Episode 50: Affordable Real Estate and Hot Spring Baths in Rural Japan

The International Living Podcast

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This week, podcast host Jim Santos meets Greg Goodmacher, an expat who began his live-overseas adventure over 30 years ago.
Originally from New York and later, San Francisco, Greg caught the expat bug straight out of college, when teaching English, and a stint in the Peace Corps, brought him into contact with the many exotic attractions of Southeast Asia. Korea and Thailand appealed to him to different degrees, and a sojourn working in Abu Dhabi added a little variety to his experiences, but it was eventually Japan which captured his heart.
Learning the local festival calendar, discovering the mountain terrain, and discovering a passion for winter sports kept Greg busy in the early years of his time in Japan. Meeting the woman who would become his wife also helped establish Japan as an essential part of his life. Add to that a deep love of the local cuisine, and an enthusiasm for onsens—the hot bath ritual—and it became clear that for Greg, Japan is where his heart lies.
On the cusp of a move to a new region of Japan—one where he has easy access to winter sports, beaches, and natural hot springs, Greg shares a wealth of detail about living in Japan—from friendly neighbors who will look after your pets while you’re away, to explaining just why the real estate in Japan is so affordable.
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Chapters

1. Episode 50: Affordable Real Estate and Hot Spring Baths in Rural Japan (00:00:00)

2. New York to San Francisco, Then Thailand, Korea, and Eventually Japan (00:01:52)

3. Winter Sports and Mountain Scenery in Niigata (00:04:45)

4. Volunteer Work With Japanese Bears—An Alternative Hobby (00:09:38)

5. Japanese Cuisine — Apples Stuffed With Scallops, Roasted Barnacles, Sea Cucumber (00:12:51)

6. How to Enjoy the Japanese Hot Spring Ritual (00:17:11)

7. A Good Experience With The Japanese Healthcare System (00:20:29)

8. Why Japan Is A Buyer’s Market — $600 Rentals And Luxury Homes For Affordable Prices (00:25:12)

9. Japan Feels Much Safer Than Being In The U.S. (00:29:55)

10. Staying Here Forever Is Definitely An Option For Me (00:32:53)