The House That Came With Extra Land: Mark & Paula's Vacation Home in Otaru
Mark and Paula wanted a year-round base in Japan that worked for a skier and a non-skier. They found it in Tenjin, Otaru — and learned at the signing table that they'd bought more land than they thought. Renovations kicked off three days after settlement.
How It Started
Mark and Paula are an Australian couple with a familiar dilemma: one skier, one non-skier, and a shared dream of a place in Japan they could actually use all year round. Their first contact was Derek, who - in their own words - "was really patient with our questions, listened and helped us think about a location that could work for our differing needs." The answer wasn't a resort town. It was Otaru: ski hills up the road, canal-town charm, the ocean, the food, and four proper seasons.
The Property
A two-story detached home in Otaru's Tenjin neighborhood, perched above the street behind a stone retaining wall with its own staircase. Solid bones, carpeted rooms upstairs, and a location that's quietly one of our favorite bets in Hokkaido – Tenjin sits along the route of the planned Hokkaido Shinkansen extension to Sapporo, with the future Otaru station just minutes away.
The Process
The Bakers joined the buyers program at the start of May. Video tours (thank you, Ryu), a full walk-through on May 26, an accepted offer, contract signed June 16 – and settlement on July 3, just 62 days after signing up. The handover came with a nice touch: instead of a conference room in Sapporo, the keys changed hands at the house itself, with the whole team on site.
The Surprise
At the signing table, there was news: the sale didn't just include the lot the house sits on – the parcel next door was part of their land too. "Yes, that was a nice surprise at the signing!" Mark wrote. Two weeks later, they were asking whether the vacant block on the other side of the house was for sale as well. We're keeping an eye on it.
The First Week
Three days after settlement, a hose behind the toilet decided to test everyone. Matt was on site with Suzuki-san the next morning, and after a spirited debate over washlet features, a new unit was chosen and installed within the hour. That same week the Bakers green-lit fresh carpet and new wallpaper in the three upstairs rooms – quoted, approved, and first payment made within a day. Window flyscreens and a full exterior pest treatment rounded out the list: pest control is done, carpets and wallpaper are next, screens go in mid-August, and the furniture arrives in September with Matt receiving it on their behalf.
"Between Cam getting everything organised and Matt being here on the ground as contractors arrive, it's really made the process as smooth as we could have hoped." — Mark
What's Next
Mark and Paula flew home to Australia in late July and are back at the beginning of November – to a house with new carpet, fresh wallpaper, screens on the windows, and maybe, one day, a little more land. YukiHomes looks after the property in the meantime.
"Thank you everyone for all of your help in making this happen for us! It's been a pleasure dealing with you all over the last few months." — Mark & Paula, settlement day
