Winter in a Japanese House | Tokyo Llama

[@QueenWendyLu]

When I see your boys running around in the snow it makes me think of all the past generations of kids that lived there. How wonderful it is that the once neglected house and property is restored to its former glory. I love watching your videos. It is a lot of work. But the results are amazing.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks very much!

[@Melicoy]

@@TokyoLlama FYI. Stove fan better in front of the pipe not beside it. Draws air around the pipe heat. THANKS

[@TokyoLlama]

@@Melicoy Thanks for the tip - will move it.

[@Melicoy]

@@TokyoLlama All good and dont forget about solid thermal mass. That can hold heat till you wake up in the morning after the fire goes out...

[@lainiwakura1776]

Before his kids I think there was only the homeowner's kids before his because the house was built in the 80s, he says so in one of the earlier videos.

[@nekkidnora]

As a canadian, I was watching the gaps thinking "OH GOD OH NO" and I'm so glad you got some rubber siding for some of those. My house is in -25 degrees right now and received a full 15cm of snow last night, and just watching this is causing me to feel colder in sympathy!

[@phrenetik]

we could send him mike holmes ,,, but then again he may get a heart attack lol

[@maryannebrown2385]

Yup, I’m in Chicago and those gaps were absolutely horrifying.

[@ericwiese7479]

As a Minnesotan, I agree!

[@Retski7]

As a Finn I agree. Also the 8 degrees in the morning.....

[@daviddavidsonn3578]

As a Pinguin from Antartica, I don't understand -25c is summer for me 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@AZHITW]

5:34 Was magic seeing the wood stove through the windows with the golden glow of the lights, a picture postcard image. 🥰

[@9ten233]

One of the only video series that I get really excited seeing a new upload! House looks so great so jealous of the old style! Stay warm!

[@TokyoLlama]

Thank you!

[@caractax.3110]

Me too 👏😎

[@MiRae67]

Me too. It just popped-up on my screen and I immediately watched it. I love the house💝💝💝❤❤

[@Melicoy]

@@TokyoLlama Just ran across this guy and he reminds me of you... his presentation and the way he talks. (Red Gardens) kzbin.info/door/q9U-gJ1LtDCE4W5BhEDFSQ

[@TokyoLlama]

@@Melicoy really? Thanks, interesting channel!

[@apefu]

I grew up in a house that had similar morning temperatures (but much colder temp outside). One might think it is horrible but I remember it as "very effective" once you managed to get out of bed. And the feeling of getting the kitchen stove going and having hot coffee was VERY pleasurable. I really quite enjoyed it. Also - you didn't need a cooler. You just had a room with the heat turned off :D

[@erjusik]

When you showed that it was 8 degC inside, I have to say I was quite shocked! 🥶 Coming from a cold country myself, it's difficult to imagine living somewhere with poor insulation 😅

[@waseabi5220]

one house I lived in in Japan, my room got to +1 degree celsius by the morning every day during winger. Jump down from bed, turn on kerosene stove, wait under covers till it’s 13 degrees to start getting dressed. Never was cold sleeping as the covers/blanket was super thick and warm. And it was the edge of Tokyo prefecture so not a super cold part of Japan either. Was just a regular house and in good shape, but being from a place with brick walls and central heating everywhere it was kind of crazy.

[@TokyoLlama]

@@waseabi5220 yes, 8 is not as bad as some houses!

[@erjusik]

@@waseabi5220 wow! That's crazy 😅 I don't think I would've survived in that situation 😅 I currently live in Switzerland. The winter has been quite mild here this year, mostly around 0-5 degrees. But our current flat is so well insulated that we only had to put the heating on maybe 5 times this winter, which I find crazy! 😲 It's awesome for our heating bills. 😅 I used to live in the UK and there flat/house insulation seemed to always be quite bad. It's just interesting to see how different the house heating/insulation situation can be in different countries.🙂

[@Trekki200]

That is a really modern thing however, I'm from central Europe so an area that's not extremely cold, but does reliably get below zero temperatures. My parents tell story's of how back when they were kids in the 1960 some winter mornings their bed sheets would have frost on them, so I'd say 8 above at night is pretty good game for an older house.

[@mikiohirata9627]

Traditional Japanese houses are built to make summer heat (about 30-35c) and humidity down (about 80-95%) so they sacrificed winter since you can wear more clothing. That's why you see Engawa corridor to avoid direct sun into the rooms as well as many sliding doors/windows for air circulation.

[@Nynke_K]

Fascinating video, with temperature facts and visuals! And I always love to see snow, especially when I don't have to cycle through it or look at the resulting grey slush later :) It looks like adding insulation and draft strips will really make a significant difference, but I'm also looking forward on your behalf to the time when you can install triple glazing! That will probably make the house more pleasant in summer too (along with all the other insulation)

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks - yes, snow is nicer to look at than to live with. Hopefully can get at least some new windows by next winter!

[@Merrinen]

Snow is okay, but it is awful when temperature doesn't hold consistently below zero. And here I am, at southern Finland, and what do we have this winter: lots of snow, but temperature during day at +2 C. Sigh. But this is better than the winters with almost no snow at all. While having no snow is convenient for getting around, the darkness bites you bad.

[@keikeiasako]

We sold double glazed windows into Japan back in the 90s. The only areas of Japan interested at the time were the cold climate areas. As you have mentioned the improvements controlling the intense summer heat is also a benefit of insulation and double or triple glazed windows. We had a hard time convincing the builders to invest in that back then, I wonder how it is now?

[@ChristopherCricketWallace]

@@keikeiasako It's still the same. they only care about fast installation and lowering THEIR costs (not the homebuyer's)

[@Stoffmonster467]

@@ChristopherCricketWallace it has to be mandatory as here. Triple glass only since that year (Germany).

[@tatchsnart]

I am in love with the architecture. It doesn't matter what you tell me it's unconditional at this point 😂

[@FlameEmber]

Wowww that snow footage was all just SO BEAUTIFUL. such a short time to capture it all and enjoy it, and each moment was just so beautiful. The house, the nature all around... the joy for all of you in the snow.. all of it was very inspiring and beautiful ❄️

[@TokyoLlama]

Glad you liked it. Tried to get as much footage as I could, knowing we might not see snow again for a while.

[@elizabethrph5850]

I enjoy the video immensely. Your hard work has paid off. Can’t wait for the spring garden updates.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thank you!

[@morphergaming0531]

After watching videos of home building in Japan I've been intrigued by the lack of insulation so curious about culture and lifestyle in home heating. Perfect video at the perfect time. Thanks

[@danemcrae1371]

Great footage even with the cheaper IR camera! I'm definitely going to pick one up when I go house hunting in the future.

[@TokyoLlama]

I’d been hesitating whether to get one for a while, even considered just renting one, but it’s definitely useful to have and performs much better than expected!

[@Dicyroller]

This reminds me of growing up in Florida when many homes did not have central air, or for many reasons did not want to use it. We used ceiling fans to circulate the air to warm and cool our homes as well as letting light in different ways throughout the day. Open and closing certain windows at different times can also make a difference.

[@supersayre]

I live in an old (~1850s) house in Maine-- I certainly have heat trials, too. This was really neat to watch.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks, yes, the house I grew up in in Australia was old and chilly in winter too.

[@rachelstewart1809]

I've been a collector of Japanese snow scene prints for years, so what fun to see your naturally "animated ” version!🌨️🌨️🌨️

[@maecarpenter6735]

Do you have a website where we can see them, Rachel? I'd love to enjoy them as I have a condition where my hands turn to concrete if they get too cold.

[@girlskylark1816]

I’ve been keeping up with your videos for several years now and it’s so cool seeing the evolution of your cinematography and editing! This video was beautiful!

[@Jordan-inJapan]

I was thinking the same thing. I’m actually considering going back and rewatching one of the early ones just to see the difference.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks very much, I do enjoy the editing process so glad you think so.

[@andersonomo597]

@@TokyoLlama First time viewer and I feel the same as these 2 others - beautifully shot, so interesting to see normal life in a unique country like Japan, and I'm looking forward to indulging in some of your past videos! Thank-you for all your hard work!!

[@TokyoLlama]

@@andersonomo597 thanks very much!

[@Lv-nq9qz]

Same, I like the music, and his use of different kinds of cameras

[@AnthonyBullock1968]

Your wood stacking is very nice. Reminded me of this book - "Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking, and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way."

[@daniel_wilkinson]

Growing up in northern New Hampshire and living in central Arizona now makes me appreciate how a well-insulated home can feel comfortable. Also, I was deployed to Japan (Iwakuni) at the start of the Cherry Blossom Festival 1989. There is nothing like it.

[@vonniebunny8049]

This reminds me of when i went to a ryokan in Oita on a super snowy day. Japan+snow+traditional architecture is a winning mix. Such a relaxing video

[@gilliandrysdale5306]

your beautiful house was even more stunning in the snow wishing you all the best with your future renovations- thanks so much for taking us on this journey ❤️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@TokyoLlama]

Thank you!

[@LorraineinAustralia]

Loving the winter bird calls in the background. Also the persimmons still on the trees for the birds. The snow is definitely beautiful from inside a nice warm house. Cheers from Australia 🇦🇺

[@gregsb3454]

Agree

[@KrAUSerMike]

All those gaps in the doors, windows and flooring I heard were deliberate because in summer it allows more air to circulate and helps with the humidity.

[@SherrisPlace]

What a beautiful home❣️ Your family is living my dream🥲

[@TokyoLlama]

Thank you!

[@CatFluff-pm6qr]

Your garden looks like a winter wonderland, and what you have all done to your house is BEAUTIFUL, your boys will have such a wonderful childhood growing up in that magnificent home .Well done to you all.🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@jokrg]

I am living vicariously through your house mission. Thank you for making me appreciate the breadth of the work involved in my dream of Japanese home ownership.

[@kaybouie1972]

I totally understand living in an old house. you never know it's cold until it's cold🥶 GL!😊👍🏾

[@TokyoLlama]

Very true!

[@Xondar11223344]

I imagine your house will be so much more comfortable once you properly insulate everything and upgrade the windows. Every time I watch one of your videos, I'm struck by how beautiful your house is, and I'm glad you're working to keep its original character.

[@paulj8803]

Another great video. Thank you!

[@boogiedownbronx73]

Got stuck in a snowstorm in Nagano couple years. Was so bad we had to sleep inside the shinkansen at the station for 2 days...snow up to 2 meters...when we arrived finally in Tokyo there was zero snow to be seen.

[@TokyoLlama]

Amazing how it changes once you cross the mountains from the Niigata side.

[@HopeYukizmizu]

What a lovely house

[@GalaxyWhimsy]

I love how you edit and document things I bet your family will love to look back at this in a few years time to see how much things have changed. Such a fun project.

[@ThatGaijinFella]

My house in Yamaguchi is only 5 years old and bloody freezing in winter! They should build all houses like they do in Hokkaido. We have another house (inheritance) in the countryside, about 60 years old, very similar to yours. It’s surprisingly warmer than our modern house!

[@Jordan-inJapan]

This is the first winter in our new place as well. The Japanese style, basically passive central heating system we have is a bit less warm than I would have liked. But not freezing like the old place. Still, I kind of regret not putting in a wood-burning stove like you did. Anyway, my invitation to come down and check out our place/area still stands. Anytime! Loved seeing the winter scenery there, by the way. Down here in Mie it snows even less, and as a Canadian I kind of miss it.

[@TokyoLlama]

Could you retrofit a wood stove?

[@Jordan-inJapan]

@@TokyoLlama maybe. But we’re out of construction funds at the moment. 😅

[@TokyoLlama]

@@Jordan-inJapan I know the feeling!

[@judithbrewer8024]

Wow can't believe that I been watching you for two and half years. Ps get the boys to help stack it is a skill to start, as you split wood it is good bonding time.

[@johnnysmythe7767]

I moved to Hinohara mura into a 135 yr old kominka. Winter here is just as cold inside the house as it is outside..until I fire up the wood stove. Im looking forward to renovating once the weather gets warmer. It snowed here this week and as a fellow Canadian, I was so happy to see it!

[@pennyarts886]

Ooo it's so picturesque. The brown color of the house and the yellow light from the light, forms a beautiful picture in the snow storm. Beautiful and warm. From the interior and look out, completely stunning. Warmth and cold. ❤

[@nickmartin6142]

The house looks beautiful in the snow, you must feel very proud of your hard work when you get to enjoy moments like that.

[@carlhill3554]

Lived in Tokyo in the 50’s and brought space heaters with us from the US, they ran on kerosene were large enough to heat much of a similar size house , used barrels of kerosene and filled daily, love your place , lots of memories.

[@caractax.3110]

It is very interesting for me how you are fighting the heat loss. It's another work again and I hope you can do it easily. Wish you all the best

[@TokyoLlama]

Thank you!

[@amysbees6686]

I just love your house! It has come a very long way in 4yrs! My how your children have grown! The snow is heavy and wet, so it clings, making a real winter wonderland. I understand your attitude towards snow. My husband has had about enough of our NE US winters. We're seriously considering retiring to a less snowy state.

[@odile2798]

And I thought I was freezing down in Okinawa-- 17C! House looked amazing in the snow!

[@TokyoLlama]

17 degrees is balmy!

[@autumnleaf.]

There's a quiet charm about Japanese traditional houses. I wish I'd experience staying in one, even just for a short while.

[@scottlang7271]

It's great to see how an older style Japanese house performs thermally. Living in Canberra, there are many ideas here I could potentially use in a future house :)

[@metalsatanicametalsatanica3314]

I’m a Japanese, my mom is from Ibaraki, your house looks like my grandma’s house back then. We heated up only one room at a time as usual. Kotastu (table heater) was a way to go other than one heater we had in the whole house. It’s cold to go other rooms like a bath room, but interestingly,I feel such waste that houses in the US get heated up the whole house.

[@Catonzo]

I do agree and disagree. It might be a sort of "wasted" feeling to heat up the entire house, but it is actually very crucial to do in order to avoid mold and humidity from settling. You don't need to actively heat up a room that you don't use, but it is a good idea to maybe put the freezer in such a room to have it passively warmed up by the heat exchanger in the freezer. A smallish refridgerator also helps to heat up a room, but obviously not like a dedicated heater would. Bathrooms REALLY should always be kept warm so that they always dry after use because of otherwise the humidity would drop to the floor and won't be circulated out. As long as it's not too expensive, I would personally advise all rooms to be kept at a +18°C and air circulated. If it is a very cold room with poor windows I would obviously understand not wanting to keep a door to it open as to avoid heat escaping to a room it can never really heat up to begin with.

[@juliemiller9258]

Heat the whole house in US? LOL

[@msr1116]

To the OP...... Do you think people should huddle together for warmth as animals do? Anybody in a cold climate in a first world country heats most or all rooms if anything just to avoid burst water pipes. Not to mention for basic physical health. Wearing a coat indoors is only for an emergency. North of the 49th parallel in winter can be brutal in some locations and I'm not just talking about the Arctic Circle. Ask an Alaskan, a Canadian or Scandinavian if they heat only one room and they'll laugh in your face at your ludicrous question. The entire idea of spending months in one room is beyond ridiculous.

[@kix1464]

I also still remember the old house of my great grandma. The toilet was detached from the rest of the rooms so it was pretty cold there, too. And yes.. The Kotatsu.. Ah the memories.. I wasn't too fond of it because of the smell and the extreme heat but it was the only warm place. Regarding the "waste" of heating up a whole house: Obviously it depends on how much heat is used but generally it is much more efficient to heat up more than just one room because the surrounding rooms also heat up that one room. In my apartment I always know when my neighbours are away in winter because I need to heat my apartment way more because their apartment is cold. It also needs much more engery to heat up a cold room rather than constantly keeping it warm.

[@antonioramos8804]

@@kix1464 beautiful traditional homes in Japan. Pieces of art.

[@crvco101]

I'm SO HAPPY to see you again! Thanks for sharing. I've never seen how much work the outside of the house needs, look a little old the wood, but is better to me, MORE VIDEOS! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I would like to visit your family. Hi from Chihuahua, Mexico.

[@TokyoLlama]

No worries, thanks for watching!

[@MsDessertJunkie]

So jealous of your snow being here in Brisbane at 30c, hopefully the snow didn't kill your green lawn you worked so hard on.

[@lydiamarialisa3585]

La imagen del árbol nevado con sus frutos y los pájaros se vió tan hermoso!! Tal vez sea incómodo estar en la casa un poco fría, pero le aseguro que eso es mejor a las torridas temperaturas que hemos soportado en estos meses en Paraguay, más de 40 grados centígrados, incendios por todos lados, un infierno!! Imposible vivir en este país sin aire acondicionado en toda la casa... Disfrute su bello espacio...de a poco lo va a completar... Saludos

[@TokyoLlama]

Si, entiendo, cuando visito australia apenas soporto temperaturas superiores a los 30 grados. Saludos dese Japón 🇯🇵

[@Nefi424]

That snowy slope with the sled looks like so much fun! And everything looks so clean and pretty in winter. I'm sure living in that place will be a cherishes memory for the kids for years to come!

[@craigcarter947]

A couple of questions. First, A good rule of thumb in western insulation is how long the snow stays on your roof after a snowfall. With asphalt shingles, however, as the standard for American rooftops, the roof shingles on your house are most certainly not asphalt. Is there an equivalent rule of thumb that Japanese houses have that you can in a way compare your insulation to your neighbors? Second, I was taught by a pest control worker that you should do your best to keep firewood as far from wooden structures as you can. Because of the potential of termites or other destructive insects leaving firewood piles for 'greener pastures' of wooden sheds, garages, and houses. Did you place any kind of barrier between the firewood stack you were pulling wood from and your shed/workshop or do you think the risks are not as troublesome as the pest control workers told me or are Asian termites, carpenter bees, etc. are not as prevalent in Japan, or does Japanese building lumber have a strong repellent treatment that lasts for many years? P.S. love the content.

[@TokyoLlama]

I'm don't think there is such a rule of thumb here, but next time it does snow I'll have a closer look at my neighbours' houses. But on our house, the snow did last a few days longer above the kitchen area where we do have new ceiling insulation (though not as much sun on that side). In regards to the firewood, ideally we wouldn't keep it close but as I process the wood, I sort between "clean" wood and wood that looks tempting for insects and I keep that wood well away. I've found that we don't get insects in the wood once it's split and stacked (the area between the shed and the house is a wind tunnel and that wood dries very quickly there). We have treated the house with termite stain. Carpenter bees are a problem but they tend to go for softer wood on the shed roof.

[@roymaddocks3184]

@@TokyoLlama south or west facing roof will lose snow faster because of the sun

[@cheezheadz3928]

@@roymaddocks3184 I bet he knew that already. 😉

[@carinaejag]

In Sweden we use wood burners dressed in soapstone that stores the heat for a long time. With right wood burner it can keep the house warm up to 18 hours. Nice to not have to wake up in a cold house.

[@emilnord]

Looks really amazing in the snow. You almost have more snow than we have i Sweden. Single glazed windows, that sounds not so nice. You know it's a good day when there's a video from Tokyo Llama.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks, yes those single glazed windows are cold!

[@liamdillon9465]

The house looks so enchanting in the snow, it was great to see you all enjoying it. The kids will have those happy memories for life, I’m sure!

[@r9l5k]

The house looks so beautiful in the snow!

[@harperwelch5147]

Actually quite similar to my experience remodeling and heating a houseboat I had on Lake Union in Seattle. Same challenges and same solutions. Worth it in the end.

[@davidbarnsley8486]

Looks like everyone is enjoying the snow I suppose a future job would be to close up as many gaps as possible to try and keep the cold air out It would be nice to have double glazing but I suspect it is a very expensive option The snow looked amazing It was 38 here today so cold was a very distant thought I see the shed roof still needs a little work It looks like you have settled in quite well Nice video Dan 👍👍👍

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks a lot. Double glazing is standard for new windows now, but the triple glazing is very expensive, especially for the big engawa windows.

[@Stoffmonster467]

@@TokyoLlama prices here are nearly the same if you buy quality windows. Make the windows smaller.

[@TBHinPhilly]

What a great snow day you guys had. Glad to see everyone enjoy it. And glad to see you aren't killing yourself or the style of the wonderful house by trying to make it ultra efficient. Old houses just aren't - and you do what you reasonably can with them. And heating with wood not fossil fuel (well not much), makes up fro a lot.

[@captainkacke1651]

I loved the llama in the bathtub😆 Also, even though I was wondering about the weather in Tochigi, it was very educational how well you explained WHY we have this weather in this region. I mean, ofc you talk about Ibaraki, but we are close to each other so it is similar. Just yesterday on the phone I talked with a friend about how cold our apartment gets and that we have to use the air conditioner to warm it up, because there is no such thing as central heating, not even in the newer buildings. I mean, it's a 2003 building, so definitely newer than your house😆, but still it already has a few years on its back and they do show in things like insulation.

[@TokyoLlama]

Yes, similar to Tochigi but imagine you get a bit of a colder wind off the mountains? I think Japanese people are now starting to demand better insulation in newer houses, so it's changing.

[@SS-ce7mv]

I really like to watch the old houses.I feel very happy.Thank you

[@tommystokholm4698]

Always great to see a new video, this is my favorite show on youtube :-) regards from Denmark

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks very much, appreciate it!

[@evelynberrios8164]

The Japanese style house is absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing your work. You put in blood sweat and tears literally.

[@svenskdod]

Twice a year doesn’t seem too much, here in Sweden we have to contend with -15 fairly often, so triple glaze is the standard in new builds or renos. It must be pretty hard getting up in that cold though. There’s a saying here, translated it’s “no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing”. 😎

[@TokyoLlama]

I’m kind of used to it growing up an old weatherboard house in Melbourne, but never had to deal with -15.

[@allistairneil8968]

Dude, you have an awesome house! We used to live on the beach in Futtsumisaki so lots of strong wind so we had sliding metal screens all around three sides of the house .

[@sweatyspaghetti500]

neat work, the fine tuning and door gap insulating is such a pain to get right but it seems like you are going pretty well with it. remember that if you want better fruit next spring you might want to get on and thin the top off those fruit trees you have before they begin to flower in spring

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks for the reminder, should do that with the persimmon and yuzu.

[@JohnSmith-cx7zt]

Yes it's nice to see him and family , been a while since I have been here. Great rebuild, from. 1 year ago.

[@PhantomLord24]

Home is getting better each time, love the progress , take care, saludos desde Peru 🇵🇪👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks very much!

[@Kimse05]

I can't get over that neatr little Stove-Ventilator. Such a little thing prob helps warm the room very good. I'd love someting like this on mine aswell! And as always, breathtaking views of your house. It is indeed becomming a big dreamhouse! Some shots from the insides make my heart skip beats!

[@donamorenoable]

So it's a ventilator. I was wondering if that fan was decorative or functional.

[@ChiclaPeace]

I really like your house and how the snow sits on it. As always, excellent video! I don't know much of carpenters work but I watch all your videos because how well you produce them. I don't remember how I found your channel but I do like housing stuff and Japan, so I'm really entertained watching all your journey and progress through the house! Also you looked like a little bit sad or annoyed because the winter is making you do more work in the house but it's totally worth it! I wish for you and your family happy memories over there!

[@mencken8]

The environment in Japanese houses in winter is certainly vastly different from the West. We stayed in a traditional house for several weeks in November in Nagasaki Prefecture, in the far south of Japan, and it’s the only time in my life I ever wore socks to bed.

[@Amavisaj]

Im actually super sad that I can't see you in April at the Japanese Homes convention! I absolutely love your series and everything you do in your editing and your Homebuilding is a great model! Keep up the great work!

[@MrPhotodoc]

Wow! The scenes of the kids playing and how pretty the house is was inspiring. You are very lucky people. Best wishes from USA.

[@TygerBlueEyes]

The house is looking really nice. Don't forget the house needs to breath and flex but I can see where some roll-in or blown-in insulation would help a lot. Here we have a Frost King Indoor Window Insulation Kit; have you looked at something like that (a clear film) to make an air gap/battier.

[@RealRuralJapan]

Earthquakes here so you can’t feasibly make these houses airtight.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks, I've been checking out some of those clear film insulation products and am going to give it a try.

[@junkogreene5644]

Yes, an old Japanese house in winter is quite an experience! I lived in the snowy mountains north of Kyoto in a thatch-roof house, completely un-modernized, kerosene heaters only. Some mornings I'd have to break the ice on the dog's water bowl with a hammer because it was frozen solid (and that was inside the house!). The snow would slide off of the roof and pile up so high that we couldn't see out the windows, lol! Your climate seems much more hospitable, and the renovations are amazing. Happy spring!

[@coutopraze]

Great video as always! I think you should perhaps consider a more efficient heating system in the future, since you're ok with sourcing your fire wood I would perhaps suggest a wood burner connected to a central heating system. My parents have this in their house and it's very good because you're taking the heat more efficiently to the other rooms of the house. This is of course a special type of wood burner with an integrated water tank that feeds into a water cylinder (so it also warms up the water for baths). It's just an idea and it could possibly be a good solution to look into in the future even though I don't know how easy it is to grab one of these systems in Japan. Your ground floor is raised off the ground so your pipes could run under the floor making it fairly easy to reach every room. The first thing I would do is to make sure you insulate your house as best as you can at ceiling level to avoid losing heat into the roof voids, also make everything as air tight as possible between your habitable rooms and voids/cavities in the house, but you're already working on this I guess! If you notice some of the walls are missing insulation maybe look at injecting insulation into the cavities of these walls? You're going in the right direction, first fix the fabric of the house to make sure you achieve good thermal insulation/air tightness. Triple glazing is a good idea but the frames also play an important role, ideally get something with trickle vents so you can control some of the background ventilation. Great job as usual and thanks for the video, it's a pleasure to watch your projects progressing.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks very much! I have thought about ducted heating, maybe catching the air above the stove and sending through ducts but not sure this would be very efficient. Also, since we have an ecocute efficient boiler I've been looking at hot water radiators for some of the rooms the stove doesn't reach very well.

[@rsmith02]

Efficient in Japan means ductless heatpumps (ducted is an option though you lose air there).

[@xfxox]

i would really look on a "Masonry heater" like "Holland stove" or "Russian stove", they can continuously dissipate heat for about 24 hours from one burn. The trick is in a massive stone "coil" for exhaust gases.

[@galas455]

I've been following you for some time now, and I really like the house and what you've done with it. Windows upgrade and adding insulation would be a plus. The only thing different I might have done is create an in-floor heating system and rout the water for the system through the woodstove. It may mean a significant investment in time and money but is well worth it, especially when you get older. Hot and cold spots really diminish because the whole floor is heated.

[@ohcrapwhatsnext]

I have been watching for a year or so and i love the place. I use a woodstove all winter...I enjoy to cook on it, breakfast and soups in the day... Your place is so nice...

[@chrisb9319]

Forget the double pane windows for a moment. First you need to make everything airtight. There are special rubber sealing strips or if you want to go the cheaper route then look into weather stripping with a D-profile or a P-profile. Because with every opening to the outside wind can exchange your warm inside air very quickly with the cold outside air. And for the single pane windows you should definitely consider Window Shrink Film. I put that on all of the windows in my last apartment. You can't really see them and they effectively create a double pane window with all the benefits of that air gap you have between the two panes of a double pane window.

[@roymaddocks3184]

I agree. Plug the leaks first. Then add insulation or extra layers of glass

[@cheguevara5560]

Those sealing strips has been used in Europe since 60es and yes they do work ,hovewer double glased windows make a huge difference as well in house thermal insulation

[@ebb2421]

I had triple gaze windows, the seals fail and fog up. I replaced with polar windows from Winnipeg. Vinyl double glaze with a low E film in between. They were amazing, -40C outside and the window surface feels warm at its centre. Obviously you don't need that much performance and price, gives you an idea of what features you do need.

[@Distreicus]

I love snow, currently we have about 30cm snow outside, current temprature at day time is around -2c too about 2-3c (depending on the weather) here in midle of Norway

[@TokyoLlama]

How cold does it get at night? It's usually around 10 degrees during the day here.

[@Distreicus]

@@TokyoLlama depends, current night time temprature in my area is around -5 or -6, but can go down too around -15 or lower.

[@Beecozz7]

Beautiful home even though it can be cold at times, tolerable considering you get to live in such a beautiful and magical home. Thank you for sharing it with us!

[@kawabewa_8w8]

I didn’t know that the paper integrated into the sliding doors would be so effective! The only place I’ve heard of snow occurring in central California was at the lower level of the courtyard at the church of a boarding school But I’ve experience hail

[@Martinit0]

The 1m wide engawa does the job, the shoji just keeps the air from mixing (more or less). Modern bricks basically also use pockets of air for insulation.

[@tillum7593]

Amazing video! Love to see how your quality keeps getting better

[@TokyoLlama]

Thank you!

[@jamesthomson5178]

As a joiner I'm often torn between these two things. Allowing air movement to keep the airflow around the timber sufficient to maintain structure and to reduce rot or keeping blocking all air movement from a window to help reduce the energy usage and keep the house more habitable. I live in a very wet part of England (Devon) and moisture is a huge issue, although as you have said precipitation is low where you are this may be something to consider with snow. I have found brush strips to be a very effective way to reduce airflow without having to router out groves in doors in windows, sure you can do this and you can get brush strips inside of a plastic or aluminium holder that will slot in to the wood. The using a router is by far the least intrusive. You can get stick seals, although I haven't had much luck with this. If you do go down the stick on router be sure to clean the surface with methylated spirit first. When using any seals be sure not to put to much pressure on the doors/ windows. From what I understand the shoji use timber runners and extra pressure in a direction that it's not designed to will put ware in places it isn't intended to. I love the style of this age of home and the engawa is a great way to heat up the home. As for the insulation in the roof, would the structure suffer from just adding some more insulation on top of what is already there rather than removing what is already doing a job all be it lacking. As for triple glazing I feel this may be a little much for what you need as it only adds a fraction on to what you get from double glazing which in sure your aware of from your comment in the video. The way I see it is the amount of energy it takes to make that third bit of glass is considerably compared to the energy gains you get from it. The only time I would see it as an option is for ait flow and cold drafts but I would sat with your shoji this is already acting like the third layer. Anywho really enjoying your videos so keep them up.

[@alexiscromer9614]

i love watching your journey with this house, it's interesting and relaxing, but that little easter egg after you start talking about the heat vision app in your phone was *chef's kiss*

[@Zoltec-q1g]

Please consider double pane windows instead of triple pane. With triple pane it could happen that heat and moisture moves through the walls instead of the windows, which makes mold grow in the walls. This is because triple pane windows insulate better than the wall in old houses. In germany we only use double pane windows in half timbered houses because of this. I imagine that it could be the same with your house. Also, the difference between double and triple is not that high. Great video as always! :D

[@beckermen]

your time-lapse shots in this video are really beautiful. I'm so glad you've taken us along on this journey.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks, glad you’re enjoying it!

[@juliesmith1874]

The house is so beautiful, it’s worth having a bit of air leakage to keep the style

[@TokyoLlama]

I don't think we'll be able to ever remove it all, but some of the glaring air leaks I'd like to remove.

[@andrew-xr1de]

NO,,,,,air leakage is NOT good. Just to keep the style, such utter nonsense. I go for comfort over style.

[@juliesmith1874]

@@andrew-xr1de if I was living in the house I would want no cold drafts but since I’m only seeing it on a video fixing the leaks that don’t change the charm of the building seems a better option!

[@laowai2000]

@@TokyoLlama It's like light and day once you can seal significant air gaps.

[@donamorenoable]

I enjoyed this video so much: snow days playing, snow disappearing timelapse, inside & outside house vignettes and the location and identification of some cities for climate comparison. Plus the inclusion of your family while maintaining their privacy. You worked hard on the editing 👍🏾.

[@TokyoLlama]

Thanks, feedback much appreciated.

[@anyacarlson5219]

I was waiting for you to use the thermal camera on the cat. I need to know how warm it is!!

[@川瀬センター]

We need cats.😀 from japan

[@TokyoLlama]

I wish I'd thought of that. In part 2!

[@BrendaQuinnCanada]

This beautiful footage doesn’t need the music. Beautiful.

[@deXXXXter2]

8 degrees??? Dude, that's nuts. In cold Poland in don't think i've been to a house which drops below 18 degrees, and most are around 20... With heating of course, but if you turn it off it still shouldn't drop below 15 quickly. But i guess if you live in cold country, you want to be warm at least in your house/flat. I just wonder if the same building techniques were used in Hokkaido, where climate is more like ours. We have drops below -30 degrees C, so that would make your place below freezing point in the morning :D BTW, how cold it gets in your bedrooms?

[@momostewart9771]

It does look beautiful in the snow. What a treat! I collected Japanese snow screen woodblock prints for years.🙏❄

[@nantoka7295]

Just for some perspective, over here on the Japan Sea side, the aptly-named "Snow Country", it is a constant battle to keep the snow piling on the north side of my traditional minka from reaching the eaves.... I feel like Hokuriku Dundee: "That's not a snowfall... THAT'S a snowfall". Oh, and yes, it's cold, but that's what warm clothing is for....

[@wings71-p77]

We are in the upper Midwest of the U.S. and feel your pain just thinking about it. We are so glad to see you again you have all done a wonderful job on your beautiful home, You should be very proud of all you have done. When my husband I bought our last home it was an older home and needed some work. There's always something to fix, but when we moved in our first winter was extremely cold, we also needed new windows and they had to wait so I bought some material and a good lining and batting as you would use for a quilt for a bed. I made drapes weighted at the bottom I quilted them in a vertical pattern. I was going to use a grommet maker and grommets but I needed a larger one to fit over the wooden curtain rods. Instead I sewed in drapery hooks and got rods to match the hooks. We would close them after sundown and open them when the sun would enter the rooms in the morning or mid morning depending on where the room was. They did make a difference not only was the house less drafty but it was warmer and we left the drapes as we put new windows in, as we could afford to. First we did the front of the house and let the drapes in the rest stay until we did that section It was much cheaper and I made them so that they added to the look of the house and didn't look odd. My husband was glad I did it too because it took a few years before we could get all the windows because as always things seem to happen, like a lot of doctor and hospital bills. We keep you all in our prayers, stay safe.

[@saxman362]

It's good to see that you're enjoying the house and getting to know its personality.

[@ralphstephan353]

Such a majestic home! You must feel so much pride to have restored this with your own ingenuity.

[@hori166]

I've enjoyed watching the transformation of your house. It was a lot of work, but there is a satisfaction that comes from DIY if you have the necessary skills, that has no monetary value. Your house is gorgeous, and yes, it looks beautiful in the snow!

[@keyoko111]

What an exciting project. Thank you for taking us along for the ride.💕

[@TokyoLlama]

No worries, thanks for watching!

[@ShapeyFiend]

I live in a 1970's house with big floor to ceiling windows in all of the rooms and switching to triple glazing made a world of difference, more so than the ceiling and wall cavity foam insulation. I had the original wood windows still in there and there were big gaps and draughts all over the place. I don't have central heating (just a couple of storage heaters) so keeping the heat I have is very necessary!

[@elisabethbenders-hyde5286]

I keep checking to see if you've posted another video. You have by far the most beautiful house of any I have seen so far. Love how you have brought it back from getting lost.

[@RAZGR1Z]

Can't believe it's been almost 3 years since you started sharing your journey on KZbin. Looking forward to the future uploads! Thanks!

[@colleenk6864]

Your home is beautiful. Keep the traditional look. My mom would keep the house at 55 degrees in winter so I grew up wearing sweaters indoors. No big deal. I still keep a very cool home.