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Three towns. Three stories. One question: What’s next for the Japanese countryside? Around the world, big cities attract younger generations with promises of opportunity, culture, and connection, but facing overcrowding, overtourism, and skyrocketing living costs. Meanwhile, rural towns are shrinking, often overlooked and underimagined. This piece explores how small Japanese towns are rewriting that narrative with creativity, community, and bold ideas.

So, you’re in Osaka, you've ate takoyaki, seen the neon lights of Dotonbori, took the picture with the グリコ(Glico), dodged bicycles in Umeda, and maybe even attend the Osaka Expo 2025. But what if I told you that heading to northern Japan is absolutely worth it? (Not to mention, it's surprisingly easy and affordable to get back to Tokyo from here too)

There’s something magical about festivals in Japan. As many of you may have seen in movies or anime, festivals here feel deeply emotional filled with energy, nostalgia, and charm. The Fuji Shima Festival in Ichinohe was no exception.

From Bogotá to the heart of Tohoku: this is the story of how I came to Ichinohe, a small town in northern Japan that I now call home. Amidst mountains, festivals, and ancient culture. I share my first impressions and the beginning of an adventure that's just beginning.