Lot 57, when purchased...

When we purchased Lot 57 (as it is officially called), it was simply loaded with various types of grasses and trees... some of which, unsurprisingly, were taller than me.

View of Lot 57... house is on top left, and Japan Inland Sea is on the right...


Just beyond the grasses lies the slope where we are planting fruits trees now (more later)... the hill on the right side is a protected forest, so, no neighbors... woohooo...

The beginnings...

Been living in Japan since 1987, first as a foreign student, and subsequently as an academician.
Due to the unstable situation and of course for a lack of funds, have always been staying in apartments.
In the process, we had the 'privilege' of putting up in a rather old (40 over years) government apartment.
(Good thing was the low rent, which enabled us to save up a bit of funds.)
It was quite an experience to inadvertently hear families arguing and throwing things out the window... and of seeing kids using the apartment walls to practice tennis during the weekends (drove us nuts)...
My missus used to periodically, albeit softly, mumble into my ear, hey, life is too short my dear... we should be staying in our own house, you know...