This project is one that I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to shoot and share with you. With any lucky, we will never be in this situation again. NEXT BIG VID: ruclips.net/video/RqYXKLvFq9s/видео.html - What it was like to survive Japan's Tsunami Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to everyone who made this possible. I cant possible thank you enough. Thank you so much for being here. Watch the follow up video here: ruclips.net/video/52UZJJ79Hrg/видео.html
Oh Norm, this was beautiful. Just like one woman said, it is 'a delicate balance'. We have seen the life that has come forth from this time of rest/quiet/emptiness--the coral reef healing, animals returning, nature having the chance to strengthen itself. This is also evident in the beautiful pictures and video you have shared with us of an emptier Kyoto. I do hope that people can once again return--to support locals and bring energy back into a space. Not just in Kyoto, but in all of the 'tourism' spots around the world. Maybe, somehow, this time--we can find a better balance and a better system that will simultaneously give needed economic support and maintain the sacredness of spaces.
When I got to the part of the video where people were saying they miss the visitors and the liveliness they bring it honestly made me want to try and look them up and visit them in particular. If any of the people are public (they have a shop or any sort of tourist facing business that i could visit) i would appreciate it if you could share their address. :)
@@henrychew235 I kind of agree, there is always calm spots to find if you wanna find them, but the hell that is peak-season, daytime Ginkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari (you'll be fine if you trek around the mountain dodging the tori gate path), Philosopher's Walk etc is not something I look forward to when visiting.
This is more or less like how it was 15 years ago when I first visited Kyoto. Back then the vendors speak little to no English but we managed to communicate. Ryoanji was a place where you could stay to enjoy the peacefulness. Fushimi Inari shrine, there were no more than 10 people in sight when I walked up the hill full of tori gates. I miss those days.
@@Patrick-cm5sl Same here in Europe, the population is aging and the next generation is always making less children than the previous generations did. Its a rather sad development and its because of our high standard of living that is partly to blame for it. There are of course numerous other factors that contribute to it as well. Its going to be problematic in the future here since there are lots of economic migrant waves coming from Africa and Arabic countries, they tend to make 4 to 5 times more children than we native Europeans do and their integration rate to our societies is extremely poor.
Me too! I teared up a lil at that. Like I'm over here worrying that I might be a bother to people if I went traveling and she's just out here putting out tea for visitors.
My English isn't the best, but I'm also from Kyoto, by Fushimi Inari-Taisha. A lot of people have been commenting about how empty it is, but not that life feels like it's in slow motion. Our lives were fast paced and full of life and people. I feel like this is a blessing as it allows us to slow down and contemplate what everything means to us and we can hope to see everyone back enjoying our beautiful cities, shrines, temples and forests once again. Thank you for making this video!
My first impression was that the "emptiness" of Kyoto could be in part due to lower birth rates in Japan and the migration of young workers to larger cities. It felt like there were a lot of elderly and fewer young people, this made me feel sad. I do wonder what Kyoto will look like or be like in another 10 to 15 years when more of the older generation pass on. It seems that the situation is deeper than just the tourism alone. It would be nice if Japanese companies could maybe sponsor some of their young Japanese employees to visit places like Kyoto and spend some time with the old people.
That lady saying she’d put out tea for foreigners almost made me cry. I miss Japan a lot, I cannot wait to be able to come back. I'm very grateful for this video and the warmth of these people.
The locals riffing on being able to enjoy the quiet shines made sense. I visited that shrine in Kyoto a few years ago. All I can remember were the crowds. On the same trip I visited a number of more remote towns and shrines and the experience was... deeper. When you remove the tourist element, the purpose of a shrine just takes centre stage.
@Socratic I wouldn't worry about that too much. If you are visiting places that are touristy, the locals will be glad to have visitors back. And even before covid, if you were to go to more remote places and were respectful, all would be fine.
No worries, I can solve that dilemma. You have to just go and be seen as a tourist because in life, we cannot have it just one way, it's two ways, or no way. So either go, or don't go. Your heart will reveal your fate, but listen to its call.
Because people are like sheep and follow other sheep. I visited Japan many times and last two times I didn't bother with Kyoto. Most of my time I was on Shikoku. It was great.
@@lesp315 Should I ever visit Japan, I have decided I'll go visit the less-popular prefectures. The country has much beauty to be seen beyond the usual tourism circuit.
If anything 2020 has made more appreciative of the smaller things like being able to travel and being able to meet new people as well as being able to connect with family.
"I didn't realize Kyoto had this few people" Damn, must be weird for the younger generation living their whole life knowing that Kyoto is a place where the streets are never empty.
Right? It's interesting to see the difference between the older and the younger people. While the older folks are remembering of how Kyoto used to be, for the younger ones is a thing that they have never seen before.
I'm a Japanese who had not been enchanted with Kyoto, before COVID-19. Kyoto was just a famous and clouded sightseeing place to me then. But now Kyoto is a very calm and empty place which reveals the core of the spirit of Japanese history. I'm 60yrs.old and yet I had never felt a touch of real Kyoto till now, because of a cloud of tourists who are both locals and overseas. So, I thank nature, which gives us and places like Kyoto, a long holiday to look back the life.
Even in the US despite everything else it seems that life has slowed down, it was honestly wonderful to sit down on my back porch and just hear the birds and feel the breeze during the summer. While it's unnerving for those not used to it I can say I'm grateful for that.
I truly believe that you can see another great side of Kyoto when there are fewer tourists. On the other hand some cultural aspects might deteriorate. Temples or old buildings/ Ryokans who live on donations and tourists cant afford repair and maintanance.
bro its not empty at all right now i just came back a week ago. he doesnt show it in the video but it was actually really busy from people visiting from other provinces in japan, because there are no forigners.
This video was uploaded yr 2020 which was around the yr of pandemic still being very active. It is already very loose right now this 2022 so it makes sense it become crowded again. Many shop at my place started to open up now around this yr when not like in 2020 many shops were close down and streets were very quiet.
The 82 year-old woman was so lively and just precious. "When we do get visitors from abroad, I would happily put out tea for them." Excuse me while I bawl.
its called the "call of human solidarity", its part of human nature and our willingness to be connected to each other we are all meant to be connected no matter where in the world those who only wish to be left alone at all times simply havent met with others like them thats all
@@deliciousnoodles5505 Why are you even part of an ignorant circle of acquaintances. I used to have one myself but later cut ties because of that negative and ignorant mindset. They didn't do right and kept living in that small world of theirs. Years pass by and while I don't talk to them much, still visit maybe a couple times a year. They haven't changed at all. The same as always. Maybe I'm just not there to see it but those personalities and traits become habit and its hard to severe. Word of advice just becareful who you stick around and the people you hang out with.
"So I was part of the Imperial Army pacification force sent to Manchuria back in the war..." I feel like you're playing with fire asking for old peoples life stories in some countries.
@@MisterZimbabwe I'd still happily listen to someone tell it. I may not like what's being told, but the chance to hear a first hand experience would be interesting.
Ever since my grandma passed away recently I miss her story's of her past and I know it's sounds strange but I just want to walk up to an old lady say TELL ME A STORY BEFORE I DIE OF BOREDOM.
I meet that obaa-chan before while taking a break from climbing the stairs at Inari last year. She is probably one of the kindest obaa-chan I ever met.
Props to this guy for talking to ALL the people. Not just the older people or average adult aged people. Paints a much better picture. I was honestly kind of shocked he talked to the skaters. Glad he did.
I definitely started tearing up when the elderly ladies spoke of how they miss the tourists and how they feel so bad for the business. And the lady saying, that when she sees foreigners she puts out tea for them to show her appreciation. Bless her heart, that warmed my spirit so much. The humility of the Japanese people, it truly touches me ❤️🙏🏼
I spent most of the pandemic living in Kyoto and I have to say I loved the tranquillity and calm brought on by the lack of tourists. It felt like a truly rare opportunity to experience Kyoto the way it once was in the ancient days.
I used to live in a tourist town and am considering moving back home where tourism has increased to a point, where I can't sit at places we as teenagers met up, whenever we wanted to be by ourselves (by sit I mean on grass or pavement, it's just so crowded). I understand enjoying the tranquility, even when you appreciate the good tourism can bring.
This is very interesting. I live in Melbourne Australia and as a similar experience, I enjoyed the lessened traffic, the almost empty malls and the few people I would meet outside. It felt like I could feel the environment around me without the hustle and bustle of people everywhere. I absolutely loved the calmness of it all. Our covid numbers are quite low at the moment and things have since about returned to normal however I don't think I'll forget the peace of a lack of human presence.
I was expecting that there will be mixed feelings, but by the end they all miss the old lively Kyoto. Great video and amazing cinematography. Really made me feel like being there.
Like the old lady said, she wanted it to just be balanced. While they appreciate the place to be quiet, it also doesn't feel right after a while now. They managed to love the pre-Covid Kyoto together with its flaws and hoping this will eventually go back to once it was.
@@tidus1ph They want a time where they want the city to be quiet for a day before the usual crowding begun. too quiet is not good, but having a special one-day off where people could take a breather is what we needed.
That is a younger man reflecting on the reality that his people are dying out, because so many people are forgetting to use their own voices to demand fair wages, and a cap on corporate greed. He's realizing that "we're all in this together, and I miss that."
@@zacharychamot6031 except that has nothing to do with the actual citizens of Japan. Not to mention that 82 year old lady would have been a baby during world war 2 so even she isn't the generation responsible for what you're referring to.
@@zacharychamot6031 I'm well aware of the reality of Japan but to say the citizens are responsible? I cant back that. That's the job of their government to be responsible. The job of the citizens is to acknowledge that part of their past and accept that it happened. I don't think Japanese people are bad people at all I just think they need a shift in perspective. Just as you argued about Japan's legal system and their unwillingness to speak on stigmas being unfair I think its equally unfair of us to sit here and fault people who more than likely have no involvement in the voice and attitudes of their country, not to mention the fact that its irrelevant to whats being discussed so its just rude to bring up.
@@iqbalmuhammad2920 From what I've seen in various peoples vlogs(both tourists and people who live there) there seem to be a lot in less touristy parts of Japan, like if you take a trip out to some of the smaller less visited villages.
ahh an empty Kyoto, so envious dude... but I think its great that you took the opportunity to show the impact this has had on the locals. A perspective that is often overlooked in the sea of tourists. Another great video Norm!
@@TokyoLens I'm so jealous. I want to go to Kyoto as my first destination of visiting Japan. as an introvert who like quiet place, going to Kyoto and travelling around while it's empty is like a dream come true for me. I can take so many amazing picture and moment that could be the best time of my life
I always found that interesting considering how close those two places are. I thought Kyoto would have a sort of Kansai dialect like Osaka, but I guess since Kyoto used to be the capital at some point, the dialect is more similar to the Tokyo one?
@@kai-lele3328 Not at all. Kyoto-ben and Osaka-ben are very similar. Both are Kansai dialects. In fact, its often really hard to tell until the person tells you whether he/she is from Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe... even harder when you are speaking with younger generations.
@ When I was listening to the video, their Kyoto "dialects" sounded very similar to the common Tokyo-like dialect. But as @N as mentioned Osaka-ben and "true" Kyoto-ben are really Kansai dialects. If you want to listen, then search on RUclips "Kansai Dialect vs Standard Japanese" and you'll hear the difference instantly. If you're trying to learn Japanese casually or "professionally", Kansai dialect will take a while to get used to, I'll tell you that ;;
@@alexissey4023 Agreed. It’s been years since my Japanese classes, but I always enjoy when I can understand small bits of what people are saying. I don’t want to lose the (albeit small) grasp I have of the language.
You'd warned us that this was a tear-jerker but I only lasted halfway in before I dissolved. I want to go and hug everyone. I miss Japan so much. Another beautifully shot film. Thank you x
It was as touching to shoot as it was to edit Really glad u enjoyed it and a VERY personal thank you from me for being one of the people who made this video possible. Means the world. Thank you
"It feels so empty without people." I do not know why exactly; but somehow this sentence stood out the most to me. It just tugged at my heartstrings, and created a special type of longing, mixed in with emptiness. To me, this is a sad sentence.
Japan has a special place in my heart. Everything is so perfect, from locals to food, to climate and the place itself. I will never get tired of visiting this place.
The Japanese street kids are the best, they got the coolness factor without the whole crime and violence thing usually associated with them in the west.
It’s wonderful to see videos such as this; that no matter where we are in the world all dispersed hither and yonder there is so much in common how we live, move, make a living, visit the doctor, family, prayer.
@@xGoodOldSmurfehx It's not per se that you enjoyed those people, but you got used to them. And breaking habits is one of the most difficul things for human brains. That's why many people even miss times which they used to experience as negative, just because in their brain that was the norm.
This is ridiculous. Plenty of people are able to appreciate the people in their lives. While they may not know how life would be without them, they certainly appreciate them and prefer to have them around.
@@Black.Spades I agree. I loved the constant noise of cars honking and people yelling down the streets when I was in China. When I got back to Sweden I felt so empty as if I left reality. Where I live in Sweden theres barely any noise and people are so distant to each other.
This really spoke to my heart (like I’m sure it did for many). It’s such a reminder of the fragile ecosystem of relationships and interactions. It’s lovely to see locals stay positive but I know everyone is missing something. Their reminiscing reminds me that the past is beautiful and that change is ok because the future can be too.
It’s so sad that most of the shop close down even though they have been open for so many years. It’s heart breaking to know many shop are close for good :(
I love Japan. I love the smell, the sound, the taste, the sights and the people. I miss Japan. I know its different when you start living and working there but still, I know it wont change how I think about this beautiful country.
Yeah feeling quite melancholic too after watching this. The slow pace of the video really made all the words and expressions stand out so much more and hit harder. A year ago I was in Japan and I could have never imagined that 2020 would be like this for the whole world! Stay safe & stay healthy :)
We are all in a though spot right now but I'm sure everything will workout with time :) stay safe and stay positive. This pandemic taught me to be greatful for everything I had and to take nothing for granted. Take care guys :)
This video especially is one of the best I'ven seen so far from your channel. Not only the cinematography and choice of music, but the way you captured the torn feelings of the residents, having a moment to reflect on old times and how it used to be but quickly remembering that times have changed and without tourism their livelihoods are threatened. Well done Norm, definitely a great video format you have been using recently! Call it a 'cinemantary'
I think this highlights the importance of being respectful tourists, especially when visiting places that hold a spiritual significance to the local residents. I would never want to interfere with someone wanting to go pray for the sake of me doing something touristy.
Absolutely nailed it with this video. As someone who grew up in Anaheim, California, known to tourists as Disneyland, I had to deal with heavy tourism the majority of my life. The torn feeling that people from Kyoto feel is something that I also share completely. Speaking with the people of Kyoto for this project helped me feel a small connection with them and I hope things can get better soon. And when it does, hopefully we can find a good balance that is best for everyone. PS: The first lady we met and the lady at the shrine are gems. Much love to them for their hospitality and grace. I can't wait to visit them again.
Thank you Victor~ Little known fact for anyone who finds this comment... The first woman came up to me! Until then I had minor concerns about how people would feel about the interviews, but she really set the bar~
I envy you so much at this point in time. I would absolutely love to travel Japan whilst it is so empty. However, I know that so many people are struggling because of the lack of tourism and that also breaks my heart. Chris Broad also discusses this subject on his podcast and channel. Thank you for putting in the time and effort to document this rare moment in Japan's history. I really enjoy your videos.
I've been watching all these older videos at my friend's house and I wanted to say that the way the interviews are done, it makes it so personal and I loved how vulnerable Kyoto looked. Not just the bustling city we all know.
Geez that nice old lady got a tear out of me when she said she'd pour some tea to welcome people. I'm pretty sure a lot of people miss those kind of meetings.
It is actually like watching videos from our cities in Italy: Venice, Rome, Florence. They are peaceful now, they are the way everyone hopes to visit but they are empty.
Went to Rome last year and fell in love with Italy (I’m even learning Italian right now with LingQ). I search RUclips for live cams of different Italian cities and it’s crazy to see how relatively empty the cities are without tourists.
Wow, I visited in the exact same places around February this year. Covid was only on a hundred or so cases in Japan and travel was still allowed. Usually on a bright sunny day, the shrines and especially the gion area would be packed full of people. It's so surreal seeing it so "Samishi" The only time I've seen The Gion District that empty was during the early morning. " I didn't realize Kyoto had this few people" - That line hit the hardest for me. It's reassuring to know that the locals want to welcome the visitors back. Once the world "opens up" again, the first place I'm visiting is the Kansai area of Japan. Thank you for this video.
This project was an absolute pleasure to watch. So emotional and can 100% understand the thoughts they have on loving the quiet and serene atmosphere to enjoy their home town with out having to worry about their place of worship being overcrowded or their roads or transport. But also upset about the emptiness because of business relying on tourist and also not liking that it's too quiet. I've been to Kyoto once and it will forever be an experience I will never forget and I hope to return there someday
As much as I’d love to visit Kyoto while the number of tourists is down, it really is heartbreaking at the same time. I sincerely hope for things to get closer to “normal” as soon as possible. Beautiful video, with wonderful people!
That's the beauty of being humans... We're all made in the Image and we just need to be empathic. I've been to Japan twice and I have such nostalgia to a place I wasn't even born or raised... I feel for the people and the lively hood of all in Japan. The whole World even. Everything is about to change. Everyone is about to grow up. And it will all be good.
My dream is to visit Japan one day, and Kyoto is at the top of my list! Really heartbreaking to see such a lively city become so "empty", but on the bright side, nature can recover a bit haha. Here's hope that 2022 will be the year when I visit this majestic and beautiful country!
It's great that you could get so many different peoples' perspectives for this video. It really made it well-rounded. Also, your cinematography in this video is just amazing, Norm. What a jewel. Just like Kyoto~
This one hit me in the feels. The obasan who offers tea to visitors, it's for real. I appreciate the hospitality that we experienced on our trip in 2013. I can't wait to go back...
This makes me want to travel to Japan so much more. With Canada’s high numbers, who knows if, or when that will happen. I love watching your videos so I can see what I’m missing.
@@prateeksrivastav8257 We are Thai. Both Thai language and Indonesian Bahasa were based from Indian Sanskrit. So you can find the similar of the language from his name.
I once worked as an ESL tutor and most of my learners are elderly people. Some just wanted to have a session because they wanted to talk about something about their life like a promotion or something related to their family. Sometimes they would tell me about their families and how much they miss their children that they don't see often. They're so sweet and full of life. I wish to work there soon when I'm already qualified. *fingers crossed
So glad you did this video. Kyoto is like a second home to me. I can imagine how the locals feel, it's very conflicting. Looking forward to being back in Kyoto.
Can you guys not bring politics into everything? It is seriously obnoxious at this point. We are all struggling together during this pandemic. Just be grateful you are alive and well and stop acting like one party is better than the other. We all can work together but we choose to let politicians dictate our thoughts.
I've been to Kyoto twice, and the second time I went there I really appreciated the elderly folk who volunteered to guide tourists in busy areas. They were so friendly and eager to help you if you had questions. I like many things about Kyoto, but it's the locals I remember most and I should like to make another trip there some time.
I was born halfway around the world and only visited Kyoto once, but watching this made me homesick, I just burst into tears. Beautifully made, thank you
This hit me harder than I expected. The way everyone talks with positivity and kindness is just beautiful. I miss Japan so much...my second home in this world.
Parisian here, it's the same in all the big touristic cities: we are all discovering our own city. A great experience to walk in empty streets, listen the birds singing ^^
It is nice isn't it ? and strange at the same time . We finally have the chance to discover our own towns, peacefully without being stressed and pushed around by others .
@Jotaro97 if you are talking to me, I prefer being able to look at my city without being pushed, walked on and eventually falling because of humans that have no respect for those who are handicapped , like me . I need time to move, to get out of the way of people, so , yeah, for once, being able to rediscover my town without the tourists is nice but at the same time , sad and strange . I do hope that some day, the tourists will come back, but maybe they could change their ways and take more time to appreciate what they are seeing , eating and hearing . Would be nice .
Wow... I knew Kyoto was a beautiful place but I never realised how stunning it looks when you can actually see all around, I'm British and I'm hoping to study abroad there soon so I really feel for the locals there who miss the crowds and the energy foreigners may bring
What I found special about this video were the different voices, young, old, different accents, expressing their honest heartfelt thoughts. I could listen to them expressing their views all day because it isn't like in TV shows where they fake their expressions. You could hear their nostalgia, hope, and sadness. And that really drove home the meanings of their words.
I was lucky to visit Kyoto some years ago. I tried my best to be respectful and considerate as a tourist, but whatever consideration I was able to show paled in comparison to the warmth with which the locals met me. Thank you to all the people of Kyoto for sharing your beautiful city with us
Unrecognizable. Fushimi Inari is one of my favorite places in the world, and I've been several times. To see it without the crowds, so serene and beautiful, is at once precious and tragic.
I've started learning Japanese a few weeks ago for the exact reason of visiting the country myself someday. Seeing this, not even the thoughts of the natives, just seeing this beautiful, gorgeous place makes me wish so bad for the learning part to be over already and for me to just be there. It's great motivation to keep going and it's gonna feel so damn rewarding when the day finally comes.
I love how each person associated to Tokyo Creative is sooo different in styles of videos that they do. Chris Broad is documentary and commentary style. Sharla is more personal and relaxed. Emma is very fun and more the game style stuff. etc. But THIS channel definitely has the best camera work and BEAUTIFUL photography. Definitely deserves the name Tokyo Lens.
Some absolutely stunning shots in this one. You really manage to capture the visceral sense of actually being somewhere, of living in the moments that you capture.
Recently moved to Kyoto and I was so surprised how many tourists were here. Twenty five years ago it definitely was much quieter. Occasionally one could find a quiet spot in a temple or park to just sit a take in the beauty and history.
@@oddballsok Well for example in Tokyo you wouldn't feel so much of a difference, when tourists are missing, since it's already crowded. But Kyoto is really not a crowded city. The population lives in a big area, with all the parks an temples, so it easyly feels empty. There are as many people living as in my city (Munich), but space wise my city is less then half of Kyoto. My city also normally is filled with tourists, but it still doesn't feel as empty as in Kyoto, tough I actually can't know what people there really are feeling. I hope they can enjoy their current status as much as the back to normal status, that hopefully soon comes.
Honestly I've never been to Japan, it's only thanks to channels like these that I managed to get at least a glimpse of such a beautiful country. In general overtoursim isn't exclusively a Japan thing, it happens all over and I would only imagine that most places that gets a heavy traffic of foreigners passing through would get a huge blow when all of the sudden the stopped showing up. Some people may enjoy the feeling of "having there home back" but like one of the residents said a portion of them have grown to enjoy the overwhelming tourists around. That's all I meant by my comment really, some of them may genuinely miss that, even with the negative it brought.
@@benmateo5762 definitely. I don't know how Japanese tourism is stoped right now. But Kyoto and Nara are also places Japanese people from other cities often visit. I guess even they are not coming this year. So not only the foreign tourists are missing. A lot of work in Kyoto is concentrated to tourism, so I guess like you said, its good for a while to have your home back, but they are missing not only the lively visitors but sure also a big amount of their income.
@@missbrauchbar Very true, it's not only visitors in Japan but also the natives that aren't going out to frequently traveled places like the ones you mentioned and many more all around because of this current situation. I just hope we can all jump back from this some way or another.
Wow. This made me cry. Just something about the energy, the beautiful composition of images and the interviews together that hit me straight in the heart. Can't find any other word than: Magical.
As someone trying to study abroad in Japan, Kyoto is a town not too far away from the university I’d be at. A few hours away. It’s interesting to see the opinion of the locals. I appreciate the quiet just like they do. I’m very interested in Japanese history, along with double majoring in history and education, so I’ve truly enjoyed this video. They seem so sweet, kind, and reserved.
5:06 Oh, I think I remember this lady and her shop when I visited Kyoto back in 2015. It was particularly memorable because I managed to talk my friend into trying alcohol for the first time while also realizing sweets went great with alcohol. We were drinking sake while eating matcha shaved ice.
There is nothing I want more than to live in Kyoto. It’s been a dream of mine for many years. This ambition to live and work in Japan started to dwindle more and more during my undergrad as I began to discover in my research the limiting factors of pursuing a career as an English teacher in Japan. As I get ready to finish my undergrad this semester and begin grad school in the Fall, a part of me feels compelled to visit Japan at least once after COVID-19 is globally contained. This dream of mine has began to surface once more with a bunch of recent videos about Japan coming up on my feed even though I am not subscribed to any JVloggers. Maybe it’s coincidence, but I know for sure that after I finish grad school I am definitely making a trip to Kyoto. Who knows what the future holds after that; maybe I’ll reconsider living there, only time will tell.
I have been living in Kyoto for over 4 years now. And 2020 was the year I actually toured around Kyoto and visited everything. For 4 years,I avoided visiting places due to over-crowding. It was like once-in-a-lifetime chance of enjoying a quiet Kyoto. It was surreal. But yeah, it was too empty and felt like it was missing something. I just hope once the tourism starts, it will be regulated because I feel like everyone should get to enjoy the quiet Kyoto.
This project is one that I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to shoot and share with you. With any lucky, we will never be in this situation again.
NEXT BIG VID: ruclips.net/video/RqYXKLvFq9s/видео.html - What it was like to survive Japan's Tsunami
Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to everyone who made this possible. I cant possible thank you enough.
Thank you so much for being here. Watch the follow up video here: ruclips.net/video/52UZJJ79Hrg/видео.html
Thanks for filming and sharing， good documentary to understand Japan under this situation.🌹
Oh Norm, this was beautiful. Just like one woman said, it is 'a delicate balance'. We have seen the life that has come forth from this time of rest/quiet/emptiness--the coral reef healing, animals returning, nature having the chance to strengthen itself. This is also evident in the beautiful pictures and video you have shared with us of an emptier Kyoto. I do hope that people can once again return--to support locals and bring energy back into a space. Not just in Kyoto, but in all of the 'tourism' spots around the world. Maybe, somehow, this time--we can find a better balance and a better system that will simultaneously give needed economic support and maintain the sacredness of spaces.
Thank you for sharing this with us. Your videos are treasure🙏🙏🙏
When I got to the part of the video where people were saying they miss the visitors and the liveliness they bring it honestly made me want to try and look them up and visit them in particular.
If any of the people are public (they have a shop or any sort of tourist facing business that i could visit) i would appreciate it if you could share their address. :)
Great video brother, I want to see Kyoto.
This feels like what every tourist _wants_ Kyoto to be when they visit. Calm, peaceful, and beautiful.
I feel like that's Yokohama
Nice profile pic
Kyoto is always peaceful even when crowded. There are always shrines or a garden that few venture into.
@@henrychew235 I kind of agree, there is always calm spots to find if you wanna find them, but the hell that is peak-season, daytime Ginkaku-ji, Fushimi Inari (you'll be fine if you trek around the mountain dodging the tori gate path), Philosopher's Walk etc is not something I look forward to when visiting.
This is more or less like how it was 15 years ago when I first visited Kyoto.
Back then the vendors speak little to no English but we managed to communicate.
Ryoanji was a place where you could stay to enjoy the peacefulness.
Fushimi Inari shrine, there were no more than 10 people in sight when I walked up the hill full of tori gates.
I miss those days.
“ I didn’t realize Kyoto had this few people” god damn bro, that hit hard for some particular reason and I’m not even from there.
Same
japan has one of the most lowest birthrate, thats why.
@@tulirongtuliro why is that
@@enchantralx715 a lot of japanese people arent interested in having a family
@@Patrick-cm5sl Same here in Europe, the population is aging and the next generation is always making less children than the previous generations did. Its a rather sad development and its because of our high standard of living that is partly to blame for it. There are of course numerous other factors that contribute to it as well. Its going to be problematic in the future here since there are lots of economic migrant waves coming from Africa and Arabic countries, they tend to make 4 to 5 times more children than we native Europeans do and their integration rate to our societies is extremely poor.
I liked it when the lady said she would make tea for people coming to her city because they miss the people..how kind and thoughtful. 😊
Me too! I teared up a lil at that. Like I'm over here worrying that I might be a bother to people if I went traveling and she's just out here putting out tea for visitors.
Me too! And that's when I hit the like button! ❤️
I would have tea with her and reciprocate with an American gift. The world was meant to be together
Such a sweet old lady 😊
@@davefuller84 then why is Asia so homogeneous? 🤣 Silly English
My English isn't the best, but I'm also from Kyoto, by Fushimi Inari-Taisha.
A lot of people have been commenting about how empty it is, but not that life feels like it's in slow motion. Our lives were fast paced and full of life and people.
I feel like this is a blessing as it allows us to slow down and contemplate what everything means to us and we can hope to see everyone back enjoying our beautiful cities, shrines, temples and forests once again.
Thank you for making this video!
My first impression was that the "emptiness" of Kyoto could be in part due to lower birth rates in Japan and the migration of young workers to larger cities. It felt like there were a lot of elderly and fewer young people, this made me feel sad. I do wonder what Kyoto will look like or be like in another 10 to 15 years when more of the older generation pass on. It seems that the situation is deeper than just the tourism alone. It would be nice if Japanese companies could maybe sponsor some of their young Japanese employees to visit places like Kyoto and spend some time with the old people.
I wish I could visit sometime.
Ayako Suaki - your English is great, like this video! 👍🏻
"my english isnt the best"
: speaks fluent english
Japan is great country. Love from india
As someone who’s visiting Kyoto next month, I really hope the answer is “Yes”.
Beautifully shot as always mate!
Thanks so much as always mate~
I’m sure you’ll have an amazing visit
Looking forward to hearing about it
@@kennyrtk6400 it's a secret Risottoro account obviously
With so few people around, one could even get a clear view of Mt. Fuji!
New vid or a documentary in Kyoto? 🤔🤔🤔🤔
Last i heard, Chris Broad and Natsuki were banned from visiting Kyoto so maybe you can go somewhere in the country ! 🤣😂🤣
damn... I remember that old lady from the store when we visited Kyoto in 2019... Never thought I would recognize someone through a youtube video
A turtle also recognized her
@@TurtleChad1 like actually or are you just mememing
@@osuiro5206 Turtle 🐢
@@TurtleChad1 Understandable, have a nice day.
I recognize her to. I was there by the end of 2018 when we bought some souvenirs from her shop haha auch a cute and friendly old lady
That lady saying she’d put out tea for foreigners almost made me cry. I miss Japan a lot, I cannot wait to be able to come back. I'm very grateful for this video and the warmth of these people.
Me too...
@Yotecai Luz never say never mate, who knows what future may bring, just give it your best.
That lady seems like an incredible, kind-hearted person.
And here i am who keep trying so hard. Because i have a dream that one day I can set my foot in Japan. I hope.
The locals riffing on being able to enjoy the quiet shines made sense. I visited that shrine in Kyoto a few years ago. All I can remember were the crowds. On the same trip I visited a number of more remote towns and shrines and the experience was... deeper. When you remove the tourist element, the purpose of a shrine just takes centre stage.
@Socratic I wouldn't worry about that too much. If you are visiting places that are touristy, the locals will be glad to have visitors back. And even before covid, if you were to go to more remote places and were respectful, all would be fine.
No worries, I can solve that dilemma. You have to just go and be seen as a tourist because in life, we cannot have it just one way, it's two ways, or no way. So either go, or don't go. Your heart will reveal your fate, but listen to its call.
@Socratic You can visit with the mindset of a pilgrim rather than the one of a tourist.
Because people are like sheep and follow other sheep. I visited Japan many times and last two times I didn't bother with Kyoto. Most of my time I was on Shikoku. It was great.
@@lesp315
Should I ever visit Japan, I have decided I'll go visit the less-popular prefectures. The country has much beauty to be seen beyond the usual tourism circuit.
“It’s a delicate balance...” It really is.
So true
If anything 2020 has made more appreciative of the smaller things like being able to travel and being able to meet new people as well as being able to connect with family.
like life ... live .... are a delicate balance
400th like
The lady into traveling that said she'd welcome foreigners with tea melted my heart.
It really is a different culture. Very beautiful in a lot of ways
😪😪😪
When i was in kyoto, thats exactly how our hotel staff welcomed us. amazing experience
"I didn't realize Kyoto had this few people"
Damn, must be weird for the younger generation living their whole life knowing that Kyoto is a place where the streets are never empty.
Right? It's interesting to see the difference between the older and the younger people. While the older folks are remembering of how Kyoto used to be, for the younger ones is a thing that they have never seen before.
The real weird thing is that foreigners or not, its still a city of well over a million, I cant imagine it being that quiet.
Yesssss that line really stood out for me!! I dont know why it blew my mind like it did
@@gabrokkerhun a city of million isn't uniformly spread and wdym can't imagine that quiet? Can't you see?
dont worry, ppl get use to the life without GAIJIN.
I'm a Japanese who had not been enchanted with Kyoto, before COVID-19.
Kyoto was just a famous and clouded sightseeing place to me then. But now Kyoto is a very calm and empty place which reveals the core of the spirit of Japanese history. I'm 60yrs.old and yet I had never felt a touch of real Kyoto till now, because of a cloud of tourists who are both locals and overseas. So, I thank nature, which gives us and places like Kyoto, a long holiday to look back the life.
Even in the US despite everything else it seems that life has slowed down, it was honestly wonderful to sit down on my back porch and just hear the birds and feel the breeze during the summer. While it's unnerving for those not used to it I can say I'm grateful for that.
I truly believe that you can see another great side of Kyoto when there are fewer tourists. On the other hand some cultural aspects might deteriorate. Temples or old buildings/ Ryokans who live on donations and tourists cant afford repair and maintanance.
Sadly modern infrastructures such as roads or bridges , to be maintained properly, need big money. And money comes from people.
bro its not empty at all right now i just came back a week ago. he doesnt show it in the video but it was actually really busy from people visiting from other provinces in japan, because there are no forigners.
This video was uploaded yr 2020 which was around the yr of pandemic still being very active. It is already very loose right now this 2022 so it makes sense it become crowded again. Many shop at my place started to open up now around this yr when not like in 2020 many shops were close down and streets were very quiet.
These grandmas must be protected at all costs 💕
They are wonderful
The 82 year-old woman was so lively and just precious. "When we do get visitors from abroad, I would happily put out tea for them." Excuse me while I bawl.
@@nicholasadams81 ikr. she seems so nice.
@@nicholasadams81 suddenly there's tears in my eyes when she said that
I really feel sorry for the business owners. They must have struggled a lot.
Everywhere & many have lost livelihoods
Prayers & Blessings
Yea, that's really sad. 😔
Covid really screwed us all good.
@@courier6945 Nature tends to do that every so often.
That's everywhere in the world though, especially america, where our government has essentially left us to die.
I almost cried when the people started saying they wanted visitors to come back, and I haven't even been to Japan before!
I will show videos like this one to my ignorant circle of acquaintances who only read tabloid news and thinks everyone in Japan hates foreigners.
@@deliciousnoodles5505 yep some people don’t understand it’s not all Japanese I was born in Nagasaki
its called the "call of human solidarity", its part of human nature and our willingness to be connected to each other
we are all meant to be connected no matter where in the world
those who only wish to be left alone at all times simply havent met with others like them thats all
that's exactly how I felt and I was really glad that the people wanted tourist back cause one day I want to be one of those tourist
@@deliciousnoodles5505 Why are you even part of an ignorant circle of acquaintances. I used to have one myself but later cut ties because of that negative and ignorant mindset. They didn't do right and kept living in that small world of theirs. Years pass by and while I don't talk to them much, still visit maybe a couple times a year. They haven't changed at all. The same as always. Maybe I'm just not there to see it but those personalities and traits become habit and its hard to severe. Word of advice just becareful who you stick around and the people you hang out with.
I was a bit shocked when that one lady said she was 82. She looks a lot more in her late 60s or early 70s
Should go and visit her, take her treats and stories from our countries, since she said she won't be traveling anymore
That's asian genes for you. We could be 30 and still look like we're below 20
@@kindaedgy3548 I know, because when I was a senior in highschool everyone thought I was a freshman
A very commonly made observation here in Japan
Right! 82 years old and she seems pretty lively and healthy
I wanna just sit down with these elders and listen to their stories, so heartwarming
"So I was part of the Imperial Army pacification force sent to Manchuria back in the war..."
I feel like you're playing with fire asking for old peoples life stories in some countries.
@@MisterZimbabwe I'd still happily listen to someone tell it. I may not like what's being told, but the chance to hear a first hand experience would be interesting.
exactly, I could listen to them for hours!
Yo same but I wouldn’t understand them sadly 😭
Ever since my grandma passed away recently I miss her story's of her past and I know it's sounds strange but I just want to walk up to an old lady say TELL ME A STORY BEFORE I DIE OF BOREDOM.
I meet that obaa-chan before while taking a break from climbing the stairs at Inari last year. She is probably one of the kindest obaa-chan I ever met.
Props to this guy for talking to ALL the people. Not just the older people or average adult aged people. Paints a much better picture. I was honestly kind of shocked he talked to the skaters. Glad he did.
He is a skater himself :)
I definitely started tearing up when the elderly ladies spoke of how they miss the tourists and how they feel so bad for the business. And the lady saying, that when she sees foreigners she puts out tea for them to show her appreciation. Bless her heart, that warmed my spirit so much. The humility of the Japanese people, it truly touches me ❤️🙏🏼
I spent most of the pandemic living in Kyoto and I have to say I loved the tranquillity and calm brought on by the lack of tourists. It felt like a truly rare opportunity to experience Kyoto the way it once was in the ancient days.
@@rmns987 Which he probably knows better than most people commenting here since he actually lives there.
I used to live in a tourist town and am considering moving back home where tourism has increased to a point, where I can't sit at places we as teenagers met up, whenever we wanted to be by ourselves (by sit I mean on grass or pavement, it's just so crowded).
I understand enjoying the tranquility, even when you appreciate the good tourism can bring.
@@nightglider537 i mean yeah but yet again some people on video may not share the original commenter point of view
This is very interesting. I live in Melbourne Australia and as a similar experience, I enjoyed the lessened traffic, the almost empty malls and the few people I would meet outside. It felt like I could feel the environment around me without the hustle and bustle of people everywhere. I absolutely loved the calmness of it all. Our covid numbers are quite low at the moment and things have since about returned to normal however I don't think I'll forget the peace of a lack of human presence.
I was expecting that there will be mixed feelings, but by the end they all miss the old lively Kyoto. Great video and amazing cinematography. Really made me feel like being there.
Glad you enjoyed it so much~
Thank you so much for being one of the amazing people who made this possible
Like the old lady said, she wanted it to just be balanced. While they appreciate the place to be quiet, it also doesn't feel right after a while now. They managed to love the pre-Covid Kyoto together with its flaws and hoping this will eventually go back to once it was.
@@tidus1ph They want a time where they want the city to be quiet for a day before the usual crowding begun. too quiet is not good, but having a special one-day off where people could take a breather is what we needed.
i dont know why but hearing "i didn't realise Kyoto had this few people" hit me in the feels
That was a really impactful moment
@@kelownatechkid heeheee
That is a younger man reflecting on the reality that his people are dying out, because so many people are forgetting to use their own voices to demand fair wages, and a cap on corporate greed. He's realizing that "we're all in this together, and I miss that."
The attitude of that 82-year-old lady are really what I admire of the japaneses people. "I want to put out tea for them", like how wholesome is that
you know what? we have those kind of people in every country, they're just hard to find, japan have a lot of them though XD
@@zacharychamot6031 except that has nothing to do with the actual citizens of Japan. Not to mention that 82 year old lady would have been a baby during world war 2 so even she isn't the generation responsible for what you're referring to.
@@WastedTalent83 That is the difference, Japan has A LOT of them, well, maybe less so in Tokyo.
@@zacharychamot6031 I'm well aware of the reality of Japan but to say the citizens are responsible? I cant back that. That's the job of their government to be responsible. The job of the citizens is to acknowledge that part of their past and accept that it happened. I don't think Japanese people are bad people at all I just think they need a shift in perspective. Just as you argued about Japan's legal system and their unwillingness to speak on stigmas being unfair I think its equally unfair of us to sit here and fault people who more than likely have no involvement in the voice and attitudes of their country, not to mention the fact that its irrelevant to whats being discussed so its just rude to bring up.
@@iqbalmuhammad2920 From what I've seen in various peoples vlogs(both tourists and people who live there) there seem to be a lot in less touristy parts of Japan, like if you take a trip out to some of the smaller less visited villages.
ahh an empty Kyoto, so envious dude...
but I think its great that you took the opportunity to show the impact this has had on the locals.
A perspective that is often overlooked in the sea of tourists.
Another great video Norm!
Thanks so much eh
I’m grateful I had the opportunity
@@TokyoLens I'm so jealous. I want to go to Kyoto as my first destination of visiting Japan. as an introvert who like quiet place, going to Kyoto and travelling around while it's empty is like a dream come true for me. I can take so many amazing picture and moment that could be the best time of my life
I just wanna give those grandmas a hug, especially the one who wanted to travel this year
After covid: runs towards a japanese grandma for a hug
Japanese grandma: *screams*
She melted my heart.
so you want to kill thoses grandmas right :thinking: :')
@@kannonfps Huh?
@@FewNewReasonss i was high when i posted this comment :') don't know why i said that tbh :')
I want to hug that grandma who said she want to put tea out for foreigners . The kindness is beautiful....i want to cry.
I live in Osaka 30 minutes away from Kyoto but I’m always surprised by how Kyoto people speak so clean and proper 😂
ey b0ss
I always found that interesting considering how close those two places are. I thought Kyoto would have a sort of Kansai dialect like Osaka, but I guess since Kyoto used to be the capital at some point, the dialect is more similar to the Tokyo one?
@@kai-lele3328 I think you pretty much got it correct there
@@kai-lele3328
Not at all. Kyoto-ben and Osaka-ben are very similar. Both are Kansai dialects. In fact, its often really hard to tell until the person tells you whether he/she is from Kyoto, Osaka or Kobe... even harder when you are speaking with younger generations.
@ When I was listening to the video, their Kyoto "dialects" sounded very similar to the common Tokyo-like dialect. But as @N as mentioned Osaka-ben and "true" Kyoto-ben are really Kansai dialects.
If you want to listen, then search on RUclips "Kansai Dialect vs Standard Japanese" and you'll hear the difference instantly. If you're trying to learn Japanese casually or "professionally", Kansai dialect will take a while to get used to, I'll tell you that ;;
Narrator: "This lady is 82 years old."
Her: "I am 82 years old."
Me: "Checks out."
For someone taking and learning Japanese, it was nice to hear it being said actually than just reading it from the textbook.
It will be significant!
Me: She doesn't look 82 years old.
@@alexissey4023 Agreed.
It’s been years since my Japanese classes, but I always enjoy when I can understand small bits of what people are saying. I don’t want to lose the (albeit small) grasp I have of the language.
@@oatmongen4263 there were always asian elders younger than your elders
You'd warned us that this was a tear-jerker but I only lasted halfway in before I dissolved.
I want to go and hug everyone.
I miss Japan so much.
Another beautifully shot film. Thank you x
It was as touching to shoot as it was to edit
Really glad u enjoyed it and a VERY personal thank you from me for being one of the people who made this video possible. Means the world. Thank you
It’s touching when the grandma says she’s feeling sad for those whose business struggled
"It feels so empty without people."
I do not know why exactly; but somehow this sentence stood out the most to me. It just tugged at my heartstrings, and created a special type of longing, mixed in with emptiness.
To me, this is a sad sentence.
Japan has a special place in my heart. Everything is so perfect, from locals to food, to climate and the place itself. I will never get tired of visiting this place.
I haven’t been but I hope to go some day and I’m learning Japanese
Same for me, was there 6 times now, dont plan to stop. Never gets boring. Beautiful place and people.
I haven’t been to Japan, but I’d like to visit.
Mind you the working culture is bad only in major cities and it is changing now making it a perfect country .
The skaters are so cool.
Skaters: Thanks
Rolls away
My brother has the same deck as one of them
The Japanese street kids are the best, they got the coolness factor without the whole crime and violence thing usually associated with them in the west.
He was a sk8er boi he said see you l8r boi
It’s wonderful to see videos such as this; that no matter where we are in the world all dispersed hither and yonder there is so much in common how we live, move, make a living, visit the doctor, family, prayer.
@@WuzzupWhitey What??
No one appreciates who they have until they're gone. Even for strangers this is a truth.
Real
thats one of the harshest truths of life right there
even someone you hate, you may eventually realize that you enjoyed their presence
@@xGoodOldSmurfehx It's not per se that you enjoyed those people, but you got used to them. And breaking habits is one of the most difficul things for human brains. That's why many people even miss times which they used to experience as negative, just because in their brain that was the norm.
This is ridiculous. Plenty of people are able to appreciate the people in their lives. While they may not know how life would be without them, they certainly appreciate them and prefer to have them around.
@@Black.Spades I agree. I loved the constant noise of cars honking and people yelling down the streets when I was in China. When I got back to Sweden I felt so empty as if I left reality. Where I live in Sweden theres barely any noise and people are so distant to each other.
That was really good dude.
Eyyy cool to see you here too lol
This really spoke to my heart (like I’m sure it did for many). It’s such a reminder of the fragile ecosystem of relationships and interactions. It’s lovely to see locals stay positive but I know everyone is missing something. Their reminiscing reminds me that the past is beautiful and that change is ok because the future can be too.
Thank you so much~
It’s so sad that most of the shop close down even though they have been open for so many years. It’s heart breaking to know many shop are close for good :(
I love Japan. I love the smell, the sound, the taste, the sights and the people. I miss Japan. I know its different when you start living and working there but still, I know it wont change how I think about this beautiful country.
I actually cried watching this. I think at this time everyone just wants to go back to normal life.
Yeah feeling quite melancholic too after watching this. The slow pace of the video really made all the words and expressions stand out so much more and hit harder. A year ago I was in Japan and I could have never imagined that 2020 would be like this for the whole world! Stay safe & stay healthy :)
I cried too
We are all in a though spot right now but I'm sure everything will workout with time :) stay safe and stay positive. This pandemic taught me to be greatful for everything I had and to take nothing for granted. Take care guys :)
This video especially is one of the best I'ven seen so far from your channel. Not only the cinematography and choice of music, but the way you captured the torn feelings of the residents, having a moment to reflect on old times and how it used to be but quickly remembering that times have changed and without tourism their livelihoods are threatened. Well done Norm, definitely a great video format you have been using recently! Call it a 'cinemantary'
Wow
Thank you so much for these kind words
I really appreciate it
I think this highlights the importance of being respectful tourists, especially when visiting places that hold a spiritual significance to the local residents. I would never want to interfere with someone wanting to go pray for the sake of me doing something touristy.
Absolutely nailed it with this video. As someone who grew up in Anaheim, California, known to tourists as Disneyland, I had to deal with heavy tourism the majority of my life. The torn feeling that people from Kyoto feel is something that I also share completely. Speaking with the people of Kyoto for this project helped me feel a small connection with them and I hope things can get better soon. And when it does, hopefully we can find a good balance that is best for everyone.
PS: The first lady we met and the lady at the shrine are gems. Much love to them for their hospitality and grace. I can't wait to visit them again.
Thank you Victor~
Little known fact for anyone who finds this comment...
The first woman came up to me! Until then I had minor concerns about how people would feel about the interviews, but she really set the bar~
I, too, come from Anaheim, and have spent a lot of time in Kyoto. Norm, your got it just right!
Being from Hawai`i it’s the same when it comes to tourism so I can relate to this as well
Being around the Orlando parks I feel the same. Some tourists can get on your nerves but ultimately it feels wrong without them here and I miss them
Great video man!
Thanks eh~
Hope you're well
Hi Jake I'm from 2025, go back asap to Japan
Ooh, this is something I was actually interested in hearing more about. I imagined there would be mixed feelings.
Glad I could put this one together~
I envy you so much at this point in time. I would absolutely love to travel Japan whilst it is so empty. However, I know that so many people are struggling because of the lack of tourism and that also breaks my heart. Chris Broad also discusses this subject on his podcast and channel. Thank you for putting in the time and effort to document this rare moment in Japan's history. I really enjoy your videos.
Thank you so much for taking the time to watch and leave a comment~ I really appreciate it
Grateful for the peace, but unsettled by the emptiness. I think we can all relate.
I've been watching all these older videos at my friend's house and I wanted to say that the way the interviews are done, it makes it so personal and I loved how vulnerable Kyoto looked. Not just the bustling city we all know.
Geez that nice old lady got a tear out of me when she said she'd pour some tea to welcome people. I'm pretty sure a lot of people miss those kind of meetings.
It is actually like watching videos from our cities in Italy: Venice, Rome, Florence. They are peaceful now, they are the way everyone hopes to visit but they are empty.
Went to Rome last year and fell in love with Italy (I’m even learning Italian right now with LingQ). I search RUclips for live cams of different Italian cities and it’s crazy to see how relatively empty the cities are without tourists.
man, I was in Florence last year and I can't imagine Ponte Vecchio as empty as it is now, feels so weird.
Wow, I visited in the exact same places around February this year. Covid was only on a hundred or so cases in Japan and travel was still allowed.
Usually on a bright sunny day, the shrines and especially the gion area would be packed full of people. It's so surreal seeing it so "Samishi"
The only time I've seen The Gion District that empty was during the early morning.
" I didn't realize Kyoto had this few people"
- That line hit the hardest for me.
It's reassuring to know that the locals want to welcome the visitors back. Once the world "opens up" again, the first place I'm visiting is the Kansai area of Japan.
Thank you for this video.
Gloco san💫
The same line hit me the hardest as well
I was there this january, was so many people...
Konnichiwa Gloco-sama
I went there at early February too
This project was an absolute pleasure to watch. So emotional and can 100% understand the thoughts they have on loving the quiet and serene atmosphere to enjoy their home town with out having to worry about their place of worship being overcrowded or their roads or transport. But also upset about the emptiness because of business relying on tourist and also not liking that it's too quiet. I've been to Kyoto once and it will forever be an experience I will never forget and I hope to return there someday
As much as I’d love to visit Kyoto while the number of tourists is down, it really is heartbreaking at the same time. I sincerely hope for things to get closer to “normal” as soon as possible. Beautiful video, with wonderful people!
Can't believe I feel sad for a city that I've never been to.
Edit: Wow, this comment blew up lol
same but in my case, its a city that i want to visit, its on my list of places to visit when i go to japan
That's the beauty of being humans... We're all made in the Image and we just need to be empathic. I've been to Japan twice and I have such nostalgia to a place I wasn't even born or raised... I feel for the people and the lively hood of all in Japan.
The whole World even.
Everything is about to change.
Everyone is about to grow up.
And it will all be good.
I feel ya bro. I feel ya....
Just means you have empathy, I think...
This happens every year when tourists leave. Mostly on the Croatian islands and coastal cities and villages.
7:13 she made me well up and want to leave now. Just to have tea with her. The appreciation she has for people to visit is heartwarming ❤️
My dream is to visit Japan one day, and Kyoto is at the top of my list!
Really heartbreaking to see such a lively city become so "empty", but on the bright side, nature can recover a bit haha.
Here's hope that 2022 will be the year when I visit this majestic and beautiful country!
I'll pray for you random guy, good luck!
It's great that you could get so many different peoples' perspectives for this video. It really made it well-rounded.
Also, your cinematography in this video is just amazing, Norm. What a jewel. Just like Kyoto~
Thank you so much!
And so much gratitude for being such a big part of making this possible~
Truly thank you
So great to get the insights of the locals. As always, great job Norm.
Thank you so much as always
This one hit me in the feels. The obasan who offers tea to visitors, it's for real. I appreciate the hospitality that we experienced on our trip in 2013. I can't wait to go back...
This makes me want to travel to Japan so much more. With Canada’s high numbers, who knows if, or when that will happen. I love watching your videos so I can see what I’m missing.
Those are rookie numbers! You gotta pump those numbers up!
But seriously, don't become like us in America
Miss you Japan :'(
Suryaputra does that mean born from sun
Bro can you please answer
@@prateeksrivastav8257 yes
@@2142Fenixor bro are you from Indonesia
@@prateeksrivastav8257 We are Thai. Both Thai language and Indonesian Bahasa were based from Indian Sanskrit. So you can find the similar of the language from his name.
when the auntie wants to offer tea for visitors... aaww thats really sweet!
I once worked as an ESL tutor and most of my learners are elderly people. Some just wanted to have a session because they wanted to talk about something about their life like a promotion or something related to their family. Sometimes they would tell me about their families and how much they miss their children that they don't see often. They're so sweet and full of life. I wish to work there soon when I'm already qualified. *fingers crossed
That sounds especially worthy.
So glad you did this video. Kyoto is like a second home to me. I can imagine how the locals feel, it's very conflicting. Looking forward to being back in Kyoto.
Glad you enjoyed it that much~
Reminds me of how things are in New York, the last time I walked through Times Square it was empty and felt really strange
That was going to go that way regardless, same in SoCal.
These states need to die. And life needs to go one.
@@LifeWasGood Even though they contributed more than red states.
@@kuanyan8334 Pointless to try to sugar coat your words with right-wing nut jobs. They don't deserve it. Just come out and say they're stupid as hell.
@@LifeWasGood "DeMoNrAtS BaD", hey genius, who is going to pay your benefits now? Blue states carry the US, not the other way around.
Can you guys not bring politics into everything? It is seriously obnoxious at this point. We are all struggling together during this pandemic. Just be grateful you are alive and well and stop acting like one party is better than the other. We all can work together but we choose to let politicians dictate our thoughts.
This is free content. Let that sink in. It's done so well!
I've been to Kyoto twice, and the second time I went there I really appreciated the elderly folk who volunteered to guide tourists in busy areas. They were so friendly and eager to help you if you had questions. I like many things about Kyoto, but it's the locals I remember most and I should like to make another trip there some time.
The lady the was planning to travel need a go fund me she seem like a very wholesome lady kind and sweet she deserves to travel one last time
Meanwhile in Africa every 1 minute, 60 second pass
@@franchocou ,😔😔😔
I was born halfway around the world and only visited Kyoto once, but watching this made me homesick, I just burst into tears.
Beautifully made, thank you
This hit me harder than I expected. The way everyone talks with positivity and kindness is just beautiful. I miss Japan so much...my second home in this world.
Went back in time, forty years or more with seeing Kyoto during this.
Aw that 82-year old granny made me cry when she said she wanted to share her tea with us T_T
Parisian here, it's the same in all the big touristic cities: we are all discovering our own city. A great experience to walk in empty streets, listen the birds singing ^^
It is nice isn't it ? and strange at the same time .
We finally have the chance to discover our own towns, peacefully without being stressed and pushed around by others .
@Jotaro97 if you are talking to me, I prefer being able to look at my city without being pushed, walked on and eventually falling because of humans that have no respect for those who are handicapped , like me . I need time to move, to get out of the way of people, so , yeah, for once, being able to rediscover my town without the tourists is nice but at the same time , sad and strange . I do hope that some day, the tourists will come back, but maybe they could change their ways and take more time to appreciate what they are seeing , eating and hearing . Would be nice .
With an empty Paris all of the pickpockets, con-artists, and small-time thugs must be struggling to get by
@@pthomgalaxy Yes. As well as buskers or anyone in the informal sector.
I guess things on public spaces must be safer.
I'm moving to Kyoto next year after living in Tokyo for 2 years. Wish me luck!
Best of luck 😊
Good luck 🍀
🍄 enjoy, good luck ! 🐞
you sure are lucky dude
Kyoto don't want you.
Wow... I knew Kyoto was a beautiful place but I never realised how stunning it looks when you can actually see all around, I'm British and I'm hoping to study abroad there soon so I really feel for the locals there who miss the crowds and the energy foreigners may bring
What I found special about this video were the different voices, young, old, different accents, expressing their honest heartfelt thoughts. I could listen to them expressing their views all day because it isn't like in TV shows where they fake their expressions. You could hear their nostalgia, hope, and sadness. And that really drove home the meanings of their words.
Grandma offering a tea as a welcome 🎁 gift. My heart's started to melt...
I’m honestly a little lost for words. There was such a beautiful melancholy to this story.
I was lucky to visit Kyoto some years ago. I tried my best to be respectful and considerate as a tourist, but whatever consideration I was able to show paled in comparison to the warmth with which the locals met me.
Thank you to all the people of Kyoto for sharing your beautiful city with us
I will go back again when everything is fine,,, i miss kyoto n osaka
That man's appreciation for a solo Heian visit -- I felt that.
Unrecognizable. Fushimi Inari is one of my favorite places in the world, and I've been several times. To see it without the crowds, so serene and beautiful, is at once precious and tragic.
I've started learning Japanese a few weeks ago for the exact reason of visiting the country myself someday. Seeing this, not even the thoughts of the natives, just seeing this beautiful, gorgeous place makes me wish so bad for the learning part to be over already and for me to just be there. It's great motivation to keep going and it's gonna feel so damn rewarding when the day finally comes.
I love how each person associated to Tokyo Creative is sooo different in styles of videos that they do. Chris Broad is documentary and commentary style. Sharla is more personal and relaxed. Emma is very fun and more the game style stuff. etc.
But THIS channel definitely has the best camera work and BEAUTIFUL photography. Definitely deserves the name Tokyo Lens.
Some absolutely stunning shots in this one. You really manage to capture the visceral sense of actually being somewhere, of living in the moments that you capture.
Thank you~
This was so wonderful.
Honestly, once travelling is safe again, Japan is definitly my first destination :)
See you there!!
I've never been to Japan but its def in my top 10 places to visit
@@theseproblemsmatter1 You won’t regret it
Recently moved to Kyoto and I was so surprised how many tourists were here. Twenty five years ago it definitely was much quieter. Occasionally one could find a quiet spot in a temple or park to just sit a take in the beauty and history.
I really love the old auntie. she was so sincere.
The comment that struck me the most for some reason was "I didn't realize Kyoto had this few people..." I felt that in my soul.
@@oddballsok Well for example in Tokyo you wouldn't feel so much of a difference, when tourists are missing, since it's already crowded. But Kyoto is really not a crowded city.
The population lives in a big area, with all the parks an temples, so it easyly feels empty. There are as many people living as in my city (Munich), but space wise my city is less then half of Kyoto. My city also normally is filled with tourists, but it still doesn't feel as empty as in Kyoto, tough I actually can't know what people there really are feeling.
I hope they can enjoy their current status as much as the back to normal status, that hopefully soon comes.
Honestly I've never been to Japan, it's only thanks to channels like these that I managed to get at least a glimpse of such a beautiful country. In general overtoursim isn't exclusively a Japan thing, it happens all over and I would only imagine that most places that gets a heavy traffic of foreigners passing through would get a huge blow when all of the sudden the stopped showing up. Some people may enjoy the feeling of "having there home back" but like one of the residents said a portion of them have grown to enjoy the overwhelming tourists around. That's all I meant by my comment really, some of them may genuinely miss that, even with the negative it brought.
@@benmateo5762 definitely. I don't know how Japanese tourism is stoped right now. But Kyoto and Nara are also places Japanese people from other cities often visit. I guess even they are not coming this year. So not only the foreign tourists are missing. A lot of work in Kyoto is concentrated to tourism, so I guess like you said, its good for a while to have your home back, but they are missing not only the lively visitors but sure also a big amount of their income.
@@missbrauchbar Very true, it's not only visitors in Japan but also the natives that aren't going out to frequently traveled places like the ones you mentioned and many more all around because of this current situation. I just hope we can all jump back from this some way or another.
Wow. This made me cry. Just something about the energy, the beautiful composition of images and the interviews together that hit me straight in the heart. Can't find any other word than: Magical.
As someone trying to study abroad in Japan, Kyoto is a town not too far away from the university I’d be at. A few hours away. It’s interesting to see the opinion of the locals. I appreciate the quiet just like they do. I’m very interested in Japanese history, along with double majoring in history and education, so I’ve truly enjoyed this video. They seem so sweet, kind, and reserved.
Japanese people are just so wholesome, I can't take it 😭❤️
Maria Armés honest opinion and true
The beautiful shots at the end made me tear up. Art of nature, people, and videography.
Kyoto is my favorite city I've traveled too, and this video makes miss it so much. Thank you, can't wait to go back and support these people.
5:06 Oh, I think I remember this lady and her shop when I visited Kyoto back in 2015. It was particularly memorable because I managed to talk my friend into trying alcohol for the first time while also realizing sweets went great with alcohol. We were drinking sake while eating matcha shaved ice.
The saddest part about this video is that they're so nice about it
I cannot believe RUclips had not recommended me this channel til now. Loved the video!
What a lovely, young 82 year old woman. I bet she makes amazing tea too. ☺️
There is nothing I want more than to live in Kyoto. It’s been a dream of mine for many years. This ambition to live and work in Japan started to dwindle more and more during my undergrad as I began to discover in my research the limiting factors of pursuing a career as an English teacher in Japan.
As I get ready to finish my undergrad this semester and begin grad school in the Fall, a part of me feels compelled to visit Japan at least once after COVID-19 is globally contained. This dream of mine has began to surface once more with a bunch of recent videos about Japan coming up on my feed even though I am not subscribed to any JVloggers. Maybe it’s coincidence, but I know for sure that after I finish grad school I am definitely making a trip to Kyoto. Who knows what the future holds after that; maybe I’ll reconsider living there, only time will tell.
I have been living in Kyoto for over 4 years now. And 2020 was the year I actually toured around Kyoto and visited everything. For 4 years,I avoided visiting places due to over-crowding. It was like once-in-a-lifetime chance of enjoying a quiet Kyoto. It was surreal. But yeah, it was too empty and felt like it was missing something. I just hope once the tourism starts, it will be regulated because I feel like everyone should get to enjoy the quiet Kyoto.