Akiya buying guides
Plain-English guides to buying an empty home in Japan, from the real cost of a free house to hazard risk, renovation subsidies, and the visa reality. Every guide is grounded in our government-sourced data.
Akiya Renovation Subsidies Explained
Many Japanese municipalities pay part of the cost of renovating an akiya. Here is how these grants work, who qualifies, and how to find them per town.
Read the guideAkiya vs Kominka vs Machiya Explained
Akiya, kominka, and machiya are often confused. Here is what each word means, how they overlap, and what the difference means for you as a buyer.
Read the guideAre Akiya Really Free? What the Data Shows
Some akiya are given away for free, but almost none are truly free once you add taxes, fees, and repairs. Here is what the numbers actually say.
Read the guideBuying an Akiya Does Not Get You a Visa
Owning a house in Japan gives you no visa and no right to live there. Here is what actually grants residency, and why the property-visa myth persists.
Read the guideHow to Buy an Akiya as a Foreigner
A plain, honest step-by-step for buying an empty home in Japan as a foreign buyer, from finding a listing to registering the title, with the real costs.
Read the guideHow to Read a Japanese Hazard Map
Japan's official hazard maps are detailed but in Japanese. This plain-English walkthrough shows how to read flood, landslide, and tsunami risk for a house.
Read the guideIs It Safe to Buy an Akiya? A Hazard Guide
Safety depends on the site and the structure. This guide walks through flood, landslide, tsunami, and earthquake risk, and the 1981 building code, per house.
Read the guideThe Akiya 6x Property Tax Trap Explained
Leaving an akiya empty and neglected can strip a tax break and raise the land tax up to sixfold. Here is how the post-2023 rule works and how to avoid it.
Read the guideWhat Akiya Renovation Really Costs
A cheap akiya can need a lot of work. Here is how to think about renovation cost bands, what drives them, and what municipal subsidies can offset.
Read the guideWhy Akiya Listings Go Stale
Many akiya listings you see are already sold, withdrawn, or dead links. Here is why staleness is endemic and how to avoid chasing houses you cannot buy.
Read the guideWant to know how we build this data? Read our methodology.