Buying a House or Akiya in Japan — FAQ
Straight answers to the questions overseas buyers ask us most
海外のお客様からよくいただく質問（よくある質問）
Can foreigners buy a house or akiya in Japan?
Yes. Japan places no citizenship or residency requirement on owning property — you can buy a house, land, or an akiya as a foreigner without living in Japan and without any special permit, and ownership is full freehold. The purchase itself is handled by a licensed Japanese real-estate agent, and requirements are confirmed with the professionals involved at the time of purchase.
はい。日本では不動産の所有に国籍や在留資格の条件はなく、海外にお住まいのままでも 家や土地、空き家を購入できます。取引そのものは免許を持つ日本の宅建業者が行います。
What exactly is an "akiya"?
Akiya（空き家）simply means "empty house" — a home that has been vacant, often because it was inherited and never re-occupied. Japan has millions of them, especially outside the big cities. Condition varies enormously: some need only cleaning and small repairs, others need serious renovation. That range is exactly why checking a specific listing properly matters before you commit to anything.
空き家とは、長く使われていない住宅のことです。状態は物件によって大きく異なるため、 購入を検討する前に個別の確認がとても重要です。
How much does an akiya in Kyushu really cost?
Listed prices for rural and small-town akiya commonly range from a few hundred thousand yen to a few million yen — some municipal "akiya bank" properties are listed even lower. The listed price is only part of the picture: renovation, taxes and fees are often the larger cost, and every house is different. A realistic total budget is something we help you build before you fall in love with a listing.
地方の空き家の表示価格は数十万円〜数百万円程度が一般的ですが、リノベーション費用や 税金・諸費用を含めた総予算で考えることが大切です。
Are you a real-estate agency? Do you sell these houses?
No — and this matters:
JapanHomeBridge is not a licensed real-estate brokerage.
JapanHomeBridge does not act as an intermediary, representative, or agent in property transactions.
Property transactions in Japan are conducted through licensed Japanese real-estate agents or agencies.
JapanHomeBridge provides information, coordination, communication support, and practical assistance for overseas buyers.
重要事項：
JapanHomeBridgeは宅地建物取引業者ではありません。
JapanHomeBridgeは、不動産取引における仲介者、代理人、または取引当事者として活動するものではありません。
日本国内の不動産取引は、免許を持つ日本の宅建業者または不動産会社を通じて行われます。
JapanHomeBridgeは、海外のお客様向けに情報提供、調整、コミュニケーション支援、実務サポートを提供します。
Think of us as your practical, bilingual support on the ground: we research, check listings, support viewings arranged through the licensed agent, and help you communicate — the agent handles the transaction.
Which areas of Japan do you cover?
We live in Fukuoka Prefecture, so Kyushu is home ground — Fukuoka City, Kitakyushu, and the wider island are where we can visit houses quickly and meet agents in person. Considering somewhere else in Japan? Ask anyway — we'll tell you honestly what we can reach.
拠点は福岡県です。福岡市・北九州市を含む九州全域に対応しています。 九州以外もまずはご相談ください。
What does your help cost?
All prices are public — no account or registration is needed to see them. The usual first step is a Listing Check at ¥5,000 per listing: we contact the listing agent in Japanese to confirm availability, the current price, and whether an overseas buyer is workable, with a short written summary usually within 2 business days. Remote viewing support is ¥30,000–¥50,000 per viewing, and further tiers — research, setup, renovation coordination, ongoing ownership support — start between ¥25,000 and ¥120,000 depending on scope. The full list is on the Services & Pricing page.
料金はすべて公開しています。最初のステップは1件5,000円の物件チェック、 遠隔内見サポートは1件30,000円〜50,000円です。詳しくはサービスページをご覧ください。
I'm overseas — can you view a house for me?
Yes. Where access has been arranged through the listing's licensed agent, we attend the viewing, take detailed photos and video, and tell you honestly what we see — the smell, the roofline, the neighbourhood, the things photos on a listing never show. You get a clear record to decide from, without flying to Japan for every candidate house.
はい。宅建業者を通じて内見が手配された物件について、現地で写真・動画を撮影し、 見たままを正直にお伝えします。
Do I need to speak Japanese?
No. We work in both English and Japanese and support your communication with the licensed agent, so language stops being the wall it usually is.
いいえ。私たちが英語と日本語の両方でサポートしますので、言葉の心配は不要です。
Can I get a mortgage in Japan as a non-resident?
Usually not easily — Japanese banks rarely lend to non-residents, which is why most overseas buyers of low-cost houses and akiya pay cash. Financing and legal questions are for the licensed professionals handling your purchase; we can help you ask them the right questions.
非居住者への住宅ローンは一般的に難しく、多くの海外の買い手は現金で購入しています。 金融・法律面は取引を担当する専門家にご確認ください。
How do I start?
Found a listing you like anywhere online? Send us the link through the contact page and start with a ¥5,000 Listing Check. Still exploring? Ask us anything — English or Japanese, no obligation, and you'll be talking directly to the two of us.
気になる物件のリンクをお問い合わせページからお送りください。 まだ検討中の方も、お気軽にご相談ください。