There are various reasons why vacant houses are left untouched in Japan. Some owners are reluctant to demolish or part with homes that are filled with memories. Others don't want the properties of deceased relatives because of the expenses and hassles of renovations and maintenance. And vacant homes that are put on the market are often ignored by Japanese, who generally seek newer homes to buy. However, Akiya and Inaka, a Tokyo-based company that introduces vacant houses to overseas buyers, says it receives several hundred inquires every month. Many of the interested parties have never set foot in Japan and have no family members nor acquaintances here, the company said.
Wormann said vacant houses should not be viewed as a problem but as a possibility. "I think Japan lacks the positivity, the willingness to view things in a positive light," he said. The Swede made the most out of the "possibility" he was given. Wormann, a model who has traveled across Europe, the United States and Asia, naturally believed that buying a home in a major foreign city would be expensive. But after coming to Japan and learning about akiya, he purchased the home in one of the most desirable locations in Tokyo for about 10 million yen ($69,000).
At the price that Wormann paid, I would seriously consider buying, too. However, then what? I don't have a visa to be in Japan any more, and I would probably only ever be able to visit for short periods. At least for the foreseeable future.
Wow. For a Tokyo location like this my wife would probably consider this. And my brother-in-law is a home refurbisher/builder so we could easily get it fixed up at an honest price. But I'm sure these kinds of opportunities are rare in Tokyo.Akiya (abandoned buildings) are increasingly becoming the objects of foreign interest. Nomura Research Institute Ltd. predicts that if vacant houses are not demolished, they could account for 31.5 per cent of all housing in 2038.
Foreign buyers may hold the key to resolving Japan's growing problem of vacant homes: Asahi describes the case of Swedish model Anton Wormann, who acquired an 86-year-old, 90-square-meter house in a prime location of Setagaya.
Indeed, you would think developers would be all over that land. Ripping down the old house and putting up a brand new one while making a huge profit of course.Wow. For a Tokyo location like this my wife would probably consider this. And my brother-in-law is a home refurbisher/builder so we could easily get it fixed up at an honest price. But I'm sure these kinds of opportunities are rare in Tokyo.
Younger generations who inherit the properties in the countryside from relatives can sometimes find them to be of little use. Faced with paying an agent to find a buyer, or renovating the houses themselves, some choose to practically give properties away instead. "I've been offered properties for free," says Christie. "There was one, but I didn't want it because it was very inconvenient. [For] another property nearby, a friend basically halved the price and we turned it into a guest house," he adds. He warned that it's common to "spend a lot on a property and it [does] not hold its value, so you have to look at other returns like renting it out". There's also the issue that foreigners are limited in how long they may stay in Japan. Tourist visas currently expire after 90 days, while the longer "sightseeing and recreation" visa lasts six months to a year. The number of foreigners living in Japan has been steadily increasing for years and today sits at about over 3.2 million. After years of decline following the pandemic, British nationals in the country now number just under 20,000.
Content creators in Japan are going viral for buying and renovating cheap, abandoned homes known as akiyas. In Tokyo, akiyas can be purchased for a fraction of the price of what a home would cost in other major cities around the world. Outside major cities it's even cheaper. In some remote locations, akiyas are even being given away for free. It may seem like an unbelievable opportunity to those struggling to get on the property ladder, but the BBC's Japan correspondent Shaimaa Khalil investigates the reality behind the social media trend.
Video by Isabelle Rodd
Dani Benton is an award-winning photographer and the owner of Dani Benton Photography. She lives with her husband Evan, cat Ponkan and dog Bosco on Ōmishima Island in rural Japan. Together, Dani and Evan run Benton Guesthouse and their growing honey business. Follow them on YouTube and Instagram to learn more about their homestead and home renovation experience.
The municipality has been asking residents to register information on vacant homes under the "Akiya Bank" system and publicizing the list. It introduced the 100-yen program as a further step to reduce the number of empty houses and reinvigorate the community by getting more people to move in. Akiya are considered worthless if they fall into disrepair or suffer from other severe damage. The program puts akiya homes on the market when they are in reasonably good shape. Vacant homes eligible for the program can be made habitable after renovation and sold in a month or so. Buyers must move into the house with at least another occupant, intend to live for a long time and meet other conditions. Akiya owners receive the city's help to unload unused properties that still require maintenance costs and other expenses.
Yea I wonder how many of these people get visas. Digital nomad is only good for like 6 months so remote work does not do it either. The old eikaiwa route? I am with Mikawa Ossan they buy the house, then what? A vacation home? I doubt there is a special visa for property owners, there is for business owners and investors if they have that kind of money.I'm unsure if special visas exist for those who own property in Japan. However, as an EU citizen, even on a tourist visa, Wormann could stay three months in Japan (six months in the case of some privileged countries). And 10m JPY for a property in Setagaya is a veritable bargain.
You could retire there? Depending on your industry some may hire, tech does but at a huge pay cut vs the US I suspect it is similar for other jobs but that may require you to go to a more urban area like Tokyo so the akiya may cost a bit more.I am pretty sure I have mentioned it before, but if I had and were the type to have a fully remote job I would be vary tempted by the prospect of getting an akiya and bringing it back to life. Housing around here is just insane expensive and Japan just feels so much safer anyway. I really would like to get away from the "solve all problems with guns" and "you need a gun because everyone else has a gun" mentalities.
Yeah, retirement there is something I have considered. I'm in IT so there are remote jobs available, but many have requirements around where you can live and remote work isn't really my cup of tea anyway. I am one of the, apparently rare, people who prefers to work in the office. I like the separation between home and work and use the commute to let myself transition mentally.You could retire there? Depending on your industry some may hire, tech does but at a huge pay cut vs the US I suspect it is similar for other jobs but that may require you to go to a more urban area like Tokyo so the akiya may cost a bit more.