Do You Need to Live in Japan to Own Property There?
No - you can own Japanese property without living there, without a visa, and without visiting. Here is what non-resident ownership actually requires.
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Akiya Japan: The Real Story Behind ‘Free Houses’ (And Whether They’re Worth It)
Japan’s akiya (vacant homes) are real - but are they worth it for foreign buyers? Here’s the honest picture on costs, risks, and who they suit.
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Buying a Family, Holiday, or Hybrid Home in Japan: What You Need to Know
Discover what you need to know about buying family, holiday, or investment properties in Japan, including costs, risks, and remote buying options.
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House Hacking Japan: The Hybrid Airbnb Investment Strategy
Master Japanese real estate with the hybrid Airbnb house hacking strategy. Learn essential financing rules, tenant eviction costs, and ROI benefits.
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Buying in Japan for Hybrid Use: Holiday Home + Rental Income - What Works and What Fails in 2026
Own your Japan escape AND earn from it - if you build it right. The complete 2026 guide to hybrid-use property: licensing, location, and what actually works.
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Modern vs. Traditional Japanese Renovations
Compare traditional vs modern Japanese renovations: materials, costs, energy performance, seismic/permit rules, and hybrid strategies for investors.
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Japan’s Home Vacancy Rate Increased by 80% Over the Last 20 Years
Japan’s housing market is grappling with an oversupply crisis, marked by nearly 9 million vacant properties and an 80% surge in vacancy rates over two decades. This trend, driven by demographic shifts like declining birth rates, poses economic and safety challenges. Potential solutions, such as foreign investment or immigration, are complicated by Japan’s insular culture and economic considerations.
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From Slopes to Second Homes
Other travellers have also transitioned from being mere tourists to becoming proud holiday home owners. In this article, we’ll focus on the most popular ski resort locations – namely Niseko, Hakuba and Myoko, where many foreigners have been purchasing holiday homes in recent years.
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AirBnB or Bust?
A common concept in Japan is known as mottainai, which essentially means that things should not be wasted. You might be thinking the same if you own a vacation property in Japan, but don’t spend enough time there. Have you been throwing around the idea of renting it out on AirBNB or another online listing site. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some have not been able to travel in and out of the country, and may be wishing to instead use their properties for lodgers in the meantime. Is it possible and if so, how?
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Moving to Japan’s Countryside
We have been shifting and twisting and trying to adjust to a comfortable lifestyle under COVID-19. Part of that has meant getting away, even moving from crowded cities into more spacious areas. And for quite a few, Japan’s countryside has become more and more appealing. Imagine for a moment, retiring with Japan’s fresh air, greenery, rivers. Or that ideal environment to raise a family. Or imagine for a moment to generate an income on short-term rentals taking advantage of the country’s back on track campaign to boost tourism. Let’s look at how to make this dream more realistic.
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Buying Real Estate Property in Japan as a Foreigner, Part 3 – Negotiations & Due Diligence
Assuming you’ve established some key relationships with local realtors in your areas of choice, you will sooner or later come across a potential deal which will suit your criteria. The process, from here on, is quite similar to what you’d expect in any country, but with a few important differences…
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