I'm in JAPAN!! Checking out an AKIYA!!

This is my first visit into Japan and I'm thinking about buying this Akiya aka abandoned home. What do you think??

[@Nicatlotus]

Amazing! Its like an old Japanese house you see in a movie.

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

@Nicatlotus it really is! You should see the walkway through the woods that leads to the Buddhist temple as well! This property is incredible, and I'm actually going to be back there in just a few days to begin working on it, so I hope you stay tuned! 😊

[@Arandolor]

This is one of the most awesome fixer-uppers I've seen yet. Really awesome looking place. A ton of work, but when it's done, damn... It''ll be wild!

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Thanks! I'm really looking forward to getting started on it here in a couple months when I go back over there so be sure to stick around to see the work and progress!

[@Arandolor]

@@MatsukawaZaraki Definitely! Can't wait!

[@recyclingnik]

i love the quietness and the craftsmanship and the aesthetic of those rural old houses, how much would these buildings cost ? where did you find it (link) ?

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

It really was built to withstand time and it definitely has so far! You can find these on akiya sites, this one specifically was for sale on the town's website. I'll be talking all about the cost really soon as I have some really good videos planned and coming soon!

[@anchalsingh3954]

Wowwww such beautiful property with such great potential. Can't wait to see how you rennovate it

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Thanks! I'll be back next week to start on it!! 🥰

[@FoxyfloofJumps]

I will say, this property is probably way too much for one person to fix up, shy of spending 10 hours a day, 5 days a week, for at least 4 years on this and nothing else. However if you have a reliable construction contractor in mind, it's absolutely do-able.

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

It's absolutely a big project, that's for sure. I hope you come along for the ride to see it as the project progresses!

[@TheBillaro]

who says he needs to fix every last screw. ? do a kitchen and living room/bedroom and be happy

[@rebekahdavis5935]

This is an AMAZING property. If you know how to homestead and live at least partially offgrid , this would be a perfect little homestead potentially. Wow! Excited to see what you do with it. Maybe the solar panels could be repositioned so they don't take up so much of your front yard. :) Thanks for sharing !

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Yes I do, and I'll be showing much more of what we're doing really soon. I have just been having trouble trying to get over my video anxiety lol. I'll be heading back over in 2 months to begin working on it so those videos will also be coming really soon! I'm also hoping maybe I can move the panels up the mountain in the back acreage to just get them completely out of there...fingers crossed! Thanks for checking it out and hope you stick around!

[@im99er85]

Welcome to Japan and I expect much more people from your country live in countryside of Japan 🔵🇯🇵🥸

[@dianemichellesobel3842]

What a find!! What a marriage!!! May the g-ds be with you!!! Will be following!!

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Thank you for your support! I'm excited to get started on it, but also I have a big project here in the states I'll be documenting as well! I'll be doing a channel update really soon 😊

[@NekoAshiJapan]

Amazing! We completely understand your passion for this place. Looking forward to following along.

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Thank you! I'm looking forward to following your journey as well 🥰

[@UniversalMyth]

This whole place is an old shrine. You can notice that it has Shinto shrines parts (that you called "small" one) and the main building looks exactly like most of the ex-Buddhist shrines. There are rare some places where main shrine is connected smaller shrine like at your video in Shinto shrines, but in most cases this proof that at some point that property has been owned by Buddhist sangha. I would dare to say, that at some this garden has been remodelled for Buddhist garden purposes (it have some recognizable details, including that pond). Main building looks like most of currently used Buddhist halls, while main doors as place where you can enter and see buddha statues in main hall. If you notice that there is big square room in the middle of house, that has been later on divided - that you have 1000% proof that it has been repurposed shrine. It could have some interesting history, because just from your video I can almost for sure tell that first this had been shinto shrine deep in the past, later on it had been taken over by Buddhist sect, which was really common between 10th to 17th century, had been reconstructed for their purposes (including building - sheds) in backyard, and at the end it either became private property and remodelled into house. I suspect that somewhere during Meiji period it has been reclaimed as Shinto shrine and given to family connected or chosen to be responsible of service to local kami (from that smaller shrine). And you are either buying it from that family relatives or - that family died off. I am really interested in history of this place and price they are asking for, as You will be buying much more then just a house and land in this case. Hope to get in touch (will be doing same restoration in some part of Kyoto province soon ;) )

[@UniversalMyth]

I have just noticed your previous video and according to what that ojii-san that presented you that place - it is indeed shrine, and most of my guesses are correct.

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Yes, the shrine used to be the home of the Kami that now resides in the Horowa Mitake shrine on the next mountain over and was moved there after the last resident passed away who was the local head shinto priest. The home has been a buddhist temple for a time as well, used as a school in the Edo period, and also used as a community center before the town had a dedicated one that is now just a few doors down from this home. It has continued to be a personal residence along with the other uses the entire time as well with the same family owning and living there for 18 generations. The Matsukawa family were the owners, which the town used to be called Matsukawa city, and there are local castles, now destroyed, that were connected with this property as well so the history surrounding this property is immense! I plan to do a deep dive into the history of the home, the family, and the area on my channel soon, as me and my children are going to be spending the summer over there and will be documenting everything really well. Thanks for following along, and I look forward to seeing what you do with your place as well!

[@bentonhomestead]

Thanks for sharing! How long has this place been abandoned? The door into the hillside could be a bomb shelter or vegetable storage; I've seen quite a few akiya listings with both of those. I like the construction style, with the bottom beam all the way across the rocks like that. Have you looked at other properties, or made a decision? Did you get to see inside? Wishing the best!

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

I'm not sure on all of the details yet, I am meeting with the owners in two days (Wednesday) so I'll have another video coming then with views of the inside and much more information. Yes, I believe the hole in the hillside may have been an old cold storage area. The area is gorgeous too! Thanks for checking it out! 😊

[@quietlywandering1995]

That is what you call "A project"

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Absolutely! It's gonna be a fun one for sure. I hope you follow along for the journey!

[@peterbilt2]

I hope all goes well & you buy it . What city/prefecture ? Good luck !

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Thanks! I'm in the last stages of the process now so look forward to much more content on it soon! It's in Higashiyama, Ichinoseki, Iwate Prefecture. Check out the other videos where I walk through the town and tour the inside of the home. Thanks for checking it out! 😊

[@MadFordEngineering]

Buy it bro, think of all the JDM parts

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Home base for JDM parts shipping 😂. Hope you're doing well brother! We'll have to catch up real soon!

[@MadFordEngineering]

Hell yes brother, please come visit me sir @@MatsukawaZaraki

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

I would love that!

[@momomarumomonga4885]

ムカデと蛇の研究所にピッタリ

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

研究者や学校がその土地を研究に使いたいと思ったら、喜んで貸します。

[@arkangeln910c8]

First, you will need a big family to fill up and give life to this depressing ghost-inhabited semi ruin. Yep, like others say, a lot of work is needed, to refurbish it. If you are alone, not married or just you and your wife, and both are above 55, forget this property. Find something less big and less depressing. One abandoned shinto shrine, what the heck you need it for?

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

Thanks for checking it out! It's just me and my two kids right now, and I'm in my early 40's, so plenty of time still to enjoy it. This is about preserving history and creating a legacy. I want to help reinforce to people that hard work and dedication to what makes you happy can really pay off!

[@vminhope3040]

This looks haunted 😅 9:02 NOPE

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

That would be the coolest! Hahaha

[@twowheelsintokyo7039]

Hard pass. If you had the money to repair this place, you wouldn't be shopping for an Akiya. It would be cheaper to buy a vacant lot and build a new house from the ground up.

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

I totally understand how you feel, however, I was looking for something that had history and was a fixer upper. I lucked out and found both so woohoo for me hahaha. I appreciate you checking it out and I hope you had a great weekend. Good luck finding something cool to watch! 👍

[@twowheelsintokyo7039]

@@MatsukawaZaraki It was a great video, and I love the house. If you took the plunge and bought it, best of luck to you. I've been looking myself for a fixer-upper out in the countryside, I've been in Tokyo for many years now, and want a place of my own to escape to.

[@poolhalljunkie9]

​@@MatsukawaZarakiI absolutely love the place. It's so beautiful and full of character. Would really love to see it in spring/summer when everything is green. Great find! I'm jealous. 😂

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

@@twowheelsintokyo7039 What area are you looking for a vacation home in? One of my favorite things about this place is it's relative location to tons of scenic places as well as hosting lot of festivals yearly, and Ichinoseki has that in spades! I'll be back there in a couple months to begin renovating the home and get way more in depth video. Hope you stay tuned!

[@MatsukawaZaraki]

@@poolhalljunkie9 well then you're in luck because I'll be going back in just a couple months to begin working on it, so I hope you stick around for it! ☺