Buying Land in Japan - Tips to Protect Yourself from Natural Disasters

With all of the interest in Japanese real estate, between Akiya (abandoned homes) and the weak yen making prices look great, I thought I would make this video piggy-backing on a topic that is important to me - natural disasters in Japan. (A topic that should be important to anyone who is living or plans to live here."
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[@otibed358]

Excellent Paul! In part 2 I'd love to hear a summary of all taxes/annual dues/insurance costs/other fees!

[@beverlyhills7883]

Very useful video. Thank you. Extremely valuable.

[@FirstLastOne]

Great information especially the part with the built up concrete retaining walls that usually have a single or double garage into the side of a hill and not meeting current codes.

[@Exjapter]

That, amongst other pitfalls one doesn't expect about renovating places in Japan.

[@FirstLastOne]

@@Exjapter We are thinking of buying land to build our little oasis in Japan but the pitfalls of not dotting your 'i's and crossing your 't's is nothing compared to the burden one might be saddled with should they find hidden vehicles on the property or a house that was a tear down but is full of asbestos.

[@bobbinsthethird]

If you are living alone, I can understand a lot of foreigners have an easy come easy go mindset. That they are getting this abandoned home at a fraction of what property in their country would cost, and if it is wiped out in a natural disaster along with the rest of the neigborhood, Shikata ga nai. Avoiding being at the top or bottom of hills or next to Rivers is seeing around corners and a wise thing to consider with the long term investment that is a home, doubly so if you have a family at that home who if they are in danger you cannot sleep at night.

[@Exjapter]

Very rich Japanese still build their giant homes (like in Hayama where I filmed this) in dangerous spots, and don't appear to care as it's usually their 2nd (or 3rd) place away from Tokyo and they can just write off the loss. So as you say at the start of your comment, if you can afford not to worry, then all of this advice isn't relevant.

[@donotsu6378]

Paul….you have brought up many good points on buying property in japan. This makes me wonder ……why did you decide to reside in Yokohama?

[@Exjapter]

That is an excellent question, but the answer is really two factors - one is I work in Yokohama, and two, it's easier to find a place to live that is close to nature and greenspace compared to (most of) Tokyo.

[@bryandavidasuncion9515]

Another youtuber said a few years ago "Japan is safe if you consider typhoons and earthquakes to be safe". Not that such things would matter to me cause my country is close to Japan and also experience typhoons and earthquakes

[@Exjapter]

That's a good line.

[@zmanthemercenary5378]

Great tips! Any thoughts on condos in suburban areas such as Saitama?

[@Exjapter]

Condos are a bit different, but just as susceptible to getting messed up by a flood or landslide. As for being a good place to live, I think Saitama gets a bad reputation as a boring bed town for Tokyo, but I happen to think it is rather undeserved. There is a lot of beautiful nature close by if that's your thing, and the convenience to Tokyo is an obvious plus. It doesn't have the cultural touchstones of Yokohama, but I'd live there before I'd live in Chiba or Ibaraki.

[@masamasa7595]

たまには日本語のKZbinやってね😀