit Korea! Tanner has to go there for work actually so we are hoping it will be this year. We are happy to hear you’ve loved your visits to Japan! So far, based on our little exploring, we can see why you have!

[@aikaaika594]

Welcome to Japan! I am japanese living in Fukuoka Japan. so happy to see you guys live in my country😊❤

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you!! We are so happy and excited to be here 🫶

[@sadikdogan9151]

I' m an orthooaedic surgeon from Mainz Germany, and I just saw your trip to Japan by random.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oh so fun to learn more about you!! Thanks for commenting and watching! We hope you’ll stay for the fun adventures here in Japan!! (& we are taking it international too!)

[@truigrunland6817]

Glad you made it to Japan and everything seems to be fine there! You have a lovely place to stay, but i think it will be temporary? Loooking forward to the experiences you make and the videos about them!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes it’s just temporary until we find the right place to call home. 😊

[@starseed8087]

I feel like I had another life in Japan once. Would like to visit the country but not wanna live there. I am impressed with Willa so far, being open for new experiences.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Oh so cool! It’s really fun so far, we are sure you’d enjoy a visit. 😊 also, we have been very impressed with Willa too!

[@matthiasnolte3817]

I´m glad you arrived good at your new home! And I also wish you again all the best for your staying there!!! All the best greatings from old Germany! And I hope to hear and see more of you!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you! You can’t get rid of us, we will be back next week with a new fun adventure. Stay tuned 😊☺️

[@jenatix8664]

U have to go to Mr Nippon :D Osaka is btw very beautiful

[@OurStorytoTell]

We just searched his channel! It looks so fun! Maybe we will meet up with him someday?

[@sadikdogan9151]

I will follow you guys from time to time at least. GOOD LUCK

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you!! 🫶

[@hegaukatze1599]

I love japan vlogs❤ greetings from germany 😊

[@OurStorytoTell]

We do too!! We are excited to be apart of the group that makes them! 😊 Thanks for watching!

[@sadikdogan9151]

I am looking forward to travel there one day with my family

[@OurStorytoTell]

We hope you can!!

[@DalaiDrama-hp6oj]

Yeay, you already bumped into "Brot Baum" 🤤 This time I found the "Yokusuka Seahawks" on the map. Who of you 4 is gonna join the team? 😘

[@OurStorytoTell]

Look at you! Now you’ve seen our stomping grounds. 😊 Haha none of us will be joining but might be in the stands eating baked goods from Brot Baum! 😉🤤

[@DalaiDrama-hp6oj]

@@OurStorytoTell Good Idea 👍 Btw: That little island in your vid (Sarushima?) reminded me somehow of Bled, Slovenia (don't ask me why). This was actually the reason why I started thinking about new sports adventures like _"3 miles Whitewater Kenjutsu"_ especially for you, Tanner ☺ Then, watching out for little cute island and it's Samurai pirate treasures in 3D, I found that hawky stomping ground close by of course 🏈 Ancient tales say, Brot Baum has put all the famous island treasures into their "Christstollen" anyway 🙃

[@gilliantracy7991]

Congrats and best of luck in Japan!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Huge thanks!! 😊

[@geeemm135]

good to see that you made it alive and well. couple questions tho 1. since you dont speak japanese and the country seem to lack a lot of the latin letters, how do you navigate throughout your days? using the camera on your smartphones to translate everything? 2. is there a time limit for tanners deployment? or will japan be the country where you dont have (not saying "dont want to" on purpose) to leave after a certain amount of time? 3. whens all your stuff going to arrive? couple months?

[@OurStorytoTell]

Great questions!! Yes we use Google translate a lot when communicating or with food labels! 🤣 There is a time limit for his deployment. The max time we can be here is until March of 2026. Lastly, our first shipment arrived in December (YAY)! And our big household shipment is scheduled for March. Hoping it comes earlier 🙏 Thanks for the questions!!

[@geeemm135]

@@OurStorytoTell thx for answering :)

[@Opa_Andre]

Love seeing your excitement and having fun in Japan. As a German I'd love to do a 2 weeks vacation over there by myself, but I'm a bit scared as well. It would be great if you could do an off-base video while you are unfamiliar with the language to see if someone who doesn't know the language at all would be able to explore and navigate the country. For example, whether there are signs in English, whether there are English menus in the restaurants, whether you can ask Japanese people for directions in English, etc. So whether you would be able to "survive" and enjoy a vacation without being able to read or speak Japanese at all.

[@OurStorytoTell]

Great video suggestion! Our next videos are entirely all off base so we think you’ll find a lot of your answers there! :) we have yet to explore past about 2 hours where we live here so maybe that’s different the further we get! Soon we will know, so stay tuned 😊

[@Opa_Andre]

@@OurStorytoTell That's cool! I'm sure such footage will not just help me but others as well in regards of vacation planning. Thanks alot. ❤

[@SuperLittleTyke]

Are you near Misawa, Yokota, or Kadena Air Base?

[@OurStorytoTell]

No we arent! But going to Okinawa would be fun!

[@kathi_LG]

Big ❤ from Germany … we miss you!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Awww sending the love back 🫶💗

[@AdrianaPage-vb8zu]

Your hair is so long isn’t hard to maintain?

[@OurStorytoTell]

Yes! I actually chopped a few inches off recently 😊

[@memories511]

First off, I am so glad all of you made it there safe. Now the adventure begins , Looking forward to more fun vids from all of you ! Enjoy and stay safe !

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you!! We can’t wait for you to see next weeks!! 😊 that’s when the real fun happens!!

[@memories511]

@@OurStorytoTell 👍🏻😁

[@rgvgamma9986]

Yokosuka! Nice select!

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks!! Have you been here?

[@assi2429]

Viel Glück und ein gesundes neues Jahr 👍

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thank you!! Happy New Year to you too! 😊

[@sadikdogan9151]

Nice

[@OurStorytoTell]

Thanks for watching!!

[@dieterchristmann3794]

Tell me what an single Orange in a japanese Shop cost and If you then not regrate to leave Germany.

[@ERNIE555]

The food doesn’t look healthy