01 / KANAGAWA
PERSONAL JAPAN FILM / BY AHARE
Some places
stay with you.
Tell us about a place in Japan you still think about.
We’ll go there for you, and make a film
of how it feels today.
01 / A PLACE YOU CARRY WITH YOU
Maybe there’s a place
you still remember.
The street you walked every morning.
The town where you once lived.
The ryokan from your honeymoon.
A station. A café. A view you knew by heart.
A place you visited with someone you loved.
You may not be able to return right now.
So we’ll go there for you.
THE PLACES WE CARRY
A view. A path. A feeling.
Scenes from our work in Japan. Your film begins with the place you choose.
YOUR FILM / SIX POSSIBLE BEGINNINGS
There’s more than one way to return.
A few ways a personal film could begin. Your place and your story decide the route.
IDEA 01
The view you used to know
“I still think about the view at the end of that road.”
- The visit
- We look for the viewpoint, the approach and the details around it, as they are today.
- Your film
- A personal film of one meaningful place, with the sounds we record there.
IDEA 02
A walk you remember
“Could you walk that path for me, slowly?”
- The visit
- The route, the turns, the surroundings and the pauses that matter to you.
- Your film
- An edited journey that gives the walk room to unfold.
IDEA 03
The sea, again
“I’d love to see that coastline and hear the waves again.”
- The visit
- Your chosen stretch of coast, its nearby details and natural sound, when access allows.
- Your film
- A film built around the atmosphere of the place, rather than a list of sights.
IDEA 04
A place from a family story
“My family talks about a town I’ve never seen.”
- The visit
- We start with names, photographs and what you know, then agree what can be researched and visited.
- Your film
- A personal documentary that connects the places we can find. People take part only by agreement.
IDEA 05
Somewhere you’ve always imagined
“I’ve never been there, but this landscape means something to me.”
- The visit
- The setting, light and small details that drew you to it in the first place.
- Your film
- Your first personal encounter with a real place in Japan, through film.
IDEA 06
A film for someone far away
“Can we give my parent a way to see their place again?”
- The visit
- We plan around their connection, wishes and privacy, with you involved as appropriate.
- Your film
- A private film for the recipient; the route and plan depend on their story.
These are possible approaches, not customer stories. Photographs are from AHARE’s existing work in Japan.
02 / NOT A VIRTUAL TOUR
A real place. A real journey.
Made for one person.
First, we listen.
Then, we go.
Your film begins with your story. We travel to the place that matters to you, walk the streets and look for the details you remember.
New footage, captured for you. The light, the passing moments and the sounds of the place, brought together in a personal documentary you can return to.
03 / YOUR JAPAN, TODAY
Sometimes, it’s
the smallest things.
Is the little café still there? Does the station still sound the same? Has the view changed?
A street corner. A shop sign. The light at a certain time of day.
Tell us what you remember.
We’ll look for it.
04 / HOW IT WORKS
Your story leads the way.
- 01
Tell us your story
We begin with a conversation. Share the place, the memory and why it matters. Old photographs, maps and half-remembered details are welcome.
- 02
Plan the visit together
We research what is possible and agree the route, timing, film and price. You decide what matters most.
- 03
We go there for you
We visit, look closely and record the sights and sounds. The pace follows your story.
- 04
Receive your personal film
We edit the journey into a personal documentary and deliver it privately, on the schedule agreed with you.
05 / BE THERE WITH US
A moment, shared from afar.
If you’d like, ask about joining part of the visit by video call. You could point out a turn in the road, share a memory, or simply watch for a while.
We’ll discuss availability, the time difference and the connection beforehand. The personal film remains at the heart of the journey.
06 / THREE WAYS TO RETURN
One place. One day. One story.
The plans begin with how much of the journey you want us to follow. Every one starts with a conversation and ends with a film made for you.
ONE PLACE
One place. All the little things you remember.
From ¥280,000
Best forA viewpoint, a stretch of coast, a street or another single place that matters.
- A conversation about your connection
- Research to identify the place and check access
- A visit centred on the agreed location
- New footage and natural sound from the visit
- A personally edited film, delivered privately
A possible storyThe sea near your old home, a familiar mountain view or a place you have always wanted to see.
Your filmAn edited personal film. Length, pacing, file format and the review process are agreed before filming.
ONE DAY
Follow a familiar route, one moment at a time.
From ¥480,000
Best forA walk or a day connecting several nearby places.
- A conversation and a route planned together
- Research into the places along the way
- One planned filming day around an agreed route
- Sights, small details and the sounds between them
- An edited film that follows the journey
A possible storyFrom your old station to your neighborhood, or a forest walk ending at the view you remember.
Your filmOne personal film connecting the day’s places. The route, travel time, film length and delivery date are agreed together.
ONE STORY
For a connection that lives in more than one place.
From ¥850,000
Best forA family connection, a life chapter or a personal documentary that needs more planning.
- A deeper conversation and a story outline
- Research guided by your memories and materials
- Locations and a filming schedule shaped around the story
- Discussion of photographs, voice or willing contributors
- A privately delivered personal documentary
A possible storyTracing places from a family story, connecting different chapters of your time in Japan, or making a meaningful gift.
Your filmA personal documentary with an agreed narrative and scope. Days, locations, interviews and any added materials are confirmed in the quote.
Starting prices in JPY. We confirm the scope, schedule, travel, permissions and any applicable taxes in your quotation before you book. Film length, locations and delivery timing are agreed together.
Not sure which one fits?
Start with the place and the reason. ONE PLACE suits a focused visit; ONE DAY connects nearby places; ONE STORY gives a broader connection room to unfold. We’ll recommend the smallest scope that can tell your story well.
Travel, location access, interviews, added filming days and special requests can affect the final quote. No film length or delivery date is fixed until we agree it with you.
MAKE IT YOURS
Leave room for the little things.
Tell us which details matter. Optional requests, any additional production work and the final price are agreed before the journey.
WHAT YOU RECEIVE
Something you can return to.
A personal documentary.
New footage from the agreed visit, edited around your connection to the place. We discuss the length, pace and balance of picture and natural sound before filming.
An agreed review.
We set out how you will review the film and what changes are included. If you have details that must appear, we put them into the plan before the visit.
A private delivery.
We agree the digital file format and a private delivery method, so you can watch the film in your own time. Ask in advance about sharing with family or any wider use.
07 / THE DETAILS THAT MATTER
What can we look for?
Start with whatever you remember. You don’t need an exact address or a complete plan.
- A former neighborhood or school route
- A shop, café, station or family landmark
- A landscape, a season, a certain kind of light
- The everyday sounds around a familiar place
- A person you hope to reconnect with, if they wish to take part
08 / BEFORE WE GO
Every place has its own story.
What if the place has changed?
It may have. A shop might have closed, a house may look different, or a view may have opened up. We’ll discuss what our research finds and capture what is there today. Your film can hold the memory and the change together.
What if I’ve never been to Japan?
You don’t need a past connection. Perhaps there’s a village from a family story, a landscape you’ve always imagined, or a place you hope to visit one day. Tell us what draws you there and we’ll shape the journey around it.
Can you visit private places or find someone?
We can ask about access or an introduction, but visits and filming depend on permission. We won’t enter private property or film someone without appropriate consent. Access and participation cannot be guaranteed.
What will the film look and sound like?
We discuss the pace and mood together. It might be a quiet sequence of views and natural sound, or a more structured story using your memories. Music, narration, text and supplied photographs are choices to agree, not automatic additions.
Can you film in a particular season?
Tell us the season or light you have in mind. We will discuss timing, access and likely conditions. Weather, flowers, wildlife and other natural events can change, so the plan needs room for alternatives.
How long will my film be, and when will it arrive?
We agree both before you book. The route, research, access and editing approach determine the film length and schedule; an occasion or deadline should be part of the first conversation.
Can I ask for a quieter film with more natural sound?
Yes. Tell us if you want to linger on a view, hear footsteps or let a scene play without music. We plan the recording and edit around those preferences, subject to conditions on the day.
Can I include family photographs or my own voice?
We can discuss using materials you have permission to share. Tell us what you have, and we’ll agree how it fits the story, any extra work and how the files will be handled privately.
Is this a booking when I send the form?
No. The first step is a conversation. We confirm the proposed visit, film, schedule, price and payment terms before you decide to book.
09 / MADE IN JAPAN, FOR YOU
A filmmaker, following your memories.
AHARE was founded in 2023 by filmmaker Koki Nakagoshi, who began directing in 2019. We are based in Nagoya, Japan.
For your film, that same attention turns to something personal: a place and what it means to you.
No two stories ask for the same journey.
Meet AHARE (Japanese) ↗10 / PRIVACY
Your story stays yours.
We use what you share to plan and make your film. We won’t publish your personal story or film as part of our portfolio without your permission. We’ll agree how your materials and final film are shared before production.
Read our privacy policy ↗11 / A GIFT WITH A PLACE IN IT
For someone who
still remembers.
A film can be a thoughtful gift for a parent, a partner or someone far from a place they love. Tell us the occasion and the connection. We’ll plan how to involve them with care, including their wishes and privacy.
ASK ABOUT A GIFTSOMEWHERE IN JAPAN, THERE’S A STORY
You remember the place.
We’ll make the journey.
TELL US YOUR PLACE12 / START WITH A MEMORY
Where shall we go for you?
A place name, an old photograph, a few words. You don’t need to have it all figured out.