Today’s guest is a true Renaissance man who defies easy definition. Originally from the American Midwest, Allen Lindskoog has had many different roles in his long career before settling down with his wife as the co-owner of a beautiful 100-year-old traditional farmhouse in Japan, which they have transformed into an Airbnb. Nestled in the Minami Alps near Mt. Fuji, the “Yamanashi Mountain Home (YMH) Kominka Airbnb” is a real hidden gem.

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After hearing about Allen’s illustrious career and his path to Japan, find out how he and his wife, who is an interior designer, found their home/inn, spent years refurbishing it, and now enjoy welcoming guests from all over the world to Anayama, a small hamlet with a population of around 300 people, located in the countryside yet still accessible from central Tokyo (includes tour beginning from 16:53 ).

Key Takeaways

* Attention, fellow Substack writers! The YMH Kominka Airbnb is an ideal writers' retreat, offering plenty of nooks and alcoves inside, as well as a spacious outdoor deck from which to write.

* Approach the process of sourcing, remodelling, registering and opening an Airbnb “with your eyes wide open.” Remain patient and be realistic about the time and effort required.

* To become a well-adjusted long-term foreign resident of Japan, you must consciously uproot your own cultural biases to recalibrate your perspective and ensure that you fit in and enjoy life there (“rip out the daikon radish, as Allen advises).

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters." So, please just refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Link to YMH Kominka Airbnb: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1337226964296998845

* Kominka Life Japan Substack:

* Allen’s Book (available on Amazon): 10KLRS: 10,000 Lakes to the Rising Sun (English Edition)

#AllenLindskoog #KominkaLifeJapan #kominka #foreigner #MeijiUniversity #ChuoUniversity #HoseiUniversity #アレンリンズクーグ #法政大学 #明治大学 #中央大学 #古民家 #外国人 #外人

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