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Buying an Akiya House in Rural Japan: Our Real Experience
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- Опубліковано 16 тра 2024
- Last year we turned our dream into a reality by buying an #Akiya Kominka house in rural #Japan. Please join us as we talk about our experience and reasons for buying the house, while we take you on a tour of the cherry blossoms in full bloom around our town. We also answer questions from our subscribers regarding buying a house as a foreigner in Japan.
Thanks for watching and we hope you enjoy the video (my first attempt at a voiceover!)
#akiya #japanesehouse #japanesecountryside #japan #lifeinjapan #japanrealestate #ruraljapan #sakura #cherryblossoms
Music: Epidemic Sound
Camera: GoPro Hero 11 Black
I LOVE this story! I love that you’re making great changes at 50. It’s so inspiring! It gives me a lot of optimism in my mid-30’s to one day have my dream home outside of Canada. And what a beautiful area! Looking forward to more content.
Oh wow, thank you so much! Your kind words mean so much 🥰 Would love to hear more about your plans!
@@NekoAshiJapan You honestly don't look 50, far from it. Hubby does tho 🤣🤣🤣
@@Kognito72 Haha! Why, thank you! He's the one who is often mistaken for being younger, so I'm very happy with your comment 🤣
Beautiful video! I built a home in central Japan in a rural village. Although my wife is Japanese, I have found the locals (mostly farmers) to be rather insular and shy. It's been 15 years now, and I enjoy the quiet, so it doesnt bother me. The PROS: living in nature, wonderful mountain views, cool mountain climate, no car horns, no sub-woofers, no all-night parties, no late fees, no parking tickets, no lawyers, and low taxes. The CONS: being the subject of local gossip, and only 10 colors of paint.
Hi and thanks for your comment! Your 'Cons' made me laugh! The paint thing is a real problem, haha 😄 and we completely agree with all of your 'Pros'. Our neighbours have been very friendly so far and we are trying our hardest to follow etiquette, be honest with our intentions and show that we're investing time and money into the house and community. Biggest hurdle right now is keeping the weeds under control in the front garden, as we are conscious that it can quickly become unsightly for the neighbours. Might need to increase the frequency with which we engage the local Silver Group for their gardening services :)
Interesting video. Thanks for sharing. Glad that UA-cam suggested this video to watch 😀👍
Thank you so much!
I adore Japan . The only country I miss. ❤
It is a truly amazing place, isn't it? I hope you can return some day!
@@NekoAshiJapan -I definitely will return. I think about Japan al the time.
My husband and I feel the same way. 🤩
It's great seeing you guys uploading again! 😊
Thank you! Takes a lot of time, as you know, but I think our new format will make it easier moving forward. Looking forward to your next updates!
@@NekoAshiJapan Yes...so much time hahaha
I know it's been a while, but I'm just about to start regular uploads finally! I've been working on something in the background that has been taking a lot of my time but that's winding down finally and I can share everything really soon!!
Wonderful! Are you ready for the heat of the Japanese Summer? 😀
@@NekoAshiJapan absolutely hahaha, I live in FL anyways so it's hotter here in summer than where my home in Japan is so you won't hear me complaining! 😂
Beautifully presented video, and very informative. Looking forward to catching further updates.
Thank you!
いい所❤
Yay new video, G'day mates! Cant wait for the next one. Is this lighting for the tree on 4:13? It would be cool to see night views!
G'day!! Thank you so much! Yes, we bought solar lights for the sakura tree, but they weren't really strong enough ...however... the local neighbourhood association offered us their super powerful lights to use after they were taken down from the prefectural road display, and it looked pretty incredible! I'll include that footage in our next video 😀
Hi , From Australia too, We just found your videos , I absolutely love your house and look forward to seeing more , it’s our dream to do the same in the future too.
Hello! Thanks for your kind words. We'd love to hear more about your dream and see it turn into reality for you :)
Jason , Debbie's got you working hard Bro! hehehe
Hahaha, yes, indeed I have!
I'm jealous. The house and area look lovely. It's great to have a like minded partner to go on such an adventure. For me the biggest hurdle might be the community engagement. I'm extremely introverted and weird\awkward. I don't think people like me would do well in Japanese society. I don't do well in my own society. Oh well, it's still nice to daydream and watch videos like yours.
Thanks for your kind words. It is a beautiful part of Japan and we will share more of the local area soon. The community engagement is rewarding but yes, you're right it can be challenging! Even without the complexity of needing to speak Japanese, building relationships and trust takes time and effort. We are getting there slowly, and I'm starting to come out of my shell, being somewhat of an introvert myself 😊 From my experience, I've found Japanese society to be very accepting of more introverted types 🙃
I hear ya lol 😅
Your guys place is beautiful I want to move there so bad iam just in awe at the beauty there and would love living there with my daughters.
@@kaseyrae7694 Hey we're both Casey's/Kasey's who like Japan?🙂👍
@@kaseyrae7694 Thank you so much! You and your daughters would be warmly welcomed, I am sure :)
Hello from France! I m Nathalie, merci beaucoup ! Thank you so much for this video🤗 and thank for your answers🙏🙏there is no subtitle in french but I m working my english😊.
You are so welcome! Can you view a transcript then use a translator app? I'll have to look into multi lingual options. Still a bit new to this :)
I will listen to your video several times to understand, don't worry, it will be fine. Thank you, that’s very kind of you😀🙏
Really cool! Interested to learn about all kinds of experiences and processes, surprises etc.
Thank you! Lots more to come soon!
You turned 50 and made a plan....Sunshine Shoulders in the Philippines said something about making a plan. That's our escape to whatever we are looking for. Congratulations🎉 Now its my turn at 60....
How wonderful to follow our dreams at any age! Best of luck with wherever your dreams take you :)
Great to find another Aussie/cpl who have bought an akiya, I recently discovered Chani in Japan, she is a fellow Aussie also 50 who has done it on her own...I'm 53, and starting to plan for myself and have already come across those websites you mentioned bar 1 so I will def take a look. I'd love to know where you bought and how much you paid, how long it took from start of application to getting the keys, I heard it can be quite a long drawn out process as the Japanese still officialise everything in slow paper trails...do you own the land also ? I'm looking in the Kansai region and Wakayama....you've gained another subscriber...keen to see more :) Lisa, Brisbane
Thanks for much for subscribing :) We are from Brisbane and fans of Chani too! I'm also in my early 50's (this is Deb replying, 52 this year), and it is such a great time of life to be embarking on this adventure. Kids are grown so we have more freedom. Maybe I should do another video with more detail on the purchasing process? We bought in Shimane prefecture, as we fell in love with the house, then the natural beauty of area and the friendly locals. It is also an area where foreigners are still a bit of a novelty, which is rather nice! Jason gets a LOT of attention being 6'4"! haha.
@@NekoAshiJapan Haha seems to be a popular adventure for QLD's I'm so happy to come across your channel and Chani as it has encouraged me to not give up on my own dream of buying and living part time...I'm heading back mid November for a month this year and will def be "planting some seeds" so to speak whilst I'm there with contacts and friends...BTW how does Jason fare with his tatoos amungst the locals ? tall and tattooed maybe they want to get on his good side if you know what I mean lol Aussie yakuza ha
@@NekoAshiJapan Oh and yes definately consider doing a video on the buying process, I follow several ppl who have bought akiya, foreigners and Japanese and have gained much insight from in depth buying process videos....theres's a lot of us out here keen :)
Come and join the adventure :) You won't regret it, as long as you do your research commit to it as a 'forever' plan. Jason and his tattoos, yes, they do stand out. He can't enter most Onsen or public swimming pools. He just covers them up for everyday around town. His height is a topic of great interest and he gets attentions everywhere he goes. People seem to love him!
Your house is GORGEOUS!! Please include costs.
Thank you! I am about to release a new video, so I'll make sure to include a bit about costs.
I saw your earlier videos some time ago and wondered how you were doing so far, so great to see your latest video! Having almost bought a place early last year in Myoko (one we were offered but didn't accept in time, it was a very good deal but a normal house rather than a kominka which we preferred), I had a few questions for you. First, you're really in a more isolated part of Japan down there in Shimane, not easy to get anywhere, was that your preference? Were you specifically looking for a place in Shimane or was that just where you found a kominka you really wanted? How are you going living in such a small village with I assume no other foreigners to mix with? Can you let us know your criteria when searching and how much did you manage from Australia - where I am also btw, but my situation is a little different, I'm a similar age but with a Japanese partner and young family, so we prefer a place with some community, other kids, some restaurants, cafes etc and not too remote (eg on a Shinkansen line). I also grapple with how much you should invest in an old house, because you're unlikely to get that back if you need to sell?
Hello! Thanks for your interesting questions. I think I'll answer some of these in depth in my next video, as I'm sure others are wondering the same things. We fell in love with the house first, then the area which has so much natural beauty and the people here are amazing. We didn't want to be surrounded by foreigners. There is something very special about being in a location where you truly immerse yourself and, for language learners, are forced to use your Japanese. Having said that, we've made a couple of great non-Japanese friends, as well as lots of Japanese friends too. The village looks small, but there are actually over 170 houses in our valley and a Lawson just across the rice fields! (Important! Haha). The local airport gets us to Tokyo in 90 mins if we want a weekend in the neon and nightlife, and Hiroshima and Yamaguchi are only 100kms away (for an Aussie, that's nothing!) The city is only 10 mins away and home to 45000 people with every amenity we could want, with an express train to the nearest Shinkansen station. One big plus for me is the relatively low level of seismic activity in the area. We also love the proximity to both white sand beaches and ski resorts. The financial side is such a hard question with no 'right' answer, as everyone's situations are so different. But this certainly isn't an investment for us, I'd say it's our 'ikigai' now that our children are grown, but family will always come first :)
@@NekoAshiJapan That was one of my criteria as well, less earthquake prone. But I discovered it was wishful thinking as I'd more or less settled on the Noto Peninsula as a good place to buy (the guy who runs Koryoya also bought a place there at Nanao). Are you planning anything structurally with your Kominka for earthquake resilience? A lot of areas have grants for upgrading, are you tapping those?
Will definitely be looking at structural upgrades when we restore the central four rooms of the house. There are some subsidies available, but not as many as other prefectures, unfortunately :)
What was the timeframe from choosing a house to keys in hand? I've heard it can be a long drawn out process. And how often do you plan to go back to the house since you're not living their fulltime. Great video. We hope to buy in about 12-18 months time.
Hello! Thanks for your comments & questions. I was just thinking today that there's so much more to tell about our house buying experience. I'll talk more about it in our next video. Quick answers are: it took about 6 months from inspection to getting the keys and we hope to be back at least each season for long visits - as much as we can whilst juggling work commitments, etc.
I want to buy akiya house also, ❤😊
Great video, can I ask what area of Japan the house is in because it's so beautiful. Can you describe your actual experience, did you do the entire transaction on your own without help from a Japanese friend or agency? How hard was it and how long did it take?
Hello! Thanks for your questions. We are in Shimane prefecture. I think I'll talk about these things in my next video because lots of people are asking for more detail. But a quick answer is that we worked with a company in Japan to complete the purchase for us. We did inspect the house in person, but the sale was completed while we were out of the country :) It was very straightforward and took about 6 months.
As long as you respect Japanese society and follow the rules. Living country place can be difficult even for Japanese people, especially dealing with locals. There are so many unwritten rule that you have to follow. For me even, garbage collection rule is difficult, it not like North America that you can dump anytime.
Also, buying the house does not mean you can automatically obtain resident visa.
Absolutely agree! Our neighbours have been so helpful with explaining the rules, and getting us involved. We've joined the neighborhood association and we were asked to introduce ourselves to the whole town at the annual general meeting - that was a bit intimidating but great to tell everyone our story and set expectations. They were very clear about the garbage collections and I think we are finally getting it right - all this will be shared in an upcoming video about village community life. And you are correct, as I mentioned in the video, buying a house does not grant you any type of residency or visa :)
Do these homes rent well while you get sorted to make a final move over with residency visas and things?
I'm not sure, but it's not something we're considering. I know some people convert them into AirBnBs but that's not part of our plan.
hi there, great resource / vid - thank you for sharing. i was wondering if u could give me a heads up as i am having loads of issues contacting agencies to request additional info. there are 2 problems i cant seem to circumvent; 1) none of the sites publish an email address and when using their online enquiry forms, 2) they need a mobile phone (japanese number) to send verification code. so frustratingly in this early stage of our venture, we can;t seem to even connect with agencies :(
Hello and thanks for the positive feedback. We were able to contact the Akiya Bank for our city directly via email, so it really depends which site you are using. I can also recommend contacting Nippon Tradings International (nippontradings.com/) who can assist you in your search for a reasonable fee. They are based in Japan and can assist with contacting agents to set up viewings and facilitate the purchase process. Good luck with your house hunting!
@@NekoAshiJapan ty kindly
If you have a foreign name, like me, you may find that many Japanese representatives are hesitant to respond. It's mostly their fear of foreigners and English, even though messages/emails were in Japanese. I found 50% will not respond at all, and another 25% will respond two or three weeks later (they had to muster the courage?). It takes a lot of patience and persistence to live here.
🇲🇾♥️🇯🇵
Watch this great video by @bentonhomestead for information on startup visas in Japan :)
ua-cam.com/video/Tl-iZNeo2aw/v-deo.htmlsi=h8TsWHQ-ipQKmCCV
What part of Japan did you buy in - generally I don’t mean your exact address. Thank you.
Shimane prefecture :)
It still seems weird seeing you guys on youtube and hearing your voice.
It's even more weird for us!! 😄
I live in Fukuoka prefecture. I live near a famous shrine. Seven million tourists visit there annually. There's an akiya next to my house. Does anyone want to live there?
Sounds very nice. Can i be your neighbor?
Mate yeah how can we get in contact ?
How much did you pay for your Akiya house?
3,500,000 JPY :)
Where are these sakura?
Mitocho in Shimane prefecture :)
Did you buy a car too?
No, not yet. We use a monthly rental service. Definitely one of the top priorities is building a car park and buying a cheap little car :)
@@NekoAshiJapan Curious how you would purchase a vehicle with tourist visa? Looking to move to Japan 6mo out of the year.
Well, we have heard of a way to achieve this on a tourist visa and we're still investigating the details. Will post a video on it when we have a bit more clarity, but it sounds promising! :)
Nice video! Was thinking about buying a vacation home there. So much to love about Japan. Was it an easy move to get use to the culture for you both?
Thanks! We'll, no matter how much time we spend here, we're always learning something new. If you've been seriously been thinking about a property here, I say, go chase your dream!
Recent rise in crime for these cheap houses in rural areas. Vietnamese criminals have been ransacking these houses and even tieing up elderly residents.
It's not safe to buy rural houses in japan.
Hey, that's very interesting! I'll have to do some research on that. Good idea to install security measures, such as cameras and lights, as we have done.
@@NekoAshiJapan watch the news or watch nhk. Also some organized criminals from Cambodia are stealing solar panels equipment worth thousands of dollars from farms in ibaraki and other rural areas.
The increase in immigrants in the future will definitely affect the safey level in Japan.
@sherlockhomes9919 That's so disappointing to hear. We watch NHK regularly, so will keep an eye out for those stories. Makes me even happier that we are far from the areas that foreigners usually seem to congregate.
@@NekoAshiJapan yeah home invasion is going to be a problem in japan in rural areas because nobody is around these areas and the aging population is going to make it worse.