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 growth and future plans.

00:00 Introduction and Christmas in Japan

01:17 Throwing a Party in Tokyo

01:55 Updates on Kyushu Property

05:40 Challenges with Long-Term Rentals

14:07 Exploring Off-Market Deals

16:19 Tokyo Suburban Midterm Rental

18:04 Garden Rock Dilemma

19:19 Introducing Josh the Gardener

19:51 Finding a Property Manager

23:16 Tokyo Suburban Midterm Rental

24:12 Insulation Challenges

26:49 Snow Cabin Update

30:56 Reflecting on 2024

31:52 Looking Ahead to 2025

In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, hosts Take and Joey welcome back Erik B, who shares his recent experiences of purchasing and visiting a house in Niigata, Japan. The discussion covers the logistics of transferring money, setting up utilities, dealing with local banking issues, and receiving help from friendly neighbors. Erik also touches on the challenges of obtaining local services, renovating the house, and the peculiarities of the Japanese real estate and car buying process, all while highlighting the warmth and support of the local community.

00:00 Introduction and Butterfly Pee

00:29 Welcoming Erik B

01:09 Recap of Previous Episode

01:53 Challenges with Money Transfers

03:30 First Impressions of the House

03:44 Settling into the New Home

08:21 Meeting the Neighbors

11:41 Exploring the Neighborhood

13:57 House Renovation Plans

24:07 Challenges and Hurdles

26:14 Cleaning and Renovating the House

27:01 Beth's Experience in Japan

29:23 Dealing with Leftover Items

31:52 Plans for the Property

33:22 Car Buying Process in Japan

34:34 Setting Up Utilities and Internet

45:36 Final Thoughts and Advice

In this episode, Joey and Take recap their journey of buying and managing five properties in Japan over the past year, including their Beppu Hot Springs short term rental, Tokyo Suburb midterm rental, Kitakyushu long term rental, and Myoko Snow Cabin. They also share insights into the challenges and learning experiences such as dealing with contractors, the importance of insulation, and their innovative approach to property investment. Finally, they discuss their plans for the newest acquisition in Nagasaki and express gratitude to their listeners.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

01:58 Property Recap: Beppu Hot Springs Short Term Rental

07:33 Property Recap: Tokyo Suburb Midterm Rental

16:38 Property Recap: KitaKyushu Long Term Rental

19:26 Investor Mindset in Japanese Property Renovation

19:44 Learning from Keaton's Approach

21:02 Negotiation Strategies for Property Deals

22:41 Kitakyushu Long-Term Rental Insights

23:26 Introducing the Miyoko Snow Cabin

24:16 Securing the Myoko Property

25:30 Exploring the Unique Aspects of Miyoko

27:13 Future Plans for Miyoko Snow Cabin

29:34 Nagasaki Beach House Opportunity

34:43 Reflecting on Property Investments

36:28 Closing Remarks and Future Prospects

Japan Remotely Website: https://japanremotely.com/

In this episode, Joey and Take return from their podcast break and introduce Nick from Japan Remotely. The discussion focuses on the simplest ways to move to Japan, emphasizing student visas, the JET program, and digital nomad visas. Nick shares his journey to Japan and provides insights into the startup and business manager visas. He explains the steps needed to start a business in Japan, emphasizing the importance of having a solid business plan and capital. Nick also offers practical advice for those planning to move to Japan and start a business in the next year.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back

00:50 Special Guest: Nick from Japan Remotely

03:32 Nick's Journey to Japan

06:25 Understanding Japan Remotely Services

06:51 Visa Options: Startup vs Business Manager

09:07 Entry-Level Jobs and the JET Program

21:41 Digital Nomad Visa and Housing Market

27:16 Does the Digital Nomad Visa Help with Other Visas?

27:46 Crafting a Compelling Visa Narrative

30:44 Buying Property in Japan: Visa Implications

32:02 Challenges and Strategies for Long-Term Visas

34:37 Understanding Business Manager and Startup Visas

38:08 Capital Requirements and Business Plans

43:26 Startup Visa vs. Business Manager Visa

51:11 Final Advice for Prospective Japan Residents

54:11 Contact Information and Closing Remarks

Buying a Home in Japan: A Success Story with Justin Wong

House bought: https://www.akiya-mart.com/listing/27492270?currency=usd&is-metric=false

In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan Podcast,' host Take interviews Justin, an early Akiyamart direct customer. Justin shares his experience of purchasing a house in Nara for $30K, highlighting the challenges and surprises of navigating the Japanese property market as a foreigner. They discuss Justin's motivations, the process, and tips for others considering a similar investment. Despite some hurdles, such as a high earthquake-proofing estimate, Justin's story is an inspiring example of finding an affordable home in Japan.

00:00 Exploring a Haunted House

00:20 Introduction to the Podcast

00:35 Meet Justin Wong

00:49 Justin's Journey to Japan

01:20 The Japanese Housing Market

01:44 Finding AkiyaMart

05:21 Justin's House in Nara

09:55 The Buying Process

13:27 Home Inspection Insights

15:41 Finalizing the Purchase

18:38 First Impressions of the New Home

19:02 Flying from Tokyo to Osaka: A Cost Comparison

19:41 First Impressions of the New House

20:08 Challenges of Moving In

20:55 Exploring the Neighborhood

21:53 Adjusting to the New Home

26:45 Money Transfer Process for Buying Property in Japan

28:24 Future Plans for the House

28:31 Earthquake Proofing Dilemma

33:08 Advice for Prospective Akiya Buyers

37:24 Taking the Leap: Buying a House Unseen

38:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode, the hosts wrap up their 10-day content creation spree across Japan and share 10 key insights from their experiences. They discuss their intensive schedule, including meetings with agents, checking out properties, and attending conferences. Key insights include observations about Japan's beauty, opportunities for foreigners, the abundance of empty houses, economic challenges, falling behind technologically, swindling experiences, the convoluted rental market, and opportunities in smaller cities like Beppu. The episode concludes with their reflections and gratitude for the journey.

00:00 Introduction and Trip Recap

01:03 Journey Through Japan: Highlights and Challenges

03:15 10 Insights from Our Japan Experience

03:43 Insight 1: Japan's Beauty and Infrastructure

04:42 Insight 2: Opportunities in Japan

06:29 Insight 3: The Akiya Problem

08:20 Insight 4: Economic Realities in Japan

10:18 Insight 5: Technological Stagnation

12:51 Insight 6: Real Estate Knowledge Gap

15:14 Insight 7: Tokyo Swindlers

18:08 Insight 8: Rental Market Opportunities

20:15 Insight 9: Prefabricated Homes

22:26 Insight 10: Trusting Your Gut in Investments

24:15 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In this episode of the 'Buying a House in Japan' podcast, hosts Joey and Take recount their experiences over the past 10 days, highlighting the ongoing renovation of their first Akiya in Beppu, dubbed Jisoji Lux. They discuss the ups and downs of refurbishment, including their interactions with their contractor, Sato san. From initial high hopes to the unexpected challenges—such as communication issues, construction delays, and Sato's personal problems including legal troubles—Joey and Take share insights and lessons learned about managing renovation projects remotely. They reflect on the quality and potential of 1970s Japanese homes, the importance of setting realistic expectations, and consider different strategies for future renovations.  

00:00 Introduction and Welcome 

00:37 Our First Akiya: Jisoji Lux 

01:41 Favorite Features of the House 

03:36 Challenges and Renovation Insights 

06:36 The Custom Shower Dilemma 

13:35 Reflections on Japanese Homes 

18:54 Contractor Drama Unfolds

 28:41 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts

Join Mika, Jesse, and their dog Pancake in this episode of the "Buying a House in Japan" podcast as they share their journey from Canada to Japan’s countryside. From converting a traditional Japanese house into a cozy, rustic home, to adjusting to rural life and learning blacksmithing, they open up about the joys and challenges of their new life. Perfect for dreamers, doers, and those curious about alternative lifestyles, this episode is a deep dive into what it takes to build a community and a dream in a foreign land.

Find our guests here:
YouTube

Website

Instagram

00:00 Introduction and Special Guests

02:09 Journey to Japan: From Teaching to Blacksmithing

05:50 Living in the Japanese Countryside

11:20 Challenges and Community Integration

22:29 Breaking Barriers in Community Involvement

26:47 Gardening as a Community Icebreaker

28:47 Challenges of Rural Living

32:29 The Search for a Permanent Home

In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, recorded live from Niigata's Lyme Hotel, hosts chat with Matt Guy, a Japan travel expert who transitioned from Fremont, California, to Myoko, Japan. Matt shares his journey of purchasing and renovating a $6,000 house, tackling challenges such as winter heating, insulation, and snow maintenance. The discussion delves into practical aspects of Japanese real estate, banking, and community integration. Matt also offers cultural insights, detailing local events, communal snow clearing efforts, language learning experiences, and enjoying local attractions like hot springs and dinosaur museums. This episode provides valuable information on adapting to rural Japanese life and the unique rewards and challenges it presents.

00:00 Why I Moved to Japan

00:31 Special Guest Introduction

01:53 First Impressions of the House

02:38 Challenges of Snow in Miyoko

04:01 Journey to Miyoko

09:24 Buying a House in Japan

11:03 Renovation Experiences

17:35 Community and Neighbors

23:38 Finding the Perfect Property

29:44 Navigating the Purchase Process

30:53 Challenges of Japanese Banking

32:36 First Winter and Renovation Challenges

34:52 Snow Maintenance Tips

39:44 Winter Road Conditions

41:47 Natural Disasters in Japan

45:39 Exploring Japan's Ski Areas

55:51 Living in Japan: Community and Culture

58:28 Outro and Social Media

AkiyaMart sits down with Ron and Hide-san, two experts navigating Japan's complex real estate landscape. From starting a business to helping foreigners find homes in Nagoya, they share the ups and downs of real estate investments, their personal journeys from MMA to international business, and why they believe Japan’s hidden properties are treasures waiting to be uncovered. 

00:15 Introduction and Dream Home Discussion

00:34 Meet the Hosts and Special Guests

01:23 Journey to Real Estate in Nagoya

15:01 Challenges and Opportunities for Foreign Buyers

24:49 Navigating Japanese Real Estate Challenges

26:23 Foreigners and Housing in Nagoya

29:38 Investment Strategies and Market Insights

46:55 Dream Homes and Final Thoughts

Ron

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