Shimanto River runs through southeast Shikoku Island.  Its a beautiful area away from the tourist crowds. Shimanto River is known as Japan’s last pristine stream with its chinkabashi bridges (沈下橋).  Chinkabashi are submersible bridges, they are design allow water to flow over the bridge during floodings.

Fireflies glowing along the river.

As in many parts of rural Japan, the formerly vibrant towns are noticeably dying. The young are moving to the cities as the population declines and ages. The trains are empty and rarely encounter anyone while walking. Working remotely hasn’t yet been culturally accepted in Japan, but the Shimanto area would be a beautiful low-cost of living place to work part of the time from.