When you said on the first video you'd gonna paint the house I got scared 😂 but now i see it was a incredible idea , your house looks amazing, it's a perfect mix of Japan architecture and west architecture. You kept the spirit of the old home definitely while still making it look better. Its refreshing to see someone buying a house to live in it, and not host it for Airbnb and resseling. The housing market is crazy these days, I think that people should start giving old properties a chance, this would be great for the planet and the people.
@@im.mattguy i'm looking for cheap retirement lifestyle, do Japan still have a lot of empty houses for $10k or under, with minimum renovation needed? close to ski resort like YOURS? i been searching the world for a ski area but close to a beach/snorkel region, AND only came up with quebec+roatan island, and Guadari+batumi, AND sochi+anapa, couldn't find ski areas in asia till i spotted japan videos.
@@kaleeysmith8801 Just look online. There are indeed many cheap houses in Japan. Keep in mind a couple of thing. First - Most are very dated and in need of repair. You can see just how much Matt did to update the house - it took him months and many thousands of dollars. Second - buying a home in Japan does not grant residency or citizenship - the maximum tourist stay is 90 days. And you cant just travel to China for two days then fly back - that is structuring and will get you in trouble. There are many different ways to get more time in Japan but none are guaranteed. You're research shouldn't start with a question on a video. It should start with simply googling these things and looking at other examples of foreigners buying houses in Japan.
Dear friend, thank you so much for your information and knowledge . I want to live in Japan as a retirement plan and buy cheap house . I am from Burma, Myanmar . Could you give me your email address , I want to contact you .
Matt. You are such a nice person to go over your $6000 house in Japan. You are a lucky person to get such a beautiful house. You did great job to remodel nicely. Great job.
Looks like you did a great job of making the house comfortable to live in yet preserving much of what makes a Japanese house so aesthetic and functional. Kudos!
I just watched your other video of you buying this house as it popped up on as a suggested TH-cam video. Then I watched this one. Both were very enjoyable and you have done a wonderful job on making your home into what you wanted. It looks fantastic even as a work in progress. Shocking that there was zero insulation in the roof area and below the house but I heard that walls don't really have strict insulation requirements in Japan so i guess I should not have been surprised. Glad you made the house more insulated, especially the double windows. Everything, nicely done! 😃
im happy to say, that i was here since the beginning of the project :D. Im also happy that this channel started to get some attention lately. Thanks for the video and greeting from germany❤
and u think the japanese are stupid and dont wanna spend a few 100 bucks to get insulation in? there is reason for it... it called airflow and mold !!!
I can't imagine paying almost $4,000 for an front door!! We just purchased one 3 weeks ago for just $745 and my husband installed it himself - I helped; it was very simple! You should be able to order a door online and have it delivered for much cheaper.
Thank you. I am right now in Ikeda Cho and thinking about purchasing a home here. Nestled between the surrounding mountains and waking in the morning is simply beautiful. Waking and taking a walk early in the morning with the fog/clouds so low start my day off perfectly. Your walk through and Q&A at the end were also very helpful.
I would like to apologize for my previous comment concerning my skepticism about said price of house, I was behind on getting enough sleep and in not the best frame of mind, though no excuse. And wether or not you may have possibly been awarded any incentives. for providing much needed exposure to a lovely area is your business and I'm sure a product of my unfortunate cynicism. You really have put so much work into the house it is just wonderful and how impressive how much you have done yourself. I'm happy that you got a good base price, it was fun hearing about how much you worked when you were young. I'm glad you found your happy house, I think that it is certainly happy, too ! 🌺
One of the things I've heard over and over from people who won't buy older homes in Japan is how poorly insulated they are. This is for every area, not just on Hokkaido. My bigger concern for you purchasing this home was the mold. Although, as a long time snowboarder, I was sincerely hoping you could find a way to mitigate the mold while also keeping the home warm in the winter so you could enjoy the winters there. You home has a very homey, cozy feel to it. It looks neat and tidy, but lived in. You have a good eye for design, and also a seemingly solid skill set to do a lot of this yourself. What a huge savings on cost. Most importantly, this is YOUR home, and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. You can spend as much, or as little, on the renovations as you choose. Best wishes to you! You've done a really great job, and how nice your parking area looks, too!!
Thanks!! Really appreciate it! And the mold situation is going well for now. It will be an ongoing battle as I still don’t want to overdo things and do what needs to be done - with consideration to this particular house in this particular area. I don’t think it’s textbook based on previous experience doing this kind of work
Dude, I’m only three episodes in and I’m sold. I will probably do a lot of binge watching. Keep doing what you’re doing because it’s very interesting. Keep rocking it hard.
Hi Matt, I just watched your video when you showed us your new house, and now this video and I am left speechless. I am so happy for you. I sure do hope so one day I get a chance at least to visit Japan, it was my dream for a whole life. I wish to you all the best in life. Kind regards from very small city in Serbia/Europe.
Hey Matt, you installed the insulation the wrong way. The insulation has a vapor barrier on the side with the writing, this should be facing towards the inside of the house. E.g. in the ceiling it should be the other way around. Side with writing/white plastic sheet should be facing down as the moisture is coming from inside the house (warm) and escaping outwardly (cold) so you have a vapor barrier to prevent this moisture going through the glass wool and causing damage to it over the years. Just google translate the front of the glass wool and it will say vapor barrier etc. Good effort with the rennovating, expecially doing it yourself.
Well actually if you have hot wet summers, having the vapor barrier on the outside is the correct way to do it. Also having an HVAC system will remove moisture from the house and mold should not be an issue.
The house is in really good condition. Insulation is a must in Japan rural area, the bugs are huge. Screen window & door allow airflow when it gets hot. AC and dehumidifier is the next must have for 35C-40C summer. Portable heater is probably good enough for winter, just need a heat source near you, no need to warm the whole house
I love what you have done with the house! I also bought a house last year and I'm working towards renovating it too (saving up the funds still) so I really enjoy your walk-through! I totally get the "experience the house first" part as I am living in mine atm trying to figure what I want to do.
I have no idea how this video popped into my viewing time, but I'm ecstatic that it did. You've done a brilliant job with your house and assimilating into your new home. I'm envious. It looks like a dream life. All the best!
Only halfway through but figured I'd comment before heading out. You've got a solid house. Great for DIY renovation. You could move around the tatami so that the ones that are discolored sit under your workout area. Heat pumps are great. We just call them Aircon so I was confused by everyone in Canada calling them heat pumps. We have 4 in our house. I live in Kagoshima. Unlike in Canada (where I'm from) they are cheap to buy. Hehe at all the jackets. My winter jackets are in the loft and haven't come down for years. I just wear polarfleece sometimes with a light winter jacket over it.
Hey dear hope you are well. Suggestion to the small area with the red chair. Move it to the right so that when looking into that corner ur vision won’t be interrupted with the chair but will have space from that left wall to the other side where the chair can be. Luv ur channel and ur personality. Also I liked that u change the direction of ur dining table . Less is better. A mural would be great ! And the color of the outside of the house is amazing brings a state of tranquility. Love it. Stay safe and keep the videos. You don’t have to take my suggestions but would like to hear from u. I also have suggestion for ur entry. To look more tidy.
I love your home, such a wise choice, and what a bargain! You've done a wonderful job doing it up and making it so liveable. The outside paint job is wonderful and your interior design choices are modern and on-trend. I asked some Japanese friends who are studying architecture about whether they like your home. They're envious and thinking of moving out of Tokyo into something similar after watching your videos.
Thank you so much! When I do things I do check in with people in my neighborhood and even the lumber yard to ask what they think of my ideas. They’re usually excited about it. My Japanese friend who bought an old house also came over for ideas. It’s a fun exchange!
Just stumbled on your first video of buying the house and now watched this one. Here in Southern Finland it gets around -10 to -20C during winter. Even -25C. Heat pumps are fairly common, our house has one. At least on Mitsubishi there is option to remove moisture which is awesome and alone makes space feel cooler without actual cooling. The efficiency drops during winter drastically after -20C but works like a charm on 0C to -10C. We avoid running the pump on full blast on coldest weathers but never turn it off to avoid problems.
Hey Matt, I’m in Melbourne Australia. It doesn’t get super humid here but I does get very wet in winter. One thing that has saved me is an electric dehumidifier. It would be a great purchase for the summer in Japan and you can use it to help dry your snow gear in winter.
Hey! Thanks for the comment! I bought an almost commercial size dehumidifier and it barely dropped the humidity level during the summer. There are a lot of levels to it. The house *was* very poorly insulated and lots of air gaps. Which meant that my dehumidifier was somewhat just trying to dehumidify the world. So, I would get it down from 80% to 60%. I’ve closed the gaps and it works better but found the dehumidifier really warms up the place. Considering it’s already 35+ degrees outside it’s not too great of a feeling. I’ve actually found the dehumidifier function on the air con works pretty well. But I think this will be another war to happen next summer while I further attempt to improve the humidity while not running electric stuff constantly
Hey Matt, Great video, really enjoyed the transformation. As someone who wants to do something similar. I have a couple quickfire questions that may be a little personal to yourself. 1. As a Foreigner how are you permitted to live in japan? Like can a foreigner buy a property without residency? 2. Being so close to a ski resort. Would you be able to AirBnB your property? 3. How much have you spent on renovations?
Hey! Anyone can buy property in Japan. It doesn’t give you a special visa to live here permanently. That’s another step to consider. Airbnb is possible. I’ve spent roughly $20K USD on renovations with around $8K being necessary upgrades and the remainder my personal choices
@7:16 I have to stop you right there. I'm an electrical engineer in Florida - 100 amps is very common, 200 amps you only see in large homes (IE 5 bedrooms with multiple 'living spaces' a pool and a hot tub and EV charger). You have to get into the territory of mansion to require 400 amps. I designed a 3 story, 7 bedroom, 9 bathroom townhouse with a game room, theater room, EV charger and it got a 225 amp service. And that sucker needed a two section panel with 84 breaker spaces. So anyone else reading this he made a mistake here. 100 amp is what typical houses will have in the US. I was surprised to hear that your service was 20 amps to start with - especially considering you had an AC unit to start with. Is your service 3 phase?
Just the purchase price of the place was unbelievable! And then all that you did to it is very impressive! I am so glad that you didn't get rid of the room sliding doors. I think down the road you would have regretted that. You've done a beautiful job of it!!!
For your humidity / mold situation.. Living near the ocean, I have found it absolutely essential to run a dehumidifier... sometimes two.. in summer.. to control all mold / dampness issues.
Wonderful house! I love your renovations. I hope you flip the insulation as another person commented recommended, as it needs to be flipped to the correct side.
Wow i like the chill room best too because theres more light and views coming in and feel spacious and not enclosed. Definitely my favorite area. Nice insulation on the roof and base of the house but if you could post more videos of the upgrades it could be good for us as we dont need to wait so long for your updates 😂
I never really comment on videos. This is probably the only one that I'm going to comment on in a really long time, but I've been following your videos and watching you in your progress with this house. It has motivated me to want to travel over there just to see it. I am planning a trip in late December early January to go to Japan and I want to head your way just to see your home. I love seeing these videos and they are actually calm and relaxing to see you do this project. And it motivates me to build on my home here in the states
biggest trap only foreigner fell into !!!! ust watched this with my in-laws who are house builders in Japan. they were laughing.. there is a good reason why there is no insulation under floor and wooden ceilings... and whats behind the walls can be the nastiest surprise and another reason why Japanese never would touch those houses not even for free.... but it seems foreigners ego knows better than the locals.. never ever ever touch those 35yr plus Akira houses in Japan !!! there is a reason why foreigners buys them ..
@@CGermanB reason for what? asked honest jp builders and real estate what they say... only stupid naive foreigner fools buy those internet listed old shacks that been build to last max 30yr years. speak with them ! my in-laws are builders. why jp builders not snap up those so called bargains? asked urself this...
@@HeavenlyPalace-Y2K common sense !!! read my last reply here. go to japan make friends with honest real estate and builders and they will tell u. those shacks are build to last max 30yrs. !! they would never touch this. behind the walls u find answers..called mold and termites... that clown even put insulation in... limited airflow now ..more mold.. stupid naive ..
Hey Matt, I just watched your video about your home, and I’m impressed with how much you’ve accomplished in a year. Buying that house for just $6,000 is incredible! I have a suggestion for the blank wall next to the kitchen. Since there’s a lot of orange tones in the area, incorporating more green could balance out the color scheme. Maybe consider a green-toned mural or artwork there. It would complement the orange and red hues and add visual stability. Your kitchen already looks great with the plants and green cabinet doors, but adding more green to the dining area could enhance the overall flow. Just a thought!
I live in North Europe...most commercial/office spaces have the same aircon system...it works so good in both summer and winter months...summer + 30 C and winter -20 C ...so basically regardless of what the weather is outside...its always nice and comfy + 23 C inside
So very happy for you and your house and making your renovations to make your house your comfortable home!! We enjoy your videos. Very calming and the way you video when you're out and about feels as though we're right there!! Very informative thank you!
Hey Matt, you have done a great work! I admire your work, keep it up! Thanks for the explanation about the renovation costs. As a person, who wants move to Japan, I'm glad to find content like yours, huge help! Cheers mate!
Matt, I've been following your new home videos. You have impeccable decor taste. Would love to come stay some to experience what you have so far. Marie
It’s absolutely beautiful. You’ve done a great job. I love that room where you could look at the windows I’d like a lot of natural light like you do I live in Fairbanks Alaska where we get to 40 and 50 below zero God bless you enjoy your space.
Hello Matt. Actually, there are almost no homes in the US that have more than 200 amp service FYI. Many homes have 100 amp service and some people have upgraded to the 200 amp service.
I find these videos so good to relax and watch. Thanks for sharing Matt, it’s incredible the amount of work you’ve put in. Myoko looks like a great place to call home 😊
Thank you so much! I like to think about what I would like to see and hear and attempt to capture that. It’s been a great experience so far and enjoying the direction. Thanks for the comment :)
They do work great! It’s finding the other missing elements to make it so they don’t need to run for 3 months. I’ve been busy insulating and finding gaps to close it off
I love the kitchen! I know you want to change it, but it’s already so nice. ❤ And of course the entry way and the at piece is nice! I love the entire house.
The reason I haven’t changed the kitchen yet is because I like the style. But there are parts of it that require updating and can’t be changed easily - it’s easier and cheaper to replace it. For example, the way the pipes arrive to the tap. There are certain changes that would make difficult to keep. All this, and space is just an issue for my needs. We’ll see how it unfolds
Just found your channel and saw the place when you first got it. What a great transformation! Love to see this! Also, I think a nice sitting area outside in the "blank" area would be great
Wow, you did a fantastic job! I am also surprised at myself that I watched through this almost an hour-long video, as I don't usually watch long videos on TH-cam. It was because you made it so interesting. Japan is my favourite country even though I've only been there once. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful journey with us. Stay warm, winter is coming!
Thanks for the update. You should be very proud of your efforts, the house looks great. Love being on the journey and seeing Myoko Kogen from the perspective of a local.
Get that hole covered for the old ventilation. You dont want water getting in it and mold growing. I love your home 🥰. The new windows are awesome. I like what you did with the red chair. In a previous video upstairs there was a red chair that clashed.
Also, as a Hispanic who's lived in some VERY hot and VERY cold climates, ceiling fans do so much more for a house than people realize. In America the AC usually costs about 24c/hour to run, but a fan usually costs less than $0.01 per hour. They cool the house in the summer, and when you have the fan blades on low, they swirl the air around the house in the winter and keep the house warmer
There's marginal difference in exchange of comfort. A popular ceiling fan model consumes 45 kWh. An AC consumes around 1.5-4.5kWh a day in summer time. A modern flat with 2-3 rooms can be ACd from as low as 40-50 kWh/mo. in August. It also makes the air drier.
@@SajtosNokedli I disagree big time. I live in a place that regularly (like 2/3 of the year) is over 80, and 1/3 of the year is over 105 (40c for y'all across the pond) and having AC on at 74 (23c) vs having ceiling fans on medium across the entire house (like 4 fans) at 78 (25c) feels the same, but having my AC at 78 costs well over 60-80 dollars less per month. Please remember I am speaking of central air systems,not mini splits that are common in Asia. So to run the AC the whole house has to run the AC. But I've also been in climates where we use a wood stove and by having the fans on low at all times it keeps the house overall much warmer due to spreading the warm air and keeping air circulating. So we may be speaking of different circumstances, but in general I am a huge proponent of ceiling fans due to their energy efficiency and increase in comfort/air flow l
I love what you've done with the place. Especially the 'cat' on the heater. Where else would a cat be? I found the house on Google Earth. The area is an unusual mix of residential and commercial. Unusual, that is, for me, as a North American. The choice for OSB (oriented strand board) in the wet areas of the home is an unusual choice. On the west coast of Canada, OSB has played a big part in the 'Leaky Condo Crisis' . Moisture would get through the exterior cladding and the OSB wouldn't dry out properly. Mould *loves* the components of OSB and will thrive! Be sure to coat the panels thoroughly with a moisture proof coating and seal all seams.
GOD, where's this place at 48:44? What a powerful energy! Also, Congrats on your house! I'm going to Japan in 2027 and my dream is to buy and renovate an akiya for me to live in. Thanks for the insights and inspiration!
I appreciated you showing us around town a few videos back. I would love to see another video like that. Maybe an abandoned property or your favorite property. Thanks!
great work for renew the old house, Matt. It seems such comfortable place to spend all days there, just reading or looking outside the views. what a life you have, so beautiful. How did you choose the place like in Myoko Kogen? How did you find the house for sale, some Japanese realtor websites? Is there grocery store near by for food?
Bravo! Looks fantastic. I have a TV but i use it showing Log Fire videos (via TH-cam) or 4K Aquarium fish videos. Folk always say it looks good when they enter my living space. i dont watch tv really so use it as a fireplace / aquarium.
I love your videos, thank you for this one. I really want to do something similar to what you have done in the next 2 years. Looking forward to your next videos Matt.
When you said on the first video you'd gonna paint the house I got scared 😂 but now i see it was a incredible idea , your house looks amazing, it's a perfect mix of Japan architecture and west architecture. You kept the spirit of the old home definitely while still making it look better. Its refreshing to see someone buying a house to live in it, and not host it for Airbnb and resseling. The housing market is crazy these days, I think that people should start giving old properties a chance, this would be great for the planet and the people.
I love how you chose to experience the house first and "listen" to what it needed before jumping in and making any drastic changes!
I thought it would be the most efficient approach
@@im.mattguy i'm looking for cheap retirement lifestyle, do Japan still have a lot of empty houses for $10k or under, with minimum renovation needed? close to ski resort like YOURS? i been searching the world for a ski area but close to a beach/snorkel region, AND only came up with quebec+roatan island, and Guadari+batumi, AND sochi+anapa, couldn't find ski areas in asia till i spotted japan videos.
@@kaleeysmith8801 Just look online. There are indeed many cheap houses in Japan. Keep in mind a couple of thing. First - Most are very dated and in need of repair. You can see just how much Matt did to update the house - it took him months and many thousands of dollars. Second - buying a home in Japan does not grant residency or citizenship - the maximum tourist stay is 90 days. And you cant just travel to China for two days then fly back - that is structuring and will get you in trouble. There are many different ways to get more time in Japan but none are guaranteed.
You're research shouldn't start with a question on a video. It should start with simply googling these things and looking at other examples of foreigners buying houses in Japan.
lol get real @@kaleeysmith8801
Dear friend, thank you so much for your information and knowledge .
I want to live in Japan as a retirement plan and buy cheap house . I am from Burma, Myanmar . Could you give me your email address , I want to contact you .
Matt. You are such a nice person to go over your $6000 house in Japan. You are a lucky person to get such a beautiful house. You did great job to remodel nicely. Great job.
Looks like you did a great job of making the house comfortable to live in yet preserving much of what makes a Japanese house so aesthetic and functional. Kudos!
I just watched your first video yesterday, so from my perspective, wow you did all of that fast!
Awesome! Thanks for watching! I tried to get the important stuff finished to enjoy it
@@im.mattguy hello fellow gaijin here, how big is your house? would it be considered something like a 5ldk ?? or even 7ldk ? arigatou !
Everyone is in love with your beautiful house and you're so calm and sweet and easy to listen to 🙂
Great combo
I just watched your other video of you buying this house as it popped up on as a suggested TH-cam video. Then I watched this one. Both were very enjoyable and you have done a wonderful job on making your home into what you wanted. It looks fantastic even as a work in progress. Shocking that there was zero insulation in the roof area and below the house but I heard that walls don't really have strict insulation requirements in Japan so i guess I should not have been surprised. Glad you made the house more insulated, especially the double windows. Everything, nicely done! 😃
What in the world are we doing wrong in this country. Real estate cost…taxes are insane. You have done a wonderful job ..you have a beautiful home.
27:32 This silence and lack of industrial noise is fantastic
im happy to say, that i was here since the beginning of the project :D. Im also happy that this channel started to get some attention lately. Thanks for the video and greeting from germany❤
Yes! Thank you very much! Love these comments and it’s these ones that keep up my motivation :)
As someone who dreams of doing what you've done one day... I really appreciate and enjoy your videos. Thank you!
Insulation is the best improvement
Thank you for sharing
and u think the japanese are stupid and dont wanna spend a few 100 bucks to get insulation in? there is reason for it... it called airflow and mold !!!
I can't imagine paying almost $4,000 for an front door!! We just purchased one 3 weeks ago for just $745 and my husband installed it himself - I helped; it was very simple! You should be able to order a door online and have it delivered for much cheaper.
Thank you. I am right now in Ikeda Cho and thinking about purchasing a home here. Nestled between the surrounding mountains and waking in the morning is simply beautiful. Waking and taking a walk early in the morning with the fog/clouds so low start my day off perfectly. Your walk through and Q&A at the end were also very helpful.
I would like to apologize for my previous comment concerning my skepticism about said price of house, I was behind on getting enough sleep and in not the best frame of mind, though no excuse. And wether or not you may have possibly been awarded any incentives. for providing much needed exposure to a lovely area is your business and I'm sure a product of my unfortunate cynicism. You really have put so much work into the house it is just wonderful and how impressive how much you have done yourself. I'm happy that you got a good base price, it was fun hearing about how much you worked when you were young. I'm glad you found your happy house, I think that it is certainly happy, too ! 🌺
One of the things I've heard over and over from people who won't buy older homes in Japan is how poorly insulated they are. This is for every area, not just on Hokkaido. My bigger concern for you purchasing this home was the mold. Although, as a long time snowboarder, I was sincerely hoping you could find a way to mitigate the mold while also keeping the home warm in the winter so you could enjoy the winters there.
You home has a very homey, cozy feel to it. It looks neat and tidy, but lived in. You have a good eye for design, and also a seemingly solid skill set to do a lot of this yourself. What a huge savings on cost. Most importantly, this is YOUR home, and it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. You can spend as much, or as little, on the renovations as you choose.
Best wishes to you! You've done a really great job, and how nice your parking area looks, too!!
Thanks!! Really appreciate it! And the mold situation is going well for now. It will be an ongoing battle as I still don’t want to overdo things and do what needs to be done - with consideration to this particular house in this particular area. I don’t think it’s textbook based on previous experience doing this kind of work
Your house is really beautiful, and you got a great buy! Myoko is an amazing area. Love your videos, keep 'em coming!
I love the out come of the renovation very smart keep it up I hope I can see your beautiful house in person more power to you❤
Dude, I’m only three episodes in and I’m sold. I will probably do a lot of binge watching. Keep doing what you’re doing because it’s very interesting. Keep rocking it hard.
The house looks amazing. You did a great job. It’s beautiful. So crazy that you only paid $6000.
Hi Matt, I just watched your video when you showed us your new house, and now this video and I am left speechless. I am so happy for you. I sure do hope so one day I get a chance at least to visit Japan, it was my dream for a whole life. I wish to you all the best in life. Kind regards from very small city in Serbia/Europe.
Hi Matt! The paint colour outside, game changer! Everything looks great. I've enjoyed the journey so far!
Hey Matt, you installed the insulation the wrong way. The insulation has a vapor barrier on the side with the writing, this should be facing towards the inside of the house. E.g. in the ceiling it should be the other way around. Side with writing/white plastic sheet should be facing down as the moisture is coming from inside the house (warm) and escaping outwardly (cold) so you have a vapor barrier to prevent this moisture going through the glass wool and causing damage to it over the years.
Just google translate the front of the glass wool and it will say vapor barrier etc.
Good effort with the rennovating, expecially doing it yourself.
u think the japanese are stupid and dont wanna spend a few 100 bucks to get insulation in? there is reason for it... it called airflow and mold !!!
Well actually if you have hot wet summers, having the vapor barrier on the outside is the correct way to do it. Also having an HVAC system will remove moisture from the house and mold should not be an issue.
@@ericdelevinquiere9902 u never lived in japan and dont know old houses there. there is a reason why they not insolate..
@@ericdelevinquiere9902incorrect
The house is in really good condition. Insulation is a must in Japan rural area, the bugs are huge. Screen window & door allow airflow when it gets hot. AC and dehumidifier is the next must have for 35C-40C summer. Portable heater is probably good enough for winter, just need a heat source near you, no need to warm the whole house
Love the color off the house outside 😍 it is a beautiful and lovely home 🥰
I personally liked the sliding doors inside, but I think you did a good job of modernizing the house while preserving the traditional styling
Beautiful cozy house. Love how you had converted it into. Congrats!
I love what you have done with the house! I also bought a house last year and I'm working towards renovating it too (saving up the funds still) so I really enjoy your walk-through! I totally get the "experience the house first" part as I am living in mine atm trying to figure what I want to do.
I have no idea how this video popped into my viewing time, but I'm ecstatic that it did. You've done a brilliant job with your house and assimilating into your new home. I'm envious. It looks like a dream life. All the best!
Thank you for sharing your place with us Matt 🙏
Only halfway through but figured I'd comment before heading out. You've got a solid house. Great for DIY renovation.
You could move around the tatami so that the ones that are discolored sit under your workout area.
Heat pumps are great. We just call them Aircon so I was confused by everyone in Canada calling them heat pumps. We have 4 in our house. I live in Kagoshima. Unlike in Canada (where I'm from) they are cheap to buy.
Hehe at all the jackets. My winter jackets are in the loft and haven't come down for years. I just wear polarfleece sometimes with a light winter jacket over it.
Hey dear hope you are well. Suggestion to the small area with the red chair. Move it to the right so that when looking into that corner ur vision won’t be interrupted with the chair but will have space from that left wall to the other side where the chair can be. Luv ur channel and ur personality. Also I liked that u change the direction of ur dining table . Less is better. A mural would be great ! And the color of the outside of the house is amazing brings a state of tranquility. Love it. Stay safe and keep the videos.
You don’t have to take my suggestions but would like to hear from u.
I also have suggestion for ur entry. To look more tidy.
I love your home, such a wise choice, and what a bargain! You've done a wonderful job doing it up and making it so liveable. The outside paint job is wonderful and your interior design choices are modern and on-trend. I asked some Japanese friends who are studying architecture about whether they like your home. They're envious and thinking of moving out of Tokyo into something similar after watching your videos.
Thank you so much! When I do things I do check in with people in my neighborhood and even the lumber yard to ask what they think of my ideas. They’re usually excited about it. My Japanese friend who bought an old house also came over for ideas. It’s a fun exchange!
Buy dehumidifiers for each room. It’s easy and they work great. I love what you’ve done with your home. It looks beautiful! 😊❤️
Just stumbled on your first video of buying the house and now watched this one. Here in Southern Finland it gets around -10 to -20C during winter. Even -25C. Heat pumps are fairly common, our house has one. At least on Mitsubishi there is option to remove moisture which is awesome and alone makes space feel cooler without actual cooling.
The efficiency drops during winter drastically after -20C but works like a charm on 0C to -10C. We avoid running the pump on full blast on coldest weathers but never turn it off to avoid problems.
Man that paint job on the exterior is stunning!
Hey Matt, I’m in Melbourne Australia. It doesn’t get super humid here but I does get very wet in winter. One thing that has saved me is an electric dehumidifier. It would be a great purchase for the summer in Japan and you can use it to help dry your snow gear in winter.
Hey! Thanks for the comment! I bought an almost commercial size dehumidifier and it barely dropped the humidity level during the summer. There are a lot of levels to it. The house *was* very poorly insulated and lots of air gaps. Which meant that my dehumidifier was somewhat just trying to dehumidify the world. So, I would get it down from 80% to 60%. I’ve closed the gaps and it works better but found the dehumidifier really warms up the place. Considering it’s already 35+ degrees outside it’s not too great of a feeling. I’ve actually found the dehumidifier function on the air con works pretty well. But I think this will be another war to happen next summer while I further attempt to improve the humidity while not running electric stuff constantly
youll have to share with us the winter heating bill before and after the new windows and insulation
I like the way you've renovated your house and are trying to live somewhat as your neighbors are as to not stand out!😃
Hey Matt,
Great video, really enjoyed the transformation.
As someone who wants to do something similar. I have a couple quickfire questions that may be a little personal to yourself.
1. As a Foreigner how are you permitted to live in japan? Like can a foreigner buy a property without residency?
2. Being so close to a ski resort. Would you be able to AirBnB your property?
3. How much have you spent on renovations?
Hey! Anyone can buy property in Japan. It doesn’t give you a special visa to live here permanently. That’s another step to consider. Airbnb is possible. I’ve spent roughly $20K USD on renovations with around $8K being necessary upgrades and the remainder my personal choices
You have done a great job upgrading and decorating your house! It looks amazing 😊
Thank you!! 😊
You can use “tea tree “oil to prevent and kills the mold.
As clove oil.
Vinegar is also good for this.
I love what you have done with the house. I also need lots of natural light for motivation. Fabulous! Geetings from Las Vegas.
@7:16 I have to stop you right there. I'm an electrical engineer in Florida - 100 amps is very common, 200 amps you only see in large homes (IE 5 bedrooms with multiple 'living spaces' a pool and a hot tub and EV charger). You have to get into the territory of mansion to require 400 amps. I designed a 3 story, 7 bedroom, 9 bathroom townhouse with a game room, theater room, EV charger and it got a 225 amp service. And that sucker needed a two section panel with 84 breaker spaces.
So anyone else reading this he made a mistake here. 100 amp is what typical houses will have in the US.
I was surprised to hear that your service was 20 amps to start with - especially considering you had an AC unit to start with. Is your service 3 phase?
Just the purchase price of the place was unbelievable! And then all that you did to it is very impressive! I am so glad that you didn't get rid of the room sliding doors. I think down the road you would have regretted that. You've done a beautiful job of it!!!
For your humidity / mold situation.. Living near the ocean, I have found it absolutely essential to run a dehumidifier... sometimes two.. in summer.. to control all mold / dampness issues.
Wonderful house! I love your renovations. I hope you flip the insulation as another person commented recommended, as it needs to be flipped to the correct side.
Wow i like the chill room best too because theres more light and views coming in and feel spacious and not enclosed. Definitely my favorite area. Nice insulation on the roof and base of the house but if you could post more videos of the upgrades it could be good for us as we dont need to wait so long for your updates 😂
I never really comment on videos. This is probably the only one that I'm going to comment on in a really long time, but I've been following your videos and watching you in your progress with this house. It has motivated me to want to travel over there just to see it. I am planning a trip in late December early January to go to Japan and I want to head your way just to see your home. I love seeing these videos and they are actually calm and relaxing to see you do this project. And it motivates me to build on my home here in the states
biggest trap only foreigner fell into !!!! ust watched this with my in-laws who are house builders in Japan. they were laughing.. there is a good reason why there is no insulation under floor and wooden ceilings... and whats behind the walls can be the nastiest surprise and another reason why Japanese never would touch those houses not even for free.... but it seems foreigners ego knows better than the locals.. never ever ever touch those 35yr plus Akira houses in Japan !!! there is a reason why foreigners buys them ..
@@TheFrickshow What are the reasons?
@@TheFrickshow You bash, bash and bash, but give ZERO reason and detailed info on why you're saying this. You are irrelevant.
@@CGermanB reason for what? asked honest jp builders and real estate what they say... only stupid naive foreigner fools buy those internet listed old shacks that been build to last max 30yr years. speak with them ! my in-laws are builders. why jp builders not snap up those so called bargains? asked urself this...
@@HeavenlyPalace-Y2K common sense !!! read my last reply here. go to japan make friends with honest real estate and builders and they will tell u. those shacks are build to last max 30yrs. !! they would never touch this. behind the walls u find answers..called mold and termites... that clown even put insulation in... limited airflow now ..more mold.. stupid naive ..
today I came across with the 1 year ago video of you having the house and now gladly you already have the update
Hey Matt, I just watched your video about your home, and I’m impressed with how much you’ve accomplished in a year. Buying that house for just $6,000 is incredible! I have a suggestion for the blank wall next to the kitchen. Since there’s a lot of orange tones in the area, incorporating more green could balance out the color scheme. Maybe consider a green-toned mural or artwork there. It would complement the orange and red hues and add visual stability. Your kitchen already looks great with the plants and green cabinet doors, but adding more green to the dining area could enhance the overall flow. Just a thought!
Wow! So cool to see the changes!!
It's cool that you have old vids to see as comparison, also a very nice way to record progress
I live in Virginia and have heat pumps. They work wonderfully. You did an amazing job. The house is beautiful.
I live in North Europe...most commercial/office spaces have the same aircon system...it works so good in both summer and winter months...summer + 30 C and winter -20 C ...so basically regardless of what the weather is outside...its always nice and comfy + 23 C inside
You have a lovely home Matt, it gives a very pleasant and homey and cozy feeling, you've done great and can't wait to see what you do next with it.
So very happy for you and your house and making your renovations to make your house your comfortable home!! We enjoy your videos. Very calming and the way you video when you're out and about feels as though we're right there!! Very informative thank you!
Looks fantastic Matt. You truly have done a wonderful job. Cheers
Hey Matt, you have done a great work! I admire your work, keep it up! Thanks for the explanation about the renovation costs. As a person, who wants move to Japan, I'm glad to find content like yours, huge help! Cheers mate!
Matt, I've been following your new home videos. You have impeccable decor taste. Would love to come stay some to experience what you have so far.
Marie
It’s absolutely beautiful. You’ve done a great job. I love that room where you could look at the windows I’d like a lot of natural light like you do I live in Fairbanks Alaska where we get to 40 and 50 below zero God bless you enjoy your space.
Wow that’s cold!! What are your tricks to staying warm in the house? Thank you!
Wow!! Sooo beautiful renovated house
Thank you so much 😊
Hello Matt. Actually, there are almost no homes in the US that have more than 200 amp service FYI. Many homes have 100 amp service and some people have upgraded to the 200 amp service.
Your hair is the same bronze color as your front entry doors. Your house is looking good.
You have done an amazing job! I am sooooo jealous!!! And getting lots of great ideas for my own house.
Wow what a great space you have . Just love your channel .
I find these videos so good to relax and watch. Thanks for sharing Matt, it’s incredible the amount of work you’ve put in. Myoko looks like a great place to call home 😊
Thank you so much! I like to think about what I would like to see and hear and attempt to capture that. It’s been a great experience so far and enjoying the direction. Thanks for the comment :)
an industrial plaster finish on that plain kitchen wall with an art piece would look great
Ohh nice idea too :)
Hi Matt.. You should find heat pumps dry the air out and will most likely reduce the mould.. Loving the content 👌
They do work great! It’s finding the other missing elements to make it so they don’t need to run for 3 months. I’ve been busy insulating and finding gaps to close it off
I love the kitchen! I know you want to change it, but it’s already so nice. ❤ And of course the entry way and the at piece is nice! I love the entire house.
The reason I haven’t changed the kitchen yet is because I like the style. But there are parts of it that require updating and can’t be changed easily - it’s easier and cheaper to replace it. For example, the way the pipes arrive to the tap. There are certain changes that would make difficult to keep. All this, and space is just an issue for my needs. We’ll see how it unfolds
Soooo Beautiful...😊❤ you did it so well..home is priceless😊
The house is looking amazing now bro! Awesome stuff 💪
Just found your channel and saw the place when you first got it. What a great transformation! Love to see this! Also, I think a nice sitting area outside in the "blank" area would be great
Out in the garden? I’m considering a low deck but it would need to be solid to hold the snow
Wow, you did a fantastic job! I am also surprised at myself that I watched through this almost an hour-long video, as I don't usually watch long videos on TH-cam. It was because you made it so interesting. Japan is my favourite country even though I've only been there once. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful journey with us. Stay warm, winter is coming!
Thanks for the update. You should be very proud of your efforts, the house looks great. Love being on the journey and seeing Myoko Kogen from the perspective of a local.
Thank you for sharing. Beautiful home....many blessings and health.😊
Thank you!
Get that hole covered for the old ventilation. You dont want water getting in it and mold growing. I love your home 🥰. The new windows are awesome. I like what you did with the red chair. In a previous video upstairs there was a red chair that clashed.
Everything is slowly coming together :)
Beautiful. Looking different and clean.👏
Love the chipboard walls. Once sealed the colour comes out
Thanks! It works well for now and I’m happy with the choice :)
Also, as a Hispanic who's lived in some VERY hot and VERY cold climates, ceiling fans do so much more for a house than people realize. In America the AC usually costs about 24c/hour to run, but a fan usually costs less than $0.01 per hour. They cool the house in the summer, and when you have the fan blades on low, they swirl the air around the house in the winter and keep the house warmer
There's marginal difference in exchange of comfort. A popular ceiling fan model consumes 45 kWh. An AC consumes around 1.5-4.5kWh a day in summer time. A modern flat with 2-3 rooms can be ACd from as low as 40-50 kWh/mo. in August. It also makes the air drier.
@@SajtosNokedli I disagree big time. I live in a place that regularly (like 2/3 of the year) is over 80, and 1/3 of the year is over 105 (40c for y'all across the pond) and having AC on at 74 (23c) vs having ceiling fans on medium across the entire house (like 4 fans) at 78 (25c) feels the same, but having my AC at 78 costs well over 60-80 dollars less per month.
Please remember I am speaking of central air systems,not mini splits that are common in Asia. So to run the AC the whole house has to run the AC.
But I've also been in climates where we use a wood stove and by having the fans on low at all times it keeps the house overall much warmer due to spreading the warm air and keeping air circulating.
So we may be speaking of different circumstances, but in general I am a huge proponent of ceiling fans due to their energy efficiency and increase in comfort/air flow l
Thank you, Matt,
I love what you've done with the place. Especially the 'cat' on the heater. Where else would a cat be?
I found the house on Google Earth. The area is an unusual mix of residential and commercial. Unusual, that is, for me, as a North American.
The choice for OSB (oriented strand board) in the wet areas of the home is an unusual choice. On the west coast of Canada, OSB has played a big part in the 'Leaky Condo Crisis' . Moisture would get through the exterior cladding and the OSB wouldn't dry out properly. Mould *loves* the components of OSB and will thrive! Be sure to coat the panels thoroughly with a moisture proof coating and seal all seams.
The play area is Dope! So nice! So you! You did incredible!
Thank you! Really appreciate it!
Such a beautiful house and natural feelings
Wow ! The house is beautiful.
Very comfortable:)
GOD, where's this place at 48:44? What a powerful energy! Also, Congrats on your house! I'm going to Japan in 2027 and my dream is to buy and renovate an akiya for me to live in. Thanks for the insights and inspiration!
I appreciated you showing us around town a few videos back. I would love to see another video like that. Maybe an abandoned property or your favorite property. Thanks!
great work for renew the old house, Matt. It seems such comfortable place to spend all days there, just reading or looking outside the views. what a life you have, so beautiful. How did you choose the place like in Myoko Kogen? How did you find the house for sale, some Japanese realtor websites? Is there grocery store near by for food?
Tastefully done and decorated. you inspired me!!!! subcribed
Bravo! Looks fantastic. I have a TV but i use it showing Log Fire videos (via TH-cam) or 4K Aquarium fish videos. Folk always say it looks good when they enter my living space. i dont watch tv really so use it as a fireplace / aquarium.
I love your videos, thank you for this one. I really want to do something similar to what you have done in the next 2 years. Looking forward to your next videos Matt.
Great video! Love following your journey ❤
Thank you!! 😊
you have done a great job and really like your touches.
I love your home I think a TV on that wall would be great.
Soo beautiful renovation..love to live in rurale place in japan so quite en relaxing..
So nice to have a front door that opens out
I like it too for space saving :)
Looing very nice, Well done Matt!
Sounds like a good business there, renovating houses :)
The bathroom walls, in Canada, are known as OSB - or, Oscillated Strand Board. Nice job on your house, buddy!
its really impressive. im here still paying for the morgage on a house smaller than yours. its just rediculous the price you paid for a nice house.
Dear friend, I like to watch this video very much and I got a lot of information and knowledge from your video. Thank you so much. I am from Burma.
Another fabulous video again looking great as always and family God bless yep house looks lovely
Thank you! Much appreciated!