Writer Hannah Kirshner first moved to Yamanaka Onsen to better understand its craft culture. Almost 10 years later, she’s found a community and made a home.

When I became an ALT (Assistant Language Teacher), I was assigned to work in Shimane—the second least-populated prefecture in Japan. Moving here taught me that life in Japan’s inaka (countryside) is ...

Japan’s shrinking population offers escape from hectic city life A shrinking Japanese population is fueling a trend of urbanites buying up cheap vacant homes in the countryside.

The Works and Days is a quiet epic, using its length to capture the rhythms of rural life and its desecration by urbanization better than any conventional movie could.

Violet Pacileo left her job in finance in Tokyo to open a CrossFit gym in rural Japan. She discovered moving to the countryside didn't necessarily mean a slower pace of life, she said. She said ...

Anime set in rural environments offer a refreshing change of pace from urban settings, showcasing different sides of Japan. Shows like Mushi-Shi and Non Non Biyori highlight the simple life and ...

Even as employees increasingly work from home, more people are making an “O-turn,” dividing their time equally between the city and the country.

In July 2017, Covian and his wife Chiyoko moved from North Carolina to Japan due to his job with the United States government. The initial idea was to return to the United States after some time ...

An increasing number of Japanese youth are moving back to rural areas in search of a slower and more fulfilling lifestyle.