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 navigate the complex web of minpaku (short-term rental) regulations, yield projections, and most importantly, the right reasons for coming to Japan.

Check out Tracey Northcott:

https://www.tracey-northcott.com/

https://tokyofamilystays.com/

00:14 Introduction: From Australia to Japan

05:53 Struggles running a business in Japan

08:08 Japan before minpaku laws

12:12 The beginning of minpaku laws

15:11 Japan: A country of rules

18:28 The different types of rental licenses

20:40 What if I want to run an Airbnb in Japan?

23:13 Renting out a Japanese vacation home for half the year

26:46 How Tracey can help

29:56 Ideas on cash businesses

Airbnb: Risks & Rewards (featuring Tracey Northcott, the “Minpaku Queen”)

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

Bonus Episode: We're selling our Nagasaki House for $20K

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 review of Japan’s latest round of building safety codes: why it exists, what it means for home buyers, how it affects renovations, tips on permitting, and so much more.

Check out Koen Klinkers at Front Office Tokyo: https://frontofficetokyo.com/

Read about Japan's new building codes here: https://www.adfwebmagazine.jp/en/architect/impact-of-japanese-building-code-revisions-from-april-2025-on-renovation/

00:37 Introduction & Koen on the 2025 World Expo

03:04 The April 2025 Building Standard Law Revision

07:44 Permitting & the Japanese government’s enforcement power

12:07 Bathrooms & moisture damage

13:09 Environmental restrictions

18:24 Are Pre-1981 homes safe to live in?

23:05 Are earthquake safety inspections necessary for akiya buyers?

24:57 Earthquake resistant materials: Drywall

27:39 The permitting process & tips on working with contractors & local government

32:29 How are updated codes announced and distributed?

33:48 Joey & Take’s new build - wood vs. steel

35:11 Japanese housemakers - Customizations & how they work

Could It All Collapse? Architect Koen Klinkers on Earthquakes, Permits, and Japan’s New Building Codes

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 future of Akiya real estate in Japan.  

00:37 Fukuoka and Softbank Hawks
01:07 Podcast Setup and Introduction
02:42 Meet Mika: Our Real Estate Agent
04:35 Mika's Background and Career Journey 07:59 Real Estate in Tokyo vs. Nagasaki
11:42 Exploring Nagasaki: Hidden Gems and Local Cuisine
19:21 Nagasaki's Cultural Diversity and Scenic Beauty
22:34 Abandoned School and Rural Life in Japan
27:01 Encounter with Abandoned Homes
27:39 Buying the Abandoned School
29:30 Emotional Sale of Family Home
31:01 Cultural Differences in Real Estate
31:57 Challenges of Renovating in Japan
38:16 Real Estate Advice for Foreigners
48:07 Exploring Other Areas in Japan
51:24 Final Thoughts and Farewell

AkiyaMart Direct Agent Interview: Meet Mika 

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 window.

00:00 Introduction / Andrew’s journey to Japan

04:46 Homebuyers who have never been to Japan

06:47 Choosing where to live

15:56 Struggles sending money

18:24 Spending Bitcoin in Japan

21:02 Getting installation help - The refrigerator nightmare!

26:16 Making connections with people

28:40 Planning for your move & setting up utilities

AkiyaMart Doers and Dreamers: Andrew's Journey to His Coastal Shonan House

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—to buy a cheap Japanese home.

00:00 Introduction - Hello from New Mexico + First-ever AkiyaMart data insights

01:27 The Akiyas we’ve bought thus far

02:09 Akiya #1 - An off-market ski cabin with brittle bones

09:50 Akiya #2 - A struggle to long-term rent

15:04 Akiya #3 - A gorgeous seaside getaway

20:43 For prospective buyers who’ve never been to Japan…

22:27 Cheap home seekers: What to expect & how to behave

25:38 Don't obsess over the lowest price!

Dear Diary Series: What's the Catch?

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 smooth out the post-purchase process for foreign homebuyers.

00:00 Introduction - Tsuyoshi Domoto: World traveler, Honduran coffee expert, and AkiyaMart Direct agent

02:47 What interested Yoshi in Akiya

05:45 Why so many Japanese businesses are shuttering

08:39 Could buying a cheap Japanese business help foreigners get residency?

11:17 Can Japan survive without foreigners?

13:12 Why business in Japan is difficult—even for natives

14:17 Akiya Air - Everything you need after purchasing a home

20:34 Joey picked the princess wallpaper

21:56 Japanese homes and insulation

23:53 Give Beppu a shot!

Akiya Air: What Happens After Buying a Home (featuring Tsuyoshi Domoto)

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 Japanese homes

12:09 Website improvements

15:48 Listings for Japanese sellers

18:26 2025’s real estate strategy

21:02 Legitimizing a business in both the US and Japan

22:36 Bonus: How the Japanese say “no”

Running a Japanese Business: Struggles, Successes, and Plans for 2025

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 their thoughts on the opportunity—or lack thereof—in the countryside.

00:00 Introduction

01:29 An empty hotel on Yakushima island

02:32 Buying a 5th Akiya + Our plans for the property

07:33 Thoughts on Nagasaki… and Champon

09:38 Nearly missing a ferry ride

13:01 Yakushima - The inspiration for “Princess Mononoke”

13:58 An awkward onsen experience

16:56 Protective locals, difficult banks, and other struggles to buy as a foreigner

19:03 Can foreigners revitalize abandoned businesses?

20:29 Akiya Mondai (“The Akiya Problem”) - Causes and local opinions

Dear Diary Series: Southern Japan - Island Vibes, Empty Hotels, and Protective Locals

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.

00:00 Introduction + Shu & Brett’s newly-launched AkiyaHub

05:32 ROI difference in US vs. Japanese real estate

08:51 Going “all in” on Japan

14:37 Cost of living comparisons (US vs. Japan)

15:43 The right kind of person to buy a Japanese home

22:29 How much should I expect to spend on a home?

22:31 Dream homes

24:58 Tips for first timers

28:37 Current Japanese real estate market trends

31:29 Should I wait for things to get cheaper?

32:58 Respecting local sensibilities

33:54 Lessons to learn in addressing the Akiya problem

Who Should Buy a Japanese Home? (featuring AkiyaHub’s Shu Matsuo Post & Brett Lee)

We’re Joey & Take—two friends who dreamed of owning a cheap home in Japan. So we bought one...and then three 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
 * How to identify high-value properties
 * 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!)

Find your Japanese dream home: www.akiya-mart.com [https://www.akiya-mart.com/]

Serious about buying? Let’s chat! https://www.akiya-mart.com/buy [http://www.akiya-mart.com/how-to-buy/]

Take a video tour of our Beppu Akiya: https://vimeo.com/878142072

Take a video tour of our Tokyo Akiya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ils4PSA8kqg

Drop us a line! contact@akiya-mart.com

Buying a House in Japan