Reality of abandoned house Hunting in Japan. We tour Nagano Akiya for sale as a foreigner.

Reality of abandoned house Hunting in Japan. We tour Nagano Akiya for sale as a foreigner.

We travelled to Yudanaka and Nagano Japan to explore abandoned homes. We now think we may want to buy a Japanese akiya. Renovations and reality of buying a property as a foreigner may have changed our mind. We see what Japanese Real-estate websites don’t show you.

From stunning mountain views to hidden issues, this is the REAL experience of Akiya hunting in Japan

We visited multiple abandoned houses, some over 60 years old, uncovering what online listings like AkiyaMart don’t show — the true condition, access challenges, renovation realities, and the lifestyle trade-offs.

🏔️ Why Yudanaka surprised us
🏡 Outside real Akiya homes (not staged photos)
❄️ Snow access challenges and remote living
💭 Would we actually buy one?

If you’re dreaming of owning a home in Japan or curious about the Akiya phenomenon, this is the honest, unfiltered reality.

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