Dear Diary Series: We finished work on Jissoji Lux

Take and Joey are wrapping up three years of work on Jissoji Lux, their first-ever akiya in Beppu, Japan's top onsen city, and gearing up for a major launch in Otaru this spring. Both projects represent what it looks like when an akiya renovation reaches the finish line.

In this episode, they record from inside Jissoji Lux and walk through what three years of work actually looked like. The house is a two-bedroom property walking distance from Hyotan Onsen, one of Beppu's most well-known bathhouses. Total investment was around $80K.

Their Otaru property is a two-unit duplex, currently completing its ryokan license, and targeting a May launch. Otaru, a skier's paradise, is also a huge domestic draw for food tourism.

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Buying a House in Japan is a production of AkiyaMart. Find your Japan dream home at akiya-mart.com.

Questions? Email podcast@akiya-mart.com

Hosts  are Take Kurosawa and Joey Stockermans. The AkiyaMart Production Team  is Carlos Gutierrez., Devin Silvernail, and Lukas Fotty.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: Back at Jissoji Lux

00:32 Where It All Started

02:13 Gear Talk and First Beer

04:12 Joey's Solo Otaru Trip

05:29 Why Otaru Works

08:43 The Scallop Story

11:37 Otaru Property and Sale Timeline

13:40 Why Having a Tokyo Base Matters

15:45 Getting Around Japan With an Akiya

18:10 Fukuoka as a Japan Base

19:48 The Van and the Drive to Beppu

20:28 Jissoji Lux Today

22:04 How We'd Grade the Renovation

23:13 Why We're Selling Now

24:15 Beppu Walkability

25:05 Hyotan Onsen

27:17 Onsen Etiquette for Newcomers

28:57 Beppu Travel Tips

30:37 Community Onsen Life

32:36 The Exec Retreat Angle

34:37 Taking Profits on a Project

37:14 How Beppu Started the Business

39:59 Who Should Buy This House

42:46 Farewell to J. Lux