Hello! It’s a beautiful spring season here in Japan, and I’m excited to share some updates with you. The sakura cherry blossoms have come and gone, replaced only by an even greater array of vibrant and colourful flowers. It feels like every day brings forth new blooms, showcasing the ever-changing beauty of nature in Japan.
We celebrated our dog’s first birthday with pancakes
In April, we joyously celebrated our beloved dog Pancake’s first birthday. It’s hard to believe that almost a year has passed since we welcomed Pancake into our lives after adopting him from Heart Tokushima, an animal shelter located in the neighbouring prefecture of Tokushima. We feel incredibly fortunate to have this little guy in our lives, and we are thankful for all the joy and love he has brought into our home.Â
To mark the occasion, we decided to commemorate his birthday with a celebration of Japanese-style pancakes, a fitting and delicious tribute to our dear companion.
We took a peek into our neighbour’s akiya house
We continue our search for a traditional Japanese akiya house in the countryside as the weather becomes warmer. Our neighbour recently acquired his very own akiya, about a 20-minute walk from our house, so we picked up Pancake and made our way down the mountain road to see it. We were lucky to get a peek inside, which gave us valuable insights for our own akiya hunting adventure.
Our weekends are spent driving to check out houses listed on akiya banks while we check out the general areas. We have been searching high and low, and it has taken us down narrow country roads, steep mountain passes, dark tunnels, and hidden valleys.
Although we have yet to find an abandoned house that checks all of our boxes, we have been enjoying the hunt. Sometimes, it is nice to have an excuse to be a tourist in your own area and explore all the hidden gems not along the road from your house to the grocery store. Even though the search continues, we are gaining much insight into the area’s geography and an even greater appreciation for its natural beauty.
We got a new hot water system for our bath
We have recently installed a new hot water system in our bath. Previously, we relied on a supply of firewood gathered from the nearby mountains last year. However, this supply has dwindled considerably, leading to a sense of urgency as it is crucial for heating our bath water every night.
This new system eliminates the need for firewood. I don’t know if I can describe the feeling when we turned on the tap and felt the hot water gush out from the shower head. Having instant access to hot water is truly a luxury that I think we appreciate more than words could ever express.
I went on a strawberry-picking field trip with the neighbours
Our little neighbourhood also comes alive when spring arrives. Thanks to a community initiative supported by the local government, our neighbourhood takes field trips throughout the year. This time, we started by going strawberry picking. I’d never experienced an all-you-can-eat strawberry extravaganza before, and these strawberries were among the sweetest I’ve ever tasted.
The rice field started this April
The rice farmers come together in the early spring for their annual cleaning ritual. This important task involves clearing the gutters that channel mountain and river water to their rice paddies. It’s truly remarkable how, within just one hour, they manage to clear the waterways with a level of efficiency I wish I could achieve with my own yard work.
Witnessing their work inspired me to approach my own yard work with a renewed sense of purpose by de-weeding the garden. I’m pleased to share that our new flower garden is flourishing. Our rhododendrons have blossomed beautifully, the lavender has doubled in size, and various other flowers have successfully taken root.
What big plans do you have for this spring? Let me know in the comment box below!
What are the challenges of finding an akiya in your case? I would think that after seeing 4-5 of them, you would be ready to buy one. Is it a matter of price, location, state, or all of them?
It would be nice to read a blog post about the experience you have, if possible even showing pictures of the houses and stating why they are not the right one for you.
Hello, thank you for your comment.
In most cases, the reasons were related to location and settings. Either the houses were too close to neighbors (almost backing into other people’s properties) or were too far from our preferred location. I think seeing 4 to 5 houses is just the start of our search.
I’m sure once we find THE house, I will update all on the reasons that factored into our decision and the experiences we had along the way. Thanks!