- Hey guys! We started a podcast. Had a contentious guest who doesn’t really agree with what we are doing. Really fun engaging episode! Episode 5 — Is Foreign ownership hurting Japan?
Another week has passed by, and today I wanted to talk a little about something I really like about our renovation projects. When you choose to renovate your property with our team, we work with local contractors and professionals from the area where your house is located.
I think this is especially important in some of the more rural or depopulated areas of Japan. Supporting local businesses means that the money being invested into these properties also helps create work and opportunities for the local community. Instead of only bringing people into these areas to buy houses, I think it’s great when we can also contribute to the communities that are already there.
Some of our clients have even bigger plans for their properties! We’ve had customers interested in opening their own hostels, accommodations, cafés, or other small businesses where they can also become part of the local community. We love hearing these ideas because it’s exciting to see someone buy an older or abandoned property and give it a completely new purpose.
I actually went on a house tour recently in an area that felt almost completely isolated. There was even a train station nearby, but so many of the businesses and houses around it were abandoned. Japan has so many areas facing this situation, so it’s always nice to feel that, in one way or another, we can help bring a little bit of life back into these communities while also supporting the people who already live there.
Anyways, let’s start with this week’s houses!
Ingredient #1
- 📍 Location: Oaza Iiyama, Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture
- 💰 Price: ¥12,000,000 (~$74,228 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 7DK
- 📐 Building Size: 186.58 m² (2,008 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 459.27 m² (4,943 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 11-minute walk to Kita-Iiyama Station on the JR Iiyama Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
The Iiyama area is really popular among our ski buyers, and there are usually not that many houses available for sale, so I honestly think this one could go really fast!
It is a really nice traditional Japanese house with seven bedrooms, two toilets, a kitchen area, garage space for two cars, and a garden. Of course, some renovations are needed since the house was built in 1984, but I think there is so much potential here. With the right renovations, you could modernize the property while keeping some of its traditional Japanese character, or even transform it into a hostel or accommodation for larger groups.
The location is one of the biggest advantages. The house is near central Iiyama and Iiyama Station, while still giving you really good access to the surrounding ski areas. Togari Onsen Ski Resort is roughly 20–25 minutes away by car, while Madarao Mountain Resort and Nozawa Onsen Ski Resort are also around 20–30 minutes away depending on road and snow conditions. You can even reach the Myoko ski areas by car if you want more options during ski season.
For the price and the amount of space you’re getting, I think this house has a lot of potential. Properties this large don’t come onto the market very often in the Iiyama area, especially with seven bedrooms, a garage, and outdoor space. With some renovations and a little creativity, this could become a really interesting vacation home, hostel, or ski property!
Ingredient #2
- 📍 Location: 1-chome, Shiomidai, Otaru City, Hokkaido
- 💰 Price: ¥3,300,000 (~$20,413 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 4LDK
- 📐 Building Size: 103.92 m² (1,119 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 253.08 m² (2,724 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 16-minute walk to Otaru-Chikkō Station & Minami-Otaru Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
This is a really good house for a low price, located near the Otaru coastline and Minami-Otaru, which also gives you convenient access to nearby ski resorts. I think the location alone makes it a really interesting option for someone looking for an affordable vacation home in Otaru.
The house offers four bedrooms, a spacious living room, and parking space for several cars, which is always a great advantage, especially during ski season. The rooms themselves look to be in good condition and offer plenty of space.
Of course, the house would benefit from some renovations if you want to give it a more modern look, and I do think some work would be needed before using it as a rental property. However, considering the price, size, and location, I think there is a lot of potential here. With the right renovations, this could become a really nice vacation home or rental property close to both the ocean and the ski areas around Otaru.
Ingredient #3
- 📍 Location: Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture
- 💰 Price: ¥9,800,000 (~$60,619 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 5DK
- 📐 Building Size: 81.14 m² (873 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 166.16 m² (1,788 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 14-minute walk to Miyazaki Airport Station on the JR Miyazaki Airport Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
This traditional Japanese house is located really close to Miyazaki Airport, which I think makes it an amazing location if you’re looking for a vacation home or even a property to rent out. Having the airport nearby makes arriving and leaving incredibly convenient, especially if you don’t live in Miyazaki full-time. Daily life is also easy, with a supermarket, drugstore, convenience store, and park all nearby.
The house offers five bedrooms, a spacious living area, and parking space for one car. From the photos, it looks to be in really good condition, and the kitchen has already been renovated, giving the house a nice combination of modern updates while still keeping its traditional Japanese character.
Another great advantage is the access to the JR Miyazaki Airport Line. From the airport area, you can easily travel toward Miyazaki Station and explore some of the area’s main attractions. Miyazaki City gives you access to places like Miyazaki Shrine and the city center, while by continuing south by train or car you can explore Aoshima, Aoshima Shrine, and the beautiful Nichinan Coast. Of course, having a car would give you even more freedom to explore the beaches and coastal areas around Miyazaki.
Overall, I think this is a really nice option for someone looking for more of a beach and summer vacation home in Japan. Between the airport access, nearby amenities, five bedrooms, and the condition of the house, I think it offers a lot of convenience while still having that traditional Japanese feeling.
And that’s all for this week’s bento box! This week we had a little bit of everything, from ski areas and traditional homes with renovation potential to a completely different lifestyle here in Miyazaki. There are always interesting properties coming onto the market, and sometimes the best ones can go really quickly.
As always, if there’s a particular prefecture, city, or type of property you’d like me to focus on in a future newsletter, let me know in the comments! Maybe next week I’ll discover something completely different!
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.
Nick has a passion for adventure and has always dreamed of owning a property in Japan. His dreams finally came true when Derek brought him in on a deal of a lifetime in Hokkaido, Japan - one of Nick's favorite places on Earth.