I think moving to Japan is difficult in itself as there's quite a cultural difference. Although English is taught in schools, Japanese adults don't often get exposed to it in their daily lives, so forget most of it. As Japanese don't like to do things they are not good at, they will avoid speaking English to the point of avoiding conversation with it at all. That happens in most places outside cities, so be prepared for an absence of conversation, especially in rural areas and those further away from tourist routes. Even though you can pick up basic Japanese to get you by, draw pictures and use your hands - the lack of conversation can be a lonely existence.
It’s getting out of control these people need to get back in their lane and stop leading people astray. They give false impressions and hope to people and they haven’t even got their pathway in Japan sorted themselves most of the time. As for Akiyas I worked for a demolition company here in Japan and have demolished over 2 dozen. 90% aren’t worth a penny and not getting an inspection is pretty foolish.
One guy nobody recommends is Good Old Houses Japan. He doesn’t post a lot but he comes from Kyoto and was born there. He breaks down housing and akiya homes. He even had a helpful map guide about radiation and stuff that my friend used.
most of these youtubers are not experts in the building trades but they are experts at telling you about their journey's in japan. i'm almost 99% certain your talking about Chani in japan. She is very detailed in her videos and it's really about her life in japan. The youtubers i recommend are...Tokyo llama, Anton, Matt Guy, plus Chani. Matt Guy is an expert on painting and coatings due to his father being a famous painter of unusual structures and Anton is the closest to learning about remodeling Akiyas in trial by fire. No one youtuber will offer all the answers but having ten subscriptions to good youtubers will make it a clearer picture.
I have watched all of Chani’s videos and she has only ever given her experience of her situation. She has never portrayed her experience as fact or suggested anything more than what it is and it’s good to hear another persons experience to see the things that they have had to do, just like you. A person is an expert of their own experience and that’s all they can share. The video in question is important in showing people what to look out for and what can happen if you buy unseen. As an Australian we are able to stay in Japan for 6 months of the year, so many people do buy houses here to live in for that period. There are management companies who look after them when you are gone if that’s what you want. The investment I see in buying a house in Japan is much greater than anything monetary and I’ve come across a few who feel the same.
No there are others who, like many influencers anywhere, talk out of their bums. There is this one guy in his early 20s who constantly "buys" cheap houses and renovates them (probably contractors), after commenting about that japanese people call those homes "worthless". Funnily more and more people start to comment on his videos because he doesn't get why the people say they are worthless, and pointing out that has wealthy parents. I don't care if he is rich or not, what I do care is pretending that he achieved this by his own accord, which he does not. His actions are deceiving and can lead people to rude awakenings.
@@kristiinelson I will be spending lengthy periods in Japan in retirement as we are currently building a little house on my mother in law's land. What visa are you using to stay in Japan 6 months of the year? I could get a spouse visa but trying to avoid the paperwork involved. Is it an extended visitors visa?
3:12 I saw that video too! I was SHOCKED that someone would purchase a house, sight unseen, without having an inspector go through. She picked a lemon of a house
@@larrikinjapan Also, I should note that the woman who published that video, Chani, had nothing to do with the woman's decision to purchase the house. Chani was called after the house was already purchased.
@@vasilikonstanFunny, I just saw that video last night. My oldest son in Osaka rents a house, but is planning to buy a used house for his family of 5 nearby Tokyo. He has his own business but often has business in Tokyo. Fortunately the realtor he met in Yokohama yesterday advised him not to buy the house he was looking at.
Akiya renovations are a young persons game. You need energy, patience and skills, not to mention cash. I have 3 akiyas. Finding tradesmen to get them restored is very challenging. And yes, Larrikin is right about online gaijin advisors.
Thank you for the information! I was hesitant about the thought of buying one of those Akiya. I will stick with an apartment for a while and see what happens.
I think there are some good ones. The main thing would be finding one where you want to live and work and getting one in reasonable condition. Most important thing get it checked out by someone who knows what they are talking about like a builder.
Great video! A good dose of reality that i think a lot of people need. They get too wrapped up in the dream/fantasy and only lisyen to those telling them what they want to hear
Great words of wisdom. I was a person on instagram who bought an old home and was going to fix it up them try and rent it out to people as a sort of AirBnB. Watching his video he made seem so simple. Being out in the countryside how is your home 🏡 for heating in winter? I have been finding on instagram lately people who are experts on Food, travel, cities even though they have been in Japan 🇯🇵 for a week or so !! 😮. Keep on living the good life.
We thought about looking into a place in Japan , and watched a lot of these so called experts on TH-cam. But in my gut I knew they aren’t telling the whole story, so I soon checked out of their channels really quick. And I don’t think a house purchase in Japan is thought of in the same way as it is in Nz as an investment, even an old house in Nz is expensive so people buy them and renovate it for the future returns. Doesn’t seem to be the same here in Japan .
Most of these so called experts are wankers. Buying some of these Akiya are a money pit. Some people are buying them sight an seen down right crazy. House prices go down here not like Australia where they keep going up. If you bought an old place for 50k spent 100k doing it up you would not get your money back. Japanese are not buying them it’s foreigners.
@ I’m the kind of person that would possibly buy one, but knowing it’s not going to be great under the paint work. But I certainly wouldn’t be spending large sums of money to renovate it for bugger all return. I’d just fix the basics and make the most of it. I’ve been staying in some funky places in Japan, homestays, minshuku, apartments so I’m used to living in less than perfect conditions 😂 heck I’d live in a van and be quite happy. Maybe once the kids are out of school I’ll do just that.
I thought the same when I saw a video recently of a woman that bought sight unseen. It soundedd like a very similar case. She was just painting over rotten timbers. The good news is, I think she might have enough money to just bite the bullet and demolish and build a new house, but that will demolish her budget too.
Some people are making them out to be best thing since sliced bread. And people with no idea about the building industry are advising them. What could possibly go wrong.
@larrikinjapan yep, and from what I've seen, if you get it wrong it's minimum AUD$200K to demolish and build a new house. All to save $300-400 on a building inspection. It boggles the mind.
There’s the 6 month digital nomad visa. Would you buy a house if you could rely on that visa? Of course I’d only be allowed in to Japan 6 months of the year
How're planning to pay your bills/taxes for the house with a digital nomad visa? As the visa is just a glorified tourist visa that allow you to do remote work, so you can't open a bank account with that visa.
Going to any country without proper due dilligence is a pathway to disaster. I plan to buy a house or appartement (I would have one already if I didn't hesitate). I found a really nice one in Tokyo prefecture for 3 million Yen in good condition. Its so "affordable" because the owner passed away last or two years ago and its not safe for earthquakes (also its in the countryside). I did not make a bid because: 1 - I do not plan to work there (at the moment) 2 - I want to improve my language skills to have casual conversations without fishing for words I don't remember 3 - If I buy an older house or appartement then I will definitly like to renovate/refurbish it and make it safe for earthquakes. Which means I either need to put in way more money or take a long vacation or sabbath ( 0.5 years) from my work in Austria (which is not possible atm due being understaffed and the massive floods we had here impacts my job) - but its more likely to be both. As someone already pointed out, finding contractors is not easy and definitely not cheap. I very well could apply for a teaching job in either german or english. But the pay, compared to my salary "at home" isn't comparable and I think my best option is to save up money. Also, I do know someone who went to live there without even learning Hiragana. I do not understand why japanese education companies hire foreigners with no knowledge of their language. Its really beyond me. Lucky for her she has somewhat rich parents (like many influencers). Edit: For clarity - If I owned a house there I would treat it as a vacation home, not a permanent residence.
Rural Japan isn’t the same as rural Australia, as it seems you live in a cluster of homes all close together. When I think rural- my next neighbour are a few acres or hectares away. Can you clarify please? Good video.
It depends where you live in rural Australia. You can live in small country towns you are close together or on properties were your nearest neighbor is an hour drive. Australia is about 20 times bigger than Japan give us a break. And yes I have spent a lot of time out in the sticks.
@@larrikinjapanok. Yeah there’s rural and regional classifications in Australia, but either way far more remote. BTW I saw that video on Chani channel.
G'day Gaz, Yeah some people just think it's that easy to buy and think they can go to Japan and live if they have a visa. I nearly done that myself a handful of years ago but my Wife talked me out of it. Glad now coz I learnt a lot since then. If I did it now I'd buy one with a shopfront so I could have an Izakaya. Great wisdom Gaz👍
@larrikinjapan Yeah that's what I'm thinking and I would live 6 months in Australia and 6 months in Japan. Something to think about in a couple of years time. Love you're channel Gaz👍
A lot of house for sale cheap have concrete roof tiles...they are useless and cost a fortune to recycle out...good homes anywhere cost a proper penny...
Been trying to figure out if its viable to purchase a property in Japan and then spend a year fixing it up and preparing it for my business before actually moving.
@larrikinjapan 20k? It cost double to triple that in USA. 50k just to demolish it and you might not be able to do that with the government screwing you over
Keep in mind that because of the fact that the Japanese government sometimes updates its building regulation (for earthquakes etc.) it is sometimes (often?) a piece of terrain is worth less with its house on it that if it didn't have said house.
I think moving to Japan is difficult in itself as there's quite a cultural difference.
Although English is taught in schools, Japanese adults don't often get exposed to it in their daily lives, so forget most of it. As Japanese don't like to do things they are not good at, they will avoid speaking English to the point of avoiding conversation with it at all. That happens in most places outside cities, so be prepared for an absence of conversation, especially in rural areas and those further away from tourist routes.
Even though you can pick up basic Japanese to get you by, draw pictures and use your hands - the lack of conversation can be a lonely existence.
It’s getting out of control these people need to get back in their lane and stop leading people astray. They give false impressions and hope to people and they haven’t even got their pathway in Japan sorted themselves most of the time.
As for Akiyas I worked for a demolition company here in Japan and have demolished over 2 dozen. 90% aren’t worth a penny and not getting an inspection is pretty foolish.
Well said mate
One guy nobody recommends is Good Old Houses Japan. He doesn’t post a lot but he comes from Kyoto and was born there. He breaks down housing and akiya homes. He even had a helpful map guide about radiation and stuff that my friend used.
most of these youtubers are not experts in the building trades but they are experts at telling you about their journey's in japan. i'm almost 99% certain your talking about Chani in japan. She is very detailed in her videos and it's really about her life in japan. The youtubers i recommend are...Tokyo llama, Anton, Matt Guy, plus Chani. Matt Guy is an expert on painting and coatings due to his father being a famous painter of unusual structures and Anton is the closest to learning about remodeling Akiyas in trial by fire. No one youtuber will offer all the answers but having ten subscriptions to good youtubers will make it a clearer picture.
There is also a tiny channel called Akiya Kominka Life.
I have watched all of Chani’s videos and she has only ever given her experience of her situation. She has never portrayed her experience as fact or suggested anything more than what it is and it’s good to hear another persons experience to see the things that they have had to do, just like you. A person is an expert of their own experience and that’s all they can share.
The video in question is important in showing people what to look out for and what can happen if you buy unseen. As an Australian we are able to stay in Japan for 6 months of the year, so many people do buy houses here to live in for that period. There are management companies who look after them when you are gone if that’s what you want.
The investment I see in buying a house in Japan is much greater than anything monetary and I’ve come across a few who feel the same.
No there are others who, like many influencers anywhere, talk out of their bums. There is this one guy in his early 20s who constantly "buys" cheap houses and renovates them (probably contractors), after commenting about that japanese people call those homes "worthless". Funnily more and more people start to comment on his videos because he doesn't get why the people say they are worthless, and pointing out that has wealthy parents.
I don't care if he is rich or not, what I do care is pretending that he achieved this by his own accord, which he does not. His actions are deceiving and can lead people to rude awakenings.
@@kristiinelson I will be spending lengthy periods in Japan in retirement as we are currently building a little house on my mother in law's land. What visa are you using to stay in Japan 6 months of the year? I could get a spouse visa but trying to avoid the paperwork involved. Is it an extended visitors visa?
3:12 I saw that video too! I was SHOCKED that someone would purchase a house, sight unseen, without having an inspector go through. She picked a lemon of a house
I know I was blown away. I can not fathom the stupidity of some people.
@@larrikinjapan Also, I should note that the woman who published that video, Chani, had nothing to do with the woman's decision to purchase the house. Chani was called after the house was already purchased.
@@vasilikonstanFunny, I just saw that video last night. My oldest son in Osaka rents a house, but is planning to buy a used house for his family of 5 nearby Tokyo. He has his own business but often has business in Tokyo. Fortunately the realtor he met in Yokohama yesterday advised him not to buy the house he was looking at.
Akiya renovations are a young persons game. You need energy, patience and skills, not to mention cash. I have 3 akiyas. Finding tradesmen to get them restored is very challenging. And yes, Larrikin is right about online gaijin advisors.
Thank you for the information! I was hesitant about the thought of buying one of those Akiya. I will stick with an apartment for a while and see what happens.
I think there are some good ones. The main thing would be finding one where you want to live and work and getting one in reasonable condition. Most important thing get it checked out by someone who knows what they are talking about like a builder.
🤔 yes I've heard the story about a lady buying a Akiya sight unseen. Wow she didn't ask much of the person who was helping her 😢
Great video! A good dose of reality that i think a lot of people need. They get too wrapped up in the dream/fantasy and only lisyen to those telling them what they want to hear
Some of the advice out there is off the rails.
@larrikinjapan and common sense aint so common anymore
You are not wrong. It amazes me how some people survive.
Buying a house unseen is completely insane... can't be true
It is
Great words of wisdom. I was a person on instagram who bought an old home and was going to fix it up them try and rent it out to people as a sort of AirBnB. Watching his video he made seem so simple. Being out in the countryside how is your home 🏡 for heating in winter? I have been finding on instagram lately people who are experts on Food, travel, cities even though they have been in Japan 🇯🇵 for a week or so !! 😮. Keep on living the good life.
Our house is easy to heat it is all insulated
We thought about looking into a place in Japan , and watched a lot of these so called experts on TH-cam. But in my gut I knew they aren’t telling the whole story, so I soon checked out of their channels really quick. And I don’t think a house purchase in Japan is thought of in the same way as it is in Nz as an investment, even an old house in Nz is expensive so people buy them and renovate it for the future returns. Doesn’t seem to be the same here in Japan .
Most of these so called experts are wankers. Buying some of these Akiya are a money pit. Some people are buying them sight an seen down right crazy. House prices go down here not like Australia where they keep going up. If you bought an old place for 50k spent 100k doing it up you would not get your money back. Japanese are not buying them it’s foreigners.
@ I’m the kind of person that would possibly buy one, but knowing it’s not going to be great under the paint work. But I certainly wouldn’t be spending large sums of money to renovate it for bugger all return. I’d just fix the basics and make the most of it. I’ve been staying in some funky places in Japan, homestays, minshuku, apartments so I’m used to living in less than perfect conditions 😂 heck I’d live in a van and be quite happy. Maybe once the kids are out of school I’ll do just that.
Reminds me of another juicy bait on a shiny hook - expats drawn to the Philippines for the legendary Filipina, in Japan it's the iconic Akiya.
I thought the same when I saw a video recently of a woman that bought sight unseen. It soundedd like a very similar case. She was just painting over rotten timbers. The good news is, I think she might have enough money to just bite the bullet and demolish and build a new house, but that will demolish her budget too.
Some people are making them out to be best thing since sliced bread. And people with no idea about the building industry are advising them. What could possibly go wrong.
@larrikinjapan yep, and from what I've seen, if you get it wrong it's minimum AUD$200K to demolish and build a new house. All to save $300-400 on a building inspection. It boggles the mind.
Blows me away
Thanks for sharing. Great advice 👍
My pleasure!
There’s the 6 month digital nomad visa. Would you buy a house if you could rely on that visa? Of course I’d only be allowed in to Japan 6 months of the year
It should be renewable I would think
@@larrikinjapan yes I believe they are. What if one wanted to retire in Japan? Is that possible? No one talks about that aspect
As long as you have a visa I can’t see a problem
@@CodingAbroad as far as I know there is no specific visa for people wanting to retire in Japan so it might be difficult.
How're planning to pay your bills/taxes for the house with a digital nomad visa? As the visa is just a glorified tourist visa that allow you to do remote work, so you can't open a bank account with that visa.
@11:30 are they Biwas ?? they look bloody big !!!
Persimmon there are a lot this time of year. kaki (柿) in Japanese
@@larrikinjapan i miss kaki.
Going to any country without proper due dilligence is a pathway to disaster.
I plan to buy a house or appartement (I would have one already if I didn't hesitate). I found a really nice one in Tokyo prefecture for 3 million Yen in good condition. Its so "affordable" because the owner passed away last or two years ago and its not safe for earthquakes (also its in the countryside).
I did not make a bid because:
1 - I do not plan to work there (at the moment)
2 - I want to improve my language skills to have casual conversations without fishing for words I don't remember
3 - If I buy an older house or appartement then I will definitly like to renovate/refurbish it and make it safe for earthquakes. Which means I either need to put in way more money or take a long vacation or sabbath ( 0.5 years) from my work in Austria (which is not possible atm due being understaffed and the massive floods we had here impacts my job) - but its more likely to be both. As someone already pointed out, finding contractors is not easy and definitely not cheap.
I very well could apply for a teaching job in either german or english. But the pay, compared to my salary "at home" isn't comparable and I think my best option is to save up money.
Also, I do know someone who went to live there without even learning Hiragana. I do not understand why japanese education companies hire foreigners with no knowledge of their language. Its really beyond me. Lucky for her she has somewhat rich parents (like many influencers).
Edit: For clarity - If I owned a house there I would treat it as a vacation home, not a permanent residence.
All good points
Optic fiber is passé...G5 antennas made it nearly ok obselete
Rural Japan isn’t the same as rural Australia, as it seems you live in a cluster of homes all close together. When I think rural- my next neighbour are a few acres or hectares away. Can you clarify please? Good video.
It depends where you live in rural Australia. You can live in small country towns you are close together or on properties were your nearest neighbor is an hour drive. Australia is about 20 times bigger than Japan give us a break. And yes I have spent a lot of time out in the sticks.
@@larrikinjapanok. Yeah there’s rural and regional classifications in Australia, but either way far more remote. BTW I saw that video on Chani channel.
G'day Gaz, Yeah some people just think it's that easy to buy and think they can go to Japan and live if they have a visa. I nearly done that myself a handful of years ago but my Wife talked me out of it. Glad now coz I learnt a lot since then. If I did it now I'd buy one with a shopfront so I could have an Izakaya. Great wisdom Gaz👍
That would be the way to go small izakaya down stairs.
@larrikinjapan Yeah that's what I'm thinking and I would live 6 months in Australia and 6 months in Japan. Something to think about in a couple of years time. Love you're channel Gaz👍
Thanks mate
@@larrikinjapan Cheers Gaz, Keep them coming 👍
A lot of house for sale cheap have concrete roof tiles...they are useless and cost a fortune to recycle out...good homes anywhere cost a proper penny...
Been trying to figure out if its viable to purchase a property in Japan and then spend a year fixing it up and preparing it for my business before actually moving.
I would be trying to get a long term visa first.
@@larrikinjapan Yeah that's probably the best route. Will be a lot of trips back and forth from California during the first year.
so that woman bought a house WITH FREE TERMITES ??? bonus, time to buy a HARI MOGURA ( echidna.)..
I hear Crows in the background
Plenty of them
@@larrikinjapan i am in north thailand… not so many here… not like america
those 1 or 2 year NEWBIES impressed by how much they THINK they know ignorant of how much they dont know. DUNNING KRUGER EFFECT. I HATED THEM...
expensive to demolish a house in japan ? really ?? how much could 1 match really cost ???
Really around 20,000
@@larrikinjapan 20,000 for a match, hope u mean Yen.
No dollars mate
@larrikinjapan
20k? It cost double to triple that in USA. 50k just to demolish it and you might not be able to do that with the government screwing you over
Keep in mind that because of the fact that the Japanese government sometimes updates its building regulation (for earthquakes etc.) it is sometimes (often?) a piece of terrain is worth less with its house on it that if it didn't have said house.