We’re Joey & Take - two friends who dreamed of owning a cheap home in Japan. So we bought one...and then five 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 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/how-to-buy/ Take a video tour of our Beppu Akiya: https://youtu.be/M7Hb6ENxm_0 Take a video tour of our Tokyo Akiya: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ils4PSA8kqg Take video tour of our Nagasaki Akiya: https://youtu.be/Snd_KXz7VBw Drop us a line! podcast@akiya-mart.com
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August 21, 202621 min
The Reality of Owning a House in Japan: Trash Schedules, DIY Upgrades, & AkiyaLife | Ep. 146
What does life look like two years after buying an akiya in Japan? Hosts Joey and Take give a raw, unscripted run-and-gun tour of Tomo Base Camp right before heading to the airport. They dive deep into the trial-and-error of their home espresso setup, showcase major house renovations like double-pane window installations, navigate the unexpected challenges of local trash schedules, and share upcoming plans for a backyard barrel sauna and cold plunge setup. Key Takeaways The Reality of Akiya Living: Owning property in Japan comes with unique logistics, including managing strict local trash schedules when hosting guests or leaving for extended periods. Major House Upgrades: Adding double-pane windows and extra insulation helps regulate extreme seasonal temperatures and improves energy efficiency. The Coffee Journey: Why home espresso setups are a hands-on hobby requiring constant troubleshooting, dial-in adjustments, and gear modifications. Outdoor Space Renovations: Transforming the yard with lighting, custom walkways, a cold plunge, and future plans for a backyard sauna. Resources Mentioned: Property: Tomo Base Camp Coffee Gear: Gaggia Classica Espresso Machine, Baratza ESP Grinder Recovery Gear: Doctor Ice Cold Plunge Company: Moko Moko Takamori K.K. Loved this episode? Please leave us a 5-star rating on Spotify or Apple Podcasts! If you are looking to buy your own property in Japan, check out the Moko Moko Buyers Club to browse over half a million listings in English. Have questions or feedback? Email us at podcast@mokomoko.com or connect with us on Instagram and TikTok.
August 14, 202641 min
The Hidden Headaches of Buying a House in Japan (And How We're Fixing Them) | Ep. 145
Buying a house in Japan is just step one. What happens next? This week, Joey and Take sit down with Akane Hoshino, the operations lead behind their new post-purchase support program, Mokomoko Buyers Club. Akane has spent the past year helping foreign homeowners navigate the parts of Japanese life that don't show up in any listing: utility setup, tax paperwork, and neighborhood customs. Key Takeaways: - Setting up gas, water, and electric in Japan often requires a Japanese bank account, in-person scheduling, and multiple phone calls, and the process varies by company and by region - Foreign homeowners who aren't tax residents of Japan need a designated tax representative to handle property tax communication with the government - Neighbor greeting gifts are a real and important custom when moving into a Japanese home, and food is not always the safest choice - Priest blessings (typically Shinto) are a common and meaningful step for new homeowners, especially in older houses - Internet setup can take up to a month through providers like NTT, which is why the team now ships every customer a Starlink Mini instead In This Episode Akane's international upbringing across Japan, the U.S., Singapore, and the Philippines, and how it shapes her work with foreign clients - A breakdown of the "core five" post-purchase services: utility setup, bill payment, tax representation, neighbor greetings, and priest blessings - Real client stories, including Joey's own frustrating internet installation experience - Why the team switched to Starlink Mini for faster, English-language internet setup - Akane's picks for where she'd buy a house in Japan outside Tokyo: Fukushima and Aomori Resources Mentioned - Ikea Mart / Mokomoko Buyers Club post-purchase program - Starlink Mini for satellite internet setup Connect With Us Looking for a home in Japan? Browse over half a million English-friendly listings on our site, or reach out with questions and feedback by email. You can also find us on Instagram and TikTok for property tips, home-buying updates, and renovation progress. If you found this episode helpful, leave us a five-star rating. It takes five seconds and helps other foreign buyers find the show
August 13, 202649 min
Japan’s Airbnb Crackdown: What Every Foreign Buyer Needs to Know in 2026 | Ep. 144
Can You Actually Run an Airbnb in Japan as a Foreigner? Take and Joey welcome back one of their top real estate agents, Ryo Takamoto of Real From the Homes, for a deep dive into what it really takes to buy a property in Japan and turn it into a short-term rental. Ryo has helped launch more than 30 Airbnb properties across Japan, and in this episode he walks through the zoning rules, licensing process, costs, and changing regulations that every foreign buyer needs to understand before jumping in. Key Takeaways Foreigners without Japanese language ability essentially cannot get a minpaku (short-term rental) license on their own; the paperwork and health center process are entirely in Japanese Zoning is the single most important factor: commercial and semi-commercial zones offer the most flexibility, and some residential zones only qualify for minpaku (180-day) licenses, not ryokan/hotel (365-day) licenses Japan's national minpaku law caps short-term rentals at 180 days by default, but local municipalities can now restrict that down to zero, and cities like Osaka, Tokyo's 23 wards, and Kyoto are tightening rules while cities like Otaru, Nagano, and parts of Kyushu remain more welcoming Getting from keys-in-hand to first guest typically takes 3 to 4 months, but can stretch to a year depending on the city and renovation scope Budget roughly 15–20% above the property purchase price for light renovation, fire safety compliance, and furnishing to get a property Airbnb-ready What They Cover Ryo's path from a Uber Eats internship in Osaka to Recruit (parent company of Indeed and Jalan) to launching his own Japan real estate and Airbnb management company The difference between minpaku (180-day) and ryokan/hotel (365-day) licenses and how zoning determines which one is available Why cities like Osaka have pulled back "special minpaku zones" and what's driving recent enforcement, including reports of targeted raids on unlicensed short-term rentals in Shinjuku The specific steps to get licensed: fire code installation and inspection, health center application and review, furniture and guest-ready setup Real renovation and licensing cost breakdowns in yen and USD for a typical detached house Why most owners aren't chasing big ROI, but rather using Airbnb to offset ownership costs while maintaining a lifestyle property in Japan Recommended regions for buyers looking outside of Tokyo and Osaka, including areas along the Inland Sea and smaller cities with friendlier health center processes Resources Mentioned Akiya Mart: browse listings with a minpaku zoning overlay Real From the Homes: Ryo’s agency supporting international buyers with renovation, Airbnb setup, and property management Japan Innovation Campus (JIC): the network where Take and Joey first connected with Ryo Enjoyed the Episode? If you found this helpful, leave us a five-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It takes five seconds and helps other buyers find the show. Got questions about buying or running an Airbnb in Japan? Reach out through our site or find us on Instagram and TikTok for property tips and updates on our own renovations
July 31, 202636 min
Is Shikoku Japan's Most Underrated Place to Live? A Local Take | Ep. 143
This week we welcome Narumi, our newest team member and consultant, for her first appearance on the show. Narumi is Swiss Japanese, grew up in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, and moved to Tokyo two years ago to reconnect with her Japanese heritage and chase what she calls her big city girl dream. She walks us through her path from language school in Kobe to a role at the Swiss Embassy in Japan to a cross border M&A company, and shares what she has learned helping clients navigate buying property in Japan. Key Takeaways Narumi grew up speaking German, English, and French, and started learning Japanese from scratch when she moved to Kobe for language school Full immersion, working at a Japanese company where no one spoke English, made the biggest difference in her fluency Japan's vacant home crisis has a lesser known parallel: small business owners without successors, sometimes giving away entire companies for free Shikoku (Takamatsu, Kochi, Tokushima) came up as an underrated region worth a look, though it is harder to reach and better suited to buyers with some Japan experience already Japanese bureaucracy can be a serious hurdle for foreign residents, including family register requirements that require support from relatives back in Japan Younger generations in both Switzerland and Japan increasingly doubt they will ever be able to afford a home, which is part of why more people are exploring options like Akiya In This Episode Narumi's background, her apprenticeship in Switzerland, and her decision to move to Japan Her JLPT journey, including a near miss on the N2 exam and her upcoming retake Working at the Swiss Embassy and later in cross border M&A, sourcing succession deals between Japanese business owners and international investors The connection between Japan's declining population, its vacant home problem, and its business succession problem Frequently asked questions from consultation clients, including "where should I buy" and "are these prices actually real" A candid conversation about phone anxiety in a second language and tricks for getting simpler Japanese from customer service Recommendations for underrated regions, ferry routes, and Narumi's own dream home picks (Kamakura and Takamatsu) Resources Mentioned Buying a House in Japan's property listing site (linked in show notes) Book a consultation with the team, including Narumi Follow along on Instagram and TikTok for property tips and renovation updates Call to Action If this episode helped you or made you smile, leave us a five star rating. It takes five seconds and helps other listeners find the show. Got a question or a topic you want covered?
July 29, 202649 min
What City Hall in Japan Is Really Like (From Someone Who Worked There) | Ep 142
Sam Hanada, half Japanese and half Kiwi, moved to Japan through the JET Program and spent three years working inside a Japanese city hall before a short, eye-opening stint at a "black kigyo" (exploitative company) sent him looking for something better. Now working with the team on consultations and leading the new Mocha Moko Ambassador affiliate program, Sam shares what daily life in a small Chiba town is really like, how he built deep community ties through a 300-year-old local festival, and practical advice for anyone navigating Japanese bureaucracy or job hunting from scratch. Key Takeaways The JET Program has three distinct tracks (ALT, SEA, CIR) with very different Japanese-language requirements and levels of support "Black kigyo" red flags include vague job descriptions, personal bank accounts used for company funds, and "we're a family" language during interviews Making an effort to integrate is reciprocated in rural Japan — the "unwelcoming countryside" stereotype didn't match Sam's real experience City hall work in Japan deliberately rotates employees between departments every few years to keep them generalists rather than specialists Joining a local matsuri (festival) turned out to be one of the most effective ways to build genuine community connections and even led to freelance work In This Episode Sam's path to Japan: growing up half Japanese in New Zealand, learning the language later in life, and choosing the CIR (Coordinator for International Relations) track of JET What it's actually like working inside a small-town city hall, including the daily "chorei" morning meeting and generational mix of coworkers The population decline reshaping small Japanese towns, and how municipalities merge to preserve city status The full story of the "black kigyo" company Sam quit after one week, and the specific red flags to watch for when job hunting in Japan How Japanese overtime contracts (zangyo) actually work and why "family culture" language in interviews deserves scrutiny● Practical tips for visiting a Japanese city hall: what to bring, the best time of day to go, and how to prepare paperwork in advance How Sam got pulled into his town's 300-year-old dashi (float) festival through a work connection, and why it became a turning point for his sense of belonging Sam's current role running the Mocha Moko Ambassador affiliate program and doing consultations for people navigating countryside Japan Resources Mentioned Book a consultation and you may be paired directly with Sam for guidance on countryside living Learn more about the Mocha Moko Ambassador affiliate program Browse listings on the show's English-friendly property search site Follow the podcast on Instagram and TikTok for property tips and renovation updates Enjoyed This Episode? Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leave a five-star rating — it takes five seconds andreally helps the show grow. Have a question about moving to Japan? Send it our way.
June 27, 202421 min
Tokyo Base Camp Series: Day 1 in the New House
In Episode 34, "From Keys to Comfort - Our Tokyo Base Camp Adventure," we dive into the thrill of getting the keys to our new home in Tama City, Tokyo! Join us as we explore the highs and lows of moving into a freshly renovated, turnkey property. From the breathtaking views and spacious lot to the unexpected steep hill and bustling neighborhood, every moment is an adventure. We share our first-day experiences, the surprising challenges we faced, and our excitement about transforming this house into our dream home. Don't miss this action-packed episode filled with laughter, discovery, and the joy of new beginnings! Tune in for an inside look at our Tokyo Base Camp!
July 3, 202646 min
Why This Hawaii Family Bought a Second Home in Japan
A Hawaii family buys an oceanfront home in Japan for $16,000 and it has a surf break out front, a bike path, and ski resorts 40 minutes away. This is how they did it. In this episode, host Take Kurosawa sits down with Chris Rose, a former Army veteran, longtime Hawaii resident, and Buying a House in Japan direct program customer, at the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden on Oahu's east side. Chris shares his full journey: from falling down the Instagram rabbit hole of cheap Japanese homes to closing on a stunning two-story oceanfront property in Itoigawa, Niigata for just ¥2.5 million (~$16,000 USD). What You'll Learn How Chris went from browsing Instagram to owning an oceanfront home in Japan in under two months The one filter trick on the Buying a House in Japan website that helped him find the perfect property the day it was listed Why he passed on a more popular (and pricier) Myoko ski town property The "checklist method" Chris used to evaluate every listing, and the boxes his Itoigawa home checked that nothing else did What it's really like to arrive at your new Japanese home in February with snow on the beach How they set up the house before arriving: Amazon JP deliveries, heaters staged by their coordinator Eric, and a professional deep clean Tips for meeting your Japanese neighbors the right way (hint: bring macadamia nut chocolates from Hawaii) How Chris's son Luke practiced with a Japanese water polo team, including a former Olympian coach, during their trip Why Chris recommends buying in Japan for the right reasons, not just because it's cheap The logistics of getting from Honolulu to a small coastal town in Niigata, and how they're still refining their travel system About Chris Rose Chris Rose is a former U.S. Army veteran and 25-year Hawaii resident who spent two years living in Okinawa while working a government position at Pearl Harbor. A surfer, skier, and homeschooling dad of three, Chris purchased his Japan vacation home through the Buying a House in Japan direct program in late 2025. His property is located in Itoigawa, Niigata; oceanfront, with a 20-mile coastal bike path behind it, a surf break out front, and ski resorts 40 minutes away. Resources & Links Mentioned Buying a House in Japan website: browse 500,000+ English-friendly listings at https://www.akiya-mart.com/ Amazon Japan (amazon.co.jp): for pre-arrival furniture and bedding delivery Hard Off / Book Off: secondhand shops in Japan for gear, surfboards, and more Myoko, Niigata: popular ski town and nearby reference point Joetsu City: the nearest major city to Chris's property, with Shinkansen access Toyama: alternative arrival city with a Costco, ~2 hours from Itoigawa Key Takeaways Set your search filters to "listed within the last day" and check daily, the best properties go fast Write a personal letter with your offer explaining who you are and how you'll use the home as it matters to sellers Budget for a deep professional clean ($500–$1,000) before your first stay, which is worth every yen Bring gifts for neighbors immediately; macadamia nut chocolates from Hawaii were a hit Hawaii residents have a geographic advantage; you're already halfway to Japan Subscribe & Leave a Review If this episode helped or inspired you, please leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, which takes five seconds and makes a huge difference. Share this episode with anyone who's been dreaming about buying in Japan.
June 5, 2026Episode 13550 min
Answering Your Top 10 Japan Home Buying Questions
This week, Take and Joey run through the ten most frequently asked questions from AkiyaMart consultation calls. After three years and thousands of consultations, they identified your top questions and hope this episode can help you prep for your Japan home buying journey. They cover whether foreigners can buy property in Japan, how the buying process actually works end to end, why loans are not available in almost all cases, what Airbnb zoning looks like and where to check eligibility, how property taxes are assessed, what renovation realistically costs, and why reaching out to a seller's agent before working with a buyer's agent can complicate a deal significantly. Want free 1:1 coaching with Take & Joey, recorded as an episode? Apply: https://0oopfg486ij.typeform.com/to/bTKUZmqy Follow us on Instagram and YouTube ! 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.
May 1, 2026Episode 13035 min
Why Aren't Akiya More Attractive to Japanese Buyers? ft. Tomoa Ishihara
This week, Take and Joey sit down with Tomoa, a Japanese friend, to answer a question we get all the time: "why didn't a Japanese person buy this akiya first?" Tomoa breaks down how kegare shapes Japanese attitudes toward used homes, why rural properties rarely appeal to Japanese buyers, and what foreign buyers need to understand about owning property responsibly in Japan. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube ! 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.
March 13, 2026Episode 12320 min
We Mapped 100+ Years of Earthquake Data to Create a New Akiya Search Tool, ft. Keita
Want to buy an akiya in Japan but the idea of earthquakes keeping you up at night? We get it. Japan shakes, so we made a tool to help you figure out where to look. This week, Joey and Take catch up with university friend Keita, the geospatial software engineer who built AkiyaMart's new earthquake overlay filter. He explains how it works, why Shindo (felt intensity) matters more than magnitude for property buyers, and the key limitations of 100–120 years of historical data. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube ! 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 Japan Quake Reality Check 00:31 Meet Keita From Yakushima 02:21 Why Move Off Tokyo 03:31 Avocado Farm Dream 04:49 Earthquake Overlay Launch 06:33 How The Map Is Built 09:05 Testing Famous Quakes 11:13 Data Limits And Controversy 14:44 Shindo Vs Magnitude 16:45 ICU Tokyo Example 18:07 Wrap Up And Where To Find Keita 19:53 Podcast Outro And Links
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