11:56 Saturday 12 December 2015 JST

I didn’t take many pictures, but I liked the house; it’s on a hill but doesn’t seem to be in danger of sliding down in an earthquake. There’s a screen of tall bamboo behind the house, which I think is really pretty, and pretty convenient if we ever need a giant stalk of bamboo.

It’s smaller than our current place, which concerns Lin a bit. I just see that the place is relatively inexpensive, in an area that I think will increase in value, given Tokyo’s proximity, and that the new maglev train will stop in Hashimoto in ~12 years.

There’s an elementary school, as well as a hospital nearby, so that should help keep its resale value high.

13:36

The second place we looked at didn’t catch my fancy; it looked sterile, with no grass out front (just concrete and decorative gravel for parking). Inside stank of stale smoke so I didn’t even venture past the 玄関前

20:32

Wise words from MDX cooled my brain with some patience

What's the lot size and is there some flat land? And can you grow on
it if that is an interest? The other question is how do you envision
life after moving? In other words unless the commute is a non issue,
that should be considered.