Inside Our Abandoned Japanese House in Japan & Renovations So Far
My partner and I have lived in this ‘akiya’ house, one of the many vacant houses in Japan.
One of the things we were excited to learn while living in a traditional Japanese house was what it was like to renovate it.
Here’s a house tour and what renovations we’ve done so far in the past year to our little home in the countryside.
Subscribe for more glimpses into how we make a home for ourselves on Shikoku, Japan’s smallest main island, in the Japanese countryside.
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#japanesecountryside #countrysideliving #akiya #abandonedhouse
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Video Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:47 Japanese House Tour
02:29 Fixing the Engawa Beam
04:01 Repairing the Shoji Doors
05:25 Installing a New Toilet
06:31 Replacing Interior Walls
07:58 Conclusion
08:39 Bloopers
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Hi all! Thank you all for your wonderful comments so far! Just as a reminder, while I read all your comments, unfortunately, I’m unable to respond to them. To assist you better, I have created an FAQ page that contains the answers to some common questions here: www.maigomika.com/about-me/faq/ Thank you! -Mika
Nice job fixing up the house, Jesse's woodwork on that joinery was fantastic! Thank you for taking care and being mindful of the house ^^. Can't wait for more
@ArchibaldRobinson
Жыл бұрын
I was thinking the same!
@sheelshox345
Жыл бұрын
Yea, like we're going to casually breeze by the fact that he recreated that 4d timber frame joint?!
That spider caught me off guard 😅
@ajikpajik9331
Жыл бұрын
Japanese spiders are terrifyingly big, I would spend my entire life shrieking.
ようこそ。日本へ アップロードありがとう。 素敵な古民家のリフォームお疲れ様でした。 応援していますよ。
"Some small projects here and there" !!! Wild. You guys are so cool. I haven't done 5% of what you have in my long-term home. Congrats, and thanks for the inspiring videos!
Thank you for the inspiring videos. As a city dweller all my life, I have a hard time adapting when I inherit my grandmother's house in the countryside(in Thailand) Everything is overwhelming, the cleaning, the neverending battle with weeds, hot weather, and creepy crawlies -- but your journey ignites my fire again! I learn that all you have to do is do it bit by bit so that you're not feeling overwhelmed and learn to accept and let go things that you can't control......Keep the videos coming! :)
I love your videos they're so relaxing. Whenever I see a new one on my feed I'm excited to see what new changes/updates you have to share with us.
@jayar3775
Жыл бұрын
Haha!:) Same here. I'm watching this before going to bed and I find the videos so relaxing and comforting.💓
@maigomika
Жыл бұрын
@@jayar3775 omg that is so sweet 😭❤️
@andi7150
Жыл бұрын
@@jayar3775 that is exactly what i‘m doing right now! i‘ve been doing this for the past few days. these videos are indeed very calming.
For a future video you should show us around town with the same type of relaxing commentary. Or maybe a travel vlog!
@maigomika
Жыл бұрын
I'll eventually show a general video about the surrounding area and how we get around. Coming soon!
As someone who relies on constantly burning wood in winter to not drop below freezing indoors in winter, I can't believe you did not insulate these walls when you had them opened up! My nightmare is being cold... that would've been my first priority. Beautiful work on the beams and the shoji screens!
Those are not small projects! Very beautiful and excellent craftsmanship!
You guys should totally buy your own place and renovate it. Just recording daily what you do nothing fancy should totally help support your journey. KZread is great like that. Hope to see more!
If this was my old family home, I'd be thrilled with what you've done so far. Nice work 😊
I'm going to binge this whole series of videos on your playlist. This is just so relaxing to watch. If I ever win the lottery I am coming to Japan and going to the countryside to see all of the beauty that it shows us. Thanks for showing us all this beautiful landscapes and house. Such a lovely place to be.
Like this kind vibes from Japan countryside
You two have seriously unmistakable expertise in DIY. It almost feels like the entire house will change shape if I some much as looked away! Well done. 👏🏻
がんばって ください......we lived in Japan for 14 years, in suburban Tokio. I was pretty much brought up there, 1960 to 1974. A very long time go, but I do really miss Japan and would love to have the opportunity to live there again. I have been back a few times, but that is not the same as living there. Love to see the 田舎!
Hi Mika! I know how hard you are working to make this beautiful home a place where you feel good! I also know how talented you are at creating content and telling stories. I'm super happy to see that you now have tens of thousands of people following you on this great adventure! I can't wait to see what's next! This is so relaxing... It reminds me a bit of my life in Japan even if it was very different... Thanks for the nostalgia!☺
@maigomika
Жыл бұрын
Romeo-sensei, thank you! 😆 I think there's a bit of everyone's Japan experience nestled within the video, even if it's the countryside and others may be in the city. I'm really enjoying making this longer form of content. Ganbarimasu! 💃
The swallows nest good luck is also the same in estonia. Its even our national bird
This is just like the game Japanese rural life Adventure!
Jesse’s skills on the woodwork and repairs are amazing. The bloopers are funny too 😂 all the best to both of you
What do you think someone would need to learn in order to do this? It seems on some level very romantic to just move away into the country side, but I imagine there was tons of prep involved: language learning, farming, home construction.
I’m truly impressed by the woodwork. Doing all those complicated joints is not easy and almost a lost art. Redoing the sliding doors with all those delicate little pieces of wood was amazing! I’m just wondering if you guys are going to stay in Japan? Or maybe buy an abandoned house of your own? Maybe I should look at the FAQ that you guys posted first.🤔😂 Edit: Read the FAQ Still wondering if you guys want to buy your own home there in Japan? I would love to myself. My mother’s families Oita and I would love to have a home in Japan. I found my family in 1999, after 40 years of separation from my mother and her family. Very long bizarre. Story for another day. I’ve only been to Japan twice. The first time in 2000 and the last time in 2004. I’ve been to many places, but nothing that moved my soul like Japan did. It brings a smile to my face to see a young couple on an adventure like yours. I look forward to more videos. Really enjoying your videos. 🙏🏻💕🌸 PS I’m still trying to get over the size of those spiders! I know in Britain there are spiders about that size that are harmless, but I just can’t stand them! I would have to find something that would keep them away from me. Perhaps 12 cats?😂
Masterful music selection for the bathroom reno scene 😁
I come for the story, but I stay for the Music...
yay happy to see an upload from you guys!
You zipped through the replacement of that Engawa beam...but that could have been a multi-hour video all by itself! That was an intricate, beautiful cut. Nice job Jesse! @maigomika
Watching from the Philippines. Enjoyed watching your videos. Love the Japanese home. ❤
Hi Jess and Mika. Really jealous about your Japanese experience and life. My wife and I lived in Japan for 3 years and although I am very adventurous and would love to live in this style of home in the Inaka my wife loves the city life. I am a carpenter joiner by trade and renovating homes and pure timber work really floats my boat. Nice job on the post reconstruction and joint.
Have yall renovated or built a house before? And do yall also have a background in filmmaking? Yall so good at both ❤
@maigomika
Жыл бұрын
Jesse has worked on renovations before, and I've done a bit of renovation work on other houses, but always guided. As for filming, I'm not a professional or have an educational background - I just do what feels natural.✌️
The quiet little "Mika-san!" in the distance!!! ♥♥♥
So nice to see the bloopers at the end too. Can't wait for the next video!
You guys are awesome. Those are some impressive renovations for sure. I love the bloopers at the end. A few of those had some strong "Kramer" door opening energy :D
That woodwork looked amazing, admittedly i know virtually nothing about woodworking but i am very impressed by how he fixed the engawa! Im also very impressed with the sliding doors! Good job both!
Honestly, getting notifications for these videos is the highlight of my day when they're uploaded and I get to sit down and watch them! You're both doing an awesome job of renovating the house and I can't wait to see where this journey takes you!
@maigomika
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for your kind words 🫣 We'll do our best to share more of this life more regularly. More soon! 😆
I've been looking into akiya and mainly looking around Kyushu. It's interesting seeing how different it is to fix/renovate houses in Japan. I like your home and its location away from the hustle of cities. That looks ideal to me. Thanks for sharing.
That's Good, Keep Going! "No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world. - Robin Williams,1951-2014"
To bad all this will fall back into disrepair after you leave. This was a nice snapshot into maintaining a older Japanese home. Someday I hope you find a Akiya Bank home that you can transform.
That view from the summer bedroom is amazing
the bloopers were appreciated
I really love the positive energy throughout the whole video. Cheers from tokyo and hope you have a great experience in shikoku!
Seeing these videos calms me. I love the sound too.
My favorite channel on KZread rn
omg jessee is a master carpenter… look at those joints!
Beautiful old house with plenty of potential ❤. You doing well adaptation to your new life. Greetings from England 🇬🇧 Simon and Beth ❤️ 😀
randomly found you on shorts, and i LOVE what you guys are doing. i would FREAK OUT about the spiders so kudos to you both. i'm living vicariously through you both! love your content!
Yay, new video! I'm so fascinated by the renovations and the beautiful landscapes. Can't wait for more!
im just leaving a comment hoping more will see your fantastic work
Master woodwork!
Those screens are stunning 🤩💛
You might already know this, but you didn't mention it in the video. If you were to insulate the exterior walls, then you would need to add a special membrane that would prevent the insulation from retaining moisture and allow for airflow between the siding and you insulation. Otherwise, mold and rot would set in very quickly. Hope this helps
I very much appreciate that youre restoring rather than just completely remodeling the home. Xx Thank you for sharing these videos!
え〜家を見つけたね〜 その家に住んだら健康で 120歳まで生きるぜ! 日本🇯🇵楽しんで下さい You got lucky 🍀 house 🏡 ❤enjoy ❤
Wow, the new shoji screens made such a difference!
Is Jesse a professional woodworker? That joinery was quite impressive!
Absolutely love the Japanese House restoration. Lots if work. It looks like you two love this kind of life and those Japanese homes need to be kept. A nice way to live. Those homes have a flow that seem to go with the seasons and I would have liked that When I was young and healthy, Loved your content. Can't wait to see what's next.❤
Finally have some free time to catch up on the channel.
I watch ur videos over and over. I love them so much. But I'm a airbrush artist and all so a draftman so I'm a bid architecture nut. So u guy r speak to the heart of this old moonshining southeastern ky boy heart. Thanks for sharing please make more.
You’re both very handy at repairs, that’s a goal I’d like to work towards as well. Thank you for posting such fascinating content!
You both are so skilled and hardworking!
Jesse is an artist when it comes to woods.
I’m so pleased to have come across your delightful videos. Thank you so much for creating these and sharing your experiences. Kind regards John
Nice demonstration of what you have done so far! Is there an opportunity to buy the place? It would be a great collab if you and Bitsy (who is in far western Ehime) could talk about your experiences--how they are different and how they are the same. The fact you have 53k subscribers after only 3 vids is JUST CRAZY!
You're living the life of my neighbor totoro! Beautiful home
This is such a wonderful video series! I would love to see a longer tour of the house and grounds. It seems like you are on the side of a hill and the topography is really neat, would love to get a clearer sense of the houses surroundings! Thanks for making these!
I just finished watching all your three videos. It's awesome and relaxing. Hope your next video is coming soon. Love from Bangladesh 🇧🇩
Good job on the shoji screens, Mika! Sorry, don't mean to spam, commenting while watching
It’s a great thing to reuse older things and make it usable again 🎉
That join he did on the beam was artistic.
I think that this is the loveliest old Japanese house I’ve seen. It opens up to such lovely views too. And you have an engawa! Good idea to go for something smaller. Some of the larger abandoned houses are impressive, but I can’t imagine trying to heat them in a Japanese winter or cool them in a Japanese summer.
Omg! I just discovered your channel and watched your two other videos a few hours ago! So happy about the new upload 😍 Your videos are so relaxing and help me appreciate the simple things and put things into perspective 💜
great video, I will be moving to Japan soon, so I was thinking of what kind of house to buy, you have a perfect house 😊
Can't wait for more, thank you guys!
Wow! What an amazing jobs you two have done!!!
Bravo Mika & Jesse& lettuce gifters & ricefarmers
love the bloopers! about time we can get insight into fan-girling on your guys lives!
Aw man I like your videos very, very, very much!!!!! They’re so calming:)
Yay! I've been looking forward to your next video!
We love it! Keep up the renovations!
Love the update!
So happy to see an uptdate!
aesthetically pleasing
love to see your life style in remote country/abroad
love seeing your journey! Can't wait for the future of you two!
Looks amazing! Please keep posting :)
I love the intro. Fresh!
great job! the renovations and the video
Your videos are so cute and make me so happy 🥰 wishing you both many blessings & happiness ✨
so cool!!
Thank you for documenting your journey! Love these updates.
Two things that I like, renovation vids and japanese homes ❤ Hi new subcriber here 😊
Love your editing! Keep up the good work!👍👍
Your husband is a good carpenter!
This is so peaceful
Awesome video! Really cool to see the renovations you guys are doing and how you are bringing this abandoned house back to life.
Love how you restored it❤
Enjoyed your video.
So fascinating to see the process of renovating. I would freak out with those bugs but those views would make up for it 😍
Very cool thanks for sharing 😊
Loving everything about this!
Lovely video!