Articles

Featured

Renovation · 4 min read · Audio

Irori: The Heart of the Traditional Japanese Home and How to Restore One

Discover the history and cultural significance of the irori (囲炉裏) sunken hearth, and learn practical steps for restoring one in your akiya.

April 16, 2026

New

Buying Guide · 13 min read · Audio

How to Buy an Abandoned House in Japan: The Complete Guide for Foreigners

Everything you need to know about buying an abandoned house (akiya) in Japan as a foreigner — finding listings, legal requirements, costs, renovation, and common pitfalls.

April 14, 2026

New

Buying Guide · 13 min read · Audio

Akiya for Business: Turning Abandoned Houses into Guesthouses and Cafés

The minpaku law, fire code requirements, business registration, and visa rules for foreigners turning akiya into guesthouses and cafés.

April 12, 2026

New

guides · 10 min read · Audio

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

Regional Guide · 7 min read · Audio

Shizuoka's Secret: Hot Springs, Mt. Fuji Views, and Underpriced Akiya

Sandwiched between Tokyo and Nagoya with bullet train access, Shizuoka offers climate, scenery, and property prices that most foreign buyers overlook.

April 7, 2026

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

Culture · 14 min read · Audio

Understanding Kominka: When an Akiya Is Actually a Cultural Treasure

What separates a genuine kominka from an ordinary akiya — traditional joinery, cultural registration, renovation economics, and the growing movement to save Japan's architectural heritage.

April 2, 2026

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

Regional Guide · 6 min read · Audio

Osaka's Akiya Opportunity: Urban Convenience at Countryside Prices

Japan's second city has akiya stock that rivals rural prefectures on price but offers world-class infrastructure. A deep look at the Osaka market.

March 31, 2026

Market Analysis · 5 min read · Audio

Global Search for Japanese Property Surges: UK +57%, Canada +62%, USA +38%

Six months of search data from 317,000+ listings reveal a global acceleration in demand for Japanese real estate. Canada and the UK are growing fastest, but Southeast Asia is the emerging story.

March 30, 2026