Akiya Houses For Sale in Tokyo: An Easy Guide For Foreigners
Are you interested in akiya houses for sale in Tokyo? You’ve come to the right place.
This akiya Tokyo guide will help you know where they are, the prices, which Tokyo akiya bank to use, the general purchasing process, and what life is like living in these akiya homes in Tokyo.
Where are akiya houses for sale in Tokyo?
When people think of Tokyo, many think of the central city and its 23 wards. However, Tokyo is much larger and stretches to Okutama, which is about a two-hour train and car ride from central Tokyo.
The Tokyo Prefecture is broken down into wards, cities, and towns/villages
Looking at various akiya banks for Tokyo, most akiya properties within Tokyo will be outside the special 23 wards.
Most akiya houses for sale in Tokyo will be in:
Okutama, a town in the western part of the Tokyo prefecture
Oshima, a sub-prefecture of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan
Hinohara, a village in West Tokyo
Merima, a northern special ward in Tokyo
Hino, a city in the western portion of the Tokyo
Chofu, a city on the western side of Tokyo
If you are looking for an akiya in Tokyo for sale, consider the Greater Tokyo Area. It includes Chiba, Gunma, Ibaraki, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Tochigi.
Many vacant properties will be in rural areas within the Tokyo Prefecture. Even though these prefectures are not considered central Tokyo, there will be more options to look for akiya for sale.
Akiya houses for sale: Tokyo prices
Many online have regarded a sweet spot price point for a Tokyo akiya house as around 10 million yen in the countryside. However, house prices can range from 10 million to 50 million yen for single-family homes, depending on whether they're an empty house, near any local or major cities, or in a prime location.
To find more cheap houses, take a look at more rural areas in Tokyo.
Akiya houses on the pricier side will require fewer renovations, usually around 1 million yen.
As the house prices decreased, more inspections and renovations were needed.
An example of a Japanese abandoned house that needs major repairs
Which Tokyo akiya bank should I use?
Akiya banks are not traditional financial institutions. Instead, they are more like real estate listings, but only for vacant or abandoned homes in Japan.
The Japanese local government will have a specific akiya bank where users can look for properties in their region, including Tokyo.
If Japanese is no problem for you, your best bet is to look at Japanese akiya banks, such as:
You can do more specific akiya bank by searching [location]市空き家バンク.
For English akiya bank Tokyo websites, you can use:
AkiyaBanks: it lists all municipalities in Tokyo. Click on the one you’re interested in to see if they list an akiya bank for you to use.
Akiya Japan: this site lists all available properties in the Tokyo prefecture. Please note that you will need to be a member to make an inquiry request.
How do I get an akiya house in Tokyo?
General steps on buying a property in Japan
Since you have a general location for your akiya property, it’s time to purchase it.
1. Make a property inquiry and schedule a viewing
Once you have one or two akiya houses in Tokyo in mind, you should make an inquiry about the property on the akiya bank you are using and schedule a viewing.
2. File the paperwork
From the purchase application to the contract signing and other paperwork, your real estate agent will be the one to help you file the correct documents to obtain the property under your name.
Depending on the property owners, they may request additional information. Your real estate agent will provide that information to you if needed.
Once you’ve obtained the Tokyo akiya house, you’ll need judicial scrivener to help you register the property under your name in Japan and pay your respective property taxes.
Be tax compliant for your property with MailMate
If you are a foreigner abroad and just bought property in Japan, you’ll need to appoint a tax agent.
MailMate will be your tax agent in Japan, helping you pay your property taxes when you are not there. Plus, we’ll even help pay your utilities bills for you.
3. Renovation and setup
For Tokyo akiya property that needs renovations, you’ll need to contact your local contractors to ensure your property is structurally intact.
To make the property your Japanese dream house, you'll need to put money into the renovations.
You will also need to contact your appropriate utility offices to start water, gas, and electricity for your property.
Set up your utilities while not in Japan!
Simplify your utility and property setup with MailMate’s Akiya Package. They will bridge the communication between your akiya property needs and the appropriate local governments to set up water, gas, electricity, and internet.
So don't worry about communicating in Japanese when you have MailMate by your side.
4. Live and manage your property in Tokyo
Now, you have a functioning property in Tokyo. Congratulations!
If you are away from your property or are not in Japan, consider MailMate.
MailMate receives your property mail, including utility bills, official government documents, and property tax notifications. They will upload the unopened outside content to your online dashboard. Then, you can open, forward, or shred the mail upon your request.
And don’t worry about missing a payment. MailMate will help pay your utilities for you.
Life in akiya homes in Tokyo
Living in an akiya Tokyo house is a mix of the Japanese countryside and city life.
The type of neighborhood will vary, ranging from suburban life to small-city vibes with plenty of shops, stores, restaurants, and schools for families and individuals.
Despite their location far from the center of Tokyo, many of these akiya homes will have access to public transportation, usually a train, for you to travel to central Tokyo. While these akiya have a walkable area, you might need a car to travel further distances.
In closing
There are plenty of akiya houses for sale in Tokyo for you to find. While it might take a couple of research days to find the perfect property for you, having an akiya house in Tokyo offers a great opportunity as a milestone or as a vacation home in Japan.
With the right guidance from Tokyo akiya banks, local real estate agents, and MailMate, obtaining and managing your property will be smooth sailing.
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