Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Van Life in Japan

kumazen.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

151–160 of 231 posts

Re: Van Life in Japan

#151

Post by hutzlibu »

calsy wrote: post #139
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.

Humans have always slept in family groups. It seems like the more natural thing to do. Likewise with nudity. Westerner's are hung up on covering themselves up in front of family members at a certain age. Many Asian cultures don't have that baggage. Bathing with family or going to a bathhouse is normal, and why wouldn't it be?

Maybe, but for intimacy back in those times, there was plenty of private nature around, where couples could sneak away, while the grandmas watched the kids.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#152

Post by [deleted] »

adventured wrote: post #149
calsy wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Humans have always slept in family groups. It seems like the more natural thing to do. Likewise with nudity. Westerner's are hung up on covering themselves up in front of family members at a certain age. Many Asian cultures don't have that baggage. Bathing with family or going to a bathhouse is normal, and why wouldn't it be?

So called "natural" doesn't always mean better. Fortunately we get to choose what we like or don't like, preferences. Our distant ancestors had to put up with a lot of negatives that we do not necessarily need to. Just because they did it, doesn't mean they wanted to, it may mean they had mediocre alternatives (or no alternatives at all).

[deleted]

Re: Van Life in Japan

#153

Post by hermitcrab »

skhr0680 wrote: post #13
samwestdev wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Japanese people are also obsessed with bath/shower every day before sleeping.

In summer: you need a shower to wash the sweat off In winter: you need a bath to get as warm as possible before going to bed. Until recently (~1980s-90s) houses were expected to be ephemeral, whether they were knocked over by an earthquake or the new owner, so people skipped "luxuries" like insulation.

>In winter: you need a bath to get as warm as possible before going to bed

Have you tried an electric blanket?

Re: Van Life in Japan

#154

Post by xavdid »

I wasn't in Japan, but I did something similar in the US for about 6 months before the pandemic cut our (planned 12 month) trip short.

It was far from perfect, but it was super rewarding! Your experience will vary wildly based on what's available in your van, but you can make just about anything work.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#155

Post by calsy »

adventured wrote: post #149
calsy wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Humans have always slept in family groups. It seems like the more natural thing to do. Likewise with nudity. Westerner's are hung up on covering themselves up in front of family members at a certain age. Many Asian cultures don't have that baggage. Bathing with family or going to a bathhouse is normal, and why wouldn't it be?

So called "natural" doesn't always mean better. Fortunately we get to choose what we like or don't like, preferences. Our distant ancestors had to put up with a lot of negatives that we do not necessarily need to. Just because they did it, doesn't mean they wanted to, it may mean they had mediocre alternatives (or no alternatives at all).

Ancestors? It's normal now, just not where you are. A couple of centuries ago a bunch of upper class Europeans in big homes made it a point of having separate rooms for kids as means of showing off their wealth and status, and now here we are.

You can see this history quite clearly now in the old castles Royal families live in and the obscene amount of rooms they have. Who can look after an 18 room castle? Someone with money and power, that's who.

So what part of changing the basic build blocks of family connections that have existed even before we were walking on 2 legs for a 'status symbol' makes it the better option?

Its funny we like to pretend we are smarter or 'know better now'. It couldn't be any further from the truth. We don't sleep properly, we can't eat properly, we don't exercise enough and we suffer through chronic loneliness. We are the worst examples of how human beings should live.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#156

Post by jacobriis »

mynameisvlad wrote: post #144
jacobriis wrote: post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Funnels are a more specialized tool than adult diapers?

Funnels that are specifically shaped for that purpose very much are, yes. I don't understand how that's even a question. Adult diapers' main purpose isn't peeing while on a van trip; I would imagine elderly people around the world need them day to day. A funnel specifically made for women to pee is an incredibly niche product with little to no day-to-day use. Nobody said that a diaper is superior to a funnel. The gra…

"The grandparent comment makes it seem like it's easy for half the population to pee in a bottle and I called them out on it."

Funnels of various sizes readily available in every hardware and auto parts store. Also these specific funnels are readily available in outdoors and sporting stores. It is easy to find funnels. No need to defend "half the population" by "calling them out on it."

Re: Van Life in Japan

#157

Post by calsy »

hutzlibu wrote: post #151
calsy wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Humans have always slept in family groups. It seems like the more natural thing to do. Likewise with nudity. Westerner's are hung up on covering themselves up in front of family members at a certain age. Many Asian cultures don't have that baggage. Bathing with family or going to a bathhouse is normal, and why wouldn't it be?

Maybe, but for intimacy back in those times, there was plenty of private nature around, where couples could sneak away, while the grandmas watched the kids.

Those days, most of the world lives like this now. Intimacy when you have kids is not the highest priority that overrides everything. Im not saying its not important, just that you don't make life choices based on if we 'can get it on here'. You just have to get creative thats all.

Bonding with your child and thinking about their needs becomes more important.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#158

Post by twblalock »

pancrufty wrote: post #113
chaostheory wrote: post #111

Given Japan’s problem with depopulation, is this better than just renovating a free house? For context, in many prefectures there are houses that are either free or cost $15,000 or less.

Nobody renovates houses in Japan. You're supposed to destroy it and build anew. For 15k you're buying the lot and the right to spend a lot more than that.

People renovate older homes, which have historical value, but most homes built in the postwar period are rightly discarded because they are thin, flimsy junk.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#159

Post by twblalock »

blamazon wrote: post #77
orliesaurus wrote: post #60

I wish there was a way to experience this as a foreign tourist

It's not that hard really, I recommend it. RV rentals are a thing in Japan. I am from USA, so I went to a local shop here that offers International Driver's Permits. All they do is look at your driver's license to ensure it's valid, and then stamp a little paper brochure that has a bunch of translations of what your country permits with a driver's license. You can get as many of these as you want, it's not an actual…

You can get by without speaking Japanese as a normal tourist, but if you try to live in a van and get hassled by the police, lacking Japanese language skills will not go well for you.

Re: Van Life in Japan

#160

Post by hutzlibu »

mixmastamyk wrote: post #140
uoaei wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've reduced my skin and scalp's dependence on soap and shampoo, and now a vigorous rinse in a hot shower gets me 95% clean. I do use a mild (minimal glycerin content) soap on sensitive parts. Whatever it is that accumulates on my body over time has become less oil-based (more water-based) and after some time in hot water begins mixing (emulsifying?) so that I become clean. This helps you to live with a healthy skin…

Not the main problem. It is a stinky bacteria infection in the armpits. Coincidentally uncommon in Japan. No amount of washing will fully get rid of them because they are beneath the skin in the sweat glands.

"It is a stinky bacteria infection in the armpits. "

If it is a infection, then something is very wrong.

Otherwise you can and should clean them with care, especially when you cannot shower.

Post reply on HN