Hello everyone! Michelle here and I wanted to share that I visited 3 houses last week as I was doing some house tours for clients in different regions: Fukushima, and Nagano Area. Both regions I’ve never been and let me tell you, Fukushima Area is beautiful. The beautiful mountains on the back and some still with some snow and the rice fields while driving, it is a beautiful area that not many people know about. So, I wanted to show you the amazing guesthouse I visited on the trip and show you some photos as well as the owner is still selling it.
The other area I went was Nagano and also amazing place with a lot of green and mountains but I will not show you the houses as I have some amazing houses in Otaru as well today! But anyways, I got to see (as I had to return the car to a different city) Karuizawa, which is known for luxury hotels while being surrounded by mountains. Honestly the view even from the bullet train was amazing. This area as it is known for luxury hotels, houses the prices are over 1 million dollars which is crazy but it seems some places in Nagano are expensive. Of course larger ski destinations such as Shiga Kogen, Nozawa Onsen, and Hakuba Valley are all accessible by car, making Karuizawa an excellent base for exploring some of Japan's premier winter sports destinations. Anyways, let’s start!
Ingredient #1
- 📍 Location: Bandai, Yama District, Fukushima
- 💰 Price: ¥25,000,000 (~$156,370 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Guesthouse
- 🛏 Layout: 10LDK
- 📐 Building Size: 361.93 m² (3,896 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 989.95 m² (10,656 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 32-minute walk to Okinashima Station on the Ban’etsu West Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
I had the chance to visit this property in person, and honestly, it is huge! It is perfect for someone looking to operate a larger guesthouse, hostel, or inn-style business. The property features eight guest rooms, three toilets on the first floor, and four shared restrooms upstairs. In addition, two of the guest rooms have their own private toilet and shower, which is always a great feature for guests.
One thing that really impressed me was the commercial kitchen. It is fully equipped with industrial-grade appliances, including freezers, refrigerators, and all the essential equipment needed to begin operations almost immediately. The property also includes a cozy fireplace in the living room, sauna facilities, and parking space for up to ten cars, making it well suited for larger groups and guests arriving by car.
The location is also excellent for tourism, with several popular ski resorts nearby, including Nekoma Mountain, Grandeco Snow Resort, and Inawashiro Ski Resort.
One of the biggest advantages is that the property already has a ryokan license, which means a new owner would not need to go through the process of applying for one. The last guests stayed in November 2025, and during my visit it was easy to see how much care and love the current owner has put into the property over the years. They would really like to see someone continue operating the inn, and I honestly think this is an amazing investment opportunity for the right person who wants to keep its story alive while building their own business in one of Japan’s beautiful resort areas.
Ingredient #2
- 📍 Location: Boyodai 2-chome, Otaru City, Hokkaido
- 💰 Price: ¥9,000,000 (~$56,293 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 5LDK
- 📐 Building Size: 147.47 m² (1,587 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 228.24m² (2,457 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 10-minute by bus to Otaru-Chikko Station
Learn more here: Live Listing!
This house offers five rooms and is located in a quiet neighborhood, making it a great place to relax and enjoy a slower pace of life. It is also close to the ocean and conveniently located within a 10-minute bus to the station which offers a shopping mall, cinema, and other daily amenities nearby.
I think this property would be perfect for someone looking for a vacation home near Otaru, whether as a place to stay during ski trips or simply as a comfortable retreat while working remotely as a digital nomad. Since there is a minimum number of days the property can be rented out each year, it is better suited as a personal vacation home rather than a full-time rental investment.
From the photos, the house appears to be in very good condition. It may benefit from some tatami replacements depending on your preferences, and there are currently no photos of the kitchen, so it is difficult to assess its condition. However, the rest of the house looks very well maintained, and overall I think it is a charming property in a convenient location with a lot of appeal for those looking to enjoy the Otaru area.
Ingredient #3
- 📍 Location: Teine Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido
- 💰 Price: ¥11,800,000 (~$73,807 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 6LDK
- 📐 Building Size: 144.08 m² (1,551 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 239.77 m² (2,581 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 9-minute walk to Hoshoki Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
This house is offered at an excellent price in the Teine area, which is a great location for anyone who wants easy access to both skiing and city life. It is located close to Sapporo Teine Ski Resort while still offering a convenient commute into Sapporo. It is also located near Hoshioki Station, making transportation easy whether you have a car or not.
The house itself looks to be in very good condition and offers six rooms, a garage for one car, and a huge garden. One of the things I like most about this property is the amount of potential it has. While some parts of the interior have a slightly older style, it would not take much to modernize the space and make it feel completely refreshed.
The garden is another major highlight. There is plenty of space to customize it to your own taste, whether you dream of having a large outdoor entertaining area, a vegetable garden, or even expanding the usable outdoor living space. The possibilities are really there for someone willing to add their own personal touch.
I think this property would work very well as either a vacation home or a rental property, especially given its proximity to one of Hokkaido’s most popular ski resorts and the convenience of being close to Sapporo. Overall, I think it offers a lot of value and plenty of opportunities to make it something special.
That’s all I have for this week! I was thinking about including some properties in Karuizawa, but to be honest, many of them start at over USD 700,000. I’m not sure if you would be interested in seeing more high-end properties in future editions. Let me know in the comments! 😊
Browse opportunities yourself: Check out current listings at Nipponhomes.com
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This content is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects my personal opinions and experience. I am not a licensed financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.
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Derek has been working in the Airbnb space for the past 10+ years and recently purchased a home in Japan. He is excited to bring this investment opportunity to others in the States & abroad.
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