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Van Life in Japan

kumazen.com

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Re: Van Life in Japan

#121

Post by foobiekr »

ensignavenger wrote: post #46
rtpg wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a hard time imagining it to be cheaper to live in this truck than most things. And the kid… I can’t imagine this is good for the kid. Obviously the point of the van is that you can move around a lot! Aside: vagrancy is illegal in Japan, so if you’re sticking to the law you probably need to rent somewhere (or use your parents) and have a registered address.

- vagrancy is illegal in Japan Is that why you don't see any homeless in Japan? They just arrest them for vagrancy and house them in jail?

If you have ever been to Tokyo you have seen plenty of homeless. Tokyo is where people take their shoes off before getting into their box.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#123

Post by whymauri »

mynameisvlad wrote: post #88
whymauri wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just use a water bottle like the rest of us! I lived out of an Explorer for 3 months, not once did an adult diaper cross my mind.

This only works for about 50% of the population.

I guarantee you there are many women van/car lifers who don't use adult diapers (I know quite a few!). As has been said many times in this thread, there are inexpensive tools for this.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#124

Post by vehemenz »

ensignavenger wrote: post #81
ajsnigrutin wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you do any physical work, you get sweaty, sweat means bacteria, means bad smell. Some of us don't like to stink, also don't like our beds to stink.

Fun fact- most Koreans don't have the same sweat gland that many others have that produce the type of sweet that the stinky bacteria feed on, and thus don't stink like Americans from sweating (they do have their own smell, from what I understand, but it isn't as pungent) and thus they don't usually use deodorant/antiperspirant. It is my understanding some other Asian groups don't stink or don't stink as much, as well…

It's true of most East Asians and to a lesser degree with South Asians. Surprised I had to scroll so far to find this comment.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#125

Post by dieselgate »

chrisBob wrote: post #107
dieselgate wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Going in a bottle is not a solution for all of us unfortunately

Probably not while laying down, but a wide mouth bottle, such as a dedicated Nalgene bottle, can work.

it can work in a pinch but from personal experience can't recommend using water bottles for these purposes at all

Re: Van Life in Japan

#126

Post by jacobriis »

mynameisvlad wrote: post #110
stickfigure wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My wife disagrees: https://www.rei.com/product/407267/freshette-pee-funnel

Sure, products exist which make it possible, but the parent commenter said: > Just use a water bottle like the rest of us! That's not just using a water bottle. And certainly is specialized enough of a tool that you likely can't find it as ubiquitously as a water bottle.

Funnels are a more specialized tool than adult diapers?

Re: Van Life in Japan

#127

Post by true_religion »

Lio wrote: post #26

I love this or at least the idea of it. The only thing that really would bother me is, not sure how to put this, but the lack of privacy with regard to sleeping arrangements. I guess some people are more comfortable being intimate with their partner in close proximity to their children but that's not for me. Anyway everything else looks like an amazing adventure so I wish them good luck.

When I was little, I briefly lived in a house with 3 generations and 10+ people in a single room.

From what I remember, parents would just pick a time to be alone, and grandma would sit on the porch and shoo any curious children away from the house.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#128

Post by TylerE »

vsareto wrote: post #51
BizarreByte wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s hard to imagine putting up with stuff like this when for the same amount of money it takes to do “van life” in Japan you could live quite well elsewhere.

These vans do seem reasonably priced compared to American living vans. I don't think you'd get much living for around $60k. Plus you could rent vs. buy.

Also about 1/4 the size.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#129

Post by poorman »

As someone who's been doing van life for the past year, things like finding water, and places to camp are usually top of mind. Especially if you try to stay on the East Coast of the United States for a while. Might have to try Japan!

Re: Van Life in Japan

#130

Post by duffyjp »

innocentoldguy wrote: post #100
orangepurple wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You smell bad because of your diet. Build up of aromatics in your adipose tissue that are released over time via your sebaceous glands, bacterial decomposition products of those compounds, and off-gassing of bacterial decomposition byproducts from your orifices contribute to bad body odor.

I agree that diet is a factor. I started living in Japan back in the late 80s and spent a lot of time helping newcomers learn how to speak Japanese and get around in society. One thing I noticed is that people fresh from America had an odd buttery smell that went away after they ate a Japanese diet for a few weeks.

バッタ臭い / Battakusai / Stinks of butter was a derogatory term for foreigners in the past. Butter was unpopular with locals in Japan for a long time by what I've read, but I never thought the expression was being literal. Interesting.
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