City Dweller Finds Dream Home in Rural Japan for $23,600

Eric McAskill had always dreamed of owning an abandoned countryside home in Japan. In March 2021, during the pandemic, his dream finally became a reality when a friend told him about an akiya (abandoned property) for sale in the village of Nozawaonsen, Nagano Prefecture.

Based on a video tour, Eric knew this was the perfect opportunity. He swiftly purchased the 150-year-old, 2,000 sq ft akiya for just 3.5 million yen (around $23,600). The property came with over 5,000 sq ft of land and the previous owner’s belongings.

I’ve been very fortunate, the house was in good shape as the family had been maintaining it.

Since then, Eric has been diligently restoring the akiya himself, doing most projects like repainting, insulating, and renovating the kitchen. He’s spent around $7,400 so far and expects to invest another $7,400, including for a traditional sauna.

I could do it cheaper as I’m hands-on, but I don’t mind splurging on things like the sauna to retain the home’s cultural charm.

The charm extends to the warm welcome from locals, who’ve gifted Eric’s family fresh produce regularly. Though relocating from Bali has had challenges like mastering Japan’s recycling system, Eric says it’s all part of the adventure.

Sometimes it’s not easy, but that’s fun too - experiencing a different way of life.

Eric’s family isn’t living there full-time yet as they manage a resort business in Indonesia remotely. However, they plan to make the akiya their permanent residence when their children reach school age and can take advantage of Japan’s free, quality education system.

For anyone dreaming of a similar lifestyle change, Eric advises:

Decide what matters for daily living - amenities, schools, etc. Then visit potential areas and connect with locals.

Embracing a rural property overseas has been incredibly rewarding for this Canadian family. With open minds and a willingness to adapt, they’ve found their happiness in a forgotten Japanese akiya.

Story reported by BusinessInsider.

Note from Ruralfinds

As we reported before Japan is grappling with a surplus of over 8 million unoccupied homes in rural areas. To address this, local governments are often offering these homes at extremely low prices.

Not only that. For example, in Europe many countries are also offering low cost housing and other incentives to attract new residents to rural areas. This is a trend that is likely to continue as rural depopulation becomes a global issue.