Where To Find Cheap Houses In Japan? Your Akiya Search Guide

Are you searching for cheap houses in Japan? We've come to the right place.

This cheap houses Japan guide will help you learn how to find properties and where.

How to find cheap houses for sale in Japan

First, you must know how to find a cheap house in Japan. With the right resources, you might even find a free house.

a. Akiya banks 

Think of akiya banks as real estate websites that list available properties. More specifically, their listings are typically lower than regular property listings, as these houses are abandoned.

Popular akiya banks for foreigners to use are:  

• Akiya & Inaka

• Akiya-Mart

• Akiyaz

• AkiyaBanks

Depending on the akiya bank, you will need to contact them so they can find other properties that are more suited to your needs.

b. Real estate agents

Real estate agents are a great resource for finding akiya houses for sale in Japan. However, if they specialize in cheap akiyas, you are golden to find something that can become your dream home. 

These agents can access listings that aren't featured on akiya banks or real estate websites. Plus, they can help you with paperwork, negotiations, and translations to make the process smoother.

What to know before buying a cheap house in Japan

1. Visa status

If you are planning to stay at your house in Japan, you must consider your visa status. 

People with permanent residence or spouse visas can easily live in Japan without issues. Because of their time restraint, those outside these visas will face some struggles, such as tourist and long-term visas.

2. Property tax payment

When you buy property in Japan, you'll pay two taxes:

• A yearly property tax

• A one-time real estate acquisition tax 

Additionally, when you own a property in Japan, you'll need to pay the:

• Fixed asset tax

• City planning tax

If you have tax obligations in Japan, such as the taxes above, you'll need a tax representative in Japan to pay your taxes on your behalf.

MailMate’s Tax representative in Japan

MailMate's Tax Representative service allows you to assign MailMate as your tax representative so you can pay your taxes with your card and abroad. 

Even when you are away from your property in Japan, you can still handle any important mail online, such as bills, government notifications, and other mail. 

3. How to set up your akiya house

Even when you are away from your property in Japan, you can still handle any important mail online, such as bills, government notifications, and other mail. 

MailMate's home setup services

Not in Japan? No worries. You can look at MailMate's Essential Package, where they will set up your utilities and be your liaison for your gas, water, and electricity. 

Utility set up

To set up utilities in Japan, you can call or apply online.

However, akiya properties will require more checks to ensure that utility setups such as pipes and electrical wiring are functional. If repairs are needed, then those must be fixed before starting your utility services. 

As such, MailMate can assist by coordinating inspections and setting up a smoother process.

Pay your utilities bill abroad

Many bills in Japan will be sent to your address so you can pay domestically. You can set up an auto bank transfer, but it requires a Japanese bank account.

MailMate's services allow you to overcome this hurdle by letting you pay your bills abroad. Your bills will be forwarded to MailMate's scanning location, which will be uploaded to your dashboard so you can pay online. 

A La Carte Services

MailMate has other additional services where you can request other services on your property, such as:

• Fire and Disaster Insurance 

• Internet connection 

• Septic tanks contract

• Solar panel setup and maintenance

• Regular cleaning

4. Obtain a minpaku license (optional)

If you are looking to make that cheap house in Japan an Airbnb, you need a minpaku license and a private lodging business certificate.

Before, only hotels, inns, hostels, and other business accommodations were allowed to rent out their spaces to guests. 

But now, you can turn your second home in Japan into a vacation rental if you are away from using it. Just know that your property in Japan can only operate 180 days per year as an Airbnb.

Locations to consider when looking for cheap houses in Japan

There are many akiya houses for sale in Japan. But here, we show you the most popular place to find cheap houses in Japan as a foreigner. 

Tokyo

The Tokyo prefecture spans more west. 

Everyone wants to live in Tokyo. Unfortunately, there aren't many akiya for sale in Tokyo city.

However, the Tokyo Prefecture is much larger and spans outside the city, such as:

• Okutama

• Merima

• Hinohara

• Hino

• Chofu

These locations have great transportation access to get in and out of Tokyo City within an hour or two. 

Other locations are between an hour and two hours away from Tokyo by Shinkansen:

• Nikko

• Shizuoka

• Tochigi

• Yamanashi

Even though they are akiyas, these houses can cost more than the average abandoned house in other locations, as these houses can cost under 1 million yen.

Countryside

There are plenty of cheap houses for sale in Japan's countryside or inaka.

While Japan's rural areas do mean away from the city, these locations include places that people may not consider, such as:

• Hokkaido 

• Iwate

• Fukui

• Gifu

• Tokushima

• Miyazaki

These locations have major cities. Since most cheap houses in Japan are farther away from cities, these properties are much more affordable than in Tokyo. Plus, any of these locations make a great place to live if you are looking for nature.

Additionally, many Japanese countryside houses have traditional floor plans. So, if you like traditional rooms and layouts, these houses are for you.

Okinawa

Things are a little different for those looking for cheap houses for sale in Okinawa, Japan, as they have a completely different style than mainland Japan. 

Many houses in Okinawa are thick and tend to be made of concrete to withstand the high humidity and typhoons. They also have flat roofs, but more traditional ones will have red roof tiles.

Additionally, many Okinawan houses are influenced by the previous Ryukyu Kingdom, where houses are more spacious and have outdoor spaces. Additionally, your cheap house in Okinawa may have a pair of Shisa, a dog-lion creature, to protect your house from evil. 

Frequently asked questions

Is it true you can buy a house in Japan for $500?

You can find cheap houses in Japan for $500 with the right real estate agent. They can help you find cheap abandoned houses throughout Japan that are not listed online.

Why are old houses in Japan so cheap?

Many old houses in Japan are cheap if they are considered abandoned. A recent push to revitalize rural Japanese areas has resulted in these houses being sold for cheap.

Can foreigners buy houses in Japan?

Yes. There are no citizenship or visa requirements for purchasing a property in Japan. Instead, most require a Japanese bank account. However, foreigner-friendly akiya banks have worked around this requirement, allowing those abroad to buy a cheap house in Japan. 

In closing

While there are plenty of available properties elsewhere in the world, you can certainly find cheap houses in Japan. If you are considering akiyas, owning property and starting a life here is possible with the correct visa status.

Whether you are interested in rural Japan, traditional Japanese architecture, or trying to modernize these abandoned homes, there are plenty of properties in and out around Japan.