What the Richest Vacation Town in Japan is Like

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Welcome to Karuizawa, Japan's most famous resort town where the wealthy play.
Special thanks to Alex from Tokyo Portfolio for getting us inside the homes / @tokyoportfolio
Full tours of the 3 properties • Tour of 3 homes in Jap...
0:00 Intro to Karuizawa
2:46 Who lives here?
3:50 Vacation home tour
6:45 Nature preservation guidelines
9:50 Corporate retreats
10:28 Corporate home tour
15:25 Resort areas and shopping
17:14 American-style home tour
20:03 Private communities
21:00 Mystery of the MEGA mansion
23:11 Watch on Nebula
25:01 Very important apple pie taste test
Sources:
- Karuizawa Shaw Memorial Church nskk-chubu.org/church/16shaw/
- The Progress of Population Inflow and Rural Gentrification in Karuizawa on the Outskirts of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area by Mitsuru YAMAMOTO core.ac.uk/download/pdf/80536...
- Karuizawa Shaw Memorial Church 2 en.japantravel.com/nagano/kar...
- Shaw's view on Karuizawa visitkaruizawa.com/en/special...
- Shaw Memorial Church foundation date ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%BB%...
- Karuizawa Tourism Association (history) karuizawa-kankokyokai.jp/
- Popular activities in Karuizawa karuizawa-kankokyokai.jp/abou...
- Tennis in Karuizawa karuizawa-kankokyokai.jp/abou...
- Karuizawa population stats en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karuiza...
- Tokyo temperature en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo
- Environmental Protection Issues in Japan’s Upmarket Mountain Resort Town of Karuizawa by Mami Hiraike OKAWARA tcue.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/11...
- Karuizawa guidelines www.town.karuizawa.lg.jp/www/...
- Listing for American house www.tokyu-resort.co.jp/en/kar...
- Dog Tourism in Karuizawa www.karuizawa-withdog.com/
- Getty Images
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[@LifeWhereImFrom]

Get Nebula using my link for 40% off the annual subscription go.nebula.tv/lifewhereimfrom. Special thanks to Alex from Tokyo Portfolio www.youtube.com/@TokyoPortfolio who got us access inside the homes. The only thing I think was missing from this video was being able to see inside some of the $5-$15 million homes. I know there's some pretty swanky stuff out there! Anyways, happy holidays everyone! - Greg

[@Japan_Changed_My_Life]

Bugs. Lots of bugs in the face and sometimes on the camera lens. That’s what I got from every shot walking and talking outside. No thanks!

[@typerightseesight]

I don't think I would feel out of place or uncomfortable but I would probably be a little paranoid about being assassinated. lol.

[@The_Modeling_Underdog]

Alex with Chris: "Let me show you some of the creepiest, tiniest apartments in Tokyo and its surroundings." Alex with Gregg: "Let's explore Nature and rich houses in Karuizawa!" Loved the video. Always a pleasure, mate.

[@Graywing]

Alex is the ultimate crossover Japan tuber.

[@RiskyStrats]

​@@user-vp5fm3yc2lit was interesting once but then it just kept happening. But it is interesting how different channels approach the same video concept

[@GlasbanGorm]

@@Bubblepoot His last name is Shepiro, and he's in real estate.

[@melg6834]

@@GlasbanGorm Aah, jeeeeeewww 🐷 should have known

[@DavidCruickshank]

@@GlasbanGorm You know two people can have the same last name without being related right? Ben and Alex shapiro have no relation to one another. And neither have any relation to Alex Shapiro, a composer.

[@TokyoPortfolio]

Wait a second, I've seen that guy before

[@dodgelightyear]

5:31 Ah, yes. The obligatory Alex Goes into an Empty Bath Tub scene

[@SuperZoomVideos]

Going to start a rumour that Alex is the puppet master behind all Japanese KZbinrs 😂

[@OctavianAsix]

W Mans

[@midnightgir6]

Will he be on Trash Taste next?

[@saishowaguu2]

I actually closed on a place in Karuizawa (but i will not be putting up an American flag). It's in the Owner's Hill community and it's what I've always wanted. It's reneted out most of the year except for mid summer and the solnowy season in February. As for the "Gates House", I cant say if he actually owns it outright, but I can 100% confirm he's stayed there more than once.

[@gilgamoosh]

18:30 Chimney plugs/caps are a real thing, and it would probably have been more expensive to completely fill the chimney in with bricks as opposed to keeping the inside hollow, so my guess is that you could turn it into a usable chimney!

[@LifeWhereImFrom]

Ah, cool, thanks for letting me know!

[@user-no2mz9hl4f]

It seems so strange to have a chimney without a fireplace - that American style home was definitely odd!

[@thoptercrew]

I visited Karuizawa this year and it's a lovely area, but felt empty. Actually, the zone where these vacation homes are would make for the perfect set for a Silent Hill movie (a little mist and fog and you're sorted). The city centre is very nice though, with lots of sweets shops, bakeries and cafes. The onsen was great too! Top tip: If you like creepy stuff, do the Nakasendo trail Karuizawa-Kumano Kotai-Yokokawa where you can see some abandoned building projects, decrepit half-built homes, a run down bus and sales office falling apart in the middle of the mountain trail (bring the leeches spray)

[@micahtaylor3842]

I lived on the retreat center at 10:16 for three years. That’s actually an evangelical christian missionary campground and retreat center. My parents were there to attend a small language school for new missionaries. Union Church (filmed at 1:34) was still in use: I played the innkeeper in the nativity play :) The emperor came to play tennis across the street once; his entourage used the church parking lot and my friend got to help them park as the parking attendant that day.

[@arcturionblade1077]

Karuizawa is considered the Poconos of Japan. It's a really nice area, been there a few times staying at Airbnbs with the missus and two pups. Personally though, we prefer the Yamanakako area. The lake is really nice and it feels a bit more homey there compared to Karuizawa.

[@kimberiysmarketstrategy]

Can US citizens buy homes with iintent to AirB&?

[@wizirbyman]

omg this is where they had a season of terrace house and i always thought it was such an odd season because most of the cast still worked in tokyo so they would literally commute back and forth for hours lol

[@j134679]

its just about an hour which a lot of people already do

[@heidiheida511]

I myself was a permanent resident in a rich people vacation resident area and it was very disturbing. The area became like that over times. During the weeks the area became unpopulated because all the owners only show up a few times during the year. The local shops had to close because there were not enough permanent residents left. The local government tried to react and sold plots cheaper to permanents. But not for long because rich foreigners tried to sue law cases because its "prefered treatment" of one specific group....

[@jsmith434w]

thanks for this fictional story

[@heidiheida511]

@@jsmith434w It is sad to believe that your life is that boring so you consider that daily story as fictional :-) But I think you do you - keep on going bud.

[@jsmith434w]

@@heidiheida511 sorry your life is so sad that every day you are under attack by the super rich elites who are targeting you and ruining your life

[@jsmith434w]

@@heidiheida511 careful, if Bill Gates sees you typing this, he will personally target you like he has before

[@erawanpencil]

Imagine how much more humane American suburbs would be if you were required to build houses and streets around trees in a forest, not cutting them down. Every once in a while in the US you see a suburb built INTO a forest not ON it and it's unbelievable the feeling it evokes.

[@may.b.tomorrow]

crime rates are too high in USA, idk this will work on large scale

[@littlsuprstr]

The reality is that tree roots really mess with plumbing, foundations, drainage, etc. It means higher maintenance and vigilance. Unless they're rich Americans have no time or energy for that. We live in a frankly brutal society.

[@yuuriuu]

@@littlsuprstrit’s lazy

[@Mark-OutWest]

That style of design doesn't maximize the developer's earnings. They like to shove as many houses as they can into a subdivision.

[@alexgravenor]

This kind of design is super expensive! Think about how much pavement, sewer line, electrical lines and such all have to run to just one user. It’s much better to build up as much as possible and preserve trees in common places

[@GanonV]

You should have shown Meiji era houses like the one at 17:17 because victorian architecture is rarer in Japan and almost gone. I would love to be able to buy that in Japan.

[@LifeWhereImFrom]

Yeah, there were quite a few places I would have loved to get into, but there were only so many listings and owners that would let us film inside.

[@mediatransfers9927]

I live in Karuizawa (as one of the 20,000 permanent residents!) around the corner from that house and a few years ago go to know the new owners. A sad story. It had been terribly neglected and falling apart, and this retired couple bought it and spent a lot of time restoring it themselves, planning to move into it as their retirement home. However, the wife suddenly fell ill and passed away, and he couldn't bear to finish the job alone. It fell into disrepair again. We've lost track of the gentleman -- and he may have sold it as lately there has been a bit of new work done to it. Surprised that you didn't mention that John Lennon and Yoko Ono (and Sean) lived in Karuizawa for a time -- you didn't notice that almost all the shops play Beatles music as their in store BGM? 🙂

[@Blizzarkian]

That was great. Really enjoyed the cohost. I love your back and forth.

[@ibaibaiba]

I learned about Karuizawa from Ouran High School Host Club yearsss ago… and it’s quiet fascinating to see the real life version of it 😁

[@stanleygagner]

Same! It's been fun to learn more about it. It reminds me of the fancier suburbs where I live in the US.

[@littlelilacbunny]

Omg Loveee ouran host club high five so nice to meet a fellow fan 😍

[@--Paws--]

The process of "shou sugi ban" has become popular for several years now, even in the US. The aesthetic of the black color and the treatment through burning is quite an interesting addition to building a house.

[@bn8535]

It is my mission in life to stop westerners saying shou sugi ban, it's called yaki sugi. No one in Japan has ever heard of shou sugi ban

[@paulccrimmins]

Aloha 🤙 from Honolulu! Thanks for another great video, Greg

[@steefen]

Nice to see so many videos lately. Thanks a lot for them! Also, unexpected to see Alex on this channel, nice surprise 😄

[@ib8401]

Thanks for this video. Such a beautiful place. I feel relaxed just looking at it.

[@hakao5555]

Karuizawa also hosted Japan's first officially recognized international high school. I had accidentally flew a drone over the former emperor during his vacation. Needless to say the secret police and the imperial guard raid scared the hell out of me as a foreign high school student.

[@user-fu4dm1id8z]

how did they track that drone back to you?

[@caloocanboy5800]

wahhh😅

[@perfectcellsucks6645]

@@user-fu4dm1id8zthey prolly watched it fly back to him. There are the secret police and imperial guard. They don’t play around when it comes to security.

[@phamhuynhquanghuy9537]

yeah yeah, shinzo abe@@perfectcellsucks6645

[@HK-wq1ei]

they let the former prime minister get assassinated so idk about that. @@perfectcellsucks6645

[@dvpablo]

Love to see more and more of your videos these days, happy holidays in Japan! 🎄🎄

[@danielford6381]

Not a cross over I was expecting. Great video!

[@davidgensemer502]

I'm so happy to see the crossover with Alex!

[@jomangeee9180]

Thank you really enjoyed that

[@gunjirox7485]

Funny to see these collaborations. Like you both

[@endangeredmarmot4518]

Interesting area. The western style homes have a sense of uncanny valley to them, in that they look like a North American home, but there are some subtle differences that just make it look a bit off. I wonder if it was the same in person?

[@yumiyuki5851]

It's not a western style house, in my eyes it's just a general Eastern wooden house. except for the American ones, the fireplaces and chimneys are not Eastern Home Style

[@MariaPetalcorin]

It’s the same in real life. You definitely feel something is a bit off. It’s like what Japanese people think an American house would be like. Some of them even come fully furnished and decorated, move in ready. But that for me was a negative, I wanted to pick things out myself.

[@fabiorobertoferreira978]

Great place! Congratulations on the video.

[@RyomaG]

Thank you for showing us such a beautiful place in Japan!

[@jthomp72]

It feels like every Japanese based KZbinr that I know eventually crosses over with the others. Literally at some point I think I’ve seen some combination of everyone that I follow on each other’s channels

[@kamillatocha]

tnx for the tour

[@piainchina]

As a southern German I would call the first one a bargain😂. Housing prices are expensive here😢

[@sirBrouwer]

Me being Dutch also think that sure it's hefty but actual still affordable for what you get.

[@lukabozic5]

Never a boring video with Tokyo Portfolio in it!

[@decemberclouds]

The outtakes on this are pretty fun! I'd love to try the world's best apple pie while walking around some luxury homes.

[@arceus54321]

great video greg. cool to see alex on this channel. also, that house looked very similar to my house in toronto

[@trevorhinds5744]

Happy holidays to you and your family 👪

[@tcsargea]

Very nice episode, Thankyou so much , I guess we aren’t all that different

[@SaintTwitch1]

I really see alex on every channel these days😂, quality video

[@panama-canada]

I'm loving it!

[@azabujuban-hito8085]

I have a vacation home in Yamagata area. It's a really great getaway spot to escape the intense humidity and heat of Tokyo during summer.

[@vegancatmom]

Zoning guidelines! Fascinating!

[@annedugan3161]

Fascinating video! Thank you for sharing this

[@moragodofthunder]

Happy to see this collab. Very fascinating subject, too.

[@silviastanziola659]

Awesome to see you collaborate with Alex!

[@sjorslindenbergh982]

So cool that you got Alex in the video! His channel and that of Enes Yilmazer are my real estate chillout channels.

[@Masterrobsen]

i love the guidelines, especially for keeping as many trees as possible,..... should be used it in urban and other subaurban areas, so there will be much better air quality

[@hope7317]

i love the small bloopers and extra bits you always include in your videos! you and akko trying the apple pies was such a silly and enjoyable addition

[@danielfavini6154]

great video! just a side note though, the first house you're showing off (the yakisugi wall one) wasn't built by a japanese couple. my wife (who's japanese) and myself (swiss) designed and built it :) really enjoyed the tour though!

[@xlaurenisfine]

I remember this place from Terrace House! It looks so peaceful

[@yumiyuki5851]

😂😂😂 reminds me of Hana Kimura

[@LARKXHIN]

"We will only let your dog into our shop if it's in a stroller." what a time to be alive.

[@LifeWhereImFrom]

You can check out all the dog stuff in Karuizawa here www.karuizawa-withdog.com/

[@rachelbaziak4159]

I love it! I take my old dog for a brief walk and he gets so tired so I put him in the stroller so I can enjoy my 2 mile walk knowing he is comfortable and he has a nice smile on his face , I think he likes it.

[@TPK846]

Beautiful and peace , i love Japan too.

[@ricespuffs]

so my family owns a vacation home here, and apparently the emperor (then crown price) came to play tennis in our backyard, since it was one of the only ones built at the time! I love karuizawa, it’s a place of so many of my childhood memories :)

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

Thanks.

[@illletmyselfout.8516]

I went to the Prince outlet mall in July it was awesome for a mall. huge grass hills like a cross between a park and a mall

[@mikeymoose7253]

Alex really gets around 😂

[@maxime1776]

Hahaha I know Alex from Abroad in Japan. Happy to see a crossover episode 😆

[@pastorjillk]

I can't quite put my finger on it but the American style houses. seem to have a surreal feel to them. Uncanny valley would be a good phrase to use.

[@Bionickpunk]

Yeah whats with the stair handles being cut off when they reach the ceiling? Also the doors are too narrow.

[@bluetrolli6983]

Same, it somewhat looks like its trying too much to be american that it looks kinda creepy in a way

[@nerd26373]

We appreciate your dedication and hard work. Happy Holidays everyone.

[@katrinajimenez3286]

That's great ☺️

[@danieljiangg]

Wow Alex from Tokyo Portfolio! Will it be not long before we see Abroad in Japan collab here?

[@Ojitzo]

I think it already happened.

[@_spartan11796]

Very nice

[@TheBeavis]

Things were interesting until the garish American funded mansion with its mega footprint, through decimation of entire forests (just like in many towns across US), along with that one 2x4 mass produced high profit, low standard American house. As someone who's lived in both places, seeing the stark difference in harmonious vs brutally enforced approach to architecture and nature was well contrasted here

[@leogeneleobido934]

Amazing

[@sobeso]

LOL at the bloopers and whoa that apple pie looks good

[@Ethorthehunter]

Great video. Looks like a very peaceful place to live. I like your analogy to a campsite, it looked like camping.

[@etherdog]

Glad to know you are on Nebula, Greg! When did you join? I've been a subscriber since BC.

[@LifeWhereImFrom]

This spring!

[@infonion]

How interesting that it started from religion, and naturally transformed into capitalism.

[@PostSasso]

If you think religion and capitalism aren't two sides of the same coin, you're naive. Profit and child rape go hand in hand in this brave new world of ours.

[@PJPsounds]

Well Religion become Business 1700 years ago (Catholic)

[@infonion]

True @@PJPsounds

[@jf2369af]

Did you think religion was real and not a money scheme? Well now you know

[@kyawzinhein]

Hey Greg, what do you think of exploring regional dialects in Japan? I'm particularly interested in Fukui dialect but there's not much resources or content to watch.

[@effiesunshine]

I knew Alex would be in here just from the title! Love Alex!

[@krielperez10]

So cute!!! ❤️

[@kellybryson7754]

Happy bolidays from the USA

[@phaithunpongrinchai7462]

very nice

[@--Paws--]

4:10 Ryan Trahan just reviewed a camp/airbnb that looks exactly like this but it was in the US, in the eastcoast though.

[@joshuainlondon]

I grew up going to Karuizawa every summer or even winter too sometimes but it's honestly the best getaway area from Tokyo if you love nature but also love high-end sophisticated places. It really isn't too appealing if you're just visiting Japan tho. It's less Japanese than other rural areas of Japan.

[@TheJohn8765]

Nice to see Alex on ypur channel. When are you gping to do something with Chris Broad? You are both hq channels and you both have a real appreciation for Japan.

[@lisanaga9369]

Like a cross between Muskoka and Algonquin Park 😊

[@DerUnbekannte]

wait, was one of the houses in the opening used in terrace house either way, a season was filmed in karuizawa, I recognized a few places, I always thought the place looked pretty fancy 😂

[@KyoushaPumpItUp]

This is the first time I've seen Tokyo Portfolio collabing with you. Collab with Chris Broad (Abroad in Japan) when?

[@OctavianAsix]

23:44 😭😂🥂

[@xit]

Yes, finally

[@ichinichi3]

there's more than 1 video of lifewhereimfrom videos 😮

[@r8m8s8]

5:33 with your view? There was some trees and a car park.

[@mohebbi71]

I can scarcely imagine anything worse than a company saying "hey everyone, we're going to a luxury fancy pants elite town this summer.... to work with views of other people having a good time" :D

[@j134679]

well, there's the being naked with your colleagues part in the tiny baths but then again that's normal there

[@sirmione905]

A lot of owners of small companies build a vacation home and register it as company’s property for employees. By doing this, they can cut a lot of tax but in most cases it’s only used by the owner and his/her family.

[@davidhill850]

I can think of nothing more Japanese than that really. Also "company retreat" seems a obvious tax write off.

[@sangregato7831]

19:33 (slowly looks over to closes that's have that exact same issue right now)

[@Zach-oc4yh]

I used to live in saku (just one Shinkansen stop away) and while visiting a friend in Karuizawa multiple families of monkeys jumped down from their house and proceeded to cross the road right in front of me. This was the first time I had ever seen monkeys in the wild. It’s an awesome place.

[@Fryzzi]

@25:30 as someone who has an Apprenticeship as a Baker. If you don't get any Apples, no matter from which side you start, it's NOT the best or even a good Apple Pie.

[@deusx.machinaanime.3072]

I like this community.

[@Angie-lp2hk]

15:50 have those trees been bent just to provide shade for that house? lol

[@rodypony]

I wish we could have a Gates house tour, wow

[@ToTheNines87368]

Down a shot whenever Alex unbuttons/buttons his jacket 😂

[@KeroseneSkies]

WAIT WAIT only a million???? Where I live in Canada a bungalow can be easily a million dollars rn. Like bungalows over 50 years old are regularly selling for even around 2 million dollars. If a beautiful summer home in Japan is the same price, newer, and more beautiful, that's amazing.

[@wlai03]

can you tell me more regarding the vacation home, the first one ?

[@lemonrinds8296]

Haha, the American Style house reminded me of my Sims builds! Too many rooms, weird placement of furniture...

[@mrbhasin]

I only wish you made more videos like back in the day.. Just miss you say “Hello, World!”.

[@Lucky14970]

AAALLLLLLEEEXXXX! I’m still waiting for you to finally bring to the public your “Patent pending points scale!” Yah know, the one you mentioned in the 430k ski cottage video… The one that was “hermetically sealed!”

[@KuruGDI]

I can see why you would want to buy a western style house in Japan. Being that you want to live in a different style as a person who grew up in Japan or that you want to live in something familiar for people from abroad. However, I could not see myself buying a home in such an area and buying one that has a _traditional western style_. I would rather look out for one with a traditional Japanese interior and a modern construction.

[@user-hd5hp5tw7b]

Actually the price of the property in Japan is quite cheap compared to the one with terrifying design in Taiwan. I have no idea why people would want to buy a house in Taiwan.

[@pokbot]

7:49 what a house..

[@Jackthesmilingblack]

If you are considering relocating to Karuizawa (KZ), you need to be aware of Mount Asama (2568m). Technically an active volcano, although the last serious eruption was back in 1783. Occasion it blows off some ash, which annoys those who have just hung out their washing, but hey a small price to pay for having a snow covered mountain view. Jack, ...

[@albinoasesino]

Not gonna lie but, the first thing I thought of when looking at the thumbnail was: Floppy Disk Time to watch the rest of the video :D

[@NomadGaijin]

Young Mr. Burns is at it again! 😂