Traveling Japan’s countryside by local trains is very different | Japan by Train

Using local trains, we travel for 3 days around Tochigi, Fukushima, and Niigata. Going this deep into Japan's countryside provided some interesting challenges that you don't normally see when you stay on the more tried and true tourists paths.
TOCHIGI
- Shimo-Imaichi Station maps.app.goo.g...
- DL Taiju (SL Taiju) www.tobu.co.jp...
- Kinugawaonsen Station, Tochigi maps.app.goo.g...
- Line Kudari River Cruise, Kinugawa www.visit-toch...
- Kinuko No Yu (foot bath), Kinugawa maps.app.goo.g...
- Kinugawakoen Station maps.app.goo.g...
- Limited Express Revaty www.tobu.co.jp...
FUKUSHIMA
- Aizu Tajima Station maps.app.goo.g...
- Tonohetsuri Station maps.app.goo.g...
- Tō-no-Hetsuri maps.app.goo.g...
- Yunokamionsen Station maps.app.goo.g...
- Nishi-Wakamatsu Station maps.app.goo.g...
- Aizu-Kawaguchi Station maps.app.goo.g...
- Kawaguchi Taxis maps.app.goo.g...
- The Fourth Mimikawa Bridge maps.app.goo.g...
- Mugenkyo (boats we didn't ride on) maps.app.goo.g...
- Lake Numazawa maps.app.goo.g...
- 一嶋公園（伊夜彦神社) (the shrine we briefly visited) maps.app.goo.g...
- Oshio Natural Carbonated Water maps.app.goo.g...
- Oshio Public Onsen (the onsen we couldn't get in) maps.app.goo.g...
- Yugura Cooperative Onsen maps.app.goo.g...
- Honna Station maps.app.goo.g...
NIIGATA
- Echigo Suhara Station maps.app.goo.g...
- Megurotei (thatched roof manor) maps.app.goo.g...
- Tamagawa Brewing Company maps.app.goo.g...
- Koide Station maps.app.goo.g...
- Yunotani Roadside Station (michi no eki) maps.app.goo.g...
- Echigo-Yuzawa Station maps.app.goo.g...
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[@LifeWhereImFrom]

Hope you all enjoy the relaxing vibes of this one. It's a continuation of my Tokyo by series, but this time getting out of the megacity and into the countryside.

[@francislimson4086]

Super like it!!

[@TandokuOsaki]

Thank you for the beautiful 1h long video!

[@misanthropicsophist]

lmao getting drunk and taking the wrong train is so relatable

[@yellowbags]

I love these series. I went to Japan in October of 2023 and seeing these beautiful mini documentairies really bring me back to Japan 🇯🇵🗾

[@CptFitzgerald]

Parts of your train ride reminded me of how much I enjoy driving on old country highways in Kansas in June. Oddly enough, I'd fit right in within these regions.

[@danleighton]

One of Greg’s best videos. Goes sightseeing? Sights aren’t there to see. Goes to a hotel with food? Fails to get food. Tries an ATM? No cash for you! Visit an onsen? You’ll be lucky mate! Onsen’s off! Shall we get pissed up at the station waiting for a train? Yes! And to make it better, let’s take the unstoppable train in the opposite direction! Woo! Such a great video 😂😂😂

[@amaelriesterer1421]

I get why they started drinking

[@jackg5321]

I agree! What a memorable trips. It's those surprises that make it great to look back on

[@danleighton]

@@amaelriesterer1421 me too! 😅

[@danleighton]

@@jackg5321 there’s nothing worse than perfect videos! I used to love a channel called VLDL - but they’ve become so successful that all their new videos are just a bit dull as they are too perfect. It was much funnier when it was more home grown.

[@michaels3003]

There was nothing wrong with the train direction. This was a high speed train that did not stop in the desired town.

[@NatsuMatto]

Greg -- Awesome video! Not to "yuck" anyone's "yum," but this is such a refreshing counterpoint to the endless "OMG! WE'RE IN SHIBUYA! ANIME! VIDEO GAMES! LOL!" travel videos we usually get about Japan on KZbin. Akko is a great travel companion (who might be able to put Marion Ravenwood to shame in a drinking contest!). Have been enjoying your channel for years and hopefully for many more!

[@ilmarinen79]

Amen!

[@zainmudassir2964]

I actually prefer quieter videos about Japan and the countryside. Lots of the anime / otaku areas seem like tourist traps

[@PowerSynopsis]

I didn't even realize the video was over an hour long while I was watching it because it was so enjoyable.

[@schmartn]

I had the same thought - it had a very positive vibe all along the ride.

[@kevikiru]

Spoiled it! Now I am aware, I was just enjoying

[@PowerSynopsis]

@@kevikiru Surely you're not saying I somehow spoiled the video for you because you checked the comments?

[@kevikiru]

@@PowerSynopsis That is exactly what I am saying. I am to blame for checking the comments, you are to blame for making me aware that I was only halfway through a one hour video! So I was consciously aware I needed to dedicate 30 min of my future to finish the video.

[@ShaferHart]

Anko is always game for drinks, she's a fun traveling partner 😂. I didn't expect to watch the whole thing in one sitting. Thank you for bringing us along on your trip!

[@deanzaZZR]

Also a 🙀

[@stuartg9296]

I'm sure it's not Anko - that's red bean paste like you'll find in a lot of traditional Japanese sweets. Her name seems to be Akko.

[@donia1]

Her laughter is contagious. This was quite fun to watch. I love how real it comes across. The end ride was something I would do. 😂

[@jian4105]

Scary, kowai kowai 😅

[@moving-spaces]

I could have watched another hour of this. So well done.

[@bawintermage8351]

I took a slow train from Kyoto to Niigata and I loved the small stations. Thanks for the video, Japan it isn't all about the bullet trains and Tokyo

[@ヤス-l4b]

yes!!! local line & countryside is beautiful😊

[@nouvoqueenl4724]

This documentary (I called it what it is) was fantastic! Trains, automobiles and high drama! Greg your doing such a great job. Akko is also my favorite side (or main?) character; always exhausted, always whining, always unintentionally funny and always ready for biiru or sake. Now can we request that you and Akko continue to trek across Japan and take us along for the ride?

[@endangeredmarmot4518]

We traveled around Tohoku last year - overtourism is not a thing up there, but we encountered many of the same hiccups as you😁 (closures, no restaurants, sporadic trains and buses). That said, Japan is so much more than Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, so people really should take the time to venture out of the tourist triangle because it was an amazing trip. This was a great video - the train through the sakura was stunningly beautiful.

[@Mwoods2272]

The hiccups are a reason why tourists don't venture outside of the triangle especially with the language barrier.

[@wanderer0013]

I've been working all night... watching this was so relaxing ^^ I want to send my days wandering Japan and the world...

[@adriangenshin9284]

I'm vary glad you slowed down the pace for this one. KZbin algorithm might not be too happy about it but I sure am.

[@clownearound5751]

Thank you Greg and Akko for sharing this excellent video with everyone. I grew up coming from a ‘railway family’ (my parents both worked for the railway and my brother still does) so we traveled extensively throughout the UK by rail. I thoroughly enjoyed it, these are the places of Japan that I would love to see more of and it’s great to see the local tourism office utilising the taxi and the drivers local knowledge to run a tour. The best of wishes to you both and your families from England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇨🇦🇯🇵

[@shirolee]

This is the Japan that I need to see more of. It's so beautiful and peaceful. Like time has stopped.

[@thndr_5468]

Seeing small trains slowly go through the countryside is such a beautiful sight to see. It's almost magical in a way.

[@liltunwin]

Man you really don't know how much I appreciate this video. I even stayed up late to watch the whole video and risk getting up late for work tomorrow 😂 I feel like a lot of content about Japan these days are too focused on popular trends or just over the top reactions so it's very refreshing to see a rather realistic experience that others may be experiencing themselves. It's definitely not my weirdly attachment to watching train commuting content at all 😅. Also I love the fact that Akko was involved in this whole journey. It's entertaining to see the interaction, opinion, bickering or just an additional voice than the usual videos with just you/your narration, Greg. Hope to see more videos like this even though I know it's not easy to produce and not likely be popular with the algorithm. 43:29 that diss though. It got me cracking so hard 😂😂😂 Is it possible to list the sake that you/Akko recommend from this trip? I'm not an avid sake drinker or anything but I do enjoy a good easy to drink sake and it's kind of overwhelming to look up sake and try them out yourself blindly in the states.

[@LifeWhereImFrom]

I think everyone will have their own favourite Sake. I can't remember all the one's we got, but you can kind of see them at kzbin.info/www/bejne/nICWp2p5e9KmhsUsi=wmANRB-nzyjV6wpS&t=2905 I bought the イットキー (It's the key) and 潟王 (Gatao). The funny thing about the ATM was that for whatever reason the first one didn't accept her card (even though she had money), but the second one would accept mine. I had several (a couple Japanese, WISE, and a Canadian) bank cards on me, so I figured one of them would work. On my first try I got one of my Japanese ones to work. Our backup plan was to do an online transfer from one of our Japanese banks to the ryokan.

[@johnnzboy]

What a superb way to spend an hour, watching you two tipsily exploring the Japanese countryside together, Greg indomitable despite minor setbacks (and a master at getting exquisite footage) and Anko occasionally flagging and timorous but never deterred and delightfully buoyed by the local rice products - sugoi!

[@TexasCat99]

25:27 = A great shot of the station and cherry blossoms. Its looks surreal.

[@jonniesantos]

After watching the local news this morning, this is sooo calm and relaxing. The foot and hand bath is new to me. Thanks for this video!

[@sylvial3815]

I thoroughly enjoyed your video. Shinkansen is nice but these trains are such a gem to ride on with slower pace and one can really enjoys the scenery along the way. Everything is so clean and orderly. Beautifully filmed Greg. Thank you for these nice video.

[@jomsaaa1620]

I like this adventure where you tried different kinds of transportation while visiting the countryside. Living in the countryside is very challenging especially when it comes to commuting. Not only that, how little much information we know when most restaurants or shops are not open as always. I hope you promote more of the countryside part of Japan so locals can continue their businesses and provide them more work. Thank you very much for this video.

[@sumanjana7432]

Tokyo by bike is my one of the favourite video on the internet

[@qwerty2020100]

There's so much more to Japan than those quick travel blogs show us. Kudos to you and hope to visit soon

[@TexasCat99]

Excellent train footage from the drone and everything else.

[@mikebarton]

I got off a local train in a very small town somewhere in Saitama. Not much was happening. One of the team in the ticket office thought I was looking for another local train and directed me to it. Not having much else to do I took it. The second train ran up into the hills and in some cases almost seemed to be servicing a single home. I got off where I could see a café/restaurant/store sitting on its own. It was a bit cold and snowy so simply ended up spending two hours there, eating and drinking , with a very noisy and animated elderly crowd. 😊😊

[@iskandartaib]

The manually raised water screens remind me of the ones on Bangkok's Saen Saep water buses. They've revised the boats over COVID, so they're not needed any more, but in the past, you boarded and got off the boats stepping over the gunwales, so the screens (which were along both sides of the boat) had to come down so people could step over them. In between stops, when the water was choppy, the screens could be raised by the passengers sitting next to the gunwales by pulling on a rope. The water in the canals isn't terribly clean, so you really didn't want to get any in your face. The re-modeled boats have entry ports admidships, and actual seats rather than low benches - much less of a chance of falling in while trying to get on, especially if both hands are occupied with shopping bags.

[@mattruzicka7876]

Thank you as always for your great videos! My wife and I recently returned from Japan where we traveled from Tokyo through Osaka and down around Shikoku and the Seto sea (taking a variety trains, ferry's, and even taxis across Shikoku when the almost all the trains were cancelled due to rain). Two things really stood out the most to me in this video 1) we visited 5 years ago and stayed overnight in Echigo-Yuzawa and THOROUGHLY enjoyed the sake tasting machines at the station - made me nostalgic to see it :) 2) it was comforting to see even locals can accidentally get on the wrong train! We inadvertently had a 15 minute visit to Kyushu when we accidentally got on the shinkansen going the wrong way leaving Hiroshima! It also added 2 hours to our travel back to Tokyo. ;)

[@tangerinic]

I enjoyed this video immensely, thank you Greg and Akko! Please make more videos like these 😊

[@melimehlmann7716]

I love love loved the video so so much 🥰🥰🥰 your authentic style and low pace is just amazing ✨🫶🏽

[@wbch]

这一集也很治愈，优美的风景，精湛的剪辑，恰到好处的配乐。超级喜欢，一次真的看不够❤

[@19DGL94]

Greg, you should bring your kids along on one of these trips! It would be cool to see how much they've grown!

[@Redhotchilipprs]

What a fantastic well put video. I felt like I was there. You do such a great job of a catching the joy and headache of traveling. Been a while since we have seen your kids. Your sister in law is awesome! What a trooper man! She deserves all the Sake!

[@torloni13]

As a brazilian and an italian/japanese descendant who never went to Japan (YET!!!!)...I feel a strong connection to the japanese countryside!! Can't explain it....just feels like home.

[@supertrooper6752]

Thank you for this. This helps a lot with my anxiety

[@Magnico0]

What happened? I've just watched an 1h video like it was 10min! Incredibly cozy content. Cheers from Brazil!

[@vindo17]

hi Greg! loved your video as always! hope you keep making similar videos in the future!

[@onemore5952]

What a beautiful love letter to the country side this video is. Thanks for sharing ❤❤

[@kuraisiruru1794]

I'm currently trying to research Japan and how things work there, such as the train systems, which led me to this video. It's such a nice video of the countryside, while at the same time feeling kind of somber at times. Sure, most of the video is happy exploration and all that, but once you start asking the train operator and the taxi driver about the area, the mood kind of dips down as they explain how things aren't what they used to be. The decline of Japan's countryside is very sad, it's got such beautiful countryside and watching it all slowly fall apart is heartbreaking. I was thinking about moving to Japan myself and living in an old house in the Japanese countryside and I really hope I get that chance, especially before things get even worse away from the city..

[@nixie1986]

Please do more videos like this. I really enjoyed it. I love Akko, more of her too! 😊

[@doriswaddington2418]

I wonder what her husband and Greg’s wife think of those two always going off on trips together ( although these are supposed to be work trips) does anyone else think there’s something going on between them? 🤔

[@matteocopelli7017]

Long time listener, first time caller. Really really enjoyed this video. It really was fun to fallow along in your (mis)adventures through parts of Japan that I suspect very few international tourists would otherwise know about. Would love more videos like this if you can :) Thanks for all the great work. Keep it up!

[@kosmokall]

Amazing video, I really appreciate this view of japan beyond the big cities

[@toowoombacorgi6358]

It was fun. I felt like I was on the trip with both of you

[@Darkhorse12022]

Such a wonderful documentary!! Thank you so much for all your hard work!

[@AlienSensei]

Oh, my. Greg and Ako's 1 hour video? I better get some beer and nuts, save this for tonight's downtime.

[@csvega]

So is he with his wife's sister or what?

[@bhuld0115]

@@csvegaYes

[@pepstein]

Nice adventure! I find the small towns and local trains quite charming.

[@claribeldh5195]

more travel with Akko please and long vlogs like this one :)

[@robinchuwan]

I absolutely love these exploration videos

[@tonybrigner3866]

it was a very nice trip thank you wonderful country

[@georgiascookies]

Amazing video! Glad you and your wife enjoyed!

[@ferry3245]

This was such an interesting video, thank you so much for showing the lesser known parts of Japan!

[@fabiomartins7973]

Simply amazing! Keep up the good work! Arigato🎉

[@veritas.ve.42]

Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you.

[@azureishdragoon3155]

What a great video! Thanks for sharing this trip with us. Maybe some day I can take a similar trip.

[@egoist9782]

What a great video, enjoyed your trip very much - thanks for your work!

[@Stan99]

Love it, absolutely enjoyed this. Thanks very much 😊

[@non-newtoniandruid]

The crossing signal gave me The Girl Who Leapt Through Time flashbacks…

[@OldMan_PJ]

I used to ride Matra several times a year in Illinois, tickets were sold on the train by a conductor that walked through, IIRC it was $8 for a 1-way trip into Union Station downtown Chicago. The Metra trains can be seen in the movie Source Code starring Jake Gyllenhaal. Before that I rode the light rail in Santa Clara County, CA, I forget the price but it was a convenient way to get from one side of the county to the other. I mainly rode it to get to downtown San Jose.

[@miora_mi.xue0407]

nice to see a visit to the countryside of japan that is usually not the top choices by tourists 👍🏻 the hunt for rice products is amusing, a good way to justify the purchases and drinking sake on the job 😆 the last train ride tells me that one shouldn't be too trusting of the train schedule and best to have someone sober to navigate 😂

[@romeoviray9487]

i love this video and adventure so much!!

[@_nihongo_jouzu_]

Today is a great day, Greg just dropped a movie!

[@syt5409]

Love this. Thanks for filming this.

[@5217tuber]

Quick comment: You mentioned how trash cans are hard to find in Japan. I was in Japan for 3 weeks this past April and found this to be true. Japan DOES have trash, and I would have picked more up if I knew that I could put it somewhere! So I had to let it lie.

[@firstpartygamer]

2:32 You unlocked Otaku NPC 😂

[@kjh23gk]

It's fascinating that cash is still used so much in Japan. Here in the UK I haven't used it for several years. Everything is contactless.

[@MoPoppins]

You can watch videos on this, but Japan is still very analog in lots of ways, including with paperwork. If you open a bank account, the associate goes over the ENTIRE CONTRACT with you, and there’s a whole verification process that takes forever, and I think you need a はんこう (personal rubber stamp) to officiate the agreement. There are other ways in which Japan isn’t digitized, but I guess that could change with the older generation dying.

[@Mikaeru87]

Thanks for this! I was in Tohoku last year and i loved it! I really like the rural japan, but is not that easy sometimes if you dont speak japanese 😅

[@dalehazel4308]

Loved this episode 🙌

[@andrewlamb3585]

Super enjoyable video! I really liked that it was much like a movie! XD Thank you for your content!

[@iskandartaib]

23:14 - Fire cistern! So they've got those signs in the countryside, too... I wonder how well Google Maps works out in the country, when it comes to navigating the public transportation system. I was amazed at how well it worked in Tokyo and around Kanagawa. Just tell it where you want to go, it tells you to go to a specific train platform, and even gives bus options. I noticed the schoolkids on the Enoden, too - there's a couple of large schools at a couple stops. 27:10 - What IS a "One man car"?? Ah... 29:57! 45:45 - I suppose it WOULD be the wrong time of the year.. 😁

[@NewCastleIndiana]

I appreciate your videos.

[@stevenclaflin]

Thank you for the video and Ako is a delight.

[@Ailpheiron]

Appreciate all the google map links!

[@JustPlainRob]

The general theme of this video seems to be "This would be AWESOME... if we had come two months later". It's still incredibly cool to see the non-touristy parts of Japan. I think the next time I go I'll aim for more rural areas like this.

[@MollyL-c6s]

I love to watch your video, Thank you. You are 3 hrs late coz you drank too much. Haha...your video is so fun to watch ❤

[@colettemoolman4410]

What a wonderful watch! It's on my bucket list to go on a train journey like this in Japan. We don't have a train system in Qatar, only a metro. It's a small country, so the metro rides aren't very long. The metro is very convenient with loads of free feeder busses to stations. It's my preferred mode of travel since the traffic is horrible.

[@mickanderson3593]

That was a great vid, I'II be over in September so I might try a few local trains from Fukushima. THANKS.

[@artcamp7]

What a beautiful country.

[@veloxime]

Very nice video! And interesting. And fun thanks to your siste-in-law who is s dear!

[@Rahulg5233]

I'm from India and seeing all the places so empty is strange but looks beautiful.

[@naso_g]

Excellent video, that sake tasting thing looks cool.

[@pang-ngiavang1956]

Two of my favorite things in Japan!!!! Trains and the Japan's countryside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing and btw, please that your sister-in-law Anko that I would love to be her friend!!! Although, I don't drink alcohol but love coffee and tea💜💜💜

[@habi-tahti]

Not the first time for someone to get on the wrong train! Man that sucks. 30 minutes turns to 3 hours. 😂

[@hitachicordoba]

Densetsu na Densha no Otoko lol. In LA we have a steam train museum in Griffith Park

[@nathantilly3539]

AN HOUR!?!?! YES PLEASE! Man Japan is just my Zen place. It's beautiful, the people are so kind I really need to go! thanks for the video!

[@juddosborne305]

Oh those giant rice balls look heavenly

[@PizzaCome]

And I thought I went to the countryside but man, this is next level for me. Im with your sister in law, man I was scared for ya'll. But it was enjoyable!

[@kyyte]

"I *have* to eat it." I get that.

[@kristinwight8465]

We went on he Tadami line this past winter. It was beautiful but it might just be prettier in Sakura season!

[@ericng5707]

24:50 This is literally the reason why trains still operate at some of these rural stations. Would've been great if you were able to show a timetable at one of those stations. As you said, there are stations where trains will only be available in the morning and evening hours to take kids to/from school. Everyone else drives.

[@deanzaZZR]

Having spent some time in the Mount Bandai and Aizu Wakamatsu area I can only agree that this is a gorgeous part of Japan that few foreigners visit. Depopulation will be a challenge. Special shout out for the unique style of sake brewing in Aizu Wakamatsu. It's not my favorite style but many sake fans adore it. Thanks for sharing.

[@Hirami_de]

Nice video, enjoyed it a lot. But it also shows how complicated travelling rural japan would be... especially without language skills. I guess i could somehow manage with google translate, but still 💦

[@itsallaboutchickenchicken4703]

Wow

[@jazi-san4563]

You made my day.😊

[@franco3584]

Spectacular Journey .

[@burkesbr]

was that taxi driver rocking jordans? haha

[@adityakundu0007]

You can split the video in parts that’s enjoyable too will help you in faster uploads

[@dadude405]

This is a really cool idea o should try to do next time I'm in Japan. Are most of the trains in the countryside operated by jr companies? Or is it a similar situation to Tokyo where there are tons of different train companies?

[@LifeWhereImFrom]

There are different train companies for sure. But yeah, some are under JR. Really depends on the region.

[@doseofjean]

As always, thanks for the amazing video - I sat here in awe watching every minute of it! I really want to be able to do this but I feel like a lack of japanese skills would be troublesome... regardless - I NEED to do this. Also, what do you normally shoot at? 24fps? 30? 60? I honestly think your style of filming is the best on youtube Anyway, thanks for the video!

[@LifeWhereImFrom]

You could do it without Japanese if you're using translator apps. But it will be a lot trickier. Even though you would think we didn't, we actually called ahead to check on several things, especially accommodations. That would be quite difficult to do without someone that's able to speak Japanese. But if you only stopped at major areas, it would be easy enough to pick hotels that you could book online. But for the really small places, sometimes they don't even have online booking, or the websites are severely outdated and only in Japanese. I shoot 60fps, but I don't double the shutter speed to 120 (I keep it at 50 or 60), so it basically just looks like 30fps.

[@doseofjean]

@@LifeWhereImFrom oooo thanks for the response! Yeah i’ll probably make some friends or force a few friends to go with me on these trips - whenever it may be! As for the websites/booking - that really reminds me that a lot of magazine shops/book stores have similar websites and really only function with in person activities. Interesting how “futuristic“ yet behind some aspects of japan are. Also, i’m surprised you dont double the shutter! Anyway thank you once again :)!

[@juddosborne305]

Also, what’s it like with e-bikes in Japan. Is the trend exploding like everywhere else in the world ?

[@LifeWhereImFrom]

They've been around for ages in Japan. But they're mainly pedal assist, which can be classified as regular bikes, so they can go anywhere a bike can. If it doesn't require pedalling it's considered a motor vehicle and can only go where cars are allowed (which severely limits the practicality of a bike in Japan).

[@juddosborne305]

@@LifeWhereImFromthank you sir

[@emmacantlin]

あっこさんサイコー！オレゴンから主人と見てます

[@NotBobIsMe]

Those trains are expensive AF and aren't covered by the Japan rail pass. And they are super slow unless you catch an express train.