I can't seem to find the 4K option

Thank you for this lengthier video..a beautiful experience 💖

No apologies needed, Obi! Great to see you so happy and thankful to be there

Ah yes I love how you believe that I have a 4k device 😂😂

I like the long videos!

Have fun ❤

super hot sauna summer is waiting for you in Japan😂　take care of your self!

Come to Kanazawa city, called as a small Kyoto, especially samurai town.

@@zawkyan9366 Yes. We are going there for 2 nights. Can't wait.

@@michaelairley2015 How nice! My recommendation for food in Kanazawa is Morimori sushi for go-round-sushi , Akiyoshi for yakitori.

Nice, what kind of visa are you staying in Japan with?

@@8-bit-g I am using the "Designated Activities Visa for Sightseeing and Recreation". It is a long term-residential visa that is not only rarely used, but very different from the other long-term visas. I'll provide some of the more notable aspects of this visa. 1. While long-term, the Designated Activities Visa is not a work visa (employment in Japan is prohibited). And because of this, the holder is not eligible for Japanese Health Insurance. The holder must show proof of medical insurance, including repatriation/evacuation provisions. As I am retired, I do have US Medicare, and have continued to pay the Part B premium even though I am living abroad (this is so that I'm not hit with the 10% increase per year when I return home as a result of not paying this when living abroad). I also have arranged for private medical travel insurance that includes repatriation/evacuation. For my medical needs I am "double covered" as my US Medicare plan will cover "urgent" care (as opposed to elective treatment such as for cosmetic reasons) in Japan, like the private medical insurance. I needed to do this as the US Medicare insurance does not cover repatriation/evacuation. 2. The holder of this visa must have at least 30 million yen in savings (this can be a combination of a traditional savings account, money market account, and checking). And you should be prepared to show a 6 month history of this minimum amount in your accounts. (Note, if there 2 persons applying like spouses, then the minimum amount must be 60 million yen). At this time, it does not matter that an applicant has a high annual income. The critical consideration is that there must be a minimum of 30 million yen in savings (The Japanese authorities want to be certain you have the monetary resources to support yourself while in Japan). This also makes sense because holders of this visa are not allowed to work in Japan (meaning that they should be applying for a "regular" work visa). But the 30 million yen (about $190,000 US as of July, 2024) figure is also easier to reach now due to the weakness of the yen, though I wouldn't expect it to stay this low for long, especially if the government begins to raise interest rates from essentially 0% where it is currently sitting. 3. Applying for this visa is facilitated if you have a "sponsor" or at least a mailing address in Japan, in order to receive the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) which must be obtained before actually applying for the Designated Visa. This COE can presumably be submitted from abroad, but will require way more time for processing, and then the acceptance or denial card must be mailed only to a Japanese address. I was advised by an officer in the Japanese Consulate to visit one of the Immigration Bureaus in Japan to submit for the COE. (Incidentally, because of the extreme rareness of this visa being used, do not be surprised if the Immigration officers or the Embassy/Consulate officers need to do some research about this visa. (The consulate officer told me that I would probably be the only one applying for this visa my first year.) Once you have the COE, you can submit it to a Japanese Embassy/Consulate (this will require even more time) or to a Japanese Immigration Bureau (fastest method). In my case, the Consular Officer recommended that I enter Japan on a 90 day tourist issued on entry at the airport, and then head to one of the Immigration Bureaus in Japan as soon as possible, and then submit my COE application. But because I also took his advice and visited Japan on a "preliminary trip" (which I also used to secure accommodations), the extremely understanding and kind Japanese Immigration officer accepted my COE application and then held it until I entered Japan on the 90 tourist visa, whereupon he mailed the COE acceptance notification card to my then Japanese address. Once I had the card, I took it back to the Immigration Office for the Designated Activities Visa and my long-term residence card (Zairyu Card). As it turned out, I arranged to receive the COE acceptance card about 2 months after arriving in Japan, and then took it to the Immigration Office for the visa issuance about 2 and 1/2 months after entering Japan. 4. The designated Activities Visa is only valid for up to 1 year (and it is issued for two 6 month periods; before the end of the first 6 months, the holder must return to an Immigration Bureau and request the final extension - this is really just a formality, though you will need to show proof again of possessing the minimum 30 million yen requirement). At the end of the year when the validity of the visa ends, the holder must physically leave Japan. This is not a problem for me as I definitely prefer to return home for several days to undergo my annual medical physical, vaccinations, and dental check-up with doctors that I have had a long-standing relationship. I also use the time to make purchases of items not easily found in Japan (like my favorite brand of crunchy peanut butter, trail mix, dog biscuits - I took my dog to Japan, etc.), briefly reengage with family and friends, check on my home, and complete any necessary business requirements. Hence, I returned to Japan for my second long-term stay about 5 months ago and followed the same process to obtain the COE and Designated Activities Visa again. The only difference this time is that I secured and apartment on my own via a 2-year lease (the most common lease period for Japan). And rather than the COE taking up to 3 months for processing issuance, the COE acceptance card required less than 2 weeks. Because this was very quick, I can only assume that having used this visa previously made it extremely easy for a decision. 5. Lastly, you will need to provide a statement on your COE application as to your general plans in Japan. Also, if one has any sort of criminal record, this will be a problem for any visa (including the 90 tourist visa) being granted by Japanese Immigration. For those who are unfamiliar, the Immigration Bureau in Japan is under the auspices of the Justice Ministry. It is not an easy process, especially because the Designated Activities Visa is definitely not commonly used by visitors to Japan. Other long-term visas are easier to obtain. When I first inquired at the Japanese Consulate, the officer very strongly suggested that I consider a work visa by obtaining a position at one of the Japanese Universities (even offering to facilitate an introduction). Curiously, when I went to the Immigration Bureau in Japan for the first time, the Immigration Officer also made the same suggestion. And then for the recent second iteration of my current Designated Activities Visa, a different Immigration Officer again made the same suggestion, only this time saying there was a great need in Japan for professionals in my former field of employment. However, I am focused on completing my stay in Japan and fully exploring the country, the culture, and her people beyond that of the average visitor. When I volunteered in South Africa for animal conservation, that was to complete the first of 2 remaining items on my bucket list for life. And now, I am currently involved in finishing the remaining item on my bucket list for life. For anyone considering this visa type to explore Japan, it can be a process. For myself, I am so thankful for this opportunity to live in Japan as a resident.

Still better than the problems people experience in Europe and America (lived in both and Japan is overall much more comfortable :))

Do the natives like it when you speak Japanese to them or do they normal switch to english ?

@user-td1vh5np6h they definitely like it when u try to speak their language. Older people will reply in Japanese and the younger people reply in English(most of the time). The younger people kind of see it as language exchange where you both learn to speak eachothers language.

He's in the shot so someone else is filming him.