Forum
Ask questions, share what you know
Real questions and first-hand answers about buying an old house in Japan, renovating one, and building a life between the UK and Japan — whether you visit often, like I do, or you're weighing up a bigger move. It works best when members help each other, so if you know something, jump in.
Buying a House in Japan
Akiya and cheap houses, the buying process, agents, costs, tax and paperwork.
Renovation & Upkeep
Doing up an old house, utilities, repairs and the realities of keeping a place in Japan.
Life Between Countries
Visiting Japan often, the rhythm of splitting time between countries, and the practical side of it all — money, language and logistics.
Introductions & the Channel
New here? Say hello. Plus questions and feedback about the videos and this site.
Who this forum is for
If you're researching how to buy a cheap or abandoned house — an akiya — in Japan, what the process and paperwork actually involve, what a renovation really costs, or simply what it's like to spend real time in a small Japanese town, you're in the right place. It started around buying and doing up an old house in Kyushu, and it has grown to cover the wider, practical questions: costs and money, the language, settling into a neighbourhood, and shaping a life that spans the UK and Japan. As more people join, it can grow further — the point is to follow where your questions lead.
The idea here is simple: we work it out together. Post what you're trying to figure out, share what you've learned, and answer someone else's question when you can — first-hand experience from people actually doing this is worth more than anything I could write on my own. I read every thread and join in when I'm able, but this place belongs to everyone taking part. It's free: create an account, be kind and specific, and have a quick look to see whether your question has already been asked.