Japan Property Articles & Guides

Yoshida Hospital, Hirakata, Osaka — Photo: Nisiguti, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

How Far to the Hospital? Accessing Healthcare in Japan as a Non-Japanese Speaker

You found a beautiful akiya in a rural village — but how do you find out if the nearest hospital is 10 minutes away or 90, when you cannot read Japanese? A practical guide for non-Japanese speakers: how to research healthcare access using English-language tools, what distances are acceptable, and the right questions to ask before you commit.

April 12, 2026

Traditional wooden houses in Narai-juku, Japan

guides · 6 min read · Audio

Japan's Abandoned Houses: A Complete Guide for Foreign Buyers

Looking for abandoned homes for sale in Japan? Browse 1,000,000+ akiya listings across all 47 prefectures, with real prices, hidden costs, and a step-by-step guide for foreign buyers.

April 5, 2026

Practical Guide · 5 min read · Audio

Renovation Reality: What ¥5 Million Actually Gets You in Japan

Real renovation budgets from real projects. We break down costs for kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, and structural work so you can plan with confidence.

April 3, 2026

Practical Guide · 9 min read · Audio

From Akiya to Airbnb: How Our Layer Feature Reveals Minpaku Potential

Use our interactive map layers to find akiya with high short-term rental potential — see minpaku zones, transit access, and hazard data at a glance.

April 3, 2026

A quiet street in rural Japan. Photo: Ben George / Unsplash

Practical Guide · 6 min read · Audio

Building a Life in Japan Around Your Visa: A Property Buyer's Guide

Buying an akiya is the easy part. Living in it legally is where it gets complicated. A practical guide to the visa strategies real buyers use — from 90-day rotations to business manager visas to the digital nomad option.

April 2, 2026

Practical Guide

Practical Guide · 1 min read · Audio

How to Request More Properties in Any Area of Japan

Can't find enough listings in your target area? Akiya Japan's Coverage Request feature lets you tell us exactly where you want more properties — and we'll go find them.

March 28, 2026

Traditional wooden houses in a Japanese village. Photo: Evgeny Tchebotarev / Pexels

Practical Guide · 4 min read · Audio

What to Ask Before Paying for Any Akiya Platform

Not all akiya search platforms are created equal. A practical checklist of questions every buyer should ask before subscribing — from hidden fees to listing counts.

March 27, 2026

Traditional wooden houses in Narai-juku, Nagano Prefecture

Practical Guide · 8 min read · Audio

Are Akiya Houses Really Free? What Nobody Tells You

Zero-yen houses in Japan exist, but free is misleading. Real costs include ¥2-15M in renovation, taxes, and social obligations nobody warns you about.

March 23, 2026

Japan's labor shortage creates opportunities for foreign entrepreneurs — from tech to tourism to traditional trades.

Practical Guide · 6 min read · Audio

What Skills and Businesses Does Japan Need? A Guide for Foreign Entrepreneurs

Japan faces its worst labor shortage in decades — with 118 job openings for every 100 seekers. From nursing to IT to rural guesthouses, here are the skills and small businesses the country desperately needs, and how foreigners can fill the gap.

March 19, 2026

A weathered traditional Japanese house — one of 9 million vacant properties across the country

Practical Guide · 15 min read · Audio

What is an Akiya? Japan's 9 Million Vacant Houses, Explained

An akiya (空き家) is a vacant or abandoned house in Japan. With 9 million sitting empty — 13.8% of all housing — they represent one of the most unusual real estate opportunities in the world. This is the complete guide: what akiya are, why they exist, what they cost, and how to buy one.

March 19, 2026

Traditional houses in rural Japan — the typical akiya bank listing

Practical Guide · 7 min read · Audio

Every Akiya Bank in Japan: The Complete English Guide

Japan has over 1,000 municipal akiya bank programs listing vacant houses for sale — many under $10,000 or free. Here is how they work and how to access them in English.

March 18, 2026