Buying a House in Japan

Mar 07 2025 70 ep. 33 mins 60

Buying a House in Japan Podcast artwork

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

Serious about buying? Let’s chat! https://www.akiya-mart.com/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! [email protected]

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The Rise and Fall of Contractor Sato-San (featuring Fumi the Fixer)

Mar 07 2025 38 mins

In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, the hosts welcome their friend Fumi, who has been crucial in managing their Beppu hot spring rental project. They discuss the various challenges they've faced, primarily focusing on their contractor, referred to as Sato-san, who has been unreliable and problematic. Fumi shares her experiences and the difficulties encountered i

Dear Diary Series: Tonkatsu Inflation, Japan's Ferry System & Earning $0 from 5 Akiyas

Feb 27 2025 36 mins

In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, hosts Joey and Take celebrate their move into their new Jisoji Lux Chill Lounge. They discuss the impact of inflation in Japan, sharing personal experiences of rising prices at their favorite local restaurants. They also dive into various modes of transportation in the country, comparing the benefits and challenges of ferries,

Predictions on Sato-san & Beppu Renovation Progress

Feb 20 2025 27 mins

In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, hosts discuss their recent activities and ongoing efforts to complete their home in Beppu with their elusive contractor, 'Sato san.' They recount their experiences since arriving in Japan, including tackling DIY home improvements, organizing furniture deliveries, and handling multiple construction setbacks. They also touch o

Utilities, Digitized Mail, and Tax Representation Services with John Cross of Mailmate

Feb 14 2025 34 mins

Navigating Property Purchases and Utilities in Japan with Mailmate Link to MailMate: https://mailmate.jp/ In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, host Take welcomes John Cross, the founder of Mailmate, to discuss essential services for foreigners purchasing property in Japan. They delve into the importance of having local support to avoid missteps in areas such

AkiyaMart Direct Buyers' Club - Dean's 13 Year Dream of Buying in Japan

Feb 08 2025 46 mins

Dean shares his experiences buying a house in Japan, highlighting the affordability compared to the U.S., the process of finding and purchasing the property, and the renovations needed. He also discusses navigating cultural differences, the importance of community respect, and future plans for his new home. Dean's journey includes working with AkiyaMart agents, handling money trans

Dear Diary Series: Trump Impacts, Samurai Compound, Artificial Intelligence

Jan 31 2025 44 mins

The podcast discusses AI's role in starting modern businesses, emphasizing the importance of personal branding and long-form content for customer trust. The hosts welcome back Joey, who recovered from a flu, and explore topics like Trump's impact on American immigration trends to Japan, tariffs, rising interest in Japanese real estate, and upcoming off-market deals, including a sam

AkiyaMart Direct Buyer's Club: Rob & Naomi reconnect with their Okayama roots

Jan 24 2025 32 mins

Joey and Take welcome guests Rob and Naomi, who share their journey of buying a house in Okayama, Japan. As third-generation Japanese Americans, they discuss their quest to reconnect with estranged family members and their reasons for choosing Okayama. The couple recounts their experience with the property search, the smooth buying process, and working with agents Ron and Hida. The

Our Akiya Rennovation Learnings - Contractors, Paint, Insulation, and more

Jan 17 2025 39 mins

In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, Joey and Take discuss their experiences with renovating multiple properties in Japan. They highlight the pros and cons of using individual contractors versus larger companies and stress the importance of having a local fixer to manage projects. The hosts reflect on their various renovation projects, focusing on properties in

Akiya Doers and Dreamers Series: Kurt Bell (@softypapa) on Retirement Planning, Pet Relocation, and Finding Home in Japan.

Jan 10 2025 54 mins

In the inaugural episode of 2025, Kurt Bell, aka @softypapa, shares his journey of retiring and buying a house in Japan. The discussion covers his transition back to Japan, overcoming the challenges of moving pets, and ultimately securing a home in Shizuoka Prefecture, thanks to AkiyaMart. Kurt also delves into the importance of due diligence in both retiring and purchasing propert

Merry Xmas, Long-term rental market, Property updates

Dec 27 2024 36 mins

In this post-Christmas episode, the hosts discuss cultural Christmas differences, recent property updates, including challenges with their Kitakyushu and Tokyo suburban rentals. They share insights on long-term rental management, cost-effective renovations, and landscaping efforts. Updates on their Myoko snow cabin and predictions for 2025 round out the episode, reflecting on their