Guides
How to buy a house in Japan: our guides
Plain-English guides for foreigners buying a house in Japan: the rules, the real costs, the paperwork and the traps. Written from official Japanese sources and from the real listings on Japan Houses.
Buying in Japan
Buying in JapanCan foreigners buy property in Japan?Yes. Foreigners can buy houses and land in Japan with no visa or residency. The 2026 rule changes, taxes, loans and how to buy from abroad, step by step.
Buying in JapanHow to buy a house in Japan, step by stepHow buying a house in Japan works, in 9 steps: offer, legal explanation, contract and deposit, closing and reports. Real costs, timings, what to do from abroad.Akiya & cheap houses
Akiya & cheap housesFree houses in Japan: are $1 and ¥0 houses real?Yes, a few houses in Japan are given away for ¥0. A real free house from our listings, why owners do it, and the taxes, fees and repairs you still pay.
Akiya & cheap housesAkiya: Japan's empty houses, and what they really costAn akiya is an empty house in Japan. Why the country has 9 million, which ones you can actually buy, real prices from our listings, and what to check first.Market data
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