Buying a House in Japan

In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, hosts Joey and Take welcome judicial scrivener Hiro to explain his role in real estate transactions in Japan. Hiro, who has over 26 years of experience, clarifies the difference between a judicial and administrative scrivener and details the complex process of title transfers, emphasizing how his services simplify the procedure for foreigners...

In this episode of the Buying A House in Japan Podcast, the team—Erik, Joey, and Take—reunite to discuss critical steps and considerations for purchasing property in Japan. They cover a wide range of topics from setting up a Wise.com account for seamless fund transfers, understanding the cultural and logistical differences in rural Japan, to tempering expectations on the transaction timeline. Eric...

In this episode of the Buying A House in Japan Podcast, Joey and Take reflect on their ongoing journey of purchasing homes in Japan over the past two and a half years. Joey shares his globetrotting adventures from Halifax to various parts of Japan and California. The hosts discuss the challenges and triumphs of maintaining multiple properties, including the importance of road access, weather condi...

In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, the hosts discuss the latest updates on their property renovations. Current challenges include overgrown gardens that need immediate attention, and house interiors that are mostly complete, except for outdated kitchens and treacherous staircases. They reflect on the progress made so far and outline next steps for achieving a fully polished...

In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, the hosts celebrate their final in-person recording before switching to remote sessions. They reflect on their time together, especially Joey's recent experiences in Otaru, Japan—a place known for its cold weather, stunning scenery, and surprisingly excellent food scene, including standout Neapolitan pizza. Joey updates listeners on a propert...

Exploring Business Ventures and Sauna Culture with Eric In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, the hosts reunite with recurring guest Erick, a licensed contractor in the U.S. who is moving permanently to Niigata, Japan. The discussion covers Erik's impressions of California, comparisons between online and in-person interactions, and the emerging sauna culture in Japan. Eric shares...

Japanese real estate investments—especially outside major metropolitan areas—can feel a bit like a crapshoot. But to economics professor Ninh Nguyen, there's a method to the madness. In this episode, Ninh explains his market-timing model, steeped in layers of detailed market data; the relationship between the USD and JPY, the cash flow game of Japanese real estate, and the value of solid short-ter...

While celebrating Take's bachelor party in Indonesia, the work never stops. A key part of the AkiyaMart website goes down, and a mysterious series of notes is left inside one of their properties. 00:32 Introduction - On a beach in Indonesia 01:44 Debugging the AkiyaMart website on Indonesian internet 03:27 Our properties - Finally making money! 07:44 The return of Sato-san 11:39 Myoko - Struggles...

When it comes to Akiya, many look for a diamond in the rough—and Matt Guy's new home proves they exist. In this episode, Matt discusses how he found his property, the shifting market in Myoko, and the key things that must align for you to secure your dream home. 00:09 Introduction 02:14 Why Myoko? 03:10 Myoko snow: Like no other 04:44 Soon-to-be neighbors! 06:45 The shifting market in Myoko 08:07...

Imagine you sign with a real estate estate agent to sell your home—only to find out your agent also represents the buyer. Among the many things Japan handles differently, real estate transactions can be an opaque if not unreliable experience. From difficulties in scheduling viewings to disappearing homeowners, AkiyaMart Direct agent Ryosuke Takemoto covers what he's learned dealing with foreign ho...

On the heels of joining the AkiyaMart Direct team, Erik Buhrow recounts his journey back to Japan, the red flags he sees in people trying to do the same, the gentle politeness of Japanese people versus the strange gatekeeping behavior of foreigners, and perhaps most importantly—how to get a car (or at least drive one)! 00:00 Introduction / Erik’s origin story 03:27 The lifestyle & cost of livi...

Since Japanese short-term rentals are generally limited to 180 days a year, one of the most popular ideas floating around the Japanese real estate space is buying a cheap home, living in it for 6 months, then renting it out for the rest of the time. But it’s a little more complicated than that. Australian Tracey Northcott runs an entire business consulting on exactly that—helping investors navigat...

We're selling our Nagasaki House! Check the Listing here: https://www.akiya-mart.com/native/70 More Info here: https://akiya-mart.notion.site/ag1 Youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Snd_KXz7VBw

Did you know? A majority of homeowners prefer their house doesn’t collapse while they’re inside of it! Earthquakes are a topic that permeates nearly every foreigner discussion around Japan—especially when it comes to purchasing an older akiya. So how safe is it? Japan-based Dutch architect Koen Klinkers walks through the key things to inspect and consider when buying a home in Japan, followed by a...

Join hosts Take and Joey in their first video podcast as they visit their newly purchased Akiya home in Nagasaki.    They've invited Mika Auslander, a seasoned real estate agent specializing in vacant homes (Akiya) for overseas buyers, to share her insights and experiences. This episode is filled with personal anecdotes, valuable advice for prospective buyers, and a look at the exciting...

Even with thousands of hours of Japanese study and multiple trips to and around the country, Andrew Pierce still believes that for many people, buying a home in Japan is more achievable than it seems. In this episode, Andrew walks through the story of finding and buying his dream home; the setbacks and successes from paying with crypto to getting a refrigerator delivered through his second-story w...

It’s hard to ignore the headlines: An urban condo for under $9,000. A European style bed & breakfast for $5,000. A traditional home for free. Too good to be true, right? Well, it depends. Having purchased a home for $3,500, Joey and Take walk through their personal experience, set realistic expectations for lower-budget properties, and outline what it actually takes financially—and personally—...

Between JP Morgan and Honduran coffee plantations, Tsuyoshi Domoto has lived life rich with experience. But despite all his travels, he found himself eyeing his native country once again—fascinated by the prospect of cheap homes. Joey walks through Yoshi’s journey thus far, opportunities for foreigners buying businesses in Japan, and most importantly, Akiya Air—Yoshi’s latest venture seeking to sm...

Take and Joey first launched AkiyaMart in early 2023. Now with over a year of experience under their belt, they discuss their top 8 priorities for the year, including website improvements, native listings, and growing the team! 00:00 Introduction 00:41 Japan’s *second* best onsen. 05:20 Scaling AkiyaMart 06:35 Improving AkiyaMart Direct 09:29 A new service: AkiyaStay 10:37 Learning to sell Japanes...

In this episode, Take and Joey reflect on their journeys around southern Japan, including Nagasaki, Kagoshima, and Yakushima. Between nearly missing a ferry ride and getting accosted in a seaside onsen, they also saw some of the most stunning landscapes in the country and secured their fifth akiya purchase. With a greater understanding of the state of Japan outside the major cities, they give thei...

As a high schooler, Shu Matsuo left Japan for the United States with no desire to return. Today, Shu and his business partner Brett Lee are “all in” on Japan. In this episode, Shu and Brett share their personal and professional reasons for leaving the US, their newly-launched AkiyaHub service, critical tips for first-time buyers, and most importantly, who should (and shouldn’t) buy a Japanese home...

In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, the hosts welcome their friend Fumi, who has been crucial in managing their Beppu hot spring rental project. They discuss the various challenges they've faced, primarily focusing on their contractor, referred to as Sato-san, who has been unreliable and problematic. Fumi shares her experiences and the difficulties encountered in coordinating w...

In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, hosts Joey and Take celebrate their move into their new Jisoji Lux Chill Lounge. They discuss the impact of inflation in Japan, sharing personal experiences of rising prices at their favorite local restaurants. They also dive into various modes of transportation in the country, comparing the benefits and challenges of ferries, driving, Shinka...

In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, hosts discuss their recent activities and ongoing efforts to complete their home in Beppu with their elusive contractor, 'Sato san.' They recount their experiences since arriving in Japan, including tackling DIY home improvements, organizing furniture deliveries, and handling multiple construction setbacks. They also touch on upcoming episo...

Navigating Property Purchases and Utilities in Japan with Mailmate Link to MailMate: https://mailmate.jp/ In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, host Take welcomes John Cross, the founder of Mailmate, to discuss essential services for foreigners purchasing property in Japan. They delve into the importance of having local support to avoid missteps in areas such as setting up util...