Currently, rural areas are trending. So much so that it's almost an understatement to say that rural areas are attracting attention. However, just because it's trending, before you start thinking about moving there, I think it's better to consider what you would actually do in a rural area.

This is an account of my experience living in Tokyo for 10 years and then returning to a rural area once, so please take it as just one person's experience. I hope it can be a small reference point for anyone considering moving to a rural area.

Let's think about what you want in the future.

Clean air, clean water, peaceful and refreshing. Not as hectic as Tokyo, comfortable! That's the image of a rural area. I think it's definitely comfortable. Personally, it's overwhelmingly easier to live in and more comfortable than Tokyo. So, why not move there! you might say, but please wait a moment.

What you should consider first is your destination. I'll speak from my own experience. I personally enjoy creating services, doing business, and presenting many stimulating things. Even if I were in a rural area, I could do those things. With the internet and a computer, I could work as much as I want, and with low fixed costs, I'd even have time to study.

So, what exactly is the problem? It's that I personally want to "go out into the world and do business" and "travel to countries other than Japan to set up businesses." Until recently, I was setting up a business in the Philippines and have since returned. I was thinking about what to do next, and at that time, what I needed was to meet many people directly and exchange words and enthusiasm. Especially with people who are heading in the same direction.

However, when it comes to rural areas, there's tremendous enthusiasm for regional revitalization, for "boosting the local area." But if you consider a different field, like doing business globally, it was difficult to find people who shared the same perspective and direction. Perhaps this is only true for now, and it might not be the case in the future. However, at present, when looking towards the world, there were overwhelmingly more like-minded colleagues in urban areas.

While doing something globally might not be a common goal, the problem is whether the field you want to excel in can be achieved starting from a rural area. For example, interviews and coverage of trendy restaurants. Newly opened shops, events, content centered around urban areas. There are things that can be completed solely via Skype or online, and things that cannot.

You might think that going to the city a few times a month would suffice, but in reality, it requires quite a bit of effort. Scheduling can also be difficult. Moreover, if your work foundation has been established in the city until now, then for a while, your activities will inevitably remain city-centric.

Therefore, I thought that if what you want to do is still easier to achieve in the city, it might be okay to postpone moving to a rural area for a bit. In short, I think you should consider what you want to do in the future and in which field you want to be active, and then take a step forward. I felt that I could still do what I wanted to do more easily in the city. And there are still many people I want to meet in the city right now.

You can get quite swept away by the atmosphere.

If you say my will is weak, then that's that. It's peaceful. Too peaceful. The air is delicious, the mountains are green and beautiful, and the rice in the paddies sways in the wind. That's all good. Being peaceful is truly a good thing, but it's so peaceful that it almost makes me feel like the fast pace of the city was just a dream or an illusion.

Suddenly, when I think about my time in the city, I wonder if I could do that now, and when I see my friends' potential on Facebook, I feel a 'hmm?' and a gap with my own energy/motivation. I don't know about other people, though.

I'm moving back to Tokyo this month, but I can't really imagine myself at that time. I'll probably be rehabilitating for a while to get my senses back. Depending on the person, there's a possibility that they won't be able to maintain the same feeling/senses they had when they were in the city. I think it's better to consider that it could have that much of an impact.

In fact, that's one of the reasons I thought about moving back to Tokyo sooner. Of course, there were various other reasons, but somehow, a sensory gap started to emerge. I ended up feeling like I wanted to go back. To be honest.

Therefore, it's better to consider that some people can maintain the city's energy and live in the countryside or rural areas, while others cannot. If you think you might not be able to do it, and you still want to be actively doing something, I think it's better to stay in the city. I can't.

Also, this is a bit different from the topic of atmosphere, but for people who like clubs, fashion, etc., as a hobby, like visiting shops or shopping. For people who still like those kind of sparkling things, isn't the city better?

But still, the living environment is better than in the city. However, it depends on what you consider good.

As a living environment, it was overwhelmingly good, for me. When walking, there's no unnecessary information. In the city, there's too much unnecessary information when living there, such as minor skirmishes, drunks, touts, nighttime commotions, demonstrations, inexplicable crowds, noise, and so on. There's no peace of mind when walking on the streets.

However, in the countryside, because there's no unnecessary information, your mind also calms down. It's the same even when living there. Since information doesn't come from outside of what you're focused on, you can maintain a peaceful state of mind. I felt that having little information is quite significant.

Also, nature simply emits negative ions and has relaxing effects. Without a doubt. Just going outside calms you down. This isn't the case in the city, is it? Rather than being inside the house, you can actually take a breather outside. Anyway, the sense of security is significant. Therefore, for those who desire such a living environment, like raising children, living a slow life, or focusing on their private life, the countryside is probably better.

However, it's not necessarily a bad work environment either. If you can properly maintain your own will, then unnecessary noise won't come from your surroundings, and it can be said to be an environment where you can stoically concentrate on what you truly want to do.

Therefore, I think it's quite good, especially for programmers, creators, or anyone involved in making things. As I am also a web designer, this is my experience from actually working. You can concentrate, and you won't be distracted by unnecessary things. You can thoroughly seclude yourself and create. That's why, recently, there's been a growing trend, especially among creators, to have satellite offices in rural areas.

Even if you're not a creator, the same can be said if your work involves something that can be completed at home. You can seclude yourself and concentrate thoroughly to create. However, what about having a commuting workplace in a rural area, rather than being self-employed or working from home? Since I'm self-employed, I don't know, but I wonder if it's different after all.

Summary

Those are my thoughts on moving to a rural area. So, in conclusion, if you meet people, still experience a lot of information firsthand, have a field of activity in a place different from a rural area, or if your hobbies are more urban, I think it's better to stay in the city. Also, if you are easily swayed by a peaceful atmosphere. This might be the biggest factor.

On the other hand, if you want to enrich your life itself, feel secure, raise children, spend time with family, and in short, live a comfortable daily life for your family and yourself, I think the countryside or rural areas are more suitable. Also, if you are going to move, I think it's better to go to a truly rural area rather than a place that's halfway between urban and rural. It's best to immerse yourself in an environment as full of nature as possible, on the condition that you can just barely get a fiber optic internet connection. That way, you might feel the benefits of being in a rural area more strongly.

If you choose a place that's halfway between urban and rural, I think it's better to stay on the outskirts of a city. After all, if you've come to a rural area, you should thoroughly enjoy the peaceful atmosphere, nature, slow pace of time, and sense of security. Otherwise, you might wonder why you moved in the first place.

So, those were my thoughts on moving to a rural area. If you are thinking of moving to a rural area in the future, please use this as a reference. However, please remember that these are just my personal opinions, so please don't take them as absolute. Of course, there will be individual differences depending on the person.