There is no hot water in Odairajuku, no gas-powered stoves, no fridges and — most importantly — no internet. The nearest supermarket is an hour away by car, and so is the nearest place to get a signal on your phone. But what this tiny village in southern Nagano Prefecture does offer is something that's becoming more difficult to find in Japan: a complete escape from modern life.
I first came here almost a decade ago, while living in another small Nagano village. My friends and I would visit in summer to escape the stifling heat and, since moving to Tokyo, I've made a point of returning every couple of years.
I come here to unplug from the stresses of life in a big city. There's something relaxing about preparing food over an open fire, with humming cicadas and a gurgling stream in the background.