House of the Quiet Hearth

Wood house on a large plot in Niigata

Sekikawa, Niigata

Year built
Not available
Building size
192.39 sqm
Land size
1090.17 sqm
Structure
Wood

From the listing

We purchased this property with the intention of running an old folk house cafe and private lodging while enjoying gardening together, but have had to abandon this plan due to the need to care for elderly parents. Sekikawa Village, where this property is located, stands out in Niigata Prefecture for its natural beauty and tranquility. While car travel is necessary, supermarkets and essential infrastructure are available within a reasonable distance, offering a good balance as a 'countryside that is not too inconvenient.' The area around this property also receives comparatively less snow than other parts of Niigata. Despite viewing many properties throughout Niigata, we encountered reluctance from neighbors and relatives toward migrants from Tokyo even for good buildings, making us keenly aware of relocation difficulties. Regarding Sekikawa Village, however, the village office staff and neighbors were all kind and supportive, which led us to make this purchase. / This property is based on a historic old folk house originally built in the Meiji era and has been carefully maintained over many years. The beams and pillars passed down through the ages possess weight and elegance not found in modern buildings, allowing you to truly appreciate the charm of an authentic Japanese house. The grounds comprise over 1,000 m² of spacious, level land in a corner-lot location with excellent openness. You can enjoy comfortable rural living without concern for neighbors' views. The layout is 12SLDK with ample space, suitable for multi-generational housing as well as private lodging, old folk house cafe, work-from-home facilities, and other business uses. A space with a sunken hearth (irori) remains, providing guests with an extraordinary experience. Additionally, a large shuttered garage and warehouse offer convenient space for hobbies or business storage. / Currently vacant and available for viewing anytime. Part of the ceiling above the washing machine is peeling. The water heater may not be functional. With selective renovation as needed, you can create a truly unique residence that preserves its historical character. This is a rare property offering history, space, and freedom unavailable in cities. Antique tableware, paulownia chests, and folding screens are stored in the shuttered garage; we will give these to interested parties. We are flexible regarding price negotiation depending on conditions. We ask that boundary demarcation and liability for contract defects be waived.

Specifications

Land size
1090.17 sqm
Building size
192.39 sqm
Structure
Wood
Rooms
12SLDK
Water
City water
Sewer
Public sewer

Where a detail is not shown, the source listing did not state it. We leave it out rather than guess.

Floor plans

Floor plan 1 of 1 for Wood house on a large plot in Niigata
Floor plan 1 of 1

The price in context

The nearest official land-price benchmark is about 5,750 yen per sqm, down about 10% over five years (6,400 to 5,750), which the survey classes as declining.

The asking price works out at about 1,743 yen per sqm of land, 70% below the nearest residential benchmark of about 5,750 yen per sqm. The benchmark is for bare land; akiya prices usually bundle a worn building, so a large gap is normal and does not by itself mean a bargain.

Source: Japan's Ministry of Land land-price survey. A benchmark for the area, not a valuation of this home.

Official records

Area and hazard data

5 checks clear. Each check is against a government map for this exact point. Where a map is missing or we can't use it, we say so; that never means there's no risk.

Hazards and ground
Strong-earthquake chance
Checked, clear
About 2% chance of a strong quake (shindo 6-lower or above) in 30 years, low for Japan, where most places sit between 3% and 26%

Source: National earthquake-hazard model

Landslide risk
Checked, clear
Checked: no designated landslide zone at this location. Zone edges are approximate, and this is not a legal property disclosure document.

Source: Government hazard map

Flood risk
Checked, clear
Checked: outside a mapped flood area. The maps cover designated rivers only, so this is not a promise of no flooding.

Source: Government hazard map

Tsunami risk
Checked, clear
Checked: no designated tsunami inundation zone at this location

Source: Government hazard map

Liquefaction
Checked, clear
Low liquefaction susceptibility for the ground here

Source: National landform survey

Getting around
Setting
About 16.5 km to the nearest built-up town area (population about 15,000)
Clinic
About 44 min walk

Location

Area
Sekikawa, Niigata
Setting
About 16.5 km to the nearest built-up town area (population about 15,000)
Clinic
About 44 min walk

This marks an approximate area, not the exact building. The circle is a rough radius from the listing's published address, so you can see the neighbourhood without us guessing at a precise spot. The published address only names the neighbourhood.

Rules of this akiya bank

These are the bank's published eligibility rules, not confirmation that your intended use of this home is allowed. Check with the municipality and owner.

  • Residence or regular-stay requirement

    Not established

    No explicit buyer-residency rule found in the checked bank pages.

    Unknown does not mean permitted. No restriction or permission has been inferred.

    Read official bank rules Checked 2026-10-06
  • Business-use exclusion

    Not established

    No explicit property business-use rule found; website reuse terms are not property-use rules.

    Unknown does not mean permitted. No restriction or permission has been inferred.

    Read official bank rules Checked 2026-10-06
  • Resale restriction

    Not established

    No explicit post-purchase resale ban or holding period found. Unknown is not permission.

    Unknown does not mean permitted. No restriction or permission has been inferred.

    Read official bank rules Checked 2026-10-06
Matched subsidies

Grants and rules

2 programmes in our data could apply to this home, all with conditions you would have to meet first. Amounts change every year. Always confirm with the town before you rely on a figure.

Work with us

Interested in this house?

Every message gets a reply from one of the founders. We can talk through the home, help you think about a renovation, and connect you with a licensed agent in Japan for buying help. Clear flat fee pricing, nothing to pay until you decide to go ahead.

  1. 1Tell us where you are and what you would use it for.
  2. 2We check the home and the town's rules with you, free.
  3. 3If you go ahead, a licensed agent in Japan handles the purchase for a flat fee.

Ask about a viewing, renovation costs, the records above, or how buying works from abroad.

Before you buy

Where this data comes from

Every fact on this page comes from the town's own listing or an official government record, checked for this address. Where a fact is missing, we say so rather than guess.

  • Landslide-risk areas, from Japan's Ministry of Land mapping data (KSJ A33).
  • Flood-risk areas, from Japan's Ministry of Land mapping data (KSJ A31a).
  • Tsunami-risk areas, from Japan's Ministry of Land mapping data (KSJ A40).
  • Earthquake-hazard forecast, from the national J-SHIS model (2024).
  • Stations, coastline and schools, from Japan's Ministry of Land mapping data.
  • Official land prices, from Japan's Ministry of Land land-price survey.

Map data: National Land Numerical Information (Kokudo Suchi Joho), Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, processed by Engawa.

出典:「国土数値情報」(国土交通省)(https://nlftp.mlit.go.jp/ksj/)をEngawaが加工して作成

Checked against the town's listing
Checked against the town's listing: 2026-10-09
Source listing last changed
Source listing last changed: 2026-06-23

We re-check listings against their sources through the week. Where a fact is missing, we say so rather than guess. Data from the source listing plus official government records.

1,900,000 yen

(approx. GBP 9,000)

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