A Solid Warehouse and a Valuable Traditional House Awaiting Renovation in Tochigi
This property is a traditional Japanese house (minka) located in a quiet hamlet on the outskirts of Moka City, Tochigi Prefecture. The setting offers expansive views of rice fields to the west and distant mountains in the Nikko direction. The location provides a comfortable sense of privacy, being well-spaced from neighbors yet not isolated. The main house and warehouse are positioned towards the north side of the plot, leaving the south side open and sunny. The entire lot is flat, ensuring ample usable space, perfect for cultivating a vegetable garden.
The house itself requires essential repairs for roof leaks and the kitchen. However, its structural and design elements are exceptional, featuring decorative rafters, thick and sturdy pillars of cypress and zelkova, and impressive beams. The central pillar (daikokubashira) is a zelkova over 8 sun (approx. 24 cm) thick. Other notable features include a coffered ceiling at the entrance, a sunken kotatsu (horigotatsu), snow-viewing lattice windows (yukimi shoji), and double-glazed windows. This is a building with significant value worthy of renovation. The separate warehouse, built from Oya stone, is solid and ready for immediate use. Its large extended eaves provide cover, making it a functional workspace even on rainy days. This is a valuable traditional house truly deserving of revival (estimated renovation costs for the roof and equipment are around 10 million yen).
Equipment and features as noted by the agent include electricity, a private well, public water supply available, flush toilet with septic tank, and parking. The land is designated as residential and farmland within a City Planning Area's urbanization control zone. The farmland portion is planned for conversion to non-agricultural use. The warehouse is a two-story wooden structure with tile and galvanized steel sheet roofing, approximately 25 tsubo in size.
The area around Moka City offers a blend of rural tranquility and access to nature. An interesting local fact is that Moka is known for its strawberry production, particularly the "Tochiotome" variety, one of Japan's most popular strawberries. For a major tourist attraction, residents can easily visit the historic and scenic Nikko Toshogu Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site famed for its incredibly ornate carvings and set amidst the beautiful mountains of Nikko National Park.
