So, I’ve been living in Tokyo (shibuya) for a bit, and Osaka before that, been great, love what the city can offer.
**Recommendations:** I’m looking for a refreshing **rural** escape on a temporary basis (i.e.) a second home (to buy). Or a a **interesting/fun community** of Japan proximal to **nature**, has decent **young population**, **artsy**, **outdoorsy**, possible 3-5 hours from Tokyo, or could be a plane ride away.
Maybe a small **town**/city, **ski villag**e, **beach** community. **Open to all suggestion!**
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**Aazaimasu!**
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/w944b4/laidback_young_hippy_towns_in_japan_countryside/
17 comments
As we all know, Japan is well known for the amount of young people it has, especially in the Inaka.
Takanabe in Miyazaki
The place has to be a big city to have decent young population and support anything frivolous and not directly tied to daily work and living.
The Niseko area
I’m not sure if it’s exactly what you’re looking for, but the Mayor of the city of [Akashi](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2022/06/30/national/politics-diplomacy/birthrate-forgotten-election-issue/) in Hyogo has been putting a ton of progressive policies in place to try to attract young people to the city to move in and start families, and it seems to be successful so far. Stuff like free healthcare for children, an LGBT partnership system, free early childhood education, etc.
What you want probably doesn’t exist.
What kind of art are you looking for? Contemporary or traditional?
Traditional we might have some potential leads but most people don’t associate traditional with young, hip, ski or beach lovers.
Nozawa onsen in Nagano
Niseko was my first thought..
I live in Kyushu and I’d say Aso in Kumamoto has that really outdoorsy, laid-back feel.
But it’s less a hippy, youthful vibe and more middle-aged people with young kids who wanted a second start. Bed & Breakfasts, coffee shops, campsites, farms, trekking, hot springs.. stuff like that. The weather is much nicer than the rest of Kyushu too.
I’ve always wanted to buy a second home there.
Following. My dream is to do the same in 5-10yrs time 😊 A friend of mine recommended Sasayama, where her friend runs a cafe. https://tourism.sasayama.jp/
Ogi village on Sado island, with all the shenanigans going on with the Kodo village.
Probably more 5 hours than 3….
May I recommend Tochigi – Utsunomiya or Kanuma.
They’re considered inaka towns but at least Utsunomiya is a big enough town that there’s plenty to do. Also relatively quite a lot of families, since it’s not actually that far from Tokyo (about two hours or an hour and a half by train).
In fact there’s a direct train from Shibuya to Utsunomiya! The Shonan-Shinjuku line’s final station is Utsunomiya. No hassle!
House prices (一軒家) there are currently very very low, but as is with all inakas, you do need a car to get around.
Nasu is beautiful, Ashikaga flower park, Ibaraki, Gunma, Nagano is not very far, of course Nikko….
Higashikawa, Hokkaido is my first thought.
https://zenbird.media/higashikawas-key-ideas-of-making-rural-town-sustainable/
Hakuba! I went to Hakuba for a beer fest last summer and it is exactly what you’re describing. Laidback, hippy, mountainous area. Def recommend
Karuizawa?
https://www.japan.travel/en/destinations/hokuriku-shinetsu/nagano/karuizawa/
I’m surprised no one has mentioned Okinawa.
Niseko bro! Been here 7 years, best of both worlds. Mountain bike/skate community in summer ( where the weather is much cooler and very little humidity) and ski resort in winter. Tengoku desu!
Thanks for those who had positive constructive comments. Those with negative stereotypical views, maybe you need a change of scenery.