If you're a regular viewer, welcome back.

So many people ask me if I know any great places to explore outside of Tokyo, and that that is what we're doing today.

And like any good Tokyo Lens video starts with the story.

Today's story starts in an area that is a mere one hour flight from Tokyo's Haneda airport, and the best part is today's story starts in a place that I have never been.

The experience begins with one of the most beautiful flights I have ever taken out to the prefecture of Ishikawa head into a small village on the peninsula known as Shindand.

No Sato.

Yeah, arriving at the home that I would stay the amino yet or Ocean house.

I couldn't help but take a moment and appreciate the beauty of the traditional Japanese home.

Despite having lived in Japan for 10 years, there was just something so beautiful about this place.

There aren't that many things that scare me, scare me.

But I'm telling you, Japanese stairwells in these old houses are so steep they just terrified me.

Look how steep that ISS that that is almost just vertical.

So let's Let's try not to die.

Want to fight safe?

So in my exploration of this place, I found what appears to be a secret tunnel.

Can you?

I see that right there.

Okay.

Oh, wow.

That's straight up a cave.

Oh, it's definitely not safe to go in there.

This just feels like a bad idea.

All right, listen, I'm not gonna go too far in.

Oh, mostly because out in the countryside here, there can be really dangerous bugs that can get you sting.

You get really sick and hurt.

Well, our our video would be pretty much done at that point.

Fact there was a centipede in the home a minute ago, and they took care of it just like that.

Like it was nothing.

They're so used to it.

But seriously, it's a cave.

I'm dying of curiosity.

I'm the hike.

Did as you asshole.

E just asked what was in there.

And she said there might be sent to Pedes in there.

And if I'm okay with that, then go for it.

Wow.

This actually, this goes on for a while.

Way further than I expected.

Talk.

Okay, there's the end.

Yeah.

Oh, now the camera can't really pick it up.

So I'm gonna use my iPhone to get the shots to show you guys what it looks like inside.

It's not super deep, but it's kind of neat.

E found out afterwards that many of the houses in this area have little caves similar to this, as they were used to mind their own minerals in the past.

So this is what it looks like inside.

Actually, it's a little low, like how I've got a crouch down here.

I can't stand up for anything, and the audio quality is probably terrible, but that it's pretty interesting.

Oh e.

So we're finished lunch, which was all made from local vegetables from the area taken right from the ground while it's still fresh in my head, there are a few things that I want to share about this area.

The two things that stood out to me right away is a how incredibly close it is to the sea, in fact, is only 4.4 m above sea level.

The ocean is right, they're Additionally, the vast majority of the architecture here is made in the old Japanese style, and coming into this area makes you feel like you've stepped into the past, and on top of all of that, the locals are incredibly friendly.

Every single person that I've passed so far has greeted me and said Hello.

Some have even started conversations.

Okay, Walking the area, you're just instantly touched by the calm and peaceful atmosphere.

You could tell that if you're looking for a place to get away from the crowds and just enjoy that feeling of Japan, this is the place to come.

Mhm.

So we all know that Japan is a pretty safe country.

But there's something right here that I want to show you.

And it's this pharmacy.

Countryside is known to be even safer than Tokyo.

This pharmacy here is wide open, and there's not a single person in it.

Anybody could just rock in there and get whatever they want, but it's not a concern.

The next leg of my journey takes me out to the home of a man that some might call the heart of the village.

Kiichiro Toyoda, born in Noto in 1948 where he lives with his wonderful wife, Hiroko, an amazing person in herself, Mr Tala delights in sharing the local traditions and history.

He has taken on the role promoting this area and everything that it has toe offer.

He has a special love for the area and taught me so much more than I could possibly fit in tow.

One single video, but perhaps above all else were the experiences that Mr Todd A shared.

We're out here in the forest picking wild plants for our lunch.

Remember those stems that I picked earlier?

Yeah, I'm eating those now and they're amazing.

E had a chance to sit down one toe, one with Mr Tutta.

It was an eye opening opportunity.

You see, this area is faced with one major problem.

Despite the areas, beauty and everything that it has to offer.

There's one thing that it doesn't have appeal to the younger generation.

The younger generations have all left to pursue lives and studies in the cities, leaving the area with a population that is at or nearing retirement age.

And if this trend continues the area, it's lifestyle and its traditions are all at risk of fading into history.

In fact, the Onley young person I encountered on my visit was Mr Tata's daughter, visiting on break from university.

I think the most heartbreaking part of my entire visit was the school.

This right here is an abandoned elementary school.

15 years ago, this school was down to only five students and two teachers.

When eventually the teachers and staff out number of the students, they had no choice but to close down the school.

But with the school being the core of the community, they wanted to do something to keep it open.

And so they turned it into a place for guests of the area to stay.

Each and every one of these rooms right here has been turned into a bedroom for people to stay.

But they haven't given up in the hopes of keeping the area alive.

Over 50 residents have opened their homes in the form of traditional guesthouses to visitors while they still can.

Each home is a thing of beauty and surrounded with nature.

And each visitor is treated like an honored guest.

You wanted a unique and truly Japanese experience.

Here it is.

Do you all right?