I'm John. For 9 years I've been documenting rural Japan — its wildlife, abandoned villages, natural phenomena, and the places most people never see.
Along the way I learned something that changed everything: Japan's biodiversity depends on people living in rural areas. The satoyama landscapes that support fireflies, wild birds, and ancient forests only survive when communities maintain them. As villages empty out, the nature disappears too. So I started helping foreigners relocate to Japan and buy property here — connecting them with the places, people, and information to actually make the move.
Whether you're just curious or ready to move, I've built tools and guides to help you figure out what makes sense.
Japan's natural world is underrated. I track seasonal phenomena, rare wildlife encounters, and ecological stories — from firefly seasons to bear migrations to the quiet decline of satoyama landscapes.