I'm a gardener at heart and I would go to great ends to have a spot like that. So lovely and peaceful. Build a tiny little home and it would be paradise for me.
Thank you so much for these beautiful videos. I was researching Aokagahara~the suicide forest at Mt. Fuji, purely for the knowledge and not the morbidity of it; and just when I was fixing to go into full blown tears for those who died there, your video comes up! I can't tell you how much it meant to me to see your beautiful videos. My favorite is A Special Place. Loved it! They were my saving grace in a moment I was feeling incredibly sad. Thank you so much!
I always fantasize that someday, people will return to these gardens and terraces to pick up where they left off. Maybe not but the bamboo will certainly take advantage. Yes, the abandoned farm plots are interesting and a nice legacy for posterity to wonder at. Thanks again Kurt.^^
@martian622 I like your thinking... I went back to this abandoned garden today and enjoyed thoughts of how it might have looked when it was in it's prime. The forest is lovely now as it takes the garden back though the cultivated terraces must have been splendid in their own special way. Thanks for watching! Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
@dmarie1184 Thank you for letting me know you like the "abandoned" theme videos. I really like making these and your comment as well as those of others is encouraging me to keep at it. As for nearby houses I'd say that the nearest is a lone farmhouse roughly 1/4 kilometer away. The next nearest house is in a village approximately 3/4 kilometer away. There are no houses, buildings or roads even in the immediate area of this old garden plot. Thanks again for watching. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
@curlywolf We have areas like that as well. It's amazing how Japan can have sections of near wilderness resting beside an urban sprawl. The contrast is stunning sometimes and a marked difference between what I was more familiar with growing up in the USA. Thanks for watching. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
@jxz107 I suspect that these terraces will be covered in bamboo forest within several years. I will keep an eye on the place and perhaps record the process if possible. ~Kurt :-)
@belgarauth Thank you for letting me know that you enjoy seeing these abandoned farms and gardens. I am encouraged to keep bringing such videos to the channel. Thanks again and have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
My mother and I would love this. I wonder if anyone could reclaim it? My mother wants to come with me when I go to Japan. She used to live at a military base with her family when she was a child. With ojii-san and obaa-chan. <3
@welwisher I suspect that the owners of this land would be willing to sell or (more likely) rent the land to an interested party. Sadly though, there are few who would be interested in working land which is all alone and away from everyone else. There are many empty plots of former farmland in the residential area around my home which are far more attractive to most modern Japanese people. Your mother's life in Japan sounds very interesting. Thank you for watching. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
@Strideo1 Thank you for your nice words. I'm encouraged to keep filming the scenes which capture my imagination. Thanks again and have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
@JoeCubicle Oh, this is certainly a great place for a shack. Actually, I'm headed out for a walk now and will likely stop and visit this little plot of land. I hope that there might be butterflies to see! Have a great day, my friend! ~Kurt :-)
@FeileCase Yes, I agree. Bamboo is certainly invasive. It's an amazing trait of this versatile plant to be able to take over a plot of land so quickly and completely. I would love to learn more about how bamboo groves are kept in check in the wild mountains of Japan where I never see entire mountains covered in bamboo and nearly always groves of fairly uniform size and density. Thanks for watching and joining me on this little outing! ~Kurt :-)
I'd love to have that in my back garden. I've long been a fan of stonework & appreciate when plants get established within it ... looks really cool, thanks for sharing mate : )
It's so cool to see these places once occupied, so "suddenly" taken back by nature over a long period of time. Something about it fills me hope that the way we're treating nature now will be mended some day, and who knows: maybe we'll be able to live in harmony with it one day. Yet another amazing setting you've found in your travels. :)
@countumga I too stand in awe of nature's power of reclamation and dream of a future when we live in harmony with our environment and effect better husbandry of our precious natural resources. Thank you for watching! Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
@Mystek23 It's my sincere pleasure to share this video with you and others. Thank you for watching and joining me on this outing! Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
@cmb17 Thank you for joining me on this outing. I really appreciate the chance to share such places with you and others. Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
I don't comment often, but I have to say, I enjoy all of your videos, and you could never "over do it" with the abandoned farms and such, or any of the topics you make videos on for that matter. Thank you so much, Kurt, for allowing us to go on your adventures with you and your family.
@davekaza Hello Dave. Thank you so much for letting me know that you enjoy this type of video. I must confess that these little "lost farm" videos are some of my favorite to make. For years I have enjoyed exploring these places and only rarely turned the camera on as I though few would be interested. I'm encouraged to make more of these videos which I hope you and others might enjoy. Thank you again for your very nice words. I look forward to sharing more with you in the future! ~Kurt :-)
@DerSchnurrbart I too am saddened by the fact that this way of life is slowly become rare and unfamiliar in Japan. I know that it wasn't perfect and I can understand the reasons so many young Japanese choose to flee from the small villages, though I hope enough of the old lifestyle remains to share with and educate future generations of Japanese. Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
Have you been to Shiga? There are quaint mountain villages there that' have been entirely abandoned, perhaps because the elders have passed on and the children have moved on. I understand your fascination. These treks of yours certainly make for more captivating videos than the usual fare. As always, arigatou! -- Tom
@VidBrats Hi Tom. I have not been to Shiga though I have heard amazing things about the abandoned villages there. In another decade or two the same phenomenon will be happening in my area, as the villages are inhabited almost exclusively by old people who are just barely keeping the old way of life alive. Sadder still than the loss of the homes and farms will be the disappearance of a unique and special way of life. Thank you for your nice words and for taking the time to join me here. ~Kurt :-)
@yousefamar You and I must be made of the same stuff as I had the same feeling when I first found this silent and green patch of heaven. The spot draws me in like a magnet now whenever I hike these hills to stop, linger and reflect for a while on the life and effort of those who created this place. Thank you for sharing this experience with me. ~Kurt :-)
@Th33k I like your way of thinking. The rocks will remain visible in places and the fact of the terraces will be evident in the angled features of the land. A mystery and delight to future hikers who's fancy and inquisitiveness lead them in for a closer look. I have found many such desperately lost terraces myself which are the crown jewels in my collection of lost farm gems. Thank you for sharing this experience with me! ~Kurt :-)
@Claycat4 You know, I'm sorely tempted to do just that! I'm certain that my father-in-law knows the property owner and it would likely be a simple enough thing to make the land my own. There is no hurry though as nobody wants any land in this area and the terraces will soon be safely cocooned in layers of green shroud. The one danger is that the land could be sold to the government as often happens in this area in which case it would be gone. I'll be thinking about it though... ~Kurt :-)
@sesshoumaru1981 I agree that there is indeed something very special, almost magical about the places in nature where the hand of humanity did gently touch and then withdraw. Nature seems to approve of such endeavors and allows their beauty to linger for awhile before she recovers the land into her bosom. Thank you for joining me here. Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
@letsmusic This is a great question. I can tell you with near certainty that this plot of land is unmarketable. Though gardening is experiencing a boom in popularity now in Japan and many young people are, in fact, securing plots of land to rent and cultivate; few seem interested in pursuing such a pastime in such an out-of-the-way location. This garden was developed by a farmer who had daily business in these hills and had to be here anyway. Few others would want to come otherwise. ~Kurt :-)
@8bitMagician I'm so happy you enjoyed seeing this little patch of empty garden. I really like this spot and will likely go back with a picnic lunch and my family to sit and dream about the people who once called this garden their own. Thank you for sharing this experience with me! ~Kurt :-)
no birds are singing :(
fuzzypaws17 1 month ago
It feels very humid where you are, is that true?
capie44 7 months ago
I'm a gardener at heart and I would go to great ends to have a spot like that. So lovely and peaceful. Build a tiny little home and it would be paradise for me.
yesiamanalien 1 year ago
Thank you so much for these beautiful videos. I was researching Aokagahara~the suicide forest at Mt. Fuji, purely for the knowledge and not the morbidity of it; and just when I was fixing to go into full blown tears for those who died there, your video comes up! I can't tell you how much it meant to me to see your beautiful videos. My favorite is A Special Place. Loved it! They were my saving grace in a moment I was feeling incredibly sad. Thank you so much!
crbarnes100 1 year ago
I always fantasize that someday, people will return to these gardens and terraces to pick up where they left off. Maybe not but the bamboo will certainly take advantage. Yes, the abandoned farm plots are interesting and a nice legacy for posterity to wonder at. Thanks again Kurt.^^
martian622 1 year ago
@martian622 I like your thinking... I went back to this abandoned garden today and enjoyed thoughts of how it might have looked when it was in it's prime. The forest is lovely now as it takes the garden back though the cultivated terraces must have been splendid in their own special way. Thanks for watching! Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
You are certainly NOT overdoing it on the abandoned farm videos. I love all of them--they're each unique. ISo keep posting them! :)
You said there were no houses nearby. How far away was the nearest one?
dmarie1184 1 year ago
@dmarie1184 Thank you for letting me know you like the "abandoned" theme videos. I really like making these and your comment as well as those of others is encouraging me to keep at it. As for nearby houses I'd say that the nearest is a lone farmhouse roughly 1/4 kilometer away. The next nearest house is in a village approximately 3/4 kilometer away. There are no houses, buildings or roads even in the immediate area of this old garden plot. Thanks again for watching. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
nice discovery. my area has trees and mountains but once you cross one you usually find a giant apartment building on the other side.. :(
curlywolf 1 year ago
@curlywolf We have areas like that as well. It's amazing how Japan can have sections of near wilderness resting beside an urban sprawl. The contrast is stunning sometimes and a marked difference between what I was more familiar with growing up in the USA. Thanks for watching. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
That was amazing... I wish the bamboo would grow back fast!
jxz107 1 year ago
@jxz107 I suspect that these terraces will be covered in bamboo forest within several years. I will keep an eye on the place and perhaps record the process if possible. ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Truth is,I never tire of seeing you cover these places. Each one has something unique,so always interesting. Please keep it up.
belgarauth 1 year ago
@belgarauth Thank you for letting me know that you enjoy seeing these abandoned farms and gardens. I am encouraged to keep bringing such videos to the channel. Thanks again and have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
My mother and I would love this. I wonder if anyone could reclaim it? My mother wants to come with me when I go to Japan. She used to live at a military base with her family when she was a child. With ojii-san and obaa-chan. <3
It looks wonderful. :)
welwisher 1 year ago
@welwisher I suspect that the owners of this land would be willing to sell or (more likely) rent the land to an interested party. Sadly though, there are few who would be interested in working land which is all alone and away from everyone else. There are many empty plots of former farmland in the residential area around my home which are far more attractive to most modern Japanese people. Your mother's life in Japan sounds very interesting. Thank you for watching. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Kurt, I don't think your hiking videos could ever get old! I love em all;-p
dappel84 1 year ago
@dappel84 Thank you for your nice words. I shall certainly continue bringing images of the special places I find. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Watching this was therapeutic after a hectic Friday evening.. thank you Kurt!
glowramia 1 year ago
@glowramia I'm delighted that the video helped you relax after a tough day. Thank you for watching! Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
I WANT TO LIVE IN JAPAN!!! its not fair (:
lovemac95 1 year ago
@lovemac95 Maybe you will have the chance to live here when you finish college. Have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Make as many of these videos as you like! :)
Strideo1 1 year ago
@Strideo1 Thank you for your nice words. I'm encouraged to keep filming the scenes which capture my imagination. Thanks again and have a great day! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
What a find. Nice place for sure. I'd build a shack first thing.
JoeCubicle 1 year ago
@JoeCubicle Oh, this is certainly a great place for a shack. Actually, I'm headed out for a walk now and will likely stop and visit this little plot of land. I hope that there might be butterflies to see! Have a great day, my friend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
lol Yes Kurt INVAISIVE Is the perfect word I use also to describe lovely bamboo. Because simply put. IT IS by it's Nature!
FeileCase 1 year ago
@FeileCase Yes, I agree. Bamboo is certainly invasive. It's an amazing trait of this versatile plant to be able to take over a plot of land so quickly and completely. I would love to learn more about how bamboo groves are kept in check in the wild mountains of Japan where I never see entire mountains covered in bamboo and nearly always groves of fairly uniform size and density. Thanks for watching and joining me on this little outing! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
I'd love to have that in my back garden. I've long been a fan of stonework & appreciate when plants get established within it ... looks really cool, thanks for sharing mate : )
MicknFumi 1 year ago
It's so cool to see these places once occupied, so "suddenly" taken back by nature over a long period of time. Something about it fills me hope that the way we're treating nature now will be mended some day, and who knows: maybe we'll be able to live in harmony with it one day. Yet another amazing setting you've found in your travels. :)
countumga 1 year ago
@countumga I too stand in awe of nature's power of reclamation and dream of a future when we live in harmony with our environment and effect better husbandry of our precious natural resources. Thank you for watching! Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Another great video Kurt. Such a beautiful place you found, thanks for sharing :)
Mystek23 1 year ago
@Mystek23 It's my sincere pleasure to share this video with you and others. Thank you for watching and joining me on this outing! Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Thank you, as aways I find your videos interesting. ^_^
cmb17 1 year ago
@cmb17 Thank you for joining me on this outing. I really appreciate the chance to share such places with you and others. Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
I don't comment often, but I have to say, I enjoy all of your videos, and you could never "over do it" with the abandoned farms and such, or any of the topics you make videos on for that matter. Thank you so much, Kurt, for allowing us to go on your adventures with you and your family.
-Dave
davekaza 1 year ago
@davekaza Hello Dave. Thank you so much for letting me know that you enjoy this type of video. I must confess that these little "lost farm" videos are some of my favorite to make. For years I have enjoyed exploring these places and only rarely turned the camera on as I though few would be interested. I'm encouraged to make more of these videos which I hope you and others might enjoy. Thank you again for your very nice words. I look forward to sharing more with you in the future! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
magical :)
Invisiblepanda 1 year ago
@Invisiblepanda I'm delighted you enjoyed visiting this special little garden with me. Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
A garden naps.
Snail and spider doze.
The rock wall waits
for footsteps.
reymiland 1 year ago
@reymiland Pefect! Added to info and annotations! You captured the moment so expertly! Thank you so much, my friend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
It's kind of sad the rural lifestyle is disappearing. It looks like it was very peaceful and beautiful living up there with the garden.
DerSchnurrbart 1 year ago
@DerSchnurrbart I too am saddened by the fact that this way of life is slowly become rare and unfamiliar in Japan. I know that it wasn't perfect and I can understand the reasons so many young Japanese choose to flee from the small villages, though I hope enough of the old lifestyle remains to share with and educate future generations of Japanese. Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Have you been to Shiga? There are quaint mountain villages there that' have been entirely abandoned, perhaps because the elders have passed on and the children have moved on. I understand your fascination. These treks of yours certainly make for more captivating videos than the usual fare. As always, arigatou! -- Tom
VidBrats 1 year ago
@VidBrats Hi Tom. I have not been to Shiga though I have heard amazing things about the abandoned villages there. In another decade or two the same phenomenon will be happening in my area, as the villages are inhabited almost exclusively by old people who are just barely keeping the old way of life alive. Sadder still than the loss of the homes and farms will be the disappearance of a unique and special way of life. Thank you for your nice words and for taking the time to join me here. ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Watching this video alone makes me feel much more at peace. I dream of living in a place like that. x)
yousefamar 1 year ago
@yousefamar You and I must be made of the same stuff as I had the same feeling when I first found this silent and green patch of heaven. The spot draws me in like a magnet now whenever I hike these hills to stop, linger and reflect for a while on the life and effort of those who created this place. Thank you for sharing this experience with me. ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
wow its such a shame those rocks wil be covered, but at least beautiful new bamboo will be there :)
Th33k 1 year ago
@Th33k I like your way of thinking. The rocks will remain visible in places and the fact of the terraces will be evident in the angled features of the land. A mystery and delight to future hikers who's fancy and inquisitiveness lead them in for a closer look. I have found many such desperately lost terraces myself which are the crown jewels in my collection of lost farm gems. Thank you for sharing this experience with me! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
That's beautiful! Why don't you find out if you can buy it?
Claycat4 1 year ago
@Claycat4 You know, I'm sorely tempted to do just that! I'm certain that my father-in-law knows the property owner and it would likely be a simple enough thing to make the land my own. There is no hurry though as nobody wants any land in this area and the terraces will soon be safely cocooned in layers of green shroud. The one danger is that the land could be sold to the government as often happens in this area in which case it would be gone. I'll be thinking about it though... ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
Those forests and abandoned places have a magical and peaceful atmosphere. Now I know where filmmakers like Miyazaki got their inspiration from.
sesshoumaru1981 1 year ago
@sesshoumaru1981 I agree that there is indeed something very special, almost magical about the places in nature where the hand of humanity did gently touch and then withdraw. Nature seems to approve of such endeavors and allows their beauty to linger for awhile before she recovers the land into her bosom. Thank you for joining me here. Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
gorgeous!
ericsurf6 1 year ago
@ericsurf6 Thank you for joining me on this outing! Have a great weekend! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
I wonder how much it would cost to buy a place like that
letsmusic 1 year ago
@letsmusic This is a great question. I can tell you with near certainty that this plot of land is unmarketable. Though gardening is experiencing a boom in popularity now in Japan and many young people are, in fact, securing plots of land to rent and cultivate; few seem interested in pursuing such a pastime in such an out-of-the-way location. This garden was developed by a farmer who had daily business in these hills and had to be here anyway. Few others would want to come otherwise. ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago
very cool my good man ,,,, beautiful place ...cheers
8bitMagician 1 year ago
@8bitMagician I'm so happy you enjoyed seeing this little patch of empty garden. I really like this spot and will likely go back with a picnic lunch and my family to sit and dream about the people who once called this garden their own. Thank you for sharing this experience with me! ~Kurt :-)
softypapa 1 year ago