You have found an akiya (an empty home in Japan) on Engawa. You open the "Original listing" link and the page is all Japanese. Now what?
You ask the town. That is usually the next step, and it is not as hard as it looks. This guide sets out what to ask, in what order, what the town may say no to, and a few short questions you can copy.
Short answer: for most homes, the route is the town or bank named on the original listing. Rules differ from town to town, so ask before you assume.
Who do you ask?
For most homes on Engawa, the contact is the town or akiya bank named on the original listing. For a smaller number the listing names an agent or the owner. We do not hold a bank's phone number, email or contact form. They sit on the original listing, so open it from the home's page.
If the page is in Japanese, a translation tool in your browser will give you the gist. Use it to find a contact form, an email address or a phone number. Do not rely on it for rules or prices.
What does the national akiya bank say?
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has a page on the national akiya bank and a consumer Q&A. Read on 30 October 2026, in plain terms:
- You need no buyer registration on the national site, but the town may require one. Check the contact on the home.
- Some towns restrict use, for example to people from outside the town or prefecture.
- Some towns require an estate agent in the sale. The rules differ by town.
- The state and the site operators do not mediate disputes. A sale is between the parties.
All of this varies by municipality. The town office named on the home is the place to confirm it. For how banks write their own rules, read what an akiya bank is, and whether you have to live in the house.
What should you ask, and in what order?
Ask a few things at a time. A short, clear message is easier for a busy town office to answer.
- Is the home still for sale? Listings can lag. See why akiya listings go stale.
- Do I need to register as a user first?
- Are there conditions on who may buy or use the home, such as living in it, or coming from outside the town?
- Who handles the sale: the town, an estate agent or the owner?
- What costs come on top of the price? Taxes and fees are set out in what you pay on top of an akiya's price.
- Can I visit, and who shows the house?
- Can I write to you in English, or is another route easier?
Questions about hazards go to the same desk. How to read a Japanese hazard map explains what to ask the municipality.
Which short questions can you copy?
These are in romaji (Japanese in Latin letters). They are polite and plain. A Japanese speaker should check them before you rely on them.
| In English | In romaji |
|---|---|
| Is this house still for sale? | Kono ie wa mada hanbai-chu desu ka? |
| Do I need to register as a user? | Riyosha toroku wa hitsuyo desu ka? |
| Are there conditions on who can buy? | Konyusha ni joken wa arimasu ka? |
| Does an estate agent handle the sale? | Fudosan-gyosha ga baibai o atsukaimasu ka? |
| Are there costs besides the price? | Kakaku igai ni hiyo wa kakarimasu ka? |
| Can I visit the house? | Kengaku wa dekimasu ka? |
| Can I write to you in English? | Eigo de renraku shite mo ii desu ka? |
Add the listing's name or number and the town. Say who you are in one line, with your country. A short message in English with these lines is better than nothing.
What might the town say no to?
Towns set their own terms. Some limit use to people from outside the town or prefecture. Some want you to register first. Some require an estate agent in the sale. If a town says no, ask what it would need, and keep other homes on your list.
Disputes are between you and the other party. The state and the site operators do not step in. That is one reason to keep every answer in writing.
What if you get no reply?
Try again in a week with a shorter message. Try the phone number on the listing, if there is one. Keep a note of what you asked and when. And keep other homes on your shortlist while you wait. If you cannot find the right home at all, read what to do when you cannot find the right akiya.
You can browse banks that differ in style. Compare homes in Wakayama, Okayama, Hokkaido and Akita, and look at the original listing for each.
How we know this
The rules above come from the two MLIT pages linked in this guide, which we opened on 30 October 2026. We did not open the bank operators' own sites. The Japanese is our own and has not been checked by a Japanese reader yet. Rules and wording can change, so check the page you are using.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to register to enquire about an akiya?
Not on the national site. A town may require it. Check the contact on the home.
Can a foreigner ask a town about an akiya?
Each town sets its own rules, and some restrict use, for example to people from outside the town or prefecture. Ask the town office named on the home.
Does the bank help if there is a dispute?
No. The state and the site operators do not mediate. The trade is between the parties.
Does Engawa speak to the town for me?
Engawa is a directory. We show homes with a link to the original page, and the town or bank is the source for its rules. You write to the town yourself, using the contact on the original listing.
Ready to ask?
Not sure what to put in your message to the town? Open the home and use "Enquire about this house". A founder replies by email. Tell us the home and what you want to ask.