Unlock Japan's Hidden Property Market: A Power User's Guide to Akiya Data
Five government databases, 1,000 municipal akiya banks, and a subsidy stack worth millions. Here's how to use all of it.
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Akiya Japan Library
Guides, analysis and legal updates
20 articles
Five government databases, 1,000 municipal akiya banks, and a subsidy stack worth millions. Here's how to use all of it.
Discover how Japan's most popular messaging app is used by locals and agents for akiya deals, from finding listings to managing renovations remotely.
You found a beautiful akiya in a rural village — but how do you find out if the nearest hospital is 10 minutes away or 90, when you cannot read Japanese? A practical guide for non-Japanese speakers: how to research healthcare access using English-language tools, what distances are acceptable, and the right questions to ask before you commit.
Japan abandoned houses can be bought by foreigners from as little as ¥1 million. Learn what to expect, where to search, and how to make an offer in 2026.
Real renovation budgets from real projects. We break down costs for kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, and structural work so you can plan with confidence.
Your akiya can legally become a short-term rental under Japan's Minpaku Law. Learn the 180-day cap, tourist zone exceptions, and which property types qualify.
Buying an akiya is the easy part. Living in it legally is where it gets complicated. A practical guide to the visa strategies real buyers use — from 90-day rotations to business manager visas to the digital nomad option.
Practical Guide
Can't find enough listings in your target area? Akiya Japan's Coverage Request feature lets you tell us exactly where you want more properties — and we'll go find them.
Not all akiya search platforms are created equal. A practical checklist of questions every buyer should ask before subscribing — from hidden fees to listing counts.
Free akiya in Japan do exist, but renovation, legal fees, and location add real costs. Learn when free houses are a genuine deal and when to walk away.
Japan faces its worst labor shortage in decades — with 118 job openings for every 100 seekers. From nursing to IT to rural guesthouses, here are the skills and small businesses the country desperately needs, and how foreigners can fill the gap.
Akiya are Japan's 9 million vacant houses, often sold at steep discounts or given away free. Learn what qualifies, who can buy, and where to find listings.
Akiya banks are Japan's official vacant-home registries. Most are Japanese-only. This guide covers every English-accessible akiya bank, listed by prefecture.