A tightly packed city is the image that comes to the mind of many people who are considering living in Japan. The Shibuya Crossing bustling all day and night – the karaoke bars and enormous shopping centers, and especially the tiny Japanese living spaces: minuscule apartments in huge high-rise buildings. 

And yet – there is so much more to explore outside the big Japanese cities. Embrace the great Japanese countryside! If you are wanting to move to Japan, there are many reasons to consider countryside rental properties.

Unexpected Benefit No 6: Countryside Properties Have the Best Gardens

One of the advantages of living in the Japanese countryside is the abundance of beautiful gardens. You might think that the big cities with massive parks are the best place to find Japanese gardens, but just stepping out of countryside homes and wandering around, you’ll soon realize just how many beautifully crafted Japanese gardens are right outside people’s houses.

People in Japan love gardening – you will see balconies across major cities overflowing with potted plants. Often in cities, the balcony is the only bit of outside space available, however, countryside properties often have garden areas, and even the balconies are substantially bigger than those in the city! Cycle around Japan’s countryside and you will see countless countryside houses with beautifully crafted gardens. Crafted pine trees, moss gardens, blooming flowers, and bonsai galore!

Watching your neighbors tend to their gardens will probably inspire you to start working on your own green space so you can make use of the benefits of countryside properties by getting into gardening yourself! Your neighbors may be able to give you some tips too and complementing their gardens is a great conversation starter!

Unexpected Benefit No. 5: Countryside Apartments have more access to nature.

Another of the advantages of living in the countryside is the ability to see Japan’s great picturesque outdoors. Japan has an enormous coastline with countless stunning beaches – if you are living in countryside properties in a coastal town, there is a high chance that there will be a beautiful beach a short cycle away! (Perhaps even only a short walk if you are really lucky!) Beaches in Japan are often quiet, so make the most of the peaceful atmosphere and embrace the calm of the beautiful Japanese countryside. 

If you love hiking, then Japan’s countryside may be for you! Many small Japanese towns are right beside beautiful mountains will dozens of hidden trails. Your countryside house may be at the foot of one of these mountains, and only a short train ride away from the next set! This is one of the great advantages of living in the countryside.

Unexpected Benefit No. 4: You will probably get more exercise.

Out in remote areas, the public transport system will probably not be quite as efficient as that of central Tokyo! This has its unexpected benefits though. In Japan, there is a lot of importance placed on doing exercise to keep a balanced lifestyle, which is why the population is so healthy. Most people in the inaka will have a bicycle that they use to get from A to B.

Cycling through the Japanese countryside is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise whilst traveling to where you need to go, which makes it easy to fit doing some exercise into your routine. Cycling is preferable to being couped up on the big city commutes too!

If cycling’s not for you then you will probably still do a lot more walking and being able to walk in Japan’s beautiful nature is much more scenic than walking through high-rise buildings and traffic.

Unexpected Benefit No. 3: Being part of a community.

If you choose to move to a countryside house there will be a lot more opportunities for to become part of a community. There are so many festivals and local traditions that you will be able to get involved in and experience and it’s a great way to befriend your neighbors.

Unexpected Benefit No. 2: More privacy

In a small town with a close-knit community where everyone knows each other, you will have less anonymity so you might not expect to have more privacy… However, apartments countryside is also less likely to be in a big block, so living in countryside properties can feel more private. If you know anyone who has lived in a small city apartment, they will be able to tell you all about the thin Japanese walls!

Countryside properties, especially apartments, often have better soundproofing than properties in the city because builders are not so conscious of saving space. You are sure to get a good night’s sleep even with noisy neighbors! 

Another one of the advantages of living in the countryside is the peace and quiet. Japanese cities can often feel chaotic with the endless traffic, both of cars and people, as well as twenty-four-hour bars and bright advertisements, lit throughout the night.

The peaceful Japan countryside is a stark contrast to this. Picture the peace and serenity of rice fields and beautiful mountain views! Gone are the blaring advertisements, replaced with beautiful wooden countryside homes, often hundreds of years old. Countryside properties are often built in a style that foreigners would consider ‘typically Japanese’. Wooden with the famous curved rooves, it is not only architects that will appreciate the beauty of the countryside homes in Japan! 

Unexpected Benefit No. 1: Better quality of life in a countryside house

One of the more predictable advantages of living in the countryside is the quality of living, especially how much more space you will have! Countryside properties are often much cheaper than properties of the same size in the city.

In some cases, you can even find apartments countryside that are very spacious and unbelievably cheap by Japanese standards. The general cost of living is cheaper too, without the premiums of the big cities.

If the many advantages of living in the countryside are tempting you, now might be the perfect chance to see if it is the lifestyle for you, with the increase in remote work. Japan is full of unique traditions and beautiful nature that you will be able to get immersed into!