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Buying a House in Japan: Daily Summaries Delivered
by AkiyaMart Productions
We’re Joey & Take - two friends who dreamed of owning a cheap home in Japan. So we bought one...and then five more! Dreaming of owning property in Japan? We cover everything you need to know and more. Highlights include: * Pros and cons of purchasing in Japan * The complexities of Japan’s real estate market * Challenges for foreign buyers * Interviews with locals, expats, and experts * All the mistakes we’ve made (so you can avoid them!)
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- 4 days ago50 min
Is the Japan House Buying Trend Overhyped? | Ep. 150
In this episode of Buying a House in Japan, Taker and Joey sit down with Keito Swan, a half-Japanese U.S. native who bought and fully renovated a 50-year-old akiya in Higashikawa, Hokkaido. Keito breaks down the real expenses behind his $180,000 project, the hard realities of local weather and trash rules, and why he thinks most foreign buyers should think twice before purchasing property in Japan.Key TakeawaysThe True Akiya Budget: Why cheap listings can quickly turn into $180,000 projects once you factor in full gut renovations and harsh climates.Local Integration Matters: Why understanding community rules, trash sorting, and local events like the Undokai make or break your living experience in rural Japan.The Airbnb Trap: Why managing remote vacation rentals in Japan rarely delivers the expected ROI for average buyers.Financial and Practical Realities: Why liquid capital, language access, or realistic plans for upkeep are non-negotiable for Japanese homeownership.Main PointsKeito's Journey to Hokkaido: Driving the Pan-American Highway, leaving a failed deal in Niseko behind, and finding a property in Higashikawa on Suumo while parked in the Atacama Desert.Renovating a 50-Year-Old House: Dealing with sub-zero temperatures, replacing entire plumbing systems, and prepping a house for 10 meters of annual snow.Skepticism Around the Akiya Boom: Unpacking common sales tactics, misleading online listings, and why low-cost rural houses often cost more than they are worth.Living in a Town of 8,000: Joining the local track-and-field day, dealing with village addresses, and building future plans for cabins, an art studio, and an English school.Resources & Links MentionedFollow Keito Swan on Instagram: @keitoswanBrowse Japanese property listings in English: MokomokoLearn about full-service remote home buying: Mokomoko Buyers Club If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. If you or someone you know wants to find a property in Japan, check out mokomoko.com or email us at podcast@mokomoko.com.
- 1 weeks ago52 min
Escaping California Housing Prices with a Modern Concrete Home in Japan | Ep. 149
Finding reasonable housing in the Bay Area can feel impossible. In this episode of Buying a House in Japan, Take sit downs with video producer Oliver to talk about his path to purchasing a modern, concrete home in Atami. From growing up in Japan and attending public school in Machida to using astrology and location criteria, Oliver breaks down how his family found their dream getaway near Sagami Bay.Key TakeawaysThe Bay Area Alternative: How high housing prices in California pushed Oliver to look for international real estate options.Atami Location Perk: Finding an ocean view, mountain backdrop, and quick access to Tokyo via the Shinkansen line.House Selection Criteria: Navigating building safety, post-2006 construction rules to avoid asbestos, and searching for lots with onsen water access.Growing Up in Japan: Oliver shares childhood memories of attending Japanese public school and using key local phrases.The "House of Dao": Creating a relaxing home environment for family, friends, and future guests.Resources & Links MentionedBrowse English friendly Japan real estate listings: MokomokoProperty Purchasing Assistance: Mokomoko Buyers ClubFollow the podcast on social media: Instagram | TikTokReach out to the team via email: podcast@mokomoko.comIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate the show 5 stars on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and subscribe so you do not miss the next step in this home buying journey!
- 2 weeks ago46 min
Why We Dropped the Akiya Name and What It Means for Japanese Real Estate | Ep. 148
Welcome back to the Buying a House in Japan podcast! In this episode, Take and Joey dive into a massive milestone for the team: officially rebranding AkiyaMart to Mokomoko.com. They unpack the tech and administrative challenges of pivoting away from the negative connotations around the word "akiya", dealing with domain migrations, and resetting SEO from scratch.They also share practical tips on managing summer humidity in Japanese homes, the financial realities of trying to install a sauna on a Tokyo property, and the launch of the Mokomoko Buyers Club post-purchase program-designed to handle everything from utilities and tax reps to neighbor welcome gifts and house blessings.Key TakeawaysWhy the Rebrand Happened: Moving away from the term "akiya" reflects a broader mission to cover all real estate in Japan while dropping the dash from the domain name.Startup Lessons: Switching Google Workspace domains and migrating sites overnight requires a "just do it" mindset, even if SEO takes an initial hit.Home Care Hacks: Desiccant packs fill up fast in Japanese summers; running the AC on dehumidify mode at a higher temperature works best for long-term property protection.Sauna Realities: Urban Tokyo rules, neighbor proximity, and retaining wall retrofits can turn a simple outdoor sauna into a $60,000 project.Post-Purchase Care: Transitioning from home buyer to local resident means setting up tax representatives, local utilities, neighbor greeting gifts, and traditional house blessings.Resources & Links MentionedMokomoko (Formerly AkiyaMart): Find over half a million Japanese real estate listings at mokomoko.comMokomoko Buyers Club: Full-service remote home purchasing and post-purchase onboardingHawaii Vacation Rental / Listing: Check out Take's property at chihoorentals.comHaven Sauna: Battery-backed saunas that standard outlets can chargeConnect With UsEmail: podcast@mokomoko.comSocials: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for property tours, renovation updates, and home-buying tips.Support the Show: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star rating and share it with someone looking to buy a home in Japan!
- 3 weeks ago1h 4m
Works in America. Lives in Japan. | Ep. 147
Moving to Japan is a massive life pivot, but the real challenges often start long after the initial honeymoon phase fades. In this episode, we sit down with Richard Sandlin, who shares his raw experience moving from the Bay Area to Sendai with his family. We break down the realities of long-term life in Japan-from navigating the complex "three-year gotchas" like fluctuating taxes and car ownership to why hiring professional help is often the smartest investment you can make.Key TakeawaysThe "Three-Year Gotchas": Life changes after a few years. Costs, taxes, and bureaucratic requirements evolve in ways many expats aren’t prepared for.Why You Need Professional Help: Whether it’s taxes, visa paperwork, or interpreting complex Japanese regulations, stop trying to do it all yourself. Hiring experts isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity to keep your sanity and stay compliant.Finding Your "Why": Japan isn't just about the aesthetic. Whether it's the safety for your kids, better education, or a lifestyle shift, stay connected to your core reason for moving to get through the tough bureaucratic days.Don't Ship Everything: Japan has a world-class secondhand market. Save the shipping costs and buy what you need locally (or use recycling shops like BookOff).What We CoveredSendai vs. Tokyo: Why choosing where you live is the first major "Yes" that dictates your entire experience.The Reality of Remote Work: How living in a foreign country while working for an American company creates a unique "bubble."Navigating Bureaucracy: The truth about ward offices, driver's license tests (the infamous "crank"!), and the stress of physical mail deadlines.Education: Breaking the myth that you need to be in Tokyo to find great, bilingual international schooling for your children.Resources & Linksmokomoko – Search over half a million listings for your dream home in Japan.Follow Richard: Connect with Richard Sandlin on Instagram for more insights on travel, points, and living in Japan.Subscribe & SupportEnjoyed this episode? Please leave us a five-star review-it helps others find the show and takes less than five seconds! If you’re ready to start your journey of buying a home in Japan, head over to mokomoko.com to get started.
- Aug 21, 202621 min
The Reality of Owning a House in Japan: Trash Schedules, DIY Upgrades, & AkiyaLife | Ep. 146
What does life look like two years after buying an akiya in Japan? Hosts Joey and Take give a raw, unscripted run-and-gun tour of Tomo Base Camp right before heading to the airport. They dive deep into the trial-and-error of their home espresso setup, showcase major house renovations like double-pane window installations, navigate the unexpected challenges of local trash schedules, and share upcoming plans for a backyard barrel sauna and cold plunge setup.Key TakeawaysThe Reality of Akiya Living: Owning property in Japan comes with unique logistics, including managing strict local trash schedules when hosting guests or leaving for extended periods.Major House Upgrades: Adding double-pane windows and extra insulation helps regulate extreme seasonal temperatures and improves energy efficiency.The Coffee Journey: Why home espresso setups are a hands-on hobby requiring constant troubleshooting, dial-in adjustments, and gear modifications.Outdoor Space Renovations: Transforming the yard with lighting, custom walkways, a cold plunge, and future plans for a backyard sauna.Resources Mentioned:Property: Tomo Base CampCoffee Gear: Gaggia Classica Espresso Machine, Baratza ESP GrinderRecovery Gear: Doctor Ice Cold PlungeCompany: Moko Moko Takamori K.K.Loved this episode? Please leave us a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! If you are looking to buy your own property in Japan, check out the Moko Moko Buyers Club to browse over half a million listings in English. Have questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@mokomoko.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok.
- Aug 14, 202641 min
The Hidden Headaches of Buying a House in Japan (And How We're Fixing Them) | Ep. 145
Buying a house in Japan is just step one. What happens next?This week, Joey and Take sit down with Akane Hoshino, the operations lead behind their new post-purchase support program, Mokomoko Buyers Club. Akane has spent the past year helping foreign homeowners navigate the parts of Japanese life that don't show up in any listing: utility setup, tax paperwork, and neighborhood customs.Key Takeaways:- Setting up gas, water, and electric in Japan often requires a Japanese bank account, in-person scheduling, and multiple phone calls, and the process varies by company and by region- Foreign homeowners who aren't tax residents of Japan need a designated tax representative to handle property tax communication with the government- Neighbor greeting gifts are a real and important custom when moving into a Japanese home, and food is not always the safest choice- Priest blessings (typically Shinto) are a common and meaningful step for new homeowners, especially in older houses- Internet setup can take up to a month through providers like NTT, which is why the team now ships every customer a Starlink Mini insteadIn This EpisodeAkane's international upbringing across Japan, the U.S., Singapore, and the Philippines, and how it shapes her work with foreign clients- A breakdown of the "core five" post-purchase services: utility setup, bill payment, tax representation, neighbor greetings, and priest blessings- Real client stories, including Joey's own frustrating internet installation experience- Why the team switched to Starlink Mini for faster, English-language internet setup- Akane's picks for where she'd buy a house in Japan outside Tokyo: Fukushima and AomoriResources Mentioned- Ikea Mart / Mokomoko Buyers Club post-purchase program- Starlink Mini for satellite internet setupConnect With UsLooking for a home in Japan? Browse over half a million English-friendly listings on our site, or reach out with questions and feedback by email. You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok for property tips, home-buying updates, and renovation progress.If you found this episode helpful, leave us a five-star rating. It takes five seconds and helps other foreign buyers find the show
- Aug 13, 202649 min
Japan’s Airbnb Crackdown: What Every Foreign Buyer Needs to Know in 2026 | Ep. 144
Can You Actually Run an Airbnb in Japan as a Foreigner?Take and Joey welcome back one of their top real estate agents, Ryo Takamoto of Real From the Homes, for a deep dive into what it really takes to buy a property in Japan and turn it into a short-term rental. Ryo has helped launch more than 30 Airbnb properties across Japan, and in this episode he walks through the zoning rules, licensing process, costs, andchanging regulations that every foreign buyer needs to understand before jumping in.Key TakeawaysForeigners without Japanese language ability essentially cannot get a minpaku (short-term rental) license on their own; the paperwork and health center process are entirely in JapaneseZoning is the single most important factor: commercial and semi-commercial zones offer the most flexibility, and some residential zones only qualify for minpaku (180-day) licenses, not ryokan/hotel (365-day) licensesJapan's national minpaku law caps short-term rentals at 180 days by default, but local municipalities can now restrict that down to zero, and cities like Osaka, Tokyo's 23 wards, and Kyoto are tightening rules while cities like Otaru, Nagano, and parts of Kyushu remain more welcomingGetting from keys-in-hand to first guest typically takes 3 to 4 months, but can stretch to a year depending on the city and renovation scopeBudget roughly 15–20% above the property purchase price for light renovation, fire safety compliance, and furnishing to get a property Airbnb-readyWhat They CoverRyo's path from a Uber Eats internship in Osaka to Recruit (parent company of Indeed and Jalan) to launching his own Japan real estate and Airbnb management companyThe difference between minpaku (180-day) and ryokan/hotel (365-day) licenses and how zoning determines which one is availableWhy cities like Osaka have pulled back "special minpaku zones" and what's driving recent enforcement, including reports of targeted raids on unlicensed short-term rentals in ShinjukuThe specific steps to get licensed: fire code installation and inspection, health center application and review, furniture and guest-ready setupReal renovation and licensing cost breakdowns in yen and USD for a typical detached houseWhy most owners aren't chasing big ROI, but rather using Airbnb to offset ownership costs while maintaining a lifestyle property in JapanRecommended regions for buyers looking outside of Tokyo and Osaka, including areas along the Inland Sea and smaller cities with friendlier health center processesResources MentionedAkiya Mart: browse listings with a minpaku zoning overlayReal From the Homes: Ryo’s agency supporting international buyers with renovation, Airbnb setup, and property managementJapan Innovation Campus (JIC): the network where Take and Joey first connected with RyoEnjoyed the Episode?If you found this helpful, leave us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It takes five seconds and helps other buyers find the show. Got questions about buying or running an Airbnb in Japan? Reach out through our site or find us on Instagram and TikTok for property tips and updates on our own renovations
- Jul 31, 202636 min
Is Shikoku Japan's Most Underrated Place to Live? A Local Take | Ep. 143
This week we welcome Narumi, our newest team member and consultant, for her first appearance on the show. Narumi is Swiss Japanese, grew up in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, and moved to Tokyo two years ago to reconnect with her Japanese heritage and chase what she calls her big city girl dream. She walks us through her path from language school in Kobe to a role at the Swiss Embassy in Japan to a cross border M&A company, and shares what she has learned helping clients navigate buying property in Japan.Key TakeawaysNarumi grew up speaking German, English, and French, and started learning Japanese from scratch when she moved to Kobe for language schoolFull immersion, working at a Japanese company where no one spoke English, made the biggest difference in her fluencyJapan's vacant home crisis has a lesser known parallel: small business owners without successors, sometimes giving away entire companies for freeShikoku (Takamatsu, Kochi, Tokushima) came up as an underrated region worth a look, though it is harder to reach and better suited to buyers with some Japan experience alreadyJapanese bureaucracy can be a serious hurdle for foreign residents, including family register requirements that require support from relatives back in JapanYounger generations in both Switzerland and Japan increasingly doubt they will ever be able to afford a home, which is part of why more people are exploring options like AkiyaIn This EpisodeNarumi's background, her apprenticeship in Switzerland, and her decision to move to JapanHer JLPT journey, including a near miss on the N2 exam and her upcoming retakeWorking at the Swiss Embassy and later in cross border M&A, sourcing succession deals between Japanese business owners and international investorsThe connection between Japan's declining population, its vacant home problem, and its business succession problemFrequently asked questions from consultation clients, including "where should I buy" and "are these prices actually real"A candid conversation about phone anxiety in a second language and tricks for getting simpler Japanese from customer serviceRecommendations for underrated regions, ferry routes, and Narumi's own dream home picks (Kamakura and Takamatsu)Resources MentionedBuying a House in Japan's property listing site (linked in show notes)Book a consultation with the team, including NarumiFollow along on Instagram and TikTok for property tips and renovation updatesCall to ActionIf this episode helped you or made you smile, leave us a five star rating. It takes five seconds and helps other listeners find the show. Got a question or a topic you want covered?
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About Buying a House in Japan
We’re Joey & Take - two friends who dreamed of owning a cheap home in Japan. So we bought one...and then five more! Dreaming of owning property in Japan? We cover everything you need to know and more. Highlights include: * Pros and cons of purchasing in Japan * The complexities of Japan’s real estate market * Challenges for foreign buyers * Interviews with locals, expats, and experts * All the mistakes we’ve made (so you can avoid them!)
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