Why Nobody Wants Japan’s Free Houses

Someone owns these properties so be careful when you go look at them. It's sad to see them rot away. If people from Tokyo or other big cities moved back to the countryside to revitalize it, that would be great.

I can understand why, for many Japanese people, the amount of work and inconvenience involved with these rural properties outweighs any benefit of getting them for free or nearly free. If you already have a full‑time job, living costs are manageable, rents aren’t outrageous, and mortgages are still affordable even in larger or mid‑sized cities.

If you want a simple life and happen to have a remote job — which still isn’t all that common in Japan — then yes, the appeal is obvious. But this boom of foreigners buying these properties as some kind of investment strikes me as misguided. Most of these “free” or ultra‑cheap houses are priced that way for a very good reason.

As a holiday home, sure — if you’ve got money to burn, why not. But Japan’s visa system isn’t really designed for people who want to buy these places and live in them full‑time, working remote for some US or European company. The whole spinning up a small company, with you as the sole employee on the cheap is no longer a workable option. That’s the part a lot of people seem to overlook.

Mannnn yoo did ya yourself grew those potatoes ?? woah crazy work

House 2 is in the coolest location, tho.

Very nice video. Where are these 2 houses located? Thanks in advance.
If I may ask what do you do for living?

Parents who have witnessed the hardships of farming and forestry tell their children, "You don't have to stay here," and the children leave the area. The children occasionally return to try and protect their parents' house and land, but as they grow old, they can no longer return. In the meantime, the house falls into disrepair. The same thing is happening in my area. The reality is that they don't even know how to hand over the property to a third party.

Too many earthquakes and crazy wild bears on the loose.

IMHO you shouldn't be opening cupboards or boxes. This is not your property. Please show some respect.

iam planing to move to Japan my dream is opening a fitness gym there for old and young. before that dream I want to work in a gym there to see the differences I own a gym in the Netherlands right now and want that experience to move with me to Japan so seeing all those houses empty and forgotten hurts because if I got something like that it will be a dream come true iam saving and planning and hope one day I can make it come true and live in Japan

Why? because most people do not want a massive endless project as a house. You can just buy a new house with way better insulation, modern features, fewer headaches and, if you want, in an area with things to do. The countryside lifestyle in some old house is not for everyone, even though some people on the internet tend to act like it is (not suggesting you do that, Jan). Honestly if I am ever moving to Japan it will be in one of the major cities in a nice modern highrise (not too large or too small), in an area with a lot of restaurants and other amenities. To me that is peak Japan, and then go on trips to the countryside often. But regular living for me has to be in a city.

Oh God man you need to save your neck dear God that's gonna hurt later

Watching Lost place videos makes me sad. Sad about the loss. sad about the forgotten life and beauties. Sad about the careless children of that dead persons belongings. It sometimes makes me angry. We have this in Germany, too. No one cares for the belongings propperly. Most comapnies throw lifes away like trash, no secret treasure will ever come out of this misery. If there is a community which is worth it to take part in, and snow free in winter. I'd give it a go. But these two houses are in a very bad condition and you need a ton of money to rescue them.

The sad aspect is that many elderly Japanese live in these situations with no regular family visits and as their self-care diminishes, they are unable to keep up with housework or to stop hoarding.

Then a health crisis occurs and they never return, leaving a lifetime of possessions behind. The person in first house obviously had a good eye for collecting art objects. All left to be disposed now.

What is there to say? Declining population will result in more and more abandoned houses. The houses often weren't built that sturdily to begin with. There was an old house next to us where an old man lived. After he died, his daughter had the house torn down to its foundtions and she built a very modern looking house on top. She and her husband have become excellent neighbors and we are currently engaged in a typical Japanese gift-giving "war." When I bring fresh vegetables back from our garden on the city outskirts, my wife always makes a box full for the neighbor. The neighbor sometimes cooks trhe vegetables tempura-style and brings some back to us. In winter, she even lets me throw snow from our driveway onto her property, rather than having to carry it to the back of our house. It's great to have good neighbors!

7:50 You can definitely re-purpose that unit. If it works as is right now then all you would need to do is to remove that unit and the exterior unit and then place it in the new location with most likely new gas inside and of course cables.

That model with the exterior and interior part is being sold for 126 thousand yen at biccamera apparently so the chances of being able to get a replacement unit for either interior or exterior part if either doesn't work is most likely not too difficult.

i would like to have 1 of this houses, amazing content, im inspired to start to search and make this happen for next years. Good luck, i will be here watching this journey.

My problem on those free houses is opening the ceiling and find yokais xD

I'll buy the first home. Can you make that happen? The second one scares me.

What is the best and most reliable place to find the properties? Always sceptical of sites just set up by people trying to make a quick buck out of it, if you have any suggestions of websites would really appreciate it!😊

ohoh, now your area will be swarming with akiya hunting tourists! 😛
Thank you for the tour. At least there is hope for the isolated areas with the huge increase in remote work + satellite internet these days.