Hello everyone! Welcome back to another issue of the Bento Box! This week, I’m writing to you from Hokkaido, and every time I come back here, I remember why it is still one of my favorite regions in Japan. The food is amazing, the climate is great, and you have beautiful landscapes pretty much everywhere you go. Hokkaido could honestly be its own country haha! It’s almost double the size of my home country, while having a similar population, which always amazes me when I think about it.
At the same time, being here always makes me think about the future of the region. Depopulation continues to be a big issue across Japan, but I feel like you notice it even more once you travel outside the major cities. I would really love to see more young people and businesses moving north instead of everything continuing to be so concentrated around Tokyo.
There is so much potential here. Cities like Otaru and Asahikawa already have the infrastructure, nature, tourism, and quality of life to become even more attractive places to live and build businesses. I’m also really curious to see what happens once the bullet train eventually reaches Sapporo and whether that brings more opportunities and investment to different parts of the region.
And there are already a lot of interesting things happening! I keep seeing new developments and construction around Sapporo, Otaru, Zenibako, and Asahikawa, so I’m hopeful about what the next few years could bring. I would just love to see more people discover that there is so much more to Japan than Tokyo, especially here in Hokkaido.
Anyways, enough of my love letter to Hokkaido haha! Let’s get started with this week’s properties.
Ingredient #1
- 📍 Location: 1-chome, Midori, Otaru City, Hokkaido
- 💰 Price: ¥5,000,000 (~$30,928 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 6LDK
- 📐 Building Size: 195.21 m² (2,101 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 215.91 m² (2,324 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 15-minute walk to Otaru Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
This house seems to have been added to the market recently, and I think it’s a really interesting find, especially for the price and location! The house has six bedrooms, a spacious living and kitchen area, and parking for one car. It’s also located on a corner lot with good sunlight, which I always think is a nice advantage, especially in Hokkaido where getting as much natural light as possible during the winter makes a big difference.
The location is also really convenient. The Shodai-dori bus stop is only about a 1-minute walk away, giving you easy access toward Otaru Station, and you have a supermarket, drugstore, post office, and other daily necessities within walking distance.
Looking at the photos, the house itself seems to be in relatively good condition, but I would definitely make some renovations to modernize it. Areas like the kitchen and some of the bedrooms could really benefit from an update, but the good thing is that a lot of the walls and other parts of the house already look quite good. Also, it has many nice details like the lamps and closet patterns that make it really stand out.
Ingredient #2
- 📍 Location: Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture
- 💰 Price: ¥6,000,000 (~$37,114 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 5DK
- 📐 Building Size: 230.69 m² (2,483 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 534.44 m² (5,753 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 30-minute walk to Arai Station on the Myoko Haneuma Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
Even though this house was built in 1984, it actually looks like it has been really well maintained and is in great condition for its age. And of course, being in the Myoko area is already a huge advantage, especially if you’re looking for a vacation home or a property with easy access to skiing during the winter.
One thing I really like about this house is that some areas already appear to have been renovated, particularly the kitchen and bathroom. Both look much more modern than what you would normally expect from a house built in the 1980s, which means you might not need to put as much money into renovations from the beginning. Of course, there are always little things you can change depending on your style, but overall, the house already looks very comfortable and usable.
The house has five bedrooms and a really spacious kitchen and dining area, so there is plenty of room if you’re planning to use it with family, friends, or potentially as a rental property. Some of the rooms also seem to have really nice views of the surrounding scenery, which I think is always a great feature to have in a mountain property. Imagine waking up during winter and looking out at the snowy landscape!
Another advantage is the amount of outdoor space. There is plenty of land around the house, giving you so many possibilities depending on what you want to create. You could potentially add a garage, create a large garden, build a sauna, or even add a small separate cabin or guest space if local building regulations allow it. I think having this much outdoor space gives you a lot of freedom to make the property your own.
Ingredient #3
- 📍 Location: Oaza Fukoji, Iizuna Town, Kamiminochi District, Nagano Prefecture
- 💰 Price: ¥8,900,000 (~$55,052 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 7DK
- 📐 Building Size: 152.49 m² (1,641 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 730.69 m² (7,865 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 20-minute walk to Mure Station on the Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
The property was built in 1972 and has seven rooms, so there is plenty of space if you have a large family, want extra guest rooms, or simply want different spaces for an office, hobbies, storage, or guests. I also really like that the house still has a lot of its traditional Japanese character, especially the tatami rooms and wooden details, which I think fit perfectly with the countryside atmosphere of Iizuna.
The kitchen and some of the water areas could definitely benefit from being modernized, and I would probably update some of the flooring, walls, and lighting as well. However, I wouldn’t change everything, I think keeping some of the original Japanese elements while making the house more comfortable and modern could give you a really beautiful result.
The outdoor space is another part I really like about this property. There is already a Japanese-style garden, as well as space that can be used for growing vegetables, so you could create a really peaceful countryside lifestyle here. With some landscaping and maintenance, I think the garden could become one of the nicest parts of the house.
The location also gives you a nice balance between nature and convenience. Mure Station is within walking distance, and being in Iizuna means you have mountains, outdoor activities, and ski areas nearby while still having relatively easy access toward Nagano City and the Myoko area.
As always, let me know in the comments which house was your favorite or which area you would like me to search next. See you next week!
If your ready to buy a house: Book a call here
Browse opportunities yourself: Check out current listings at Nipponhomes.com
We’re always looking to partner with great travel + ski brands.
If you’d like to be featured on our perks page or partner with us, reach out here:
This content is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects my personal opinions and experience. I am not a licensed financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.
Take the Next Step
Join our community for exclusive insights and resources on Japanese real estate investments.
Our team
Meet the founders.
Derek has been working in the Airbnb space for the past 10+ years and recently purchased a home in Japan. He is excited to bring this investment opportunity to others in the States & abroad.
Nick has a passion for adventure and has always dreamed of owning a property in Japan. His dreams finally came true when Derek brought him in on a deal of a lifetime in Hokkaido, Japan - one of Nick's favorite places on Earth.