Guides & Articles
Every guide we publish on renting, buying and investing in Japanese property as a foreigner — newest first.
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How Much Does It Cost to Rent an Apartment in Tokyo? (2026 Monthly Costs by Ward)
“How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Tokyo?” is the first question almost every foreigner asks us, and almost every answer online gets it wrong in the same way: it quotes a headline rent and stops there. The rent is... -
Who Actually Buys Tokyo’s Waterfront Towers? The 2025 Foreign-Buyer Data
Walk through the sales gallery of any new tower in Toyosu or the Tokyo Bay area and you will hear the same rumour: "Half the building is owned by foreign investors." It is a great story. It is also wrong. In 2025 the Japanese government ... -
Can a Foreigner Buy Property in Japan? (2026): Rules, Rights & the Real Limits
Yes — any foreign national can buy property in Japan with full ownership rights, no visa or residency required. A Tokyo-registered takken-shi (宅地建物取引士) explains the rules, the exceptions, and the one real limit: financing. -
Monthly, Furnished & Serviced Apartments in Toyosu (Tokyo, 2026): A Foreigner’s Guide
If you are moving to Tokyo and not ready to sign a two-year lease — or you simply need a furnished place for one to six months — a standard apartment is the wrong tool. What you want is a monthly apartment (マンスリーマンション, mansurii... -
Can a Non-Resident Get a Mortgage in Japan? (2026 Guide for Foreign Investors)
Buying an investment property in Japan from overseas is very doable — but financing it with a Japanese mortgage is the part that trips up most foreign investors. If you live outside Japan, the rules are nothing like what residents face. ... -
5 Foreigners Who Regretted Their Akiya — and What They Learned
Five composite case studies of foreign akiya buyers who learned expensive lessons — Minpaku violation, non-rebuildable property, burst pipes, kominka structural rot, agricultural land trap. Each preventable. -
Akiya in Hokkaido: The Asahikawa Area & Surrounding Towns Guide
Asahikawa-region akiya are a stronger entry point than Niseko or Furano for both second-home buyers and Airbnb investors. The 6-zone map: city core, surrounding towns, and Asahidake gateway. -
What ¥3M / ¥10M / ¥30M Actually Buys on Japan’s Akiya Market
The honest, all-in answer to what your budget actually buys on Japan's akiya market — purchase + acquisition + renovation, calibrated for second-home buyers and Airbnb investors. -
The Hidden Costs of Akiya Ownership Foreigners Underestimate
A ¥3 million akiya listing makes a great YouTube thumbnail and a great way to lose ¥7 million you did not budget for. Four cost layers, calibrated with realistic Hokkaido numbers. -
The Akiya Inspection Checklist for Foreign Buyers
Every akiya is its own story written by decades of weather and neglect. A practical inspection checklist for foreign buyers — from documents to structure to snow-country specifics.
