Why Kyoto's Traditional Homes Are Going EXTINCT

[@AbroadinJapan]

NOTIFICATION SQUAD: I've desperately wanted to film a video in Kyoto for years and I'm delighted to have finally done it! It's currently eerily quiet given the absence of tourists, with the exception of domestic travellers taking advantage of this unusually quiet period. The city is a cinematographer's dream and I look forward to heading back there in the coming months to shoot a couple more videos - if there's anything in particular you want me to film, let me know. Open to your ideas!

[@texaneli1427]

It’s too easy

[@AJ-kx8mi]

I am first

[@texaneli1427]

@@AJ-kx8mi nice try 😎

[@aqibc]

Hello chris

[@jayy_93]

Film whatever the hell you want, it is always amazing anyway.

[@rachanikhil9436]

Can we appreciate the cinematography of this video, Chris's videos are almost documentary level in terms of production quality.

[@AbroadinJapan]

Many thanks! Honestly, Kyoto is a photographer's dream come true.

[@TheLaxboy81]

@@AbroadinJapan Chris! If you're around Kyoto in the future, I'd love to see a trip down Byodoin Omotesando, the "tea street" located in Uji. Thanks for all your amazing videos!!

[@simonschnedl]

Always do.

[@schwerenevonyildi1315]

@@AbroadinJapan I never thought I would reach the day where a complaining and sarcastic British person would become a serious documentary and accurate descriptor.

[@HeavenlyCreature.]

@@AbroadinJapan I think Chris is ready for his own documentary series on Netflix 😊

[@IKEMENOsakaman]

Really sad that the traditional houses are disappearing. The wooden houses and architectures in Japan are very beautiful...

[@blunderingfool]

It’s almost as bad as people chopping up victorian townhouses into horrid flats in London.

[@capitalb5889]

They still make new traditional style houses too, but the pre-fab ones are so much cheaper.

[@maxlopolo2415]

@@capitalb5889 AND, they arent built with a 300 years old idea of technology. They have such futuristic comforts as GODDAMN INSULATION. The fun part is that you can still build them so that they LOOK the same inside and out, but the quality of living is honesty thousands of times better.

[@capitalb5889]

@@maxlopolo2415 - I think concepts about insulation are still novel in Japan, and far thinner than in the West. In part, this is because of the high humidity and the need to maintain air circulation. Other countries have various membranes and barriers to controls this, but Japan still thinks a cold draught is still the way to achieve this. My Japanese in-laws now have double and even triple glazing, which is a great advance, but many houses still have single pane windows without even a curtain to stop the flow of cold air.

[@PinkBunnyCorporation]

Its happening all over the world. There is a balance to strike obviously. There are more people now, and we have to at some point realize we need to either build out or build up. Japan seems to build up generally. It saves nature, but pushes out old styles in favor of giant apartments. Very sad. I'd like to visit Kyoto for a little adventure of the side alleys. It is a wonderful place and I plan to go some day if the world will let us actually leave our cages again.

[@ryanbowers5484]

I feel like a proud parent seeing how far this guy has come. He started out as a chubby guy complaining about the bird outside his window and now he's a legitimate filmmaker with arguably the highest production value of any KZbin channel. Brings a tear to my eye.

[@doriswaddington2418]

He’s still kinda Chubby...err sorry Chris

[@Reprodestruxion]

Yo, That’s an important bird

[@moonlightblue9196]

@@doriswaddington2418 nooo dont say that T^T chris is fine!

[@grimsladeleviathan3958]

I feel like a proud parent even though I'm 17

[@eveningrice]

...and he got chubbier! Haha I've been watching Chris since the start as well. I do hope he's eating healthy :)

[@YouTube]

😲The Zen Gardens, the views from the temple, the design of the townhouses! * Adds to bucket list *

[@alextsak9176]

What the hell is KZbin doing here?

[@DannyRand1991]

Hello youtube

[@awildfemalemarinesimp3978]

YO WTF THIS WAS 14 MINTUES AGO? here before 10 likes

[@clemilo9005]

Hi KZbin👋

[@bebelin157]

What the hell is youtube doing here

[@CHEFPKR]

Kyoto was my absolute favorite city to visit. There was a teppanyaki restaurant behind the Hyatt Kyoto with a chef by the name of Masta-san. He made the BEST Hiroshima Style Okonomiyaki I've ever had. I really hope he's doing well...

[@justheretowatch4206]

You could say he was a masta of his craft?

[@alendonvaldor5808]

KZbin is getting smaller everyday, the people I watch watch each other.

[@CHEFPKR]

@@justheretowatch4206 absolutely. His wife ran the front and he cooked it up while chatting with guests. Aye there twice in two days and met some awesome people at his restaurant while on a solo travel

[@phenex8190]

I remember stumbling upon a small mochi shop, best mochi i've ever had in my life

[@Kagewing]

yeah is a great city with a lot of culture ,just no visit during the summer the heat is extreme 🤒

[@Patterrz]

i'm a shower guy, but I would bathe so hard in that bath

[@KCH55]

that bathtub must smell wonderful

[@Rem694u2]

I would too, but only if Joey TheAnimeMan was in it as well.

[@TheItalianoAssassino]

Do more Pokémon letsplays pls

[@Gj23jk2]

Wood is pretty, but also vastly more porous and permeable than unsightly plastic. There's a reason toilet seats aren't made of wood anymore, even in Japan. Not sure I'd be wild about the idea of a wooden bathtub in a rental townhouse catering to foreign tourists. I personally know somebody who got ringworm on his butt from a sauna in a 4-star resort.

[@makegreenteanotwar]

@@Gj23jk2 Was the sauna in the west? Japanese wash up before entering the bath, the water is also changed about every 4 days according to their onsen regulations, less chlorine-ppm than. But you have a point foreign tourist might not follow the rule of washing before bathing.

[@kianj]

This Chris guy from Ryotaro Japan is a pretty good presenter. You can really tell he got his inspiration and style from him.

[@HeavenlyCreature.]

And don't forget Ryotaro taught Chris how to talk proper British 😉

[@Hewhowantstoknow]

Yes hello police, I would like to report a murder

[@bellabrink8610]

@@Hewhowantstoknow lmfaooo😂😂

[@gkygrl7]

😂

[@JungianHeights]

When Chris films at home, it's a casual t-shirt... as soon as he films outside, we're treated to corporate Chris with that wooly long coat...

[@elenap15227]

True fact: casual wear in japan is a lot less casual.

[@IanSlothieRolfe]

@@elenap15227 I have always been impressed how Japanese people I meet socially manage to look casual and formal at the same time :)

[@timvantori]

Makes me so sad that traditional buildings around the world are disappearing... hope people will realise how much character and culture is lost when these buildings go

[@geordyvladimer1850]

Nowadays practicality is chosen over style not everywhere but in most places too bad we can't find a compromise between practicality and culture

[@no_alias_for_me]

@@geordyvladimer1850 Practicality isn't the reason why these building styles are disappearing (where I live at least, can't speak for Japan). In Europe it's because of regulations and energy efficiency. If you don't use certain building techniques the building won't be certified and you have to tear it down again. It's really sad. On the other hand we have a lot of strict laws regarding old buildings (built before or at around 1900) which you can't change that easily since they are considered "valuable cultural goods". So although no new "classic" buildings are being built the old ones aren't disappearing either. You can see that in the inner city of Vienna. You won't find any new buildings there unless they were destroyed in the 2nd World War. I just hope that around the world people will find a way to build traditional houses again without breaking any regulations and maybe revive a certain era from a cultures history.

[@alphaxfang]

well old house will go away because of several logical reason: it aged (old building usually use wood for their material and it can rot or eaten by termite), the structure is not sturdy enough to withstand fire/earthquake, or inconvenience (low ceiling, not enough insulation, hard to maintain/clean). the only solution is make a new house that fit the safety regulation and make the exterior and interior that looks like the traditional house. just like the building in this video.

[@batatac4mil86]

Too much people in this world, requiring sacrifices to support their presence

[@garryob9279]

Sad part is that eventually everywhere will look the same

[@TokyoLens]

Beautifully shot. Beautifully put together mate~ Thanks for putting in the effort to share this one

[@AbroadinJapan]

Cheers man! Can't wait to get back there and shoot it in 8k!

[@AxxLAfriku]

@@AbroadinJapan I could cry when looking at my like dislike ratio. I have so many jealous people that my videos always get way more dislikes than likes. Please don't be jealous, dear abe

[@ghxulish]

Chris's channel is probably the most high quality channel there is on youtube

[@iancuk]

Well, yes it's beautiful shots. I thought it was you on camera, Norm. 😅

[@jb0258]

The master of photography himself has spoken!

[@LunguA]

Chris is slowly becoming a real estate agent. Petition to open "Adeal in Japan"

[@UwBuis]

Real Estate Abroad

[@williamarmstrong8337]

A place in the-land-of-the-rising sun.

[@EFX5452]

An Ideal Deal Abroad!

[@MadaraDS]

An Ideal Real Estate Deal Abroad in Japan

[@666Tomato666]

wouldn't this be Abroad Real Estate?

[@Geerzy]

Definitely want to visit Kyoto as soon as possible!

[@thenameisss]

yoooo Geerzy! I'm a huge fan of yours keep up the great work! and why have u not uploaded on 2 months

[@bobovieri1985]

One of the most beutiful places ive been. it looks better irl

[@Tea-Spin]

I just realized the meaning of "as soon as possible" in this context has pretty much different now than it used to be

[@theramendutchman]

@@bobovieri1985 Honestly, in my home town and the city I'm living in now, I don't consider myself a city person at all! Cities are crowded, with idiots disrespecting the rules and their fellow idiots, it's noisy and even shops look, feel and just are stressful! I don't like going to city centres. But in Kyoto I just went to walk and explore for 2 hours or more, with no plan in advance, just to find beautiful streets with trees lining each side, narrow streets with a random family run pottery or sweets shop, and the store owner has such a burning passion for it, too! I'd go out the door thinking "I'm going to walk through the city" for fun! God I miss Kyoto

[@SiobhanS1868]

same!!

[@majinosity]

I honestly didn't know Chris was a Real Estate agent for the whole country of Japan.

[@yaminogame7805]

He's Chris Heller, the home seller.

[@ahumanmerelybeing]

I feel like the whole country of Japan should sponsor his videos. He has single-handedly convinced me I need to go there.

[@mikkojaatinen4508]

seems like an ad

[@vogel2499]

@@yaminogame7805 That explains why he is tough as hell. Marketing will crushed any unprepared souls.

[@rinowx5]

Is anyone else a little bored of the realty content.

[@ferrousbuller]

"Why don't I have one in my house?" Next video: a low-speed police chase thru the streets of Kyoto as Chris tries to steal his Hinoki bathtub in one of those tiny flatbed trucks. :)

[@samsingletary7004]

My grandmother was born and raised in Kyoto. She moved to the U.S. in the 1950’s, but I went back to Kyoto with her in the early 2000’s and saw her childhood townhouse. Her neighbor from the 1950’s still lived next door! She invited us in and fed us dorayaki and tea. She was the sweetest old lady, with an arched back from years working in the rice fields. Beautiful lady, beautiful home, beautiful city.

[@mem3e170]

You’re my 2nd favourite British person to ever exist, above the queen in 3rd and bellow Ryotoro

[@softcoreplebgaming9674]

Why would you like the British Queen?

[@randomveezerr2582]

@@softcoreplebgaming9674 because she's german

[@cadan8790]

Why tf is the queen 3rd in your list. There’s so many better British people

[@user-ff6lp5pk9k]

Ouch. 😂

[@donutreply1435]

The British queen?! Lmao you have poor taste

[@SolCrown80]

I'm a sucker for historic things, I always really dig staying in old buildings like that. One of my very favorite parts of traveling to Morocco was walking the medieval streets and staying in the old riads in the medinas; some of the buildings were literally a thousand years old. Those houses are so cool, so beautiful. If I went to Kyoto I would love to stay in one!

[@Mazekynn]

Whenever I start to watch any of Abroad in Japan's videos, I need to prepare food just in case he has food it in.

[@BrAnDsHeE]

he always eats something in his videos xD i always come prepared

[@Mazekynn]

@@BrAnDsHeE I knoww rightt, that's why I prepared food too

[@HeavenlyCreature.]

Even when there is no food in the video, I get hungry just looking at Chris 😋

[@lexnite22]

same.

[@ThakYuki]

I need to remember this. I've reached the end of the video and now I'm super hungry. It's after midnight here right now...

[@henryleavitt4057]

I got a JET interview. Thank you for inspiring me at the beginning of this pandemic. If I make it I owe you a beer.

[@AbroadinJapan]

Best of luck with the interview!

[@mitchkat123]

Good luck! I’m a current JET waiting to go to Japan once the foreign entry ban is lifted. I hope you can come join us! 😊

[@HeavenlyCreature.]

According to Chris you will have more success with that interview when you are fun and jovial. So it may not be a bad idea to have some beers before you go instead of afterwards with Chris 😉

[@johantitulaer1052]

I almost sh*t myself when I saw you walking down that alleyway. It looks EXACTLY like the place I stayed in. And when you stepped inside, you confirmed it. And the host back then told me they couldn't make these kind of houses anymore because of fire hazards and old standards so he was caring for it as much as he could to preserve it. The nostalgia is insane, thanks for this amazingly coincidental video.

[@JasonVong]

glad to see the scaffolding off of Kiyomizudera. I made a trek all the way there back in 2019 just to find out the most iconic part of it was under construction 😂

[@NiekNooijens]

Was there in 2017: under construction 2019: still under construction 2020: cancelled because of covid-19 2021: no idea if Japan re-opens the borders....

[@invisuu6280]

Can confirm, was there in 2019 autumn.

[@vileindividual]

We must have been there around the same time cos I couldn't even see the damn thing through all the scaffolding

[@NationKiwi]

SAME LMAO

[@sidtovey]

Snap!

[@fdajax5107]

The amount of property videos Chris has made recently makes me think he's just house hunting in disguise

[@XSemperIdem5]

While making it a deductible business expense.

[@leitto-corleone]

a clever move indeed

[@archaeoraptor6140]

Let‘s be honest, this is a Tokyo Creative thing. They are his agency and he gets paid by them to promote things... I would just wish that TC would be a bit more transparent when it comes to this as they never disclose paid sponsorships and somehow get away with it.

[@jclark1693]

If you ever watch NHK you also notice that a lot of their media is very promotional and scripted even when it’s ostensibly a documentary. I feel like it may not be as jarring for them. And honestly, as long as the content is interesting, I’m not sure I mind if they’re being paid for it.

[@eburshtein]

13:26 I love how even when he genuinely enjoys/likes something the Brit in him still find a way to naturally scowl even though he's admiring the architecture. lol, never change man. You're the best.

[@joeallam]

I love these townhouses so much! Would love to renovate one myself one day. I also really noticed how great the shots were around the city/landscape. Great colour and quality to them! 👌

[@KillerTacos54]

Hey Joe!!

[@narvaromer8516]

Mr.Joe, your ''Made in Japan'' video was such a masterpiece! ❤️🙏

[@demun6065]

Definitely a better video than those other boring million dollar homes.

[@AbroadinJapan]

Thanks Joe! Honestly there's no better place in Japan to be let loose with a camera. Hope we can actually meet up in person and shoot together one day before the year is out!

[@joeallam]

@@AbroadinJapan I hope so too! It’s coming up a year since our original plan fell through, but I’m hopefully of doing something later this year 💪

[@JustJakeTravel]

You know it’s a great day when there is a new Abroad in Japan video lol

[@amalilconfused]

Props to mr. Maeda for renovating Kyoto machiyas and helping preserve the unique beauty and culture of Kyoto. Between Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo, Kyoto is still my favorite place we went to. There’s just something magical about the old buildings and temples.

[@dexterward6307]

I'm almost convinced Chris is turning this channel into a Japanese Real Estate channel... Not that I'm complaining

[@naiRISE766]

Chris looks extra Japanese spyman with that looks.

[@nemisisarcher8213]

Secret asian man 🤣

[@dough3e3]

It’s kind of awesome that you’re using your platform to not only help out Kyoto, but also helping the guy who renovates the town houses. Nice!

[@Gurbo8]

He's British, in Japan, AND can't cook! Chris is slowly turning into James May.

[@MattJames37]

Oh Cook! 😅

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

xDDD

[@tactiti0n]

He's not the side kick of his group of three though : o

[@MrDanisve]

@@tactiti0n Sidekick? From my POV James is easy the most funny of them, i just love his intelligent humor. He is the only of the three i watch pretty much everything he makes. James and Ozzys wine adventure.. My god, i need to rewatch that shit :D TV show about May being drunk, quite hillarious.

[@markoz673bajen8]

He needs more BROWN and antique from 19th Century.

[@luxetlex]

This video is so professionally produced it feels like it could have been from a big budget studio. Beautiful work.

[@Yertle_Turtle]

haha, sounds like it's time to give the crew a raise!

[@jp2503]

That is such a shame. But I'm glad the percentage of these houses being demolished are still relatively low and there are people renovating currently despite the high investment cost. While I was staying in Kyoto I also saw a number of these buildings being restored. I stayed in one myself, and they are absolutely, one of my most favorite parts about Japan.

[@ExcenGaming]

Keeping the outside of these town houses in tact and modernizing the insides for safety and comfort. Sounds like an amazing livelihood. Props to this man for helping to keep that beautiful architecture from being demolished.

[@andrewdunlop2780]

'I am the only one staying here tonight.' *cameraman sweats nervously*

[@cirene9590]

It's great Koji Maeda san has a personal interest in renovating machiya and being innovative by raising the ceilings - it really opens up the space. The machhiya is what gives Kyoto its identity and beauty.

[@kinfuilee9460]

Living in a concrete house for 20 years, I really appreciate the wooden houses like this

[@marzouk6270]

Bro I'm British our house are like 300 years old made from bricks (They are modernised and bueatiful) but a nice wooden house would be amazing.

[@Gj23jk2]

Try riding out an earthquake in a 100 year old house where the roof's the heaviest part of the building... lol

[@2712animefreak]

@@Gj23jk2 This happened in Croatia recently. Last year we had two strong earthquakes and a lot of older buildings were damaged. They just aren't as sturdy as new houses.

[@rickshiandmoku4128]

You wouldn't appreciate living in them they're not insulated at all. I'm more of a fan of full log homes myself. Much better insulation than paper then walls😂

[@HattieMcDanielonaMoon]

@@marzouk6270 How are they modernized?

[@Syakirin57]

I bet Chris was missing Joey when looking at that wooden bath 😂

[@yaminogame7805]

aww romantic~

[@rishabhraja]

underrated comment

[@apigeon9884]

( ͡♥️ ͜ʖ ͡♥️)

[@zoolra]

Whenever I feel stress about my study I will ride my bicycle and just strolling around any road and alley in Kyoto city. I always find surprises every time I go around such as hidden small temples, mini zen gardens, even coffee shops that don't appear on google maps.

[@-Raylight]

*"The views from up here are nothing short of breathtaking, particularly if you climb all those stairs. Very breathtaking indeed."* Lmao that joke 10/10. No Chris, you're breathtaking! 13:33 Oh no, the chopstick is trying to kill Chris. Must be Ryotaro's agent xD

[@pptenshi]

Big 草

[@Blunteffected]

We're no strangers to love You know the rules and so do I A full commitment's what I'm thinking of You wouldn't get this from any other guy I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you We've known each other for so long Your heart's been aching, but You're too shy to say it Inside, we both know what's been going on We know the game and we're gonna play it And if you ask me how I'm feeling Don't tell me you're too blind to see Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you (Ooh, give you up) (Ooh, give you up) Never gonna give, never gonna give (Give you up) Never gonna give, never gonna give (Give you up) We've known each other for so long Your heart's been aching, but You're too shy to say it Inside, we both know what's been going on We know the game and we're gonna play it I just wanna tell you how I'm feeling Gotta make you understand Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you

[@chris-hayes]

Leave it to Chris to tell you how the wood smells like lemons, then smell it and tell you it smells nothing like lemons.

[@kimberlydeverell2863]

I've been to Kyoto twice now. Once when my husband and I visited during our first vacation in 2012 to visit some family, and again in 2015 when I studied abroad in Kyoto in college. I absolutely adore this city. It is my second home, and if we could live there, I would in a heartbeat. Tokyo is nice, but Kyoto for me felt like home. I loved the culture, the architecture, the people, the food. It's just an amazing city. The machiya style house is probably my favorite. I wish we could own one ourselves.

[@SundaiLove]

two of my favorite things houses and Kyoto 👍🏾 loved the behind the scenes look

[@genzprepper954]

Wow so crazy I love watching both of you guys I hope to be able to start making videos about my journey in japan in 2023 ❤️ been watching both of you guys for years

[@YTCookieNinja]

Perfect timing, just got done watching all your videos again lol

[@ChelseaH1]

ALL of them?!

[@alexmcamis420]

????

[@ginjabiccie936]

Rip your soul

[@jb0258]

I've watched through his entire channel twice in the last year and a half lol. That's not counting the random video of his that I'll watch here and there either 😅 Although I'm currently in college to join the JET program, so I'm always trying to surround myself with Japan.

[@aliddlebird]

When I first found AIJ, it took idk.... 4-5 months? to watch the entire channel. (I was taking tons of notes 💜) Last summer I was feeling nostalgic, -or should I say, "natsukashii" ✨ -Decided to rewatch the channel. I think it only took a couple weeks lol thanks covid. Going to do it again bc they're just that damn good.

[@MoonlightShadowC]

This is definitely my dream place. This place right here is why I became a teacher and wanted to teach in Japan. I'm thankful for this video. So many people who live in Japan make videos of stuff mostly about culture or street food or talking to people. You're the first person who has made such a beautiful video of Kyoto! I'm completely in love with this. If you ever go back to make videos, can you cover some local stories and folklore? That was something that really drew me to Japan but since I never got a chance to go there myself, I would really love to know more about it from someone who seems to do excellent research on things :) Thank you so much for making this video. - A fellow teacher from India.

[@rick149ou]

Broke: destroy old houses and replace with new uninteresting ones Big Brain: build new houses that look and feel like old houses Make Kyoto beautiful again!

[@Kaiyats]

Agreed

[@meiko431]

Agree 👌

[@Simmuh2]

I swear if it changes before i arrive i will flip it

[@PersonManManManMan]

I hope builders in Kyoto get the same idea

[@starstencahl8985]

Don’t know if it’s the same elsewhere, but in germany we have a thing called “Denkmalschutz”/Monument protection. It can be applied to a lot of architecturally / historically significant buildings and the owners are strictly forced to keep up the looks of the original house, no changes can be made to the layout or the style of the building. Helps to preserve gems like these

[@AmazinglyAwkward]

Maeda-san is actually doing a great job by preserving these houses. I’m glad of the work he’s doing and glad you got to talk to him. I know next to nothing on both construction and the Japanese language but I’d love to help him and his team, even if it’s just making tea and bringing out the digestives and ginger nuts 😂

[@wave8359]

Same !!

[@maxsmall3461]

With so much beauty and attention to detail I find myself constantly going back 10 seconds to replay a segment or scene captured so well - appreciate the amazing work Chris! Like no other

[@Riu.f]

My parents fell in love with the Kyoto Machiya so much that they decided to renovate their own. They're now waiting for covid to end so they can finally move to Japan

[@zayn3536]

that's cool af

[@conorwhelan5767]

Good Luck Riu!

[@AcousticProfit]

I like when you talk to business owners like Maeda-san. I think he's doing important work. Thanks for this video!

[@rahimske]

Honestly Chris takes KZbin production to a whole other level. Best creator on the platform for me.

[@KingJaeTV]

I miss Japan. When lockdown is done, I definitely want to go back for the food, culture and nice people.

[@dareptor2620]

Didn't expect to see you here, love your Tekken content!

[@KingJaeTV]

@@dareptor2620 Thanks!

[@wave8359]

Yes!---mssing Japan too !

[@AK-vg1le]

Anyone have the feeling when after watching Chris’ videos, you are left wanting more and more because it’s so unique and enjoyable?

[@animefanatic5080]

When I first found this channel, I was binge watching the videos cuz they were all so good!

[@AK-vg1le]

@@animefanatic5080 same!

[@megafro6999]

yep, part of me wants to just rewatch this video instantly after finishing, or rewatch any other video for the 10th time

[@priyeshabsolute]

It feels like it goes so fast too, only because it's so enjoyable.

[@HiimSpencer0808]

Its amazing to see these videos’ quality get better and better

[@doobie1984]

This video had a slightly different feel Chris, entertaining as usual but a hint more informative/educational. As a Japanese teacher, this video was spot on! I loved the pop-ups throughout the video and really appreciated the no swearing either, I'm really looking forward to showing this to my students. Thank you!

[@MouseGeist1]

13:34 that Chopstick was clearly hired by Ryotaro.

[@djdazzydeaf7568]

You got to give credit to Koji Maeda for preserving a piece of Japanese History and updating these beautiful architecture of Japan. They are definitely a Tourist Gold mine as a Educational tool for teaching Japanese history to anyone that willing to listen. I'm going to add this to my list of thing to do and see in Japan when I make my 1st trip to Japan. Thanks Chris

[@Figureight]

I love Kyoto. It's a bit overrun with tourists sadly (and understandably), but it's such a beautiful city.

[@donutreply1435]

Spoken like a true tourist

[@Figureight]

@@donutreply1435 Well it's true I've sadly only spent tourist time there, and it's hard for me to say too many tourists as I was a tourist too. Just that some of the beautiful areas were just so overcrowded it was hard to enjoy them, but I also get why it's like that.

[@coaster6777]

All cities where everybody wants to go are overrun by tourists. But only the tourist attractions. If you walk, let's say 500 meters into a side alley away from the tourist attractions, there are almost no tourists then. I noticed it many times in many cities.

[@sbring00able]

There are a lot (well, not at the moment). However they tend to just visit the same 4 or so areas

[@Bones12x2]

@@ddnn974 truth...if only that could be permanent it would fix a lot of annoying problems.

[@TheKeranor]

No matter the topic, I feel like you manage to give it an interesting spin that other people wouldn't even consider. That's a thumbs up from me!

[@IncredibleMD]

An investment banker from Tokyo (who looks like he'd be very easy to draw) falling in love with Kyoto and moving there to renovate townhouses sounds like the premise of a manga about traditional culture. I'd read it.

[@lazersword66]

I love how much personality these townhouses have before they are even decorated. My room looks like a white prison cell when it isn’t decorated

[@CAsaidit]

Aw it’s so cute that Chris dresses up for this.

[@Carlos-js7vf]

I don't know why, but this video hit different. It was really interesting to watch. Great job, Chris :D

[@natedetailscars]

"200,000..." Me: Oh 200,000 Yen, that's great! "... 200,000 US Dollars." Me: *gulp*

[@jdotoz]

@Fire Heart That's not the purchase price, it's the renovation cost. I would imagine the land alone would sell for multiple hundreds thousands of dollars.

[@guitarsaremyfriendzzz7077]

I thought the same! Haha

[@SigTheSauceMan]

Uh... that's less than a decent 3-bed/2-bath house costs here in a small town. And $200k in a MAJOR, famous city, is quite reasonable.

[@WERNUTZ]

Land purchase alone probally from 1000000 USD and up. It's in Japan and in a famous Urban City.

[@TheAkashicTraveller]

@@SigTheSauceMan The hell would you have 2 bathrooms in a 3 bed house? A bathroom and a seperate toilet at most surely. Also it was $200k for the renovation which seems insane to me.

[@Megadoomer125]

this makes me wanna go to japan so badly, the classic homes are seriously gorgeous.

[@valou7328]

Won me over with the words "Kyoto is like an RPG"

[@rapthor666]

In rpgs you can max out your stamina tho

[@marzouk6270]

Same

[@anikado7884]

Dude the quality of your videos has definitly improved, not that the quality was bad at some point, but i'm really enjoying it! It is a mini documentery on a really high level and id love to see more.

[@rishabhraja]

I agree! Its lovely to see Chris come so far as to produce good quality high quality content, and that too editing his videos by himself

[@silver7215]

When I went to Japan, I always loved the sight of the traditional and historical sights from the buildings, to the food, to the culture, and I’m glad that there are people out there that want to keep that side of history alive for future generations to come. Thanks Chris for the lovely video and I always look forward to more!

[@kenbinner]

Literally staying in this machiya's lounge as I type, can confirm this is the quintessential kyoto experience ❤

[@IsraelBuenaobra13]

"The thing that gives Kyoto a sense of identity is... a Starbucks."

[@BlueSatoshi]

My first thought was how in Pokémon HeartGold & SoulSilver, the Pokémon Center & Poké Mart have a different coat of paint so they fit in better with the more rustic architecture of Johto's towns. The region was inspired by the Kansai prefecture.

[@maxgullberg9733]

There is one in Kyoto where the back wall is glass, and on the other side there is a shrine.

[@daniellemorcom8750]

The starbucks is very much Kyoto style and has drinks and food that you can only get in Kyotos branches x

[@kellineburton]

Yeah and that Starbucks is pretty sweet looking on the inside too.

[@TheBeatles..]

@@daniellemorcom8750 spot on!

[@andrewdslutsky]

"Kyoto is like an RPG" might be the first time this has been said.

[@majcrash]

I first thought of the Russian weapon.

[@Trainfan1055Janathan]

Those houses aren't very earthquake-proof. They're very top-heavy and the roofs often collapse, crushing the inhabitants. (The roofs are extremely heavy) I can see why it's not a popular design anymore.

[@dramspringfeald]

plus they LOOK good, but they're still designed and effectively built like they were before japan discovered good steel and at least the one in the video, they're designed for Japanese people BEFORE modern Nutrition doubled their physical size.

[@Nico6th]

Well, they were built to withstand typhoons which are much more common than earthquakes. But wouldn't some modern techniques be able to solve the problem? There should be a way to replace the super heavy roof tiles with something lighter. Could still look the same and they could keep the original roofs on the ones that are used as museums and the like. Very rarely will people look closely at the roof of a "normal-not-museum" house.

[@dramspringfeald]

@@Nico6th Yes actually! I've been having this same conversation with my dad about Classic Cars, Historical Sites and the Neo-Retro revolution. Basically, if the Founding Fathers had access to Steel Beams they would have made their homes out of Steel Beam. and with todays technology it wouldn't be too difficult to completely reproduce Classic cars from 100 years ago out of Aluminum and plastic while keeping the original designs, drop in a modern v6 and all that but keep the design and spirit the same.

[@dramspringfeald]

Replace the old Terracotta Tiles with Polymer wood ones or even cheap but considerably lighter and more durable cinder ones that make them fire proof, 1/10th the weight and probably a few times stronger

[@Nico6th]

@@dramspringfeald I think there are situations where the original things/styles should be kept though. Like in museums or to show the old craftmanship. But for normal homes, it's not really necessary. Better to modernize them on the inside (including the structures you can't even see) than to lose them altogether. Even for buildings that actually are museums/monuments etc there should be a limit to how far to go with conservation. I remember an example from my hometown: imagine an old baroque building (huge! think more like a palace, well, it was built by the king at that time...). it has a huge hall for dance, beautifully decorated, totally priceless. Sadly the old wooden floor was giving in. The old oak beams were rotting. You would think that they would take the old beams out and replace them. Maybe with something non-wood, lighter, more durable? Nope. They opened up the floor (first floor, btw, not gound floor), cut off the rotten ends of the beams, and replaced only the ends with new oak wood -.- Literally, no one will ever see that part of the building. And sooner or later the middle parts will be rotting too. Nothing about the worth or impression of the building would have changed, Do they seriously think the king wouldn't have used modern materials?

[@mugensamurai]

Looks like Natsuki made sure this guy's hair game is on point.

[@james3634]

It’s so sad how they are being torn down, they are amazing buildings, and it’s great to still see people with so much interest in them, thank you Chris for your work on the new video!

[@LongusDongus03]

Everyone is talking about the houses, but how come no one is talking about Chris cooking something other than omelettes for once?

[@thestarspark2288]

I visited Japan in January 2020 just before covid hit. I much preferred staying in a ryokan than a western style hotel. The hospitality in the ryokan, and traditional Japanese minimalist aesthetic, features like tatami, shoji, futon etc. Whereas I found the Western style hotels to be very anonymous and quite sterile, sure they had some Japanese features but nothing compared to what you'd find in a traditional setting.

[@soren7550]

The place you stayed at Chris was so great and adorable! I think that I'd love to live in such a place, with a few adjustments (such as making the doors more solid to allow more privacy, and to prevent the cat from destroying them).

[@8eck]

Those old houses look so calm and cozy. They are giving that feeling of warm home. Very cool.

[@vezixig1195]

The quality of your videos has gone so much up - this looks better than some professional documentaries shown on TV. I'm really amazed!

[@RusskiBlusski]

If I were to move to Japan, this is the kind of place I'd like to live in.

[@otakuu9609]

I finally know what chris is gonna do once he leaves youtube, he becomes a realtor.

[@darkmeow606]

My heart is literally aching to visit Japan again. That machiya you stayed in was perfect... My husband snores so that secret, separate room is great for me to escape to. Oh can't wait!!

[@MeatPlanet]

"Hiding place; retreat" ahhh yes Chris is hiding away from Ryotoro for his own sanity.

[@meyanamio3371]

i once lived for a week in this houses (the more traditional one though) and they are very clean and very renovated! its awesome how they look old on the outside while looking traditional yet new on the inside. It was one the best experiences of my life

[@FemiSmiles]

This makes me want to live in Kyoto, even though I already do.

[@ryujin8842]

I wanna live In Kyoto! Can you invite me to your residence? ^_^

[@HeavenlyCreature.]

@@ryujin8842 Great idea !!! I hope Femi has enough room for 2 million of us 😉

[@rachelonishi2546]

These remind me of my ex mother in law’s house. I still dearly wish that she would renovate like this because it’s such a beautiful and large home.

[@barbarawillis5187]

The Machiya look serene and cozy. While you were showing the alleys I imagined it raining and listening to the sound of the rain while in a Machiya. Thank you for the experience.

[@animeartadventures89]

“Take a peek behind closed doors” Chris you cheeky bastard!

[@samuelgilbert9734]

It's crazy how watching your videos make me miss Japan!

[@jjstarrprod]

Wooow ! That was a fantastic video ! I've been living in Taiwan for 13 years until 2 years ago, and 6 years ago, I had the immense pleasure to go spend a little 5 days vacation in Kyoto, specifically to go visit its temples and the old district of Gion, and sleeping in Ryokans and traditional guesthouses. And boy was it one of the most beautiful trips of my life ! Even if I couldn't understand a single thing of what people were talking about in the street, I still loved every single second of it, and being a photographer, I took thousands of fantastic pics of it (that, to this day, I still haven't sorted out yet...). So your vid just really brought me back some really great memories. Thanks a lot ! That's an instant sub, here ! And super interesting to see that there are some really motivated Kyoto-loving people out there to help renovate these precious old houses.

[@MuKori]

The architecture is amazing and I always love how Chris always manages to capture it so well

[@Zheviah]

The quality of this video is amazing like usually, thank you for your all hard work and efforts!

[@ArchMageDarium]

You're an absolute legend. Don't think I haven't noticed the increase in production values in your latest videos. Your work ethic is inspiring and I'm very excited to see what you put out in 2021 and beyond.

[@ferrjuan]

Glad this guy from Ryotaro’s Japan finally got his own KZbin channel!

[@Jordan-inJapan]

Beautiful work, Chris. And I appreciated the ‘majime’ vibe on this one. AND a note for BEER people: look up Spring Valley Brewing. They’ve turned one of these gorgeous old places into a brew pub, and it’s definitely worth checking out next time you’re in town. 🍻

[@JordanDrebot]

Yes! I’ve been there and I can attest to its awesomeness.

[@rei4898]

I love watching Chris and his adventures. They are always such great quality and gives you the experience to see these sights, even if you can’t physically be there. Absolutely stunning. Keep up the amazing work!!

[@balue707]

That weird moment you realize he says he’s staying there alone,but the camera is following him around lol

[@mehtarohit15]

Appreciate the effort that went into making this video, Chris. Your videos are like mini-documentaries. It's really intriguing that a video on the subject of Houses can be so interesting and engaging with such great narration and history. Love it 👍🏼.

[@littlebirdtweettweet]

I always say Kyoto is my Paris. I love it, any season, any budget, any time! This is a thoughtfully done video, thank you so much!

[@BSAnime]

Sad to see the traditional homes disappearing but the combination of contemporary and modern style gives me hope that Japan will continue to have the exotic oriental culture that we know and love