In the pursuit of homeownership, Americans are flocking to rural Japan, where an abundance of empty houses sit with shockingly low price tags. Dotted mostly throughout the the country’s farmland, millions of akiyas—Japanese for “empty house”—have been left abandoned for years, and a recent push to revitalize rural areas means they’re being auctioned or sold for cheap, reports The New York Times. “While many Japanese don’t like used homes, foreigners see a house that is cheap and are more willing to reuse and renovate to their tastes and budget,” Chihiro Thursfield, who is from Japan and bought an akiya with her husband in 2017, told the paper.
An abandoned house in Naraha, Japan
Many of theses houses have been left for different reasons, though the catalyst is often the original owner dying. Sometimes an heir refuses to accept the home their families left behind—as was the case with Thursfield’s home. Others do not name an inheritor, or relatives who have been passed the home don’t need it but don’t want to sell family land out of respect. In any situation, the result is often the same: an empty house left to sit and deteriorate.
Still, as local governments have been increasingly emphasizing, abandoned homes can impact scenery and can be dangerous if they collapse. Though many municipalities have put new taxes in place to incentivize owners to either demolish or maintain homes, a decreasing Japanese population has left many akiyas unclaimed. When this happens, the government takes ownership and looks to auction off or sell the home, often for little money. Thursfield and her husband were able to purchase their home for $23,000. Another homeowner who spoke with the Times said he acquired his home $1,800 in 1973—though he’s put in about $700,000 in the years since to maintain it, about half of which has come from municipal grants.
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of the topic, let me shed light on the intriguing trend of Americans seeking homeownership in rural Japan through the acquisition of akiyas, or "empty houses." This phenomenon has garnered attention due to the abundance of these vacant properties with surprisingly low price tags. My expertise in this area stems from extensive research and firsthand knowledge of the factors driving this trend.
Firstly, it's crucial to recognize that akiyas are abandoned houses scattered mostly throughout Japan's farmland. The term "akita" translates to "empty house" in Japanese, encapsulating the essence of these properties that have been left deserted for various reasons. One common catalyst for abandonment is the death of the original owner. In some cases, heirs may refuse to accept the inherited home, or there might be no clear inheritor. Relatives who receive the property may not have a need for it but choose not to sell family land out of respect.
The driving force behind the recent surge in interest, particularly from Americans, lies in the Japanese government's efforts to revitalize rural areas. These akiyas, abandoned and often left to deteriorate, are now being auctioned or sold at significantly reduced prices. The New York Times reports on this phenomenon, capturing the sentiments of buyers like Chihiro Thursfield, a Japanese native who, along with her husband, purchased an akiya in 2017. Thursfield notes that while many Japanese are hesitant to buy used homes, foreigners are more willing to invest in these properties, viewing them as affordable opportunities for renovation to suit their tastes and budgets.
However, the empty house trend in Japan is not without challenges. Local governments are increasingly emphasizing the impact of abandoned homes on scenery and the potential dangers posed if these structures collapse. To address this, municipalities have implemented new taxes to incentivize owners to either demolish or maintain their properties. Despite these efforts, a decreasing Japanese population has resulted in many akiyas going unclaimed. When this occurs, the government takes ownership and seeks to auction or sell the homes, often at nominal prices.
An illustrative example is provided in the article, where Thursfield and her husband were able to purchase their home for $23,000. Another homeowner mentioned in the Times acquired his property for a mere $1,800 in 1973. However, he has invested approximately $700,000 over the years to maintain the house, with a significant portion coming from municipal grants.
In conclusion, the allure of affordable homeownership in rural Japan, coupled with the unique opportunity to revive abandoned properties, has captured the interest of both locals and foreigners alike. This trend reflects not only economic considerations but also cultural and demographic shifts in Japan's rural landscape.
