Hi Danny, very informative and useful video. I visited quite a lot places in Japan, Ine too. I think you made a good decision buying that house. Ine is one of the most beautiful and special villages I've seen there. I was astonished by the amount of eagles flying there and by the coast itself !!!
Thanks Xavier! I love the hawks but they have a mission to drown my drone in the ocean. They dive at it anytime they see it. I can only fly when they are not near me otherwise I risk the drone being attacked and ending up at the bottom of the ocean lol
Danny ,great video and very informative. I live outside of Japan and I have started the process of buying an Akiya home. I have found a home on line but my issue now is I need to locate a lawyer that is reasonably priced who can complete the negotiations and complete the sale for me. I don't speak Japanese so I need a lawyer who can communicate in English. I would be grateful for any recommendations you could me for a lawyer possibly the lawyer you used. The property is being sold by the Akiya bank which is the government I believe. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards George
Back in the day, when I purchased my first home to live-in; that was Miami in the early 1990s, first mortgages with rates of 8 to 9% and 9% to 10% were typical. People will have to accept the possibility that we won't ever return to 3%. If sellers must sell, home prices will have to decline, and lower evaluations will follow. Pretty sure I'm not alone in my chain of thoughts.
If anything, it'll get worse. Very soon, affordable housing will no longer be affordable. So anything anyone want to do, I will advise they do it now because the prices today will look like dips tomorrow. Until the Fed clamps down even further, I think we're going to see hysteria due to rampant inflation. You can't halfway rip the band-aid off.
Home prices will come down eventually, but for now; get your money (as much as you can) out of the housing market and get into the financial markets or gold. The new mortgage rates are crazy, add to that the recession and the fact that mortgage guidelines are getting more difficult. Home prices will need to fall by a minimum of 40% (more like 50%) before the market normalizes. If you are in cross roads or need sincere advise on the best moves to take now its best you seek an independent advisor who knows about the financial markets.
How can I participate in this? I sincerely aspire to establish a secure financial future and am eager to participate. Who is the driving force behind your success?.
Sonya lee Mitchell is the licensed fiduciary I use. Just research the name. You’d find necessary details to work with a correspondence to set up an appointment.
I hope it starts going down for the sake of future home owners because otherwise people will just be trapped at the mercy of landlords. Maybe that’s how they want it.
For those who don't know, one must have a sponsor to live in Japan long-term. Usually the place you are employed at or a Japanese spouse. Also, these houses have no heat. It will be freezing. Also, termites. The common visa is for 3 months only. Very well done video.
Good information, you’re totally correct. That should be step number 1, get a visa! These houses can be tough to renovate and insulate… it’s too much information to cover in one video for sure.
@@CrimLawGeek You are correct. We actually run two heat pumps upstairs on opposing sides. I still have to figure out a better way to cool things though. They are not as efficient in the dead of summer as we'd like them to be. But at night they keep us cool.
@@DIYJapan So, any kind of visa is okay? Travel visa or working visa?? Example, i have travel visa in Japan for 1-3y. And I travel there only, can I bough “cheap house” like this?? Or must have greencard pr??
Living in the countryside of Japan is waaaaaaaaaaaay harder than living in the cities. I'm Japanese, but the times after moving from Osaka to Okayama was really tough. There are so many unspoken rules, and even if you completely understand those, and even if you are willing to have a good relationship between the neighbours, they still treat you as an annoying outsider. Also, there are spots you should never go or live in, which is a huge taboo in the Japanese society but still secretly believed by the Japanese. You have to know that there is a huge chance of trying to live in a quiet world but end up getting depressed. Despite that, he decided to do it, and doing pretty well. That's why I think he is so strong. I really hope he will love his new life in Japan.
I can totally agree with you. But this topic is so complex and it's not easily explained to people who have never lived in the countryside. I am happy you are doing well considering the added complexity of living in the countryside. I personally don't let what people around me think of me affect where and how I live. The neighbors can think and act how they want. It won't change my happiness and it won’t sway my decisions. I don’t need anyone else’s opinions. After all, it’s my life to live how I see fit, not theirs.
?? Seems that your mindset is on the conservative discouraging one that most use as an excuse to totally refuse any gaijins from living and owning a house in Japan. Nice try but this kind of nonsense doesn’t work with determined people and no, it’s not a matter to be strong or not. It’s a matter of being authentic to oneself and not to idiotic peer pressure. Cheers
I can see your point and agree with it to some degree, but not everyone thinks the same way. For some, it's imperative to have the community adore them and accept them. Otherwise they feel rejected and depressed. People feel that it will add to their experience living in Japan if everyone in the community loves them. But that is nearly impossible. In fact, chances are, most of the community will probably not like you and the rest will probably care less that you live there. It isn't the end all if the majority of people don’t like me. Everyone is entitled to live how they want and to form their own (biased) opinions, I really can’t control what they think of me outside of common curtsies. I don’t see life in black and white. They love me I stay, they hate me I leave….I don’t think this way. For me if they love me great, if they hate… so what? Lol
Living in Kyoto would be waaaay harder to live in the countryside. Even a few local ‘non-Kyoto’ Japanese neighbors around my machiya (rented out to an expat) told me that they are never truly ‘accepted’ by their community even after decades of living in Kyoto. Kyoto>countryside>suburb>city.
@@Omagatsuhi You are completely right, Kyoto is special. Kyoto is a city that has been the capital of Japan for more than a millennium. People who have lived in Kyoto and interacted with their neighborhoods for hundreds of years since the time of their ancestors, would NEVER recognize a person who has lived in Kyoto for only a few decades as a true "Kyotoite". Also, even if you have lived in Kyoto for that long, the hierarchy changes depending on whether you lived in the traditionally prosperous " _rakuchu_ (洛中='in-palace')" area or the less prosperous " _rakugai_ (洛外='out-palace')" area. When locals say "Kyoto," they are more likely to refer to _rakuchu_ than to Kyoto City or Kyoto Prefecture. Therefore, it is quite common for people from the countryside of Kyoto to say "I'm going to Kyoto" when they go to visit the center of Kyoto, even though they themselves are also from Kyoto. I have lived in Kyoto and my parents have homes in Kyoto and Nara. I do love the city, but I would never recommend living in Kyoto for the rest of your life. Since it is a basin, the weather is terrible, and it is not very convenient. It is much easier to live in Osaka and take the $3 train to Kyoto, both in terms of climate and relationships with the locals.
There is a lot more to the story of buying an Akiya and living in Japan. First, you need to be able to live in Japan in the first place. This, for most people, means you can get a work visa, or marry a Japanese national who earns enough to support the both of you. The areas were the cheapest houses are located happens to the the places were work is the hardest to find. I could easily find a dirt-cheap home in 90% of Japan for next to nothing, but, unfortunately, in these areas you are likely to find work which pays next to nothing. And if I don't want to actually buy a home, I could rent a family-size house for as little as $100 per month. You can find these cheap rentals through the village or ward offices in the countryside, and if you have a spouse visa, they can also help find you a decent job, if you don't mind commercial fishing or are a skilled laborer. When looking at houses, keep in mind that most Akiya are made of wood. Wood is perishable, it dries, rots, and is tasty to insects. Japan has 4 distinct seasons, which accelerate the decay rate of wood. When you look at a properly, look at the ceiling for water stains, look at the walls for water stains, smell the air for mold and fungus. Look at the walls and make sure the corners are vertical, and the siding doesn't sag. Look at the roofline and make sure that it is vertical. Inside the house, look under the tatami mats to see if the floor boards are in good condition, and look above the ceiling to see the condition of the roof supports. Push the walls and see if they move, push the door posts and see if the house shakes. Check the plumbing, and the condition of the flooring in the bathrooms and kitchen. Try to get the water turned on before your visit so you can see if the taps work and the toilet flushes. Many Akiya have "Turkish" toilets, the kind you can't sit on, and must squat over. Check the septic systems, many homes in the country use a septic tank. Pluming and septic repairs are very costly, try to find a home which has good plumbing. When you find a building you like, negotiate hard. If the house and lot are full of junk, ask them to include junk removal in the price. Also, price how much it will cost to replace the tatami mats in an older house, and see if you can use this when negotiating. Replacing the tatami makes the house look much better, and can make it smell like new. And, if you are looking at a house in the northern parts of Japan, keep in mind that it can snow deeply in the winter, find out about road maintenance, how often the roads are plowed, and who you can contact if your road becomes impassible. Most countryside Akiya are situated in clusters of houses, so you'll probably have neighbors close at hand. Make friends with your neighbors as early as possible, help them when they need help, and they'll return the favor. If you need work done to your house, they'll be able to advise you how to do it the most economically, or they may be skilled enough that you can hire them to help. For myself, I live in the middle of Tokyo, but am in the process of securing an Akiya in the countryside in an area where I can cycle and enjoy nature in the summer, and enjoy skiing in the winter. It's been a fun process so far, I've found several properties which the owners are willing to hand over for free, though of course there are the usual legal and red tape fees, and things which are supposedly "free" often end up costing more in the long run than something which would have been considered "expensive."
Good advice. I totally agree with everything you’re saying. This video was just how I found the house. But you’re right, it’s an immensely complicated topic and just can’t be covered in a 10 minute video. I have some similar topics coming out in the near future. Now I have the time to dig a little deeper.
While most is true, you don't need to be a resident to buy a house or flat. (though you are not able to get a long-term visa or PR, just because you have a property)
♡ to the sibling caring for the father's house after 3 decades of being the designated person to care for it hopefully this brought all the family closer together for always
People in rural Japan tend to be very nosey with each other. Some of them hate foreigners. They know what their neighbors are doing every minute under their 24/7 surveillance and constantly badmouth on somebody in the town. Some of them do it as their hobby. So I would recommend to talk to at least a few neighbors of the house you are looking at. Plus, ask them what type of "Cho-naikai" they are running and meet the Cho-naikai boss. If you don't like the boss, stay away from the town. Lastly, watch out for earthquake especially if you live in a Kominka. Do not sleep in the 1st floor and next to large furniture.
I completely agree! My neighbors are nosey but super nice. Mostly they are curious because they are relatives of the house's previous owner. I think you hit the nail in the head on all points... but this video was mainly to talk about finding a house. There are too many side topics that I just can't cover in one video. The pros and, definitely the cons, are a huge can of worms that I just wasn't willing to open. Too many people, especially gaijin living in Japan, have strong opinions and disagreements about what we, as a foreign community, should do to 'integrate' and get respected in local Japanese communities. It's something I would love to cover but... just not ready for the amount of negative discourse that comes with it. Hopefully in the near future I'd like to talk more about earthquake topics. Seems to be on everyones minds with the old houses. We'll see ✌
Foreigners are known as Gaijin. I actually learned that reading frank millers 1982 Wolverine comic book arc when Logan lived in japan and fought the yakuza.
Mine was aquired through the town Akiya bank. Though price at about $7000, total cost after real estate agent, survey cost and paying last year taxes. $12000. Don't forget if your house is require to connect to public sewage that will cost an arm and leg. Mine was estimated @ $16000 just to connect.😢😢.
That is a much larger amount for the house after all the costs. The $9,000 I paid for the toilet room was for running pipes and the connection fee from the city of $2,500. But I was lucky, the sewage connection was just outside of my house. It didn't take much to reach it. We made all those estimates before we bought the house. We didn't want any surprises.
Compared to the price of a starter home in California and this is basically like free. Akiya is the way to go. Save up and start a digital facing business in Japan.
Excellent information! Practical and realistic. My Japanese (ex-) partner and I bought a thatch-roofed kominka many years ago. He was able to handle the paperwork and get us integrated with the neighbors (most nice, some not). The seller was a tough old guy who raised the price by 40% at the last minute, so we gave up. Then year later, he contacted us to say he'd sell at the original quote because we seemed to want the house so much. I was able to commute by car to universities for teaching work. Nowadays, telework may be possible. However, it's really necessary to consider if you can make a living, and if practical aspects will be handled in the future by local municipalities. Due to the lack of a tax base in some very rural areas, some communities don't even plow roads in winter anymore. If the local school has a few kids attending, snow will be plowed, but if not? Anyway, if you're the sort of person who likes camping, life in a rural old kominka is great fun!
What a crazy guy trying to raise the price last minute. I would have been so angry! My town gets extra tax money from Kyoto prefecture because of it's cultural significance and designation so it's well managed and maintained. But many other towns don't fare so well as you said. How is it maintaining a thatch-roofed house? I love the look of them but I can imagine that there is more complex maintenance to them.
@@DIYJapan Yes, your area is so unique. Seems like the best of both worlds with rural charm but some municipal and tourist money coming in. The previous owner of the farmhouse had put a tin roof over the thatch. From the inside looking up, it was amazing to see the how the thatch was secured to the beams with rope. (From the outside, it was just a big piece of tin.) Did you hear about the British woman some years ago who brought in a British thatcher to re-thatch her house in Miyama-cho (for room and board)? It took him a full year with a team of volunteers and the process is documented. Supposedly thatch doesn't last as long as it used because of acid rain, but there are people who are trying to keep the art alive.
Sounds like a great story! In Kyoto prefecture it's still possible to see many of these types of houses. Most have the tin roofs over them but every now and then you see an open thatched roof house. They are great to see but I understand why they cover them. The carpenters and skill set to keep these houses going are slowly dying out. But I think it's popular now to just cover the house with tin and also close the ceiling. It's as if they are ashamed of the style and are trying to hide it lol
I've been checking out akiya as an american who works from home and is sick of our terrible housing market. I've got the money to buy one of these places. Always been interested in Japan. This video did great addressing some concerns I've had.
I got tired of the roller coaster of the American housing market too. It’s a speculative market based on gains and losses. Japan is different. Housing is seen as just that, housing. Very hard to see gains in real estate as a business but as “housing” to live, it can be affordable.
@@DIYJapan yes, it's how housing should be. I'm hoping Americans start pushing for political policy change when it comes to housing because it's so bad here. It's killing the American dream- we don't have the opportunities that our parents did.
Yeah, great grandparents had 5-10 year mortgages and then owned their homes, I remember my parents complaining about having a 15 year mortgage… now the average is 30 with it creeping into 40-50 year loans… what is even the point.
I like the flow of your content, really good mix of scenery and editing. I didn't think I'd be starting an akiya search so soon, but like with tracking down all those estranged family members , this will be a long and patient process. The sooner I get started, the better off I'll be. Thank you for the information.
Thanks and you're welcome. I think my situation was a little uncommon. But it never hurts to start looking now. You can get an idea of the market, what is available and you start to understand a good deal when you see one by looking a lot.
I lived in Japan (Kansai) for many years (over 20 years ago) and was always told that foreigners could not buy property in Japan. I was thwarted every time I inquired so to hear this is really mind bending! I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. I probably won't buy, but I will return to visit. I'm too wrapped up in my life here in the US now. But, thank you so much for the information! It's a lot to think about!
I'm sure Kansai was a completely different place 20 years ago! I think maybe people told you it wasn't possible out of ignorance. Most people in Japan, as you may know, don't want to give you advice that is wrong so it's easier just to say '' You can't do that'' for fear that they might be wrong if they say it's ok. Or it's the whole ''You live here? When are you going back to your country?'' remark... like saying '' you couldn't possible be planning on staying... so you can't be serious about buying a house''. But as far as I know, Chinese and Korean nationals have been buying property here like crazy for a long time. Half of Kyoto, I hear, is Chinese owned.
Nice video. Lived in Japan for about 21 years, never knew that it was possible to buy a cheap house... I guess, things changed in 12 years... Now I'm thinking to go back to Japan, probably will search for a house to buy instead of paying high rent for small rooms... Love the countryside, is way cheaper and very quiet to live. I can speak and read very well, so it will not be a problem to communicate with others.
If you can speak and read than you’re golden. Prices are still cheap because of supply and demand. I figure in the next ten years, as the population ages, the glut of houses will just increase.
This is really helpful. The inheritance issues is really interesting, and not something I was familiar with. Also, the necessity of having good command of the language is something so many online tour-guides seem to gloss over. It's one thing if you're visitng, but living there permanently is so very different. Thank you!
We bought summer house in Japan also , we have a lot of friends there, we spent time over there every year. we still love it. We want to sell it because we getting old to travel anymore.
It's a great idea to have a house just to visit for vacation. It doesn't take much to just keep the house for a vacation home. Taxes are very inexpensive compared to other countries. Okayama is such a great city in my opinion.
I recently found a beautiful listing for an akiya near Maizuru City at the coast of Kyoto prefecture for 1.2 million yen !!! It was massive, like 2000 ft² plus decent land and didn't look run down at all ! Intact roof, no damaged windows, completely detached from other houses and right next to a small river within a very beautiful mountain range ! I would love to have something like that !!!
Great video Danny, I've been documenting my own journey - I bought an akiya in Otaru, Hokkaido a few months ago and have just moved into it a week ago. I'm not much of a handyman - so my approach is a combination of DIY learning and part just moving in and making it work as it is while I slowly transform it. As others mentioned - the living in Japan part is a challenge - I took a job as a teacher so that I can spend at least a year living in my house.
Congrats on the move! Even if you stay only a year, the rent would probably be more than the house price lol the visa part is a hassle but doable as long as you work. You’re doing it like me, learn as you go and each time you’ll get better and better at things.
I'm looking in the same area roughly, otaru, Iwamizawa, sunagawa, such places. How much has it cost you so far, including home cost and renovation? And what are your biggest obstacles?
@@YukikoMiyaEN The prices are going up significantly in Otaru and nearby areas. At this point, my expenses wouldn’t be much of a guide. It seems a good rule of thumb is to expect to pay about the same as the purchase price to make any akiya under $30k livable. Biggest obstacles for me are residence/work, not knowing enough Japanese, and isolation to a certain extent because I am a bit remote. Otaru doesn’t have a big expat style social scene or community and y of my neighbors are far older than I am.
There was a really nice and cheap kominka in a coastal area with a view but one caveat - can’t remove the burial mound of someone’s ancestor on the land . And that someone wasn’t the owner.
@@DIYJapan I didn’t mind a free ghost to guard the house but I didn’t take it because repair costs were estimated to be around 10 million, not including getting rid of the termites
Ah, good ol termites. That is something you don't want to deal with for sure. 10 million is ridiculous! So far my house has no trace of them. I wonder if they don't like salty coastal areas lol
¨cheap¨ upfront ,but cost add up in renovations ,taxes , fees, marking the border but they have alot of charachter and think its awesome to live in a old house and happy to see someone rescue old houses ,my dream would be a English wattle and daub cottage with a thatched roof
I love the English wattle houses. They have such a beautiful aesthetic. I guess renovation costs are all up to the buyer. It always depends on what you are willing to accept, can afford and do yourself. The house was perfectly livable as it was though. Except the toilet lol
I love how many jealous people comment in all the Japan vids and reddit posts to mentally justify why they didn’t and won’t do what deep down they really wish they did. « Your neighbours will always treat you as an annoying foreigner! » meanwhile I know some who literally are constantly given gifts by their old neighbours, or are invited to dinners at their homes, even if the foreigners are young and have tattoos! Keep being negative, meanwhile others can enjoy life 😊
True! I think some who live here don’t want to “share” Japan with other foreigners. I’ve had similar experiences, dinner invites, hanging out and general good vibes from the community.
The deer do not respect our land, must put up a 1.5m tall fence or they will eat all ur veg and poop all over the rest. interestingly, a few days ago Japan changed the lower limit for who can buy a Nouchi farm plot WITHOUT being a farmer. Now a regular person can buy such land which often comes with a Kominka (often the type of house that is abandoned vacant, or Akiya), just need to go thru the hoops to transfer land ownership registration. If anyone is going to buy an Akiya, the best resource IMO is to make contact with a local realtor. Smaller towns are usually very close knit, and the best sites are only known by locals, often never posted online.
My neighbor loves to put blue cloth tape all around my property to keep them away. She says she's helping me keep the deer off the land and from eating my tulips and flowers... doesn't work. Great news about the farm land. If they would have done that sooner... I would have considered a farm house instead. Dying to have a proper garden but not willing to have to take classes and farm 100 acres of rice. There are so many resources now. It's really hard to cover everything in one video lol
Speaking of deer. Is there a designated hunting season for deer (or any wild animals for that matter)? Is hunting a big thing in Japan like it is here in the USA?
@@jtp336 no not common unless you go to mountainous areas away from big cities. Even then, who is permitted to hunt and use rifles is very strictly controlled. As for hunting season, I don't know. I do know that I occasionally hear rifleshots in this area south of Tokyo occasionally. Mostly they target deer and boar. In Hokkaido they also hunt black bears.
Four conditions which can discount the price of a Japan house. The potential for -flooding -earthquake -volcano -land slip This information with maps should be available at the local government office. So good negotiating data. Although you can buy cheap it can be difficult to sell on. Therefore, buying, renovating and renting out might be worth considering. Jack, the Japan Alps Brit
Hell, in pa, even a slightly run down trailer home in the mountains with under an acre of property is like 25k last i looked into cheap homes, and thats a trailer lol this is a whole house, renovated where it needs it, for Just about 20k, and in a much more beutiful area as well. I'd love to move to japan but the biggest hurdle would be learning the language and finding out what i could do for work, but living in a countryside like this would practically be a dream lol
@@voice.of.reason Maybe. How many years have you been saying that? And if it falls to 40%.....and you bought 5 years ago....maybe you about break even.
Well, many reasons... save rent... or no rent is a big one. It's peaceful. It's clean. It's quiet. I want to raise my kids in this environment. Careers? Well, that all depends on the person as well. Most westerners will be teachers in Japan which can be done anywhere there is a school. That will be the biggest ''career'' in Japan which isn't much different in the city as the countryside.
What's it like actually living there? While beautiful, it could be dull or isolating if there's no shops, bar, cafe etc. Are you living there full time and if so do you miss whatever big city you lived in Japan beforehand? Ive been looking for a few months but was focusing on an area with lots of snow, but these are the kinds of questions I ponder with the village I've been considering. What's transport like in your town, are there any schools or medical clinic nearby? Very well shot video, you did a great job of distilling the key issues!
This area is really peaceful. Everyone pretty much minds their own business. I think people here live a very easy and stress free life so they are not as high strung as in other areas. But there are a few grumpy grandpas here and there. To be honest, I don't miss the big city at all. The only really big thing we miss is easier access to organic food. Out here we have to order many things and plan ahead a bit. As far as everything else the city has to offer? No thanks lol Maybe when I was younger I have would missed the dynamic of the big city... but even then all I looked forward to was escaping the city on weekends to find some green and quiet. Just depends on what stage in life you're at. Personally, I cook better, make better coffee and have better scenery than any city has to offer lol The hospital situation is probably the only thing lacking (30 minutes away). We have a day care, an elementary school and a junior high school all 5-10 minutes walking. You really do need a car. I think any countryside town will have bus service that is spotty and limited. Or have a scooter or motorcycle at least in case you miss the bus lol What area are you looking in?
@@DIYJapan Mostly around a few Niigata resort areas. But also put feelers out around your area. The village in Niigata is a bit more sparse than Ine. Population is higher, but slightly more spread out. Not much in the way of thos things I mentioned, ie few restaurants, no cafes, bars, although if you drive 10 km up the mountain there's plenty at the ski resort. A plus is an elementary school just 10 min walk away (we have a 3 year old, so it's a consideration for us soon), it has a 7 eleven and supa and hospital. They're just more spread out so not as walkable. I get the feeling the locals keep to themselves, most are farmers. Biggest issue is probably managing the snow, clearing roof etc, there's an ongoing cost with that. You don't have that issue where you are...
I like Niigata city. If you have a 7-11 then your in way better shape than me lol We have nothing for at least 30 minutes drive. But we do get snow. Dec-March I run snow tires on the car as we get a good dumping every week or two.
@@DIYJapan btw, what was the buying process for your place - were you able to negotiate the price or was it fixed price? Could you make an offer dependent on the outcome of a property inspection report?
Brilliant. As a Japanese, you worded exactly well about the terrible complication of Japanese system! Even as a Japanese, it was so tough to find even renting a room due to comication of the unwritten rules, I imagine it can be very hard for non Japanese to buy a house or land. Having said that, I am very much interested in buying Akiya😊
Buying a SFH in Japan is really tricky. Let's say a fixer upper is only $10,000, and spend $50,000 for rehab, the value of the house is still $10,000. It will never get appreciation.
It really is true. It only makes sense if you're going to live in the house or plan on keeping it. I personally bought my house because it's my home and I plan on it being that for a very long time if not forever. If I ever decided to move, it's still a fantastic vacation house. So there is no plan on selling it and therefore price appreciation isn't important to me.
@@DIYJapan It is very sad that the Japanese is still living with this kind of mindset though the country is shrinking. I am not sure if it comes from the weather and/or Shintoism considering the old item as impurity. This is one of the reasons why the Japanese never becomes rich. The housing industry, tax regulations, the banking system and the real estate industry in Japan will not even try to change the habit, and they have even been taking advantage of this particular consumers' mindset for a long time. Consequently no flippers exist in Japan. I am living in the United States and the US properties made a lot of asset for me, but you are right, if you enjoy living and doing rehab, that would be a good opportunity.
@@ruslanmg Most Japanese people absolutely hate old houses. They have a perception that they are not worthy of living in them. There are various reasons, which to be honest, are valid. This includes that many changes to earthquake resistance laws, insulation and building materials. With that said though, older homes have more character, have more windows and are generally much larger. So it really is a pick your poison situation. Many people who buy the older homes invest a lot to insulate them and make them more comfortable. As for earthquake resistance, there are many things you can to improve the structures ability to withstand one but in the end, they are still vulnerable. Just pray and hope at that point lol but it's not all that bad.
sadly there is alot more to this than the video, but thank you all the same Danny, good advice and so true about being very good at japanese or a native speaker pref from Japan, born and bred. Even then it's a challenge because the paper work that still exists in Japan is like signing over your life in blood and if you have no money to back this 6k house for maintenance and other legal proceedings and life long payments for sudden discrepancies then wave farewell to this 6k house bargain
You're right; there is a lot more to it than in the video for sure. I originally had a lot written to go into further detail but the video was just too large and long. I think everyone should be well educated with what it takes to own a house no matter what country they buy one in. Home ownership means you have to take care of the house yourself... a very important detail that most fail to understand when they buy a house. And of course that means having money saved up for maintenance and ''sudden pipe breaks'' and such lol You would hope that that would be something everyone knows... 🙄
@@DIYJapan Totally! atsuko (wife) is from miyakonojo, miyazaki prefecture and its a small town/farm life but to close to family haha. So we looked for homes on the outskirts and was told from multiple villager's that there are abandoned schools and homes we should look into buying. But ya, the legal requirements and maintenance turns out to be more costly than having a modern standard apartment in the city centre. Turns out hokkaido is more promising but were not fond of the snow, however, its right next to sopporo, so...50/50
I also considered an abandoned school lol I think it would be awesome to live in a school... but maintenance of the grounds, time to clean it, yeah, not worth the effort. But the idea is still fun.
I read that Japan currently has just over 9 million vacant homes. Some in urban, suburban and rural areas. Some abandoned and some that just need some updating. A lot of older folks are dying off, with no family to claim their property. Quite a sad situation really. With their low birthrate and general distaste of immigrants, it does no bode well for Japan's economy.
There are empty houses everywhere you look. And it's never clear who owns them or why they are abandoned. I've never seen anything like it. I think in the next 20-30 years it's going to look really bad when the elderly generations are gone.
@@DIYJapan though it's just a joke, but I'm really concerned is it really that expensive to build a house toilet? I mean sure Japanese toilet has all of the cool features but 9K is like buying a used car
@@fadhil4008 the cost included new sewage pipes to the toilet, kitchen, bathroom and washing machine. So technically there was a lot more involved than just a new toilet. It was a pit, just a hole to drop your droppings. That hole needed to be filled and covered and then all new water pipes and drain pipes. It was a lot 😥
My house is in Ine-cho. I don't believe it myself sometimes. I think I take the beauty for granted sometimes but then I visit Osaka and think, man, it's pretty here lol
I'm considering rolling the dice on this as I'm a Japanophile and i study Japanese buildings and carpentry as an architect. The one thing I have to ask is can you get broadband internet there? I could renovate a place as I know how they build but to keep me afloat, I'd have to work remotely as I already do. As far as your place is concentered, Your bog is the first point of call, unless you can get used to squatting, Personally, I've never worked out how that works if you have trousers on,
It really has to do with the location of the house more than anything. If it's a stand alone building in a rice field not near a town... likely you will not have internet access. But if the house is situated relatively close to town or in a town.... then it's likely to have access or capable of adding. It's situational of course. And squat toilets require a certain olympic acrobatic skill to get used to lol
@@DIYJapan yep, thank you once again for sharing! also in my opinion, theres no need to change the title, "I purchased my abandoned akiya house for $6,000 in Kyoto Japan" is alright in my opinion, whats important is the content of the video! thank you again!
I guess that when buying these sorts of houses, a good way of looking at it would be a similar way to buying a used car - pay less initially, then use your budget on renovation, or pay more and not have as much stuff to fix. I've seen videos on TH-cam of people who went with either approach, and it seems the end results were much the same - it's quite fascinating to see these buildings have new life breathed into them!
Older homes have a more pleasing aesthetic too. But if you lose your job, you’re not getting evicted so you choose to spend one renovations when you can. I guess that’s the main appeal vs having a mortgage payment.
Excellent videos. Very informative unlike so many others... I lived in Japan (Tokyo area) during the 90s and would love to spend time in Japan during my retirement. Maybe buying an akiya could be a good thing... or just renting a house in the countryside?
I was looking for akiyas in the farming area Ibaraki and prices were crazy. I'd be interested in a video about what you learned about different regions you researched.
From what I hear, farming land is much easier to purchase now. It's a good idea to make a video about some pros and cons about some areas. I'll have to think about making a video like that in the near future.
If you're a foreigner in Japan, expect to have a nosey neighbors some of them know what youneighbor, some of them badmouthing you but they're nice when you talk to them. Its better to secure your house and always close you're curtains away from their eyesights. Find also a house that have a high fence for more privacy.
Yeah, I agree. Countryside people are bored I think. They have nothing better to do. Maybe I have it easier because I am a foreigner. Western people don't normally care about what others say. And my Japanese is bad so I don't understand them anyway haha
Would consider relocating and purchasing two homes if they had high-speed Internet. Would probably purchase an abandoned farmhouse. But I need to keep working so I need high-speed Internet.
I would love to live here Close to beach its nice and Relax and looking at Views To sunset.Fantastic and nice. If they sale this like $1'000 i would love to buy it
You'd better choose a ceramic tile roof house. For those thatched roofs, they are good roof insulation, but there are no craftsmen to replace the thatch in Japan anymore. They need to be replaced once in a few decades, but even three decades ago, there were already no experts in Japan. I heard a story the Japanese had to hire British straw roof guys from Cotswolds or somewhere to replace them. Even in England probably no more experts today. Also, they are centuries old like 200, 300, or even 400 years old, you need to renovate many things for the modern lifestyle so they cost more.
I heard about that. There still a very select few thatched roof houses left in Kyoto. But most owners opt to cover them with metal roofs. The straw is still there, just another roof built over it. Really strange.
It's not that I'm dying to live in Japan (again), but a nice house in a nice place is really appealing, especially with the insane housing market in my country. Something to seriously think about
It sound like you didn't like living here. Like any place, it has its challenges. But the cost of living is not nearly as bad as everywhere else... housing market especially.
Japan was great, but I already lived there, so going back isn't "a dream" like the first time. But an affordable house in Japan is very interesting, I'm not against living there again
"A dream" means I didn't expect to live in a different country, especially for a long time, that's not exactly the same as "my dream" Japan is a great place, I'll look into buying a house there, I enjoyed the video
What is the catch? If a house in Germany costs less then 10k then it has at least 1 hole in the roof and the next train station is at least 10km away. Partially collapsed roofs are very common in this category. In other words it has been raining in those houses usually for years. And of course no central heating. Almost nothing below 50k has central heating. But with split heat pumps that's not a big issue anymore. Oh, also don't expect anything within 50km of a city you have heard of before below 60k. Except for Bitburg. Edit: Oh, the catch is no indoor plumbing, now it makes sense.
Well also these are very countryside homes. In terms of convenience, well, there isn’t much. These are more of a lifestyle choice style home. Peaceful, far away, and secluded. That said, you can get a pretty decent home for 10k, you definitely need split heat pump in various rooms and some upgrades to winterization.
All I want to know is how you spent $9000 on a toilet. A few years ago I did an entire garage conversion here in California for about $7000 and its probably the nicest such apartment I’ve ever seen. And the bathroom in particular is very modern and looks like something you would find in a very expensive ultra-modern house in the Hollywood hills. Anyway, that price included lumber for framing, insulation, drywall, electrical, plumbing, and all fixtures. The water heater, mini-split AC, and refrigerator were also included in that price. Of course, I did 100% of the labor myself and I spent as much time shopping for bargains as I did building it. And of course it was all done to code.
The answer is complicated. I wasn’t super clear in everything that went into the cost of the bathroom. But basically the toilet was 2k itself. The bathroom was just a hole and needed to be filled, new plumbing made, and a sewage connection needed as well. That required, digging, a plumber, as well as a 3k payment to the city for the sewer connection. It also included new drain pipe connections for the kitchen, shower room and washing machine that were not previously there. That all got lumped into the cost… so that’s really why it was so expensive. Labor in Japan isn’t cheap either… and I just didn’t have the ability to do it myself. In Japan, inly certified plumbers are allowed to lay plumbing for city sewage systems so it had to be a city certified plumber.
I think you’re lucky to find such a cheap home in Washington. Not sure you’d be able to find something so cheap in the U.S. ever again lol Japan’s home prices will probably never appreciate.
We bought summer house in Japan also , we have a lot of friends there, we spent time over there every year. we still love it. We want to sell it because we getting old to travel anymore.
the water front looked beautifully clear, wow! Another factor is earthquake proofing; is the house contingent to the structural code updates prior to occupying & insuring?
The house is Kyu-Taishin so it's at the lower 1971 standard of earthquake resistance. meaning it can take a good shaking but it'll probably be unlivable past level 6 earthquake. I thought about adding reinforcements at a sooner than later date.
@@DIYJapan I appreciate the detailed info as it helps solidify a plan of action for when I find a spot to search akiya. Btw, I think it's neat how other TH-camrs have mentioned your channel in their videos such as Akiya Kominka Life, making a cool community
It's definitely a cool way to get to know like minded people doing similar things. Too bad a lot of us live too far away from each other to visit each other 😓
Ah, you bought a home in an area where I would love to buy a home, Kyoto. It's lovely, and you are lucky to be handy. I would do the same with floors, replace them with wood. Can I ask what website you used to purchase your home? And also--is the fall a good time to look at homes to purchase there? Thanks.
I think anytime is a good time to look. There isn’t one specific website to look at. Nothing centralized… that would make things too easy. You really have to look city specifically. And sometimes just visit the city in person and talk to the local real estate person or you could potentially call the city directly and ask if they have Aliya listings… I know it all doesn’t sound easy but it’s really the only way.
I think you're right. The real estate market is always flat here in the countryside. Many people think that they can make money flipping houses but it's just not viable. But as a home, it's still a great investment. No rent beats out paying a mortgage for 30 years +
Thx for the video. I think the biggest thing for me would be access to a nearby transit station and grocery if I bought a house like this. Obviously you need a good chunk of money to purchase property safely and securely no matter the supposed bargain unless you already live in Japan, have a good job, familiar with the language/culture, etc. I mean, I would want to ship my possessions over there if somehow things magically aligned correctly and I imagine that would be quite expensive to just ship there and then hired a moving company to the distant/remote location. That's not even considering the visa issue and trying to attain permanent residence. As much as I'd like to get along with everyone, my main focus, other than straight affordability for some great, older style Japanese architecture that I absolutely love, would just be wanting to have peace and quiet/ less stress. Yes there's cultural differences and laws, but people are people no matter where you go and they always present their pros and cons.
If you do it that way then that’s definitely the hard way. Japan should be more of a reset. Leave everything behind and start a new life, new clothes, furniture and such. Moving is expensive, probably cheaper to start over with everything. The visa is still the single hardest hurdle for sure though.
@@DIYJapan Agreed, but I have a 30 year film collection, my bird, and a host of other possessions that are non negotiable as far as parting with. Could care less about furniture. A hard reset at 53 is a little different than at 23. Thx for the response and video.
It’s also my dream to live nearby sea or a very quiet,serene place when I grow old,and i heard from a friend that there has lots of old houses which are so spacious here in Japan that are not occupied and for sale but my problem is that old houses or even new might be disturbing for me if spirits are living there because I can easily feel entities or souls in one house . I want something I will be comfortable spiritually. But ,anyway I heard that lot houses here in Japan countryside which are truly cheap and affordable .
There are many cheap houses. I have found some good deals on the coasts of Japan. They are very far and very quiet. You can definitely inquire about who owned the house and if anyone passed away in the house. I think those matters have to be said to you if you ask. Good luck! I hope you find something near the sea!
You could definitely work remotely. But every area is different. Our internet is pretty good, not knock my socks off though. Probably best to research the area and local providers before purchasing something.
Hi Danny, very informative and useful video. I visited quite a lot places in Japan, Ine too. I think you made a good decision buying that house. Ine is one of the most beautiful and special villages I've seen there. I was astonished by the amount of eagles flying there and by the coast itself !!!
Thanks Xavier! I love the hawks but they have a mission to drown my drone in the ocean. They dive at it anytime they see it. I can only fly when they are not near me otherwise I risk the drone being attacked and ending up at the bottom of the ocean lol
What other places do you recommend??
@@DIYJapan were u able to get a residence visa for purchasing the property?
@joanpjlee You cannot get a visa just by purchasing a house. There is no such provision unfortunately.
Danny ,great video and very informative. I live outside of Japan and I have started the process of buying an Akiya home. I have found a home on line but my issue now is I need to locate a lawyer that is reasonably priced who can complete the negotiations and complete the sale for me.
I don't speak Japanese so I need a lawyer who can communicate in English. I would be grateful for any recommendations you could me for a lawyer possibly the lawyer you used. The property is being sold by the Akiya bank which is the government I believe.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
George
Back in the day, when I purchased my first home to live-in; that was Miami in the early 1990s, first mortgages with rates of 8 to 9% and 9% to 10% were typical. People will have to accept the possibility that we won't ever return to 3%. If sellers must sell, home prices will have to decline, and lower evaluations will follow. Pretty sure I'm not alone in my chain of thoughts.
If anything, it'll get worse. Very soon, affordable housing will no longer be affordable. So anything anyone want to do, I will advise they do it now because the prices today will look like dips tomorrow. Until the Fed clamps down even further, I think we're going to see hysteria due to rampant inflation. You can't halfway rip the band-aid off.
Home prices will come down eventually, but for now; get your money (as much as you can) out of the housing market and get into the financial markets or gold. The new mortgage rates are crazy, add to that the recession and the fact that mortgage guidelines are getting more difficult. Home prices will need to fall by a minimum of 40% (more like 50%) before the market normalizes. If you are in cross roads or need sincere advise on the best moves to take now its best you seek an independent advisor who knows about the financial markets.
How can I participate in this? I sincerely aspire to establish a secure financial future and am eager to participate. Who is the driving force behind your success?.
Sonya lee Mitchell is the licensed fiduciary I use. Just research the name. You’d find necessary details to work with a correspondence to set up an appointment.
I hope it starts going down for the sake of future home owners because otherwise people will just be trapped at the mercy of landlords. Maybe that’s how they want it.
For those who don't know, one must have a sponsor to live in Japan long-term. Usually the place you are employed at or a Japanese spouse. Also, these houses have no heat. It will be freezing. Also, termites. The common visa is for 3 months only. Very well done video.
Good information, you’re totally correct. That should be step number 1, get a visa! These houses can be tough to renovate and insulate… it’s too much information to cover in one video for sure.
The lack of heat seems like a perfect situation for mini-split heat pumps.
@@CrimLawGeek You are correct. We actually run two heat pumps upstairs on opposing sides. I still have to figure out a better way to cool things though. They are not as efficient in the dead of summer as we'd like them to be. But at night they keep us cool.
@@DIYJapan
So, any kind of visa is okay?
Travel visa or working visa??
Example, i have travel visa in Japan for 1-3y. And I travel there only, can I bough “cheap house” like this??
Or must have greencard pr??
@@HauTran-sunfromsouth Yeah, pretty much. Although keep in mind that if you really want to live in a house, especially in Japan - learn the language.
Living in the countryside of Japan is waaaaaaaaaaaay harder than living in the cities. I'm Japanese, but the times after moving from Osaka to Okayama was really tough. There are so many unspoken rules, and even if you completely understand those, and even if you are willing to have a good relationship between the neighbours, they still treat you as an annoying outsider. Also, there are spots you should never go or live in, which is a huge taboo in the Japanese society but still secretly believed by the Japanese. You have to know that there is a huge chance of trying to live in a quiet world but end up getting depressed. Despite that, he decided to do it, and doing pretty well. That's why I think he is so strong. I really hope he will love his new life in Japan.
I can totally agree with you. But this topic is so complex and it's not easily explained to people who have never lived in the countryside. I am happy you are doing well considering the added complexity of living in the countryside. I personally don't let what people around me think of me affect where and how I live. The neighbors can think and act how they want. It won't change my happiness and it won’t sway my decisions. I don’t need anyone else’s opinions. After all, it’s my life to live how I see fit, not theirs.
?? Seems that your mindset is on the conservative discouraging one that most use as an excuse to totally refuse any gaijins from living and owning a house in Japan. Nice try but this kind of nonsense doesn’t work with determined people and no, it’s not a matter to be strong or not. It’s a matter of being authentic to oneself and not to idiotic peer pressure. Cheers
I can see your point and agree with it to some degree, but not everyone thinks the same way. For some, it's imperative to have the community adore them and accept them. Otherwise they feel rejected and depressed. People feel that it will add to their experience living in Japan if everyone in the community loves them. But that is nearly impossible. In fact, chances are, most of the community will probably not like you and the rest will probably care less that you live there. It isn't the end all if the majority of people don’t like me. Everyone is entitled to live how they want and to form their own (biased) opinions, I really can’t control what they think of me outside of common curtsies. I don’t see life in black and white. They love me I stay, they hate me I leave….I don’t think this way. For me if they love me great, if they hate… so what? Lol
Living in Kyoto would be waaaay harder to live in the countryside. Even a few local ‘non-Kyoto’ Japanese neighbors around my machiya (rented out to an expat) told me that they are never truly ‘accepted’ by their community even after decades of living in Kyoto. Kyoto>countryside>suburb>city.
@@Omagatsuhi You are completely right, Kyoto is special. Kyoto is a city that has been the capital of Japan for more than a millennium. People who have lived in Kyoto and interacted with their neighborhoods for hundreds of years since the time of their ancestors, would NEVER recognize a person who has lived in Kyoto for only a few decades as a true "Kyotoite".
Also, even if you have lived in Kyoto for that long, the hierarchy changes depending on whether you lived in the traditionally prosperous " _rakuchu_ (洛中='in-palace')" area or the less prosperous " _rakugai_ (洛外='out-palace')" area. When locals say "Kyoto," they are more likely to refer to _rakuchu_ than to Kyoto City or Kyoto Prefecture. Therefore, it is quite common for people from the countryside of Kyoto to say "I'm going to Kyoto" when they go to visit the center of Kyoto, even though they themselves are also from Kyoto.
I have lived in Kyoto and my parents have homes in Kyoto and Nara. I do love the city, but I would never recommend living in Kyoto for the rest of your life. Since it is a basin, the weather is terrible, and it is not very convenient. It is much easier to live in Osaka and take the $3 train to Kyoto, both in terms of climate and relationships with the locals.
There is a lot more to the story of buying an Akiya and living in Japan. First, you need to be able to live in Japan in the first place. This, for most people, means you can get a work visa, or marry a Japanese national who earns enough to support the both of you. The areas were the cheapest houses are located happens to the the places were work is the hardest to find. I could easily find a dirt-cheap home in 90% of Japan for next to nothing, but, unfortunately, in these areas you are likely to find work which pays next to nothing. And if I don't want to actually buy a home, I could rent a family-size house for as little as $100 per month. You can find these cheap rentals through the village or ward offices in the countryside, and if you have a spouse visa, they can also help find you a decent job, if you don't mind commercial fishing or are a skilled laborer.
When looking at houses, keep in mind that most Akiya are made of wood. Wood is perishable, it dries, rots, and is tasty to insects. Japan has 4 distinct seasons, which accelerate the decay rate of wood. When you look at a properly, look at the ceiling for water stains, look at the walls for water stains, smell the air for mold and fungus. Look at the walls and make sure the corners are vertical, and the siding doesn't sag. Look at the roofline and make sure that it is vertical. Inside the house, look under the tatami mats to see if the floor boards are in good condition, and look above the ceiling to see the condition of the roof supports. Push the walls and see if they move, push the door posts and see if the house shakes.
Check the plumbing, and the condition of the flooring in the bathrooms and kitchen. Try to get the water turned on before your visit so you can see if the taps work and the toilet flushes. Many Akiya have "Turkish" toilets, the kind you can't sit on, and must squat over. Check the septic systems, many homes in the country use a septic tank. Pluming and septic repairs are very costly, try to find a home which has good plumbing.
When you find a building you like, negotiate hard. If the house and lot are full of junk, ask them to include junk removal in the price. Also, price how much it will cost to replace the tatami mats in an older house, and see if you can use this when negotiating. Replacing the tatami makes the house look much better, and can make it smell like new. And, if you are looking at a house in the northern parts of Japan, keep in mind that it can snow deeply in the winter, find out about road maintenance, how often the roads are plowed, and who you can contact if your road becomes impassible.
Most countryside Akiya are situated in clusters of houses, so you'll probably have neighbors close at hand. Make friends with your neighbors as early as possible, help them when they need help, and they'll return the favor. If you need work done to your house, they'll be able to advise you how to do it the most economically, or they may be skilled enough that you can hire them to help.
For myself, I live in the middle of Tokyo, but am in the process of securing an Akiya in the countryside in an area where I can cycle and enjoy nature in the summer, and enjoy skiing in the winter. It's been a fun process so far, I've found several properties which the owners are willing to hand over for free, though of course there are the usual legal and red tape fees, and things which are supposedly "free" often end up costing more in the long run than something which would have been considered "expensive."
Good advice. I totally agree with everything you’re saying. This video was just how I found the house. But you’re right, it’s an immensely complicated topic and just can’t be covered in a 10 minute video. I have some similar topics coming out in the near future. Now I have the time to dig a little deeper.
Wow thanks for the great info! What do you mean by vertikal corner?
smart advise !
can you buy something if you spend more $50k in not such crazy remote areas without stores. Something near train so you like in 2 hours in Tokyo ?
While most is true, you don't need to be a resident to buy a house or flat. (though you are not able to get a long-term visa or PR, just because you have a property)
♡ to the sibling caring for the father's house after 3 decades of being the designated person to care for it
hopefully this brought all the family closer together
for always
People in rural Japan tend to be very nosey with each other. Some of them hate foreigners. They know what their neighbors are doing every minute under their 24/7 surveillance and constantly badmouth on somebody in the town. Some of them do it as their hobby. So I would recommend to talk to at least a few neighbors of the house you are looking at. Plus, ask them what type of "Cho-naikai" they are running and meet the Cho-naikai boss. If you don't like the boss, stay away from the town. Lastly, watch out for earthquake especially if you live in a Kominka. Do not sleep in the 1st floor and next to large furniture.
I completely agree! My neighbors are nosey but super nice. Mostly they are curious because they are relatives of the house's previous owner. I think you hit the nail in the head on all points... but this video was mainly to talk about finding a house. There are too many side topics that I just can't cover in one video.
The pros and, definitely the cons, are a huge can of worms that I just wasn't willing to open.
Too many people, especially gaijin living in Japan, have strong opinions and disagreements about what we, as a foreign community, should do to 'integrate' and get respected in local Japanese communities. It's something I would love to cover but... just not ready for the amount of negative discourse that comes with it.
Hopefully in the near future I'd like to talk more about earthquake topics. Seems to be on everyones minds with the old houses. We'll see ✌
There is a lot of hatred towards foreigners in Japan your a %100 correct
生々しいけど 都心でも 戸建てならどこでもある
That's rural people everywhere.
Foreigners are known as Gaijin. I actually learned that reading frank millers 1982 Wolverine comic book arc when Logan lived in japan and fought the yakuza.
Mine was aquired through the town Akiya bank. Though price at about $7000, total cost after real estate agent, survey cost and paying last year taxes. $12000. Don't forget if your house is require to connect to public sewage that will cost an arm and leg. Mine was estimated @ $16000 just to connect.😢😢.
That is a much larger amount for the house after all the costs. The $9,000 I paid for the toilet room was for running pipes and the connection fee from the city of $2,500. But I was lucky, the sewage connection was just outside of my house. It didn't take much to reach it. We made all those estimates before we bought the house. We didn't want any surprises.
Damn what do you do to afford 16k?
@@allworksnew I'll have to take a year off to work then quit and continue.
What about property taxes
Compared to the price of a starter home in California and this is basically like free. Akiya is the way to go. Save up and start a digital facing business in Japan.
Excellent information! Practical and realistic. My Japanese (ex-) partner and I bought a thatch-roofed kominka many years ago. He was able to handle the paperwork and get us integrated with the neighbors (most nice, some not). The seller was a tough old guy who raised the price by 40% at the last minute, so we gave up. Then year later, he contacted us to say he'd sell at the original quote because we seemed to want the house so much. I was able to commute by car to universities for teaching work. Nowadays, telework may be possible. However, it's really necessary to consider if you can make a living, and if practical aspects will be handled in the future by local municipalities. Due to the lack of a tax base in some very rural areas, some communities don't even plow roads in winter anymore. If the local school has a few kids attending, snow will be plowed, but if not? Anyway, if you're the sort of person who likes camping, life in a rural old kominka is great fun!
What a crazy guy trying to raise the price last minute. I would have been so angry! My town gets extra tax money from Kyoto prefecture because of it's cultural significance and designation so it's well managed and maintained. But many other towns don't fare so well as you said.
How is it maintaining a thatch-roofed house? I love the look of them but I can imagine that there is more complex maintenance to them.
@@DIYJapan Yes, your area is so unique. Seems like the best of both worlds with rural charm but some municipal and tourist money coming in. The previous owner of the farmhouse had put a tin roof over the thatch. From the inside looking up, it was amazing to see the how the thatch was secured to the beams with rope. (From the outside, it was just a big piece of tin.) Did you hear about the British woman some years ago who brought in a British thatcher to re-thatch her house in Miyama-cho (for room and board)? It took him a full year with a team of volunteers and the process is documented. Supposedly thatch doesn't last as long as it used because of acid rain, but there are people who are trying to keep the art alive.
Sounds like a great story! In Kyoto prefecture it's still possible to see many of these types of houses. Most have the tin roofs over them but every now and then you see an open thatched roof house. They are great to see but I understand why they cover them. The carpenters and skill set to keep these houses going are slowly dying out. But I think it's popular now to just cover the house with tin and also close the ceiling. It's as if they are ashamed of the style and are trying to hide it lol
I would have offered to buy the house 10% lower than the asking price after the seller pulled that stunt and came crawling back a year later.
I’m glad someone finally talked about the complexity of looking for the original owner of the house
I could go on all week about it lol
I've been checking out akiya as an american who works from home and is sick of our terrible housing market. I've got the money to buy one of these places. Always been interested in Japan. This video did great addressing some concerns I've had.
I got tired of the roller coaster of the American housing market too. It’s a speculative market based on gains and losses. Japan is different. Housing is seen as just that, housing. Very hard to see gains in real estate as a business but as “housing” to live, it can be affordable.
@@DIYJapan yes, it's how housing should be. I'm hoping Americans start pushing for political policy change when it comes to housing because it's so bad here. It's killing the American dream- we don't have the opportunities that our parents did.
Yeah, great grandparents had 5-10 year mortgages and then owned their homes, I remember my parents complaining about having a 15 year mortgage… now the average is 30 with it creeping into 40-50 year loans… what is even the point.
So youre tired of housing market in your country and decided to start buying houses in other country to make their market prices unaffordable too?
I like the flow of your content, really good mix of scenery and editing. I didn't think I'd be starting an akiya search so soon, but like with tracking down all those estranged family members , this will be a long and patient process. The sooner I get started, the better off I'll be. Thank you for the information.
Thanks and you're welcome. I think my situation was a little uncommon. But it never hurts to start looking now. You can get an idea of the market, what is available and you start to understand a good deal when you see one by looking a lot.
I lived in Japan (Kansai) for many years (over 20 years ago) and was always told that foreigners could not buy property in Japan. I was thwarted every time I inquired so to hear this is really mind bending! I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. I probably won't buy, but I will return to visit. I'm too wrapped up in my life here in the US now. But, thank you so much for the information! It's a lot to think about!
I'm sure Kansai was a completely different place 20 years ago! I think maybe people told you it wasn't possible out of ignorance. Most people in Japan, as you may know, don't want to give you advice that is wrong so it's easier just to say '' You can't do that'' for fear that they might be wrong if they say it's ok. Or it's the whole ''You live here? When are you going back to your country?'' remark... like saying '' you couldn't possible be planning on staying... so you can't be serious about buying a house''. But as far as I know, Chinese and Korean nationals have been buying property here like crazy for a long time. Half of Kyoto, I hear, is Chinese owned.
These days Japan is a different country compared to 20 yrs ago. More easy to migrate to Japan now than 20 yrs ago
Nice video. Lived in Japan for about 21 years, never knew that it was possible to buy a cheap house... I guess, things changed in 12 years... Now I'm thinking to go back to Japan, probably will search for a house to buy instead of paying high rent for small rooms... Love the countryside, is way cheaper and very quiet to live. I can speak and read very well, so it will not be a problem to communicate with others.
If you can speak and read than you’re golden. Prices are still cheap because of supply and demand. I figure in the next ten years, as the population ages, the glut of houses will just increase.
This is really helpful. The inheritance issues is really interesting, and not something I was familiar with. Also, the necessity of having good command of the language is something so many online tour-guides seem to gloss over. It's one thing if you're visitng, but living there permanently is so very different. Thank you!
It's so true. Without proper knowledge of Japanese, then the process becomes that much more complex.
We bought summer house in Japan also , we have a lot of friends there, we spent time over there every year. we still love it. We want to sell it because we getting old to travel anymore.
where is it and how much?
@@ChristopherCricketWallace Okayama, thirty thousand
It's a great idea to have a house just to visit for vacation. It doesn't take much to just keep the house for a vacation home. Taxes are very inexpensive compared to other countries. Okayama is such a great city in my opinion.
@@ChristopherCricketWallaceI have a YT VDO on my CN if you would like to see my house.
@@ChristopherCricketWallace I have a YT VDO on my CN if you would like to see my house.
Searching in Japanese it's mostly useful when you're searching for a house in a more remote or less searched area (based on my experience)
It definitely doesn't hurt to look in either language.
I recently found a beautiful listing for an akiya near Maizuru City at the coast of Kyoto prefecture for 1.2 million yen !!!
It was massive, like 2000 ft² plus decent land and didn't look run down at all !
Intact roof, no damaged windows, completely detached from other houses and right next to a small river within a very beautiful mountain range !
I would love to have something like that !!!
Maizuru is a nice town in certain areas. Great picturesque areas. Sound like an ideal spot... what stops you?
@@DIYJapan
Money...😅
Amongst other things...
I hear that :(
The level of complication with multiple owners was absolutely insane!
It was a exercise in patience for sure lol 😂
Your personality is awesome! The phone call scene was incredible. Thank you!
Thank you for the kind words!
Very informative. Loved the editing and beautiful scenery, too! Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much!
Great video Danny, I've been documenting my own journey - I bought an akiya in Otaru, Hokkaido a few months ago and have just moved into it a week ago. I'm not much of a handyman - so my approach is a combination of DIY learning and part just moving in and making it work as it is while I slowly transform it. As others mentioned - the living in Japan part is a challenge - I took a job as a teacher so that I can spend at least a year living in my house.
Congrats on the move! Even if you stay only a year, the rent would probably be more than the house price lol the visa part is a hassle but doable as long as you work. You’re doing it like me, learn as you go and each time you’ll get better and better at things.
I'm looking in the same area roughly, otaru, Iwamizawa, sunagawa, such places. How much has it cost you so far, including home cost and renovation? And what are your biggest obstacles?
@@YukikoMiyaEN The prices are going up significantly in Otaru and nearby areas. At this point, my expenses wouldn’t be much of a guide. It seems a good rule of thumb is to expect to pay about the same as the purchase price to make any akiya under $30k livable. Biggest obstacles for me are residence/work, not knowing enough Japanese, and isolation to a certain extent because I am a bit remote. Otaru doesn’t have a big expat style social scene or community and y of my neighbors are far older than I am.
Thank you for sharing your info. It is very helpful in deed.
You're welcome!
Omg that inheritance part explanation was very intense buj I am glad everything went smoothly🙆🙏🎶💯🙋
Thanks 🙏 back then it was nerve racking for sure 😱
There was a really nice and cheap kominka in a coastal area with a view but one caveat - can’t remove the burial mound of someone’s ancestor on the land . And that someone wasn’t the owner.
That would be an interesting caveat. I think I could live with that. So what ended up happening? You didn't buy it based on that?
@@DIYJapan I didn’t mind a free ghost to guard the house but I didn’t take it because repair costs were estimated to be around 10 million, not including getting rid of the termites
10 million Japanese yen.
Ah, good ol termites. That is something you don't want to deal with for sure. 10 million is ridiculous! So far my house has no trace of them. I wonder if they don't like salty coastal areas lol
I've been independently researching Japan. I'm very interested in moving and learning
It’s a peaceful country to live in but don’t expect perfection. Every country has its pros and cons.
My house was 1.5 million yen and in fantastic condition, even though it's been empty for 10+ years
Sounds like a great deal! Share some photos sometime! Are you in the Hiroshima area? I just assume because you visited the 'virra' lol
Dude that is crazy. That location is amazing too.
Thanks! It’s a tranquil place to live too.
Yeah, but everyone knows the abandoned houses in the country have ghosts. 😬🙈
¨cheap¨ upfront ,but cost add up in renovations ,taxes , fees, marking the border but they have alot of charachter and think its awesome to live in a old house and happy to see someone rescue old houses ,my dream would be a English wattle and daub cottage with a thatched roof
I love the English wattle houses. They have such a beautiful aesthetic. I guess renovation costs are all up to the buyer. It always depends on what you are willing to accept, can afford and do yourself. The house was perfectly livable as it was though. Except the toilet lol
Wow what a convoluted ownership process. Thanks for sharing some of the pitfalls.
Nothing is easy in Japan lol
I love how many jealous people comment in all the Japan vids and reddit posts to mentally justify why they didn’t and won’t do what deep down they really wish they did. « Your neighbours will always treat you as an annoying foreigner! » meanwhile I know some who literally are constantly given gifts by their old neighbours, or are invited to dinners at their homes, even if the foreigners are young and have tattoos! Keep being negative, meanwhile others can enjoy life 😊
True! I think some who live here don’t want to “share” Japan with other foreigners. I’ve had similar experiences, dinner invites, hanging out and general good vibes from the community.
The deer do not respect our land, must put up a 1.5m tall fence or they will eat all ur veg and poop all over the rest. interestingly, a few days ago Japan changed the lower limit for who can buy a Nouchi farm plot WITHOUT being a farmer. Now a regular person can buy such land which often comes with a Kominka (often the type of house that is abandoned vacant, or Akiya), just need to go thru the hoops to transfer land ownership registration. If anyone is going to buy an Akiya, the best resource IMO is to make contact with a local realtor. Smaller towns are usually very close knit, and the best sites are only known by locals, often never posted online.
My neighbor loves to put blue cloth tape all around my property to keep them away. She says she's helping me keep the deer off the land and from eating my tulips and flowers... doesn't work.
Great news about the farm land. If they would have done that sooner... I would have considered a farm house instead. Dying to have a proper garden but not willing to have to take classes and farm 100 acres of rice.
There are so many resources now. It's really hard to cover everything in one video lol
Speaking of deer. Is there a designated hunting season for deer (or any wild animals for that matter)? Is hunting a big thing in Japan like it is here in the USA?
@@jtp336 no not common unless you go to mountainous areas away from big cities. Even then, who is permitted to hunt and use rifles is very strictly controlled. As for hunting season, I don't know. I do know that I occasionally hear rifleshots in this area south of Tokyo occasionally. Mostly they target deer and boar. In Hokkaido they also hunt black bears.
Four conditions which can discount the price of a Japan house. The potential for
-flooding
-earthquake
-volcano
-land slip
This information with maps should be available at the local government office. So good negotiating data.
Although you can buy cheap it can be difficult to sell on. Therefore, buying, renovating and renting out might be worth considering.
Jack, the Japan Alps Brit
Which is pretty much 3/4 of Japan if not all of Japan lol
a very helpful and amusing composition. Well done.
Many thanks! 🙏
Here in California, houses like these (needs major repairs) typically sell for $500,000 or more. Even with repair costs, this is a bargain!
Can’t imagine paying that much for a house that needs renovations ☠️
But you’re comparing California to a country side
That is way over priced. Expect a 60% house price crash in Cali over the next 5 years
Hell, in pa, even a slightly run down trailer home in the mountains with under an acre of property is like 25k last i looked into cheap homes, and thats a trailer lol this is a whole house, renovated where it needs it, for Just about 20k, and in a much more beutiful area as well. I'd love to move to japan but the biggest hurdle would be learning the language and finding out what i could do for work, but living in a countryside like this would practically be a dream lol
@@voice.of.reason Maybe. How many years have you been saying that? And if it falls to 40%.....and you bought 5 years ago....maybe you about break even.
Was in Japan in 80sTokyo house mortgage payments, were set up to take 2 generations, payment.
That’s insane! Must have been fun to live there in the booming age of Japan.
Why do we want to live in rural Japan? To save rent? What about career opportunities in large cities?
Well, many reasons... save rent... or no rent is a big one. It's peaceful. It's clean. It's quiet. I want to raise my kids in this environment. Careers? Well, that all depends on the person as well. Most westerners will be teachers in Japan which can be done anywhere there is a school. That will be the biggest ''career'' in Japan which isn't much different in the city as the countryside.
Informative video. I hope you and your wife are happy in your lovely seaside location.
Appreciate it!
What's it like actually living there? While beautiful, it could be dull or isolating if there's no shops, bar, cafe etc. Are you living there full time and if so do you miss whatever big city you lived in Japan beforehand? Ive been looking for a few months but was focusing on an area with lots of snow, but these are the kinds of questions I ponder with the village I've been considering. What's transport like in your town, are there any schools or medical clinic nearby? Very well shot video, you did a great job of distilling the key issues!
This area is really peaceful. Everyone pretty much minds their own business. I think people here live a very easy and stress free life so they are not as high strung as in other areas. But there are a few grumpy grandpas here and there. To be honest, I don't miss the big city at all. The only really big thing we miss is easier access to organic food. Out here we have to order many things and plan ahead a bit.
As far as everything else the city has to offer? No thanks lol Maybe when I was younger I have would missed the dynamic of the big city... but even then all I looked forward to was escaping the city on weekends to find some green and quiet. Just depends on what stage in life you're at. Personally, I cook better, make better coffee and have better scenery than any city has to offer lol
The hospital situation is probably the only thing lacking (30 minutes away). We have a day care, an elementary school and a junior high school all 5-10 minutes walking.
You really do need a car. I think any countryside town will have bus service that is spotty and limited. Or have a scooter or motorcycle at least in case you miss the bus lol
What area are you looking in?
@@DIYJapan Mostly around a few Niigata resort areas. But also put feelers out around your area. The village in Niigata is a bit more sparse than Ine. Population is higher, but slightly more spread out. Not much in the way of thos things I mentioned, ie few restaurants, no cafes, bars, although if you drive 10 km up the mountain there's plenty at the ski resort. A plus is an elementary school just 10 min walk away (we have a 3 year old, so it's a consideration for us soon), it has a 7 eleven and supa and hospital. They're just more spread out so not as walkable. I get the feeling the locals keep to themselves, most are farmers. Biggest issue is probably managing the snow, clearing roof etc, there's an ongoing cost with that. You don't have that issue where you are...
I like Niigata city. If you have a 7-11 then your in way better shape than me lol We have nothing for at least 30 minutes drive. But we do get snow. Dec-March I run snow tires on the car as we get a good dumping every week or two.
@@DIYJapan btw, what was the buying process for your place - were you able to negotiate the price or was it fixed price? Could you make an offer dependent on the outcome of a property inspection report?
The price was negotiated actually. I've known of a few people who also negotiated their purchases.
Hello. My name is Monica. I enjoyed your show. Thanks for the tips.
Glad you enjoyed it! ✌️
Brilliant.
As a Japanese, you worded exactly well about the terrible complication of Japanese system! Even as a Japanese, it was so tough to find even renting a room due to comication of the unwritten rules, I imagine it can be very hard for non Japanese to buy a house or land. Having said that, I am very much interested in buying Akiya😊
It wasn't easy. It took a lot of patience. Good luck on the Akiya hunt!
You are very handsome. Can I come and live with you? 😂🦔🦡🐾🐭🐇@@DIYJapan
Cool videos man, I will be following. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the support! ✌
Buying a SFH in Japan is really tricky. Let's say a fixer upper is only $10,000, and spend $50,000 for rehab, the value of the house is still $10,000. It will never get appreciation.
It really is true. It only makes sense if you're going to live in the house or plan on keeping it. I personally bought my house because it's my home and I plan on it being that for a very long time if not forever. If I ever decided to move, it's still a fantastic vacation house. So there is no plan on selling it and therefore price appreciation isn't important to me.
@@DIYJapan It is very sad that the Japanese is still living with this kind of mindset though the country is shrinking. I am not sure if it comes from the weather and/or Shintoism considering the old item as impurity. This is one of the reasons why the Japanese never becomes rich. The housing industry, tax regulations, the banking system and the real estate industry in Japan will not even try to change the habit, and they have even been taking advantage of this particular consumers' mindset for a long time. Consequently no flippers exist in Japan. I am living in the United States and the US properties made a lot of asset for me, but you are right, if you enjoy living and doing rehab, that would be a good opportunity.
@@ruslanmg Most Japanese people absolutely hate old houses. They have a perception that they are not worthy of living in them. There are various reasons, which to be honest, are valid. This includes that many changes to earthquake resistance laws, insulation and building materials. With that said though, older homes have more character, have more windows and are generally much larger. So it really is a pick your poison situation. Many people who buy the older homes invest a lot to insulate them and make them more comfortable. As for earthquake resistance, there are many things you can to improve the structures ability to withstand one but in the end, they are still vulnerable. Just pray and hope at that point lol but it's not all that bad.
I subscribed! I like your story telling approach! Very easy to watch and gather any details.
Thanks double 0 seven! Means a lot coming from the legend. Hope you enjoy the rest of the videos!
sadly there is alot more to this than the video, but thank you all the same Danny, good advice and so true about being very good at japanese or a native speaker pref from Japan, born and bred. Even then it's a challenge because the paper work that still exists in Japan is like signing over your life in blood and if you have no money to back this 6k house for maintenance and other legal proceedings and life long payments for sudden discrepancies then wave farewell to this 6k house bargain
You're right; there is a lot more to it than in the video for sure. I originally had a lot written to go into further detail but the video was just too large and long. I think everyone should be well educated with what it takes to own a house no matter what country they buy one in. Home ownership means you have to take care of the house yourself... a very important detail that most fail to understand when they buy a house. And of course that means having money saved up for maintenance and ''sudden pipe breaks'' and such lol You would hope that that would be something everyone knows... 🙄
@@DIYJapan Totally! atsuko (wife) is from miyakonojo, miyazaki prefecture and its a small town/farm life but to close to family haha. So we looked for homes on the outskirts and was told from multiple villager's that there are abandoned schools and homes we should look into buying. But ya, the legal requirements and maintenance turns out to be more costly than having a modern standard apartment in the city centre. Turns out hokkaido is more promising but were not fond of the snow, however, its right next to sopporo, so...50/50
I also considered an abandoned school lol I think it would be awesome to live in a school... but maintenance of the grounds, time to clean it, yeah, not worth the effort. But the idea is still fun.
I read that Japan currently has just over 9 million vacant homes. Some in urban, suburban and rural areas. Some abandoned and some that just need some updating. A lot of older folks are dying off, with no family to claim their property. Quite a sad situation really. With their low birthrate and general distaste of immigrants, it does no bode well for Japan's economy.
There are empty houses everywhere you look. And it's never clear who owns them or why they are abandoned. I've never seen anything like it. I think in the next 20-30 years it's going to look really bad when the elderly generations are gone.
07:18 Man literally just bought a new toilet with a house as a bonus
Lol best comment yet! Never thought of it that way lol
@@DIYJapan though it's just a joke, but I'm really concerned is it really that expensive to build a house toilet? I mean sure Japanese toilet has all of the cool features but 9K is like buying a used car
@@fadhil4008 the cost included new sewage pipes to the toilet, kitchen, bathroom and washing machine. So technically there was a lot more involved than just a new toilet. It was a pit, just a hole to drop your droppings. That hole needed to be filled and covered and then all new water pipes and drain pipes. It was a lot 😥
Very helpful and useful information. Thank you!
You're very welcome!
Hi Danny, Did you buy an Akiya in Inecho? If you did, you are one lucky person as it was one of the most beautiful place that I ever visited in Japan.
My house is in Ine-cho. I don't believe it myself sometimes. I think I take the beauty for granted sometimes but then I visit Osaka and think, man, it's pretty here lol
Great video I loved it very much thanks for the support
Thanks for coming! Glad you loved it!
The toilet is more expensive than the house.
It’s funny and sad at the same time lol Toilets don’t come cheap in Japan.
amazing story, ty4sharing
あんまり言わないで。
購入するとしても日本の風習やルールに従える人に購入して欲しい
This video really helped me alot! Thank you so so much! 💜
Glad it helped!
Thanks!
Thanks so much! 🙏
I'm considering rolling the dice on this as I'm a Japanophile and i study Japanese buildings and carpentry as an architect. The one thing I have to ask is can you get broadband internet there?
I could renovate a place as I know how they build but to keep me afloat, I'd have to work remotely as I already do.
As far as your place is concentered, Your bog is the first point of call, unless you can get used to squatting, Personally, I've never worked out how that works if you have trousers on,
It really has to do with the location of the house more than anything. If it's a stand alone building in a rice field not near a town... likely you will not have internet access. But if the house is situated relatively close to town or in a town.... then it's likely to have access or capable of adding. It's situational of course.
And squat toilets require a certain olympic acrobatic skill to get used to lol
You can get Star Link in Japan.
great!, absolutely huge accomplishment! but also so much more to come!
Thanks ✌
these vids are getting better every upload
Thanks for the compliments always!
Great insight into housing in Japan my friend!
Appreciate it!
Thanks, this was a very helpful video.
Glad it was helpful!
what a beautiful place to live! congrats
Thank you!!!
this is nice, thanks for sharing! i honestly half-expected this video to be fake/scam but its legit!
Now that you pointed it out... it kinda does have that fake/scam vibe to it lol Glad you stuck with it and enjoyed it!
@@DIYJapan yep, thank you once again for sharing! also in my opinion, theres no need to change the title, "I purchased my abandoned akiya house for $6,000 in Kyoto Japan" is alright in my opinion, whats important is the content of the video! thank you again!
One of the best videos I've ever seen o. TH-cam
Thanks for watching! ✌
Super informative, man! Great stuff.
I guess that when buying these sorts of houses, a good way of looking at it would be a similar way to buying a used car - pay less initially, then use your budget on renovation, or pay more and not have as much stuff to fix. I've seen videos on TH-cam of people who went with either approach, and it seems the end results were much the same - it's quite fascinating to see these buildings have new life breathed into them!
Older homes have a more pleasing aesthetic too. But if you lose your job, you’re not getting evicted so you choose to spend one renovations when you can. I guess that’s the main appeal vs having a mortgage payment.
Loved the pace of this video so much :)
Awesome, thank you!
Hi Danny. It's a very good informative video.
Glad it was helpful!
Very nice, informative video. You even had me laughing out loud when you pretend called the long lost relative 😂. Mazel Tov on you new house!
Glad you enjoyed it! I always try to put some laughs in it lol 😂
Very informative and useful video.thanks a lot
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent videos. Very informative unlike so many others... I lived in Japan (Tokyo area) during the 90s and would love to spend time in Japan during my retirement. Maybe buying an akiya could be a good thing... or just renting a house in the countryside?
Many people rent so they don't have such a large commitment like buying a house. Retiring in the countryside is peaceful for sure.
Thx for the video man! Very informative!
Hope it was helpful!
I was looking for akiyas in the farming area Ibaraki and prices were crazy. I'd be interested in a video about what you learned about different regions you researched.
From what I hear, farming land is much easier to purchase now. It's a good idea to make a video about some pros and cons about some areas. I'll have to think about making a video like that in the near future.
If you're a foreigner in Japan, expect to have a nosey neighbors some of them know what youneighbor, some of them badmouthing you but they're nice when you talk to them. Its better to secure your house and always close you're curtains away from their eyesights. Find also a house that have a high fence for more privacy.
Yeah, I agree. Countryside people are bored I think. They have nothing better to do. Maybe I have it easier because I am a foreigner. Western people don't normally care about what others say. And my Japanese is bad so I don't understand them anyway haha
Taking notes❣️
Very cool video, thanks!
Glad you liked it!
Would consider relocating and purchasing two homes if they had high-speed Internet. Would probably purchase an abandoned farmhouse. But I need to keep working so I need high-speed Internet.
Internet is available but it really depends on where you live. Sometimes it can take 6 months or more to get the connection made.
Great video, thanks.
Glad you liked it!
I would love to live here Close to beach its nice and Relax and looking at Views To sunset.Fantastic and nice. If they sale this like $1'000 i would love to buy it
$1,000 would definitely be a steal.
About time! I remember telling you to make this video months ago. 😂
Looking forward to it!
Yeah, it took too long to make lol
You'd better choose a ceramic tile roof house. For those thatched roofs, they are good roof insulation, but there are no craftsmen to replace the thatch in Japan anymore. They need to be replaced once in a few decades, but even three decades ago, there were already no experts in Japan. I heard a story the Japanese had to hire British straw roof guys from Cotswolds or somewhere to replace them. Even in England probably no more experts today. Also, they are centuries old like 200, 300, or even 400 years old, you need to renovate many things for the modern lifestyle so they cost more.
I heard about that. There still a very select few thatched roof houses left in Kyoto. But most owners opt to cover them with metal roofs. The straw is still there, just another roof built over it. Really strange.
Depending on the local government, there are conditional free and subsidized farmland included.
That’s true. Not sure if the exact conditions but I’ve heard they are strict. I’d love some farmland though.
It's not that I'm dying to live in Japan (again), but a nice house in a nice place is really appealing, especially with the insane housing market in my country. Something to seriously think about
It sound like you didn't like living here. Like any place, it has its challenges. But the cost of living is not nearly as bad as everywhere else... housing market especially.
Japan was great, but I already lived there, so going back isn't "a dream" like the first time. But an affordable house in Japan is very interesting, I'm not against living there again
It wasn't my dream to live and stay here either. But I could think of a million places worse.
"A dream" means I didn't expect to live in a different country, especially for a long time, that's not exactly the same as "my dream"
Japan is a great place, I'll look into buying a house there, I enjoyed the video
Thanks for the info
Any time!
What is the catch?
If a house in Germany costs less then 10k then it has at least 1 hole in the roof and the next train station is at least 10km away. Partially collapsed roofs are very common in this category.
In other words it has been raining in those houses usually for years.
And of course no central heating. Almost nothing below 50k has central heating. But with split heat pumps that's not a big issue anymore.
Oh, also don't expect anything within 50km of a city you have heard of before below 60k. Except for Bitburg.
Edit:
Oh, the catch is no indoor plumbing, now it makes sense.
Well also these are very countryside homes. In terms of convenience, well, there isn’t much. These are more of a lifestyle choice style home. Peaceful, far away, and secluded. That said, you can get a pretty decent home for 10k, you definitely need split heat pump in various rooms and some upgrades to winterization.
All I want to know is how you spent $9000 on a toilet. A few years ago I did an entire garage conversion here in California for about $7000 and its probably the nicest such apartment I’ve ever seen. And the bathroom in particular is very modern and looks like something you would find in a very expensive ultra-modern house in the Hollywood hills. Anyway, that price included lumber for framing, insulation, drywall, electrical, plumbing, and all fixtures. The water heater, mini-split AC, and refrigerator were also included in that price. Of course, I did 100% of the labor myself and I spent as much time shopping for bargains as I did building it. And of course it was all done to code.
The answer is complicated. I wasn’t super clear in everything that went into the cost of the bathroom. But basically the toilet was 2k itself. The bathroom was just a hole and needed to be filled, new plumbing made, and a sewage connection needed as well. That required, digging, a plumber, as well as a 3k payment to the city for the sewer connection. It also included new drain pipe connections for the kitchen, shower room and washing machine that were not previously there. That all got lumped into the cost… so that’s really why it was so expensive. Labor in Japan isn’t cheap either… and I just didn’t have the ability to do it myself. In Japan, inly certified plumbers are allowed to lay plumbing for city sewage systems so it had to be a city certified plumber.
I bought an akiya in Washington for 14k 10 years ago. Need one in Japan as well now
I think you’re lucky to find such a cheap home in Washington. Not sure you’d be able to find something so cheap in the U.S. ever again lol Japan’s home prices will probably never appreciate.
We bought summer house in Japan also , we have a lot of friends there, we spent time over there every year. we still love it. We want to sell it because we getting old to travel anymore.
Wow, amazing video. Now I want to play Monopoly.
lol Fun game to start fights with siblings for sure lol
the water front looked beautifully clear, wow! Another factor is earthquake proofing; is the house contingent to the structural code updates prior to occupying & insuring?
The house is Kyu-Taishin so it's at the lower 1971 standard of earthquake resistance. meaning it can take a good shaking but it'll probably be unlivable past level 6 earthquake. I thought about adding reinforcements at a sooner than later date.
@@DIYJapan I appreciate the detailed info as it helps solidify a plan of action for when I find a spot to search akiya. Btw, I think it's neat how other TH-camrs have mentioned your channel in their videos such as Akiya Kominka Life, making a cool community
It's definitely a cool way to get to know like minded people doing similar things. Too bad a lot of us live too far away from each other to visit each other 😓
Ah, you bought a home in an area where I would love to buy a home, Kyoto. It's lovely, and you are lucky to be handy. I would do the same with floors, replace them with wood. Can I ask what website you used to purchase your home? And also--is the fall a good time to look at homes to purchase there? Thanks.
I think anytime is a good time to look. There isn’t one specific website to look at. Nothing centralized… that would make things too easy. You really have to look city specifically. And sometimes just visit the city in person and talk to the local real estate person or you could potentially call the city directly and ask if they have Aliya listings… I know it all doesn’t sound easy but it’s really the only way.
Buying a house looks complicated as you said but I bet that selling is far more difficult if you wish to get a decent price.
I think you're right. The real estate market is always flat here in the countryside. Many people think that they can make money flipping houses but it's just not viable. But as a home, it's still a great investment. No rent beats out paying a mortgage for 30 years +
@@DIYJapan Yes you are right, I forgot counting the benefits you get while you live there.
Great video! Love the format and style. Very informative and it shows the beauty of your surroundings!
Thanks man!
Very informative video my good sir. These houses make me want to Japan at some point in the future. Country life in Japan seems to be so peaceful.
Visit Japan and see if you like it. It has it’s challenges like any other place though.
Thx for the video. I think the biggest thing for me would be access to a nearby transit station and grocery if I bought a house like this. Obviously you need a good chunk of money to purchase property safely and securely no matter the supposed bargain unless you already live in Japan, have a good job, familiar with the language/culture, etc. I mean, I would want to ship my possessions over there if somehow things magically aligned correctly and I imagine that would be quite expensive to just ship there and then hired a moving company to the distant/remote location. That's not even considering the visa issue and trying to attain permanent residence. As much as I'd like to get along with everyone, my main focus, other than straight affordability for some great, older style Japanese architecture that I absolutely love, would just be wanting to have peace and quiet/ less stress. Yes there's cultural differences and laws, but people are people no matter where you go and they always present their pros and cons.
If you do it that way then that’s definitely the hard way. Japan should be more of a reset. Leave everything behind and start a new life, new clothes, furniture and such. Moving is expensive, probably cheaper to start over with everything. The visa is still the single hardest hurdle for sure though.
@@DIYJapan Agreed, but I have a 30 year film collection, my bird, and a host of other possessions that are non negotiable as far as parting with. Could care less about furniture. A hard reset at 53 is a little different than at 23. Thx for the response and video.
Saw an ad for this on Reddit. Underated
I appreciate the props!
Great video
Thanks!
It’s also my dream to live nearby sea or a very quiet,serene place when I grow old,and i heard from a friend that there has lots of old houses which are so spacious here in Japan that are not occupied and for sale but my problem is that old houses or even new might be disturbing for me if spirits are living there because I can easily feel entities or souls in one house . I want something I will be comfortable spiritually. But ,anyway I heard that lot houses here in Japan countryside which are truly cheap and affordable .
There are many cheap houses. I have found some good deals on the coasts of Japan. They are very far and very quiet. You can definitely inquire about who owned the house and if anyone passed away in the house. I think those matters have to be said to you if you ask. Good luck! I hope you find something near the sea!
How's the wifi and service in these locations? Could someone work remotely from a computer while living in one of these houses?
You could definitely work remotely. But every area is different. Our internet is pretty good, not knock my socks off though. Probably best to research the area and local providers before purchasing something.
日本生まれの日本育ちです。日本の田舎は電気はありますが、ガスはプロパンガスです。料金も高いです。水道管は通ってますが、下水道は無いところがほとんどです。トイレは夏になると臭いが強烈です。地震や台風も多いので家を買ったら土台と屋根は必ずチェックしてリフォームをおすすめします今年地震や台風来ないからと安心しないで下さい来年はわかりません。都会と田舎の中間辺りが良いと思います。病院やスーパーが徒歩で行けるか？リサーチした方がいいですね。米や野菜などもっと作りたいってなれば、土地だけ買って通えばいいと思います
良いアドバイスですね！ 幸いなことに私の家には下水道とガスが通っています。 のどかな生活か、都会でのテンポの早い生活を送りたいかによってライフスタイルが変わりますね。
helpful video，thanks a lot
You’re welcome!
Great job!
Thank you! Cheers!