The Benton Homestead's Akiya Renovation Journey in Rural Japan | Startup Visa in Japan

The Bentons purchased two akiyas (Japanese vacant house) in rural japan. One is their guesthouse and the other is their residence.
Join Evan + Dani Benton on their inspiring journey from an urban farm in New Orleans to the tranquil countryside of Ōmishima island, Japan. After traveling and house-sitting in Mexico, they received a Startup visa in Japan. Recently, they completed the renovation of two akiyas: one turned into a guesthouse listed on Airbnb, and the other into a ryokan (Japanese Inn). They also received a business manager visa, allowing them to embrace a homestead lifestyle while building a honeybee business.
Explore the Benton Guesthouse, a lovingly renovated Shōwa-era vacation rental just minutes from the Shimanami Kaido. Experience slow life in the Japanese countryside, surrounded by traditional charm and modern comforts.
Follow along as they share their journey of preserving traditional Japanese architecture and creating unique experiences for guests seeking an authentic countryside retreat.
Don't forget to like, subscribe, and join us on this adventure of rural Japan living!
#japancountryside #StartupVisaJapan #AkiyaRenovation #AirbnbGuesthouse #HoneybeeBusiness #RuralJapanRetreat #TraditionalJapaneseArchitecture #CountrysideLiving
Location: Imabari, Ehime, Japan
Neighborhood: Ōmishima island, Kamiura-cho Inokuchi
Address: 2290 Kamiura-cho Inokuchi, Imabari-shi, Ehime-ken 794-1402
Book your stay: www.airbnb.com...
Subscribe to Benton Homestead on KZbin for more insights into rural living and sustainable entrepreneurship: / @bentonhomestead
Other videos of our Akiya traditional Japanese house renovation:
/ @cocolenchojapan
Join this channel to get access to perks:
/ @cocolenchojapan
Other videos of our Akiya traditional Japanese house renovation:
/ @cocolenchojapan
Contact:
[e-mail]
Social Media:
Instagram: @cocolenchojapan
www.instagram....
Facebook:
Coco Lencho Japan
www.facebook.c...
***Recommend using “Chrome” as a browser for Japanese to English translation.***
Akiya Bank for my area near Iwakuni City and Hiroshima City: Miwa Town in Yamaguchi
iwakuni-iju.jp...
Miwa Town Information:
iwakuni-iju.jp...
Dave Olson's website:
Dave provides many links and information Akiya and Komika purchase.
daveostory.com...
At Akiya Sumai you can search for vacant houses around Japan.
akiya.sumai.biz
At Ie Ichiba there is a Bulletin board to search vacant houses / Akiya Houses and old buildings in Japan
www.ieichiba.com
Other Useful Links:
cheaphousesjap...
www.athome.co.jp/
www.kurasapo.net/
www.koryoya.com/
www.homes.co.j...
www.inakanet.jp...
www.akiya-atho...

[@bentonhomestead]

Thanks so much! This is great! You made us little country bumpkins look good, haha. We really loved meeting you two and are happy to have you as nearby friends 🤗✨

[@cocolenchojapan]

Same here! I am glad you like it!

[@jennaecreates]

Boscoo!!!!!!! 😍😍😍

[@cocolenchojapan]

@@jennaecreates he is a beautiful dog!

[@georgeharrod7805]

Wow, this couple have achieved so much so quickly. Well done!

[@cocolenchojapan]

Yes very inspiring, thank for watching!

[@ItIsTheVeni]

Ok. Now I see that actually my dream is doable ) I'll be following your videos and gaining information) I hope one day I can also walk through the Japanese countryside and call it home.

[@cocolenchojapan]

Glad we can help!

[@lorisuemontgomery8562]

Hi Dani Great video and so enjoy learning about the lengthy steps it took to follow your dream but you did it! Perseverance is everything and you just never give up! I took would like a property similar to what you have found and the area seems very nice. Coming from Hawaii I cherish being close to the ocean and prefer a more humid warm climate so I really need to come expand find what suits me best. I would love to help you with all the tasks but I just can't leave my job and quite make the transition yet. When I do I will look you up for sure. I love cleaning cooking wood restoring - sanding straining and laquers are my favorite things! I also would like to work with the plaster shkaki. Probably miss spelled but you know the one! I love garden and just hard labor. I am an older but fit woman and I would love to care for some dogs and cats!. I am alaining my dreams with the universe everyday and will be praying that soon I will get direction and have the funds to move forward. I have been a property manager for many years overseeing 37 vacation rentals and a restaurant and I also have my real estate license. I have only been to Japan once but it is a part of my soul which you would understand when we meet! All the best and hope our paths meet before long ❤

[@cocolenchojapan]

Thanks! I will ask @Benton homestead to see your comment, if you have not done so I recommend subscribing to their channel to stay updated with their updates

[@bentonhomestead]

My apologies for a slow reply. That all sounds wonderful! Wishing you the best. Evan has an Aunt who lives in Hawaii, on Kauai. I'm sure you can find a similar climate in parts of Japan, or at least similar 10 months of the year. Here on Ōmishima, it doesn't snow! Nice and humid in the spring to summer, the way I like it.

[@bentonhomestead]

Oh even our neighbor made it in the video! She is so nice. Always gardening with Evan and helping us with the street dogs.

[@cocolenchojapan]

Thanks I am glad you like the video!

[@Executordee]

Love the chill walking segments! Hope you one day take up them 4k strolling ASMR videos around your town. The Benton's DIY videos are gonna help so many people! (There isn't much content for English DIY vids on youtube for japanese home upkeep and repair... It's mostly just time-lapse for cleanups.)😔

[@cocolenchojapan]

Thanks! yes they have some really good information to share and a great story!

[@sam-jf5po]

This is so fascinating. I renovated an akiya 15 years ago but it was a rental, so the landlord took it back. I wish I had known how to handle the situation properly...

[@cocolenchojapan]

Wow that is very unfortunate:-(

[@RealRuralJapan]

Great job on the video Lawrence very cool!

[@cocolenchojapan]

Thank you very much! you are next as soon as we can make a trip in the camper van.

[@CB-sx8xh]

You did a fantastic job with the video, what a gorgeous little guesthouse, and the main residence will be stunning once it is restored to its former glory. Your idea of labour exchange is great (kind of like WWOOF'ing?). There is a youtube channel "Ryunohara" who built his business (guesthouse/cafe/farming) with help from volunteers, it brings in amazingly creative people from all over the world.

[@bentonhomestead]

This is great information, thank you for sharing! I subscribed to their channel. And yes, we were thinking exactly along the lines of WWOOFing. Of course this would be down the road, but I keep thinking of different scenarios for how it might work.

[@CB-sx8xh]

@@bentonhomestead on recent trip to Okinawa I met a young German guy on a working holiday visa who was WWOOF'ing his way around Japan and doing tourist stuff in between gigs. He was fluent in English and French as well as German (of course lol) and he said Japanese is the first time he has been learning a language by choice instead of because it was part of a school curriculum.

[@lorisuemontgomery8562]

😊😊😊😊

[@cocolenchoraw]

Hope you like it

[@cocolenchojapan]

Thanks! It took me a little longer due to some audio issues.

[@bentonhomestead]

I can't even tell you had audio issues! You did a great job, especially considering we were just meandering through all different environments 👍

[@cocolenchojapan]

@@bentonhomestead Thanks! I had to clip the videos and lower my voice and enhance you and Evan. The walking video was intended to be its own to include the guest house and your house, but ended up being just one. It took me a while to figure out how I wanted to combine them but I think it turned out okay for an amateur like me.

[@bentonhomestead]

@@cocolenchojapan No worries at all! I could tell you combined it all into one video, but hey, we're really happy with it. Hope it wasn't too much work! We need to incorporate mics into our process too, because I get a lot of issues with wind noise...

[@cocolenchojapan]

@@bentonhomestead no it was lots of fun, I was just frustrated because I wanted to do y’all justice. Mics help, but lesson learned on my end, if you turn on only one all other noise and voices are low.

[@bentonhomestead]

@@cocolenchojapan It's all part of the learning process!

[@ruthrodriguez5173]

Hi Lencho I love the area ❤ Saludos!!

[@cocolenchojapan]

Hola Ruth! Thanks for watching. Yes it is a really cool place.

[@CurtisSound]

Umm... Was Evan explaining how he positions his seeds to take advantage of the gravitational pull of the moon in order to force moisture into them? Or did I hear that wrong?

[@bentonhomestead]

Hm, I posted a reply earlier, but it's not showing up. Maybe I did something wrong, so I'll try again! This is Dani, but I'll try to explain on Evan's behalf. You can look up "moon sowing" for more information, but it basically involves planting and pruning based on the moon cycle, to take advantage of the slight difference in gravitational forces. Some consider it an old wive's tale, but even gardening greats like Charles Dowding discuss the method.

[@CurtisSound]

@@bentonhomestead Ohh interesting. Thank you for the explanation!

[@cocolenchojapan]

we were walking back from checking out the beehives and Evan mentioned he is planting due to the full moon. I mentioned that in Mexico they did the same and he proceeded to explain the theory behind it :-)

[@lorisuemontgomery8562]

I want to help❤️❤️

[@bentonhomestead]

Hello! This is Dani from the video. Please feel free to get in touch any time :)

[@cocolenchojapan]

I am sure they would appreciate it!