Spring in Japan, tiny garden makeover, small space gardening, life in Japan vlog — in this video I fix my tiny Japanese garden after winter and slowly bring it back to life over a couple of days.
I’d been putting this off for months, and it finally caught up with me. My small garden space in Japan had become overgrown and neglected after winter… so I decided to start again.
Over two days, I prepare the garden beds, go plant shopping, and begin the process of turning this tiny space into something I can enjoy again. It’s not perfect, and it’s definitely still a work in progress—but it feels like a fresh start.
Along the way, I share a bit of everyday life here in Japan—slow mornings, small resets, and making a home in a different country.
If you’re interested in small space living, gardening in Japan, or starting over later in life, I think you’ll enjoy this one.
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If you are new to the channel, my name is Chani and I am a middle aged Australian who was stuck in a rut and moved to Japan to live. I bought an Akiya or empty house and started renovating. I’d love it if you subscribed and joined the community. I look forward to seeing you in the next video 😀
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28 Comments
Chani would you consider putting together a what I eat in a week menu? I think that would be well received in your store front. As someone who has zero understanding of Japanese cuisine, I’d love to see what to put together written so I can try to follow it. Just an idea ❤. Love your videos!
Job well done Chani. I'm a big believer that one can do a lot even with a small plot, even in containers, when it comes to gardening. It revitalises one's spirit, despite the inevitable, hopefully occasional, failures.
By the by, we just finished watching the interview you di with Tobi, over on https://youtu.be/wjuWmq-jgwE?si=MYUpqVA4HsSZUjPU , and it was one of the most interesting and enjoyable interviews we've watched in a long while.
We hope your Spring brings you and your garden growth and happiness.
I believe in reward before effort. As much as I don't believe in delayed gratification!
You are such a go-getter…a wonderful motivator. Thank you for sharing ❤
Just a fun thought for contact with your kids:
My adult kids, their spouses and I have a group snapchat.
It started out just as a funny thing, but over time it's been a great way to see what everyone is up to. Just getting random glimpses of their day to day is really great.
Maybe you already do that with your boys, but if not, I recommend it. 😊
I’d never find these places 😂 just up these stairs and down this corridor that doesn’t look like a corridor that’s got anything down it 😂
I love how open you are not just with the positive things, but challenges too. I've just started looking at sorting out my own little garden, which has gone to rack and ruin, so this was really inspiring and very serendipitous. I love how yours is coming along – it looks like a very peaceful spot. Millie taking herself inside though – peak cat behaviour! That cracked me up. 😻😂
PS I think the blue sheet set really pulls it all together. So pretty.
I love your sheets! They look almost just like my duvet. You are so lucky to have a screened in area to grow all those fruits and veggies! Pick the cucumbers while they are small for the best taste and fewer seeds. They are very hydrating for your whole body.
Normally cruciferous veggies like broccoli and kale do better in colder weather, not summer heat. You might have better luck planting them in the fall after you harvest the cucumbers and eggplant.
The "weeds" you had are oxalis. I love them for their lush greenery and bright flowers, but most people who like lawns don't appreciate their wildness😅.
Another lovely, relaxing video. Thank you!
Millie the ninja showing off in the last scenes of the video 😊
Could you do a video of places you'd recommend for tourists exploring Wakayama for a weekend?!
Holy cow you lost a lot of weight haven't you? Looking amazing and great video as usual!
sorry what is Beau's IG? we shall visit maybe while we are here. i could do with an Aussie meal lol
Just love how your beautiful Milly watches you do all you do……such a good friend and companion.. relaxing video Chani…Go well – enjoy your days!….🇿🇦
Do people in Japan use vermipost?
I understand you completely about missing your sons.
I live in the UK and my daughter moved to Tokyo last year. She works and lives there and speaks fluent Japanese. She's not quite 23 yet and I miss her so so much, i can be ok for days and then it can hit me like a ton of bricks! A phone call is amazing. She is so busy and with the time difference it can be difficult. We message goodnight every night though. Im so proud of her!
Hi Chani, a nice and relaxing video as always😊Thank you for sharing your little adventures.
For the garden ideas, maybe you can try some chives and carrots. If you like mint, you can try it too. Its usually easy to grow and you can use it for tea or in the summer as refreshment dring with ice, mint, lemon or lime😊Just one advice, put it in a pot as it tends to overtake space easily. Have a great week😊
Even the weeds are pretty & grow organized in Japan 😂
Love your garden 🤗❤️❤️
So glad to see all the garden content😊 I agree with you that sometimes it looks overwhelming but once you get going it's not that bad. I grow herbs in the summer and I find that they are quite low maintenance, my chives are the easiest. It's a cut and come again. Outdoor veg etc always taste delicious ❤ I love your content Chani it always cheers me up. Sometimes I save your vlogs and binge watch 😺😁 Take Care and see you next time x
I love watching your videos! Thank you for sharing! I love watching them because to me they are so calming. Every now and again, I have my son watch an episode with me. He loves when you travel!
Chani thank you for making your videos, they are so relaxing and inspire me to find the joy in the little things around the home. I did a working holiday in Japan and haven't visited in 6 years, your videos take me back 🙂
Those weeds are Sour Sobs. They’ll come back every year but they’re easy to remove. I have them in my South Australian garden, but as I lots of plants taking them out is tedious. I wish our plants were that cheap!
They are called Soursobs (6.10) and are very easy to pull out. Unfortunately, since they’ve already flowered in your garden it will be lovely and yellow again next Winter from the bulbils that were left behind.
It’s best to hand weed the plants prior to them flowering and before the bulbils can start to form. Please do not spray them if you have other plants, seeds or bulbs in the garden. 😀
Thank you for your video's Chani, I look forward to your new drop each week and I am re-watching all your videos., lets just say since the beginning of the year my life has headed off a cliff and smashed to pieces and I am not doing so well at getting it all back together but your videos give me hope and keep my trying. But that aside I just waned to let you know that you can get a Cherry tree for your Catio that grows in a pot. I am sure you could get one in Japan if we can get them here in the UK., Thanks again for all your hard work and best wishes to you in all you do.
it looks like you removed a bunch of clover. it’s possible to till it into the soil before the planting season begins as additional fertilizer, since they’re typically nitrogen fixing plants.
Im late to the party, but zucchini and Goya (bitter melon) and beans (like pinto/quail beans) can be grown vertically to save space. And Nasturtium- pretty, edible, and attracts the pests to it so your plants don’t have so many 😎. Potatoes really easy to grow in buckets or bags, and ginger in pots. Fellow gardener in Japan!
I am wondering if you have access to buckwheat hulls or cocoa shells at the garden center. They make a really nice top mulch. This mulch will keep weeds down and slow evaporation in the soil. They both easily tuck in around the green plants. The lovely brown color makes the green “pop”. Buckwheat shells are odorless but the cocoa shells have a wonderful chocolate scent. I get vicarious enjoyment from your enjoyment in the simple pleasures of life! 🌿💜🕊️Northern Virginia.