Two friends started AkiyaMart as a Zillow-like website to search for homes in Japan. They now own 6 homes in Japan, but the ...

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Erik Buhrow, who bought a house in Japan's Niigata Prefecture through AkiyaMart, a site that helps foreigners buy abandoned Japanese homes known ...

There are millions of empty houses in the Japanese countryside. These houses, called akiya, are often sold for low prices, attracting buzz from foreign buyers. Buyers should be aware of potential ...

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The number of vacant houses in Japan has surged to a record high of nine million – more than enough for each person in New York City – as the east Asian country continues to struggle with its ...

Japan is very popular right now. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), an astounding 40% more foreigners came to Japan in January 2025 than the previous year. Fueled by the ...

Japan has millions of abandoned homes known as akiya. Once lived in by families for generations, many now sit empty in rural towns, suburbs and even major cities. Some sell for extremely low prices.

Erik Buhrow bought a home in Japan for $26,000 while he was still living in the US. Buhrow, who grew up in Japan, wants to return at some point when his career is over. In the meantime, he plans to ...