Consider This Before Buying A Cheap House in Rural Japan

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Ryunohara
523 Hiroihara, Ryujinmura,
Tanabe-shi, Wakayama Prefecture
Japan 645-0523
About Ryunohara: Ryunohara is a kominka cafe nestled deep in the mountains of Ryujinmura, Wakayama Prefecture. We make our own tea from wild tea plants, and serve it at Ryunohara Kissa, where you'll also find a small library of books about Japanese culture. We also serve Singaporean Hainanese satay skewers alongside stewed meats, fried rice, and other dishes that showcase ingredients from across the Kishu region. The two buildings on the property are traditionally-built 60 and 120 year-old farmhouses, .

[@bewitchedwitch3696]

As a Polish girl I understand the hard work that is need to be put in the making of a house mine.Respect of the neibours is also on first top of the list.Kind regards

[@Ryunohara]

Thanks for watching!

[@bloosnow]

usually people do not see the hardwork behind people's success. The city dwellers are so used to using money to pay for all problems and I am glad you addressed them here.

[@deborahf3738]

Great video. People tend to rush into things without knowing what is expected. Thank you for spelling it out for those who want to take on a property in a rural area. You make it look easy and I am glad you said how difficult it is. Excellent!!!

[@Ryunohara]

Yes the cheap houses in Japan angle has been quite popular online in the last year or so but it seems that most videos have not gone into the social aspects that really matter.

[@RealRuralJapan]

I'm into my 4th year living and running a cafe in rural Japan and everything said here is indeed correct.

[@Ryunohara]

Thanks for watching, where’s your cafe?

[@architarchit2459]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. It is so very helpful. As a foreigner I always think about moving to and living in rural Japan. But seeing the steps it actually takes makes me realize it is not a simple process. This video definitely gives me some things to consider. Thanks for being so candid😊

[@Ryunohara]

Glad you found this useful!

[@debbiecurtis4021]

I'm in the UK. I'm helping with a house renovation. This week I added 7 tons of soil to a builder's skip. I've removed soil to make a block paved back garden, and moved 20kg bags of builder's sand, blast and cement. It is very hard work. So I salute you with all of the hard work you are doing on these houses.

[@FeelingShred]

OMG I'm considering the possibility of renting a plot of land (instead of buying which will come later) for producing vegetables, eggs, whatever is in reach of a half acre square... I'm going mad with the anxiety already because I have a tendency to jump into things rather than planning 🤣the challenge of moving in, trying to build a temporary wooden shed and make the plot profitable by 3 months (meaning some sales already being made)... tough as nails but I still think it's possible... I would rather work for myself than step foot another day on an office full of people that plot against me and sabotage my work, developing PTSD from the rat race, the money doesn't compensate for mental clarity anymore

[@FirstLastOne]

I will keep it simple and to the point. THANK YOU for your time and effort in putting together this video and sharing it with us. 😊

[@Ryunohara]

You're very welcome!

[@teambigornia]

Your audio has gotten so much better from the last 3 videos I watched. 👌 Very nice channel. It's informative.

[@shirokumakogyo]

As usual, you've done a great job of sharing essential information in a way that's positive and easy to understand. As the market gets flooded with foreign real estate 'investors' who know little or nothing about the realities of life here, you're really providing a great service with your videos!

[@Ryunohara]

Thanks for watching Stephen! I’d say that rural Japan isn’t a good place for hands-off investors. People who actually want to live here long term though may find it quite rewarding (and challenging of course)

[@ariadgaia5932]

This is direly important info!!! THANK YOU!!! I'm saving this to come back to!

[@jasmineroberts6034]

Thank you for making this video to educate people who are considering moving to rural Japan. Its nice to have a realistic idea of how longbit takes to learn japanese. ❤

[@chandraregan5847]

I agree with you! I'd say it took me at least 10 years until I started to feel comfortable with speaking Japanese.

[@Ryunohara]

I’m not alone, phew!

[@andstill5002]

I love your videos, they are so genuine and I appreciate you sharing your experience with such honesty. I'm glad you pointed out the importance of understanding the social and cultural norms as #1! I worry about people buying properties in Japan thinking it's easy and then negatively impacting the residents, or gentrifying neighbourhoods... Hope more people see this!

[@Ryunohara]

Thank you for watching! Glad you found this useful. Yes, lots of videos focus on the houses themselves but houses are easily fixed up, relationships not so.

[@gulaygunay6902]

Thank you so much for telling us all the information : )

[@Ryunohara]

You’re welcome, Gülay!

[@Manque90]

Very useful 😊 and really appreciate you made this video to explain everything in details especially with the cultural part.

[@Ryunohara]

That’s the most crucial part actually! Houses in Japan are cheap for a reason.

[@Manque90]

@@Ryunohara yeah, I knew that already as I have my teacher lived in Fukuoka, and he also shared some house buying need to know stuff to me recently. And really want to try though.

[@cayilo2]

I thank you for your honesty

[@Eden894HisBiome]

Get a sythe its fun effortless once you have it figured. Can use the green manure as mulch

[@SecretAccount-xe9qx]

This is a good channel. One thing to keep in mind is everyone's experience is different. As a white man it was very easy for me to make friends in rural Japan. But because I did not know anything about the language or customs, I also made a lot if mistakes. So my experience is sort of the opposite to yours. Also, my philosophy is that my land is my land, my time is my time. My neighbours should live and let live. I don't tell my neighbours how to dress, either, so they shouldn't be commenting on my clothing choices. Although attitudes seem to be slowly changing towards those alligned with my views, it is happening very, very slowly. Foreigners underestimate how conservative some areas of rural Japan are. By conservative, I actually mean feudal, lol.

[@natanotabi]

Thank you for clearing up these points. I live in Japan and considering buying an akiya in the future, but there is so much steps to even thinking about it seriously, so I probably will still rent for a couple of years. You have a great channel, glad to find it!

[@Ryunohara]

You’re welcome! Yes renting first then buying a dream home later on is probably the best way to go about it. The trouble is that sometimes the rental home is the dream home! 😅

[@DudeDudeDudeDudeDude]

7th like

[@jamescc2010]

Very good info. Yeap not easy at all for foreigners indeed in rural area. We are in US and Thailand. Just thinking,, it will be nice to have 3nd home in Japan for us, families and friends to visit especially in Winter.

[@michal.gawron]

Thanks to you and your channel we don't necessarily have to live in Japan, we can learn a lot of Japanese culture and implement some of it in our western lifes. ;-) I recently ordered a binchotan extinguishing pot. I wouldn't even know such thing exists if I wasn't watching your videos!

[@Ryunohara]

Cool! Glad you find the channel helpful!

[@bewitchedwitch3696]

I am really pleased for this video.Thank You and I respect the rules.

[@Ryunohara]

You’re welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@rock6894]

nice video very informative ❤❤

[@Ryunohara]

Thank you!

[@heandjehsshhe]

Nice video!

[@tomking5290]

Great vid!

[@Ryunohara]

Thanks Tom!

[@on_the_off_beat]

I suppose that as a Singaporean you are accustomed to navigate culturally complex terrain. Thanks for your very informative videos. They go a long way to explaining why there are so many seemingly impossibly cheap akiyas in Japan. It's the unseen costs. I do wonder, still, why there is not more of a domestic second-home market in Japan. Osaka is not that far away. And many of the costs you cite would not be incurred by native Japanese. I am certain that many Japanese from the urban parts of kansai feel the same yearning to escape to a more natural environment that I would feel.

[@haytakasin]

Wow so brave boy. I am Japanese who has been working in SG for more than 5 years. I can be friend with you without fluent Japanese. 😆 Jiayou! Love to watch your video.

[@Ryunohara]

Thanks for the support!

[@danlin8310]

Like your channel and respect your resilience. I have bought a Kyo-machiya in Kyoto located near Kiyomizu-Gojo station, and between Kamogawa River and Takase River. I overlooked the language barrier and had difficulty fixing this 110 years old machiya that needed plenty of TLC. Appreciate if someone living in Kyoto and speaks English can link me up with an English speaking carpenter that undertakes machiya renovation. 🙏

[@Ryunohara]

Hello Dan, you may want to contact Jonathan of Somakousha: somakosha.com. He’s based in Okayama and travels across Japan to work on traditional wooden houses.

[@danlin8310]

@@Ryunohara Thank you mate! Greatly appreciate you sharing this contact. I shall invite you to stay once my Machiya is comfortable to live in. 🙏

[@FeelingShred]

wow that link was awesome, thanks for sharing

[@FeelingShred]

Danlin I'm looking for ways of helping with renovation and by doing so learning carpentry 👍

[@H.pylori]

Great advice. You have convinced me that getting a cheap rural house is not for me. Too old, not wealthy, do not speak Japanese, back and knee pain. My best thing would be to pay for a small apartment in the city.

[@FeelingShred]

me and another young guy are actually considering going there renovating, we would search for a plot where we can establish some urban farming plots, and you can keep the house for yourself after it's done (properly written down in a contract, of course) We just don't have the money for all the fees and costs... get in contact if the opportunity sounds interesting 👍

[@FeelingShred]

I always like looking for people on youtube comments (of all places) because if someone is willing enough to create an account and write down here, you can bet they are pretty determined and strong willed people 🤣🤣

[@eddiemarmolejo9738]

What I particularly liked in this video was the content about your Japanese language and cultural understanding. I say that as I am now on my 8th year in Japan and can completely relate with both aspects. Best wishes for the cafe.

[@Ryunohara]

Thanks Eddie!

[@hulkhulk5141]

The toughest part is making relationships, I worked as an acrobat as a young man and had many friends who worked in Japan for years, learned the language but never made friends, shame. I still dream of motorcycling across the country 😎

[@user-gq5bh2xc7s]

ようこそ日本🇯🇵へ！ 古民家生活を楽しんでね〜 Looking very nice your house. Now not easy to get good quality one.

[@cuongynguyen]

That was real eye opening lol

[@fionarobertson8841]

I lived in rural Shikoku. Most other foreigners living there or near there didn't last long. It's hard to assimilate when you have limited language skills and country/ rural life isn't for everyone. As I have witnessed my parents in their old age - they need to be close to decent medical facilities and the socialization aspect is also something I under looked. There's a lot to consider.

[@lassosello1830]

I have visited Nachi-Katsuura, Wakayama twice already and I plan to come again this year. (onsen!). Are you familiar with that city, or do you know someone who is? I plan to buy a kominka/akiya sometimes in the future.

[@rlee024]

Great video idea and transitions!. Silly question, if you were nice to neighbours and followed the rules, would they be upset if you decided to demolish and drop a new prefab building on the land rather than restore an old building?

[@Ryunohara]

No that’s what most people do lol

[@Britishbaptist]

All of what you are saying is completly normal everywhere for villages . Especially here in the UK , villages are fiercly opinionated and probably more hostile to people from different mind sets or deifferent races then anywhere else . Japan is a wonderful place however if you have the attitude that the world owes you something which seems to be more and more common at the moment then you will have a bad time . If you go to japan to live long term and cannot speak the language , you are a idiot anyway in my opinion . I currently live in london and its amazing to me how many people are rude and obnoxious and only still speak their own langauge , it really irritates me as pretty laid back person to repeat every single time every time i order here . If you work hard wherever you are you will do well japan is no exception . There are dirt cheap houses everywhere in the world uk usa anywhere, the people who complain ware the ones who also want convineince and connection from where they live .

[@Ryunohara]

You’re exactly right!

[@FeelingShred]

There was a guy in the comments ranting about japan not allowing him to have dogs... Come on dude if you like Dogs move somewhere else, Spain comes to mind 🤣🤣people are so weird with their requirements

[@user-tl5yb2de5z]

Hi, I am fellow Singaporean lady, I am interested to buy a Akiya house. You mentioned in your video the tax. Can you explain in detail what's are the tax needs to pay after completion of the requisite of the Akiya House. Would appreciate the step by step procedures to look for to purchase the Akiya house.

[@Megamibunny]

Some people rather put in hard work than worry about stressing over being shot or abused

[@onimushashin]

Would love the link to that instagram/newsletter you mentioned at the end, just for reference.

[@Ryunohara]

Here you go! instagram.com/cheaphousesjapan

[@onimushashin]

@@Ryunohara fantastic, tku

[@jackl7581]

What about government taxes, fees, regulations. Can you explain those.

[@princessdee215]

Hey why don't you place a live camera on the Kissa 🍵 a lot of people including myself like to watch live cameras in Japan, especially if it's raining to relax, n sometimes to sleep. I'll love to watch Ryunohara as I try n sleep.

[@Ryunohara]

Haha no, because of privacy concerns. People in Japan are very sensitive to security cameras, let alone live cams.

[@princessdee215]

Understandable 😊 how about you film in front of the Kissa 🍵,(if it's raining that's even better) edit it n loop it, at least an hour long, it'll be "Rain sounds in Ryunohara" 🤔😁

[@bauzz4123]

What would be a typical gift given to community members upon introduction?

[@Ryunohara]

Something homemade like jam, cookies, desserts, would be best. If not then something edible from one’s hometown. In the cities face towels and soap are popular gifts but they are not so in the countryside.

[@bauzz4123]

@@Ryunohara Thank you!

[@aggedor2]

Would these comments apply to the same degree if the rural house doesn't have farmland attached? There are many empty house listings where it's just a house and 500-1000 sq m of residential land. Also curious to know, if you are currently renting that place, is it dangerous investing so much money in renovations? Do you have any agreement that you'll be able to buy it at the pre-renovation price?

[@FeelingShred]

would you be down for finding one that comes with sizable plot for vegetable producing? and over time find other plots for eggs, bees for honey, etc etc (whatever can be produced in small space) Also: cheese from raw milk... fish tanks...

[@FeelingShred]

I don't even care about the house itself, you can keep the house all for yourself in the contract if you want, all I care about is learning some carpentry from renovating the house itself and minding my small farming... it's not the only place in the world where this plan can be done of course, but it's one of the few places that flock with entrepeneurial foreigners each year (that speak english more importantly) Which makes that "island" in particular so attractive 🤣👍

[@princessdee215]

Hello 👋 friend ☺️ 🐕❣️🗾 🏡

[@mariom3203]

You spoke a bit about having bad relations with neighbours but in the end what can they do if they don't like you? If someone wants to sell his house and doesn't care who will buy it then they can't do anything or am I wrong? Also why would it be hard to live without getting along with neighbours? Is it only about helping each other or something else?

[@Ryunohara]

The neighbours live right by you, so if you are in a rural area you’re going to feel upset everytime you leave your home. Also neighbourhoods have cleaning up days (mandatory), garbage sorting rules, and the like, enforced by everyone in the community. If you don’t get along with your neighbours you will find all aspects of your life in rural Japan very unpleasant.

[@mariom3203]

@@Ryunohara Don't know if I understood correctly. During that cleaning up day only one person/family has to clean the whole area or everyone clears they own part at that day? To be honest. I live in a village in Poland. My neighbours do always what they want. For example one of my neighbours throws branches and leaves on my backyard because those are from my tree. And it's not that I have bad relations with them. Due to that I don't think that I would feel upset if I had bad relations with them. I'm just curious how bad they can make my life to make me want to have good relations with them. Would they poison my dog or scratch my car?

[@Ryunohara]

@@mariom3203 We gather together to do a massive cleanup on that one day, and then we have coffee together. It’s not like people will scratch your car or destroy your property; that’s frowned upon in Japan and actually criminal.

[@blocksrey]

Are you working in Japan? I'm trying to figure out how to expatriate there

[@Ryunohara]

I am! I’m here on a international services, and humanities specialist visa. It’s my 10th year here so I’ve applied for permanent residency and hopefully that gets approved.

[@TheChineseAK-47Blog]

You say how important the upkeep is and how much the neighbors judge you on this pride. How is it that the former owners had left it in such poor shape? And left 10 or more truckloads of trash/recycling. Was it all inside the house or outside in the yard? Just curios. Thanks for posting.

[@Ryunohara]

Hi, the trash was in the house. The previous tenant was not popular with the neighbours and was asked to leave.

[@TheChineseAK-47Blog]

@@Ryunohara wow. I get it. My father loved short grass. Trimmed bushes and a tidy home. I like a neat well kept place too. I dont like unruly loose dogs either. Its illegal where I am from.

[@MrCountrycuz]

How come you can not hire workers to repair the houses?

[@Ryunohara]

Most repairs are possible but some repairs to kominka (traditional houses) are specialised and require very expensive craftsmen because the skills have largely been lost. These older buildings use no nails on their main structures so most ordinary carpenters can’t make repairs to the pillars etc. Both the cedar bark roof and the thatched roof also require expertise that’s not available within a 3-hour radius. Of course makeshift repairs are always possible. On a more daily basis there’s almost no one you can hire to cut grass for you on a whim; you have to wait your turn because the only person for hire has a long waiting list.

[@ButthurtImmigrant]

5:47 it ain’t USA babiiiiie 😂

[@taniakaulitz6490]

About making friends, I'm fine with it. It's been 7 years I'm in USA and I still have no friends and neither my American husband has friends. Even for him that is American! It's been hard to find real friends. I think the social media is making people more anti social and more selfish. It wouldn't be different from where I live. Probably it would be much better having a nice and quiet neighborhood without loud Mexicans playing loud music the whole night

[@FeelingShred]

there was a guy ranting about Japan not allowing dogs everywhere... who in a sane state of mind thinks of moving to Japan for having a dog? people are just insane 🤣🤣it's like saying you're social and wanting to move to Finland

[@mmmotives7452]

Google will translate for you!

[@tommylee8865]

Can foreign be allowed to buy property in Japan?

[@Ryunohara]

Yes foreigners abide by the same procedures as locals and Japanese nationals.

[@FeelingShred]

can someone with a tourist visa buy property stay only 3 months there each year? I think I read somewhere that was indeed possible, I'm just asking because you've been through the whole thing, just to confirm

[@hercules3782]

really 10K sqm? a lot for Japan

[@Ryunohara]

Yes 10,000sqm. It’s now 18,000sqm.

[@hercules3782]

@@Ryunohara that is fantastic. Keepnit mate. Dream place for most peoole anywhere in the world. Great job. Been good see videos

[@JulietGermanotta]

I would really love to live in Japan in a older house/farmhouse and be a honeybee keeper and little farmer. but Japan doesn’t just give citizenship to American citizens. It would be really hard to get even permanent residence there, so why would I buy a property there? Someone tell me if I marry a guy that I would get permanent residence ? Well, I would like is to find a guy in his 30’s or 50s he can even have children since I can’t have any because I am transgender. Maybe I should marry a really old man in his 70s.? that’s how bad I want to move to Japan so beautiful there in the country side.

[@FeelingShred]

I'm thinking about this plan of focusing on a small urban farming plot of sorts, producing vegetables, eggs, honey and whatever else can be produced in a small space... are you still looking for doing something like this? it would be pretty awesome

[@FeelingShred]

the residency thing has been increasingly becoming a pain in the recent years, everywhere... in my experience and from what I hear from others on the internet, it's better "asking for forgiveness than for permission"... I think it's much easier to fix the residency situation once you are somewhere for years, rather than waiting for approval

[@FeelingShred]

but hey get in touch let's talk, leave a comment in some of my least viewed videos I guess, I delete your comment after I read the notification, leave contact information there

[@JulietGermanotta]

@@FeelingShred who are you??

[@FeelingShred]

🤣👍

[@SlutForInstantNoodles]

[@junhanl811]

Nice. good advice. first step, japanese wife :)

[@Ryunohara]

Haha that have you heard about how Japanese men have to give all their salaries to their wife and get an allowance in return? The average monthly husband allowance is ¥30,000, or about S$300.

[@junhanl811]

@@Ryunohara yeh i heard about that. u can always do the opposite :) work at a konbini :)

[@junhanl811]

@@Ryunohara thinkning of heading there once i get done with my cn stuff

[@kati-ana]

Really appreciate your honesty. I have dreamt of living in rural Japan but not now. I would not be able to handle the ridiculous rules for having dogs. I love dogs more than humans and this proves why. You describing the pettiness and arrogance of the neighbors would not work well with me because unless I see danger my property and others is mine and theirs own business. I would not tolerate neighbors thinking they can tell me what I can and cannot do on my property. I would never inhumanely tie my dogs up just because Japanese hate dogs. I know they love and worship cats but still doesn't make it okay to treat dogs like criminals. I am so so glad you did this video because I see Japan in a whole new light.

[@Ryunohara]

Actually more people own dogs than cats in Japan. It’s not that people dislike dogs, it’s that Japanese dogs in the past were bred to be hunting dogs and there has historically been a very high rate of dog bites and rabies in the past. The anti rabies law requires that dogs be leashed and controlled, not the neighbours.

[@FeelingShred]

if you like dogs so much go to a country like Spain for example, they love Dogs there and they love even more the smelly Dog Dung Dung all over the street every morning 🤣🤣people are funny

[@FeelingShred]

people always with the obsession of changing a place, instead of going to another place that fits their goals more

[@FeelingShred]

if you don't care about neighbors, what the hell are you going to do on a cramped up densely-populated ISLAND of all places in the world? you have no arguments to refute me 🤣🤣

[@FeelingShred]

Australia is sparsely populated with few neighbors closeby, go there instead

[@clarencechin7]

Hi if I travel to Jap how and where can I find your place? :)

[@Ryunohara]

Hi Clarence, if you fly in to Kansai International Airport we’re a 2-hour drive away. Otherwise it’s a 2 hour train ride from the airport to Kii-Tanabe Station then a 70-minute ride on the Ryujin Bus bound for Ryujin Onsen (alight at Terano). The bus arrives 3 times a day. It should take a total of 4.5 hours by public transport.

[@misssometing]

Okay, i help you cut grass when i visit XDDDD

[@Ryunohara]

Yay, a volunteer! 🥹

[@mmmotives7452]

Is raci sm a problem in Japan?

[@junhanl811]

dude new business :) introducing japanese wife :)

[@joseanimates1269]

My neighbors already hate me. they end up cutting the grass for me ahahaha.

[@curiousnomadic]

8:38 You might need a proper lawn mower. If you only have a half an acre there can't be that much land left for grass. I mow a half an acre with a walk behind mower in about an hour and 10 minutes. Are there any homes left for any more foreigners? I'd totally respect the local culture. Even be down to making it look like a 19th century village.

[@Ryunohara]

I wish I could use a lawn mower here. There are lots of rocks everywhere, tight spaces, and steep inclines that can’t be cut any other way apart from a weedwhacker.

[@KoguryoKid]

"Everyone here keeps their land clean." So you say. Then how come you had so many truckloads of garbage to haul away before you could start doing anything? I looks like a double standard. I've seen other akiya on other sites that absolutely looked horrendous.

[@Ryunohara]

The neighbours keep their plots clean. One of the previous tenants here was a nightmare tenant and nobody got along with him so he eventually moved out.

[@mmmotives7452]

You gotta kiss arse to be accepted? That is insane!😅

[@Ryunohara]

Wow you are rude.

[@steve4nj]

I wish there was a way to get a COE or a long term VISA by buying property in Japan because I would already be there. I am used to living in a highly rural environment and would prefer that style of living with a house I can fix up myself over a period of time.

[@Ryunohara]

Japan has a pension system and a health insurance system that all residents are included in so that if anything happens you’re covered. It’s very costly to operate so COEs have to come at a price (working visas with high enough minimum salaries to ensure that newcomers pay enough taxes to fund the system). The houses here are too cheap to allow for COEs to be issued. If the government wants to introduce such a scheme they could charge for it, at US$15,000 per year?

[@DestinationJapan95]

I have a question unrelated to akiya. How are you residing in Japan? Do you have a residence permit? I've been researching the best/quickest way to obtain residence without having a Japanese employer and finding it difficult. Would be very interested in what all your process entailed. Thanks!

[@Ryunohara]

Hi! I’m here on a international services/engineer visa and am hired by my own company. The easiest way is to find a Japan-based employer who will apply for a visa for you. The next easiest way is to set up a business and have it hire you. There are minimum salaries and also lots of taxes involved so tread carefully.

[@DestinationJapan95]

Good video man. I'm curious, why spend $20k on renos for a house you don't even own?

[@Ryunohara]

I love Ryujinmura. 🤭

[@princessdee215]

Btw I saw 2 videos with you on my feed, one was from Seek Sustainable Japan, the other from TedxYouth 👍👍😊

[@Ryunohara]

Cool!