Another week, another Bento Box! This week has been especially exciting because we’re reaching the final stages of several renovation projects that we started last month, and two of the houses are almost completely finished! We also now have three of our clients’ properties live and receiving bookings across different platforms, so it’s really nice to see all of that work finally come together and have actual guests staying at the properties.
I’m also heading on a house tour in a part of Japan I’ve never visited before: Morioka in Iwate Prefecture! I’m really excited to explore the area and see what the housing market is like there. Northern Japan is particularly interesting to me because many of these regions are dealing with population decline and an increasing number of vacant homes, but at the same time, there are so many beautiful places and properties with potential that people outside the region might not know about.
Something I learned recently that really surprised me is just how concentrated Japan’s population is around Tokyo. Around 31% of the country’s population lives across Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba, which is crazy when you think about how much of Japan exists outside those four prefectures.
At the same time, I completely understand why. So much of Japan’s business, finance, employment, and economic activity is concentrated around Tokyo. But after traveling so much for work, I honestly think there are SO many other beautiful places in Japan where you can have a completely different quality of life. Hokkaido is always my favorite example (and of course because I lived there for five years) the nature is incredible, there is so much space, and it still has some of the best food I’ve had in Japan!
That’s also one of the reasons I enjoy searching for properties in different prefectures every week. There are so many interesting areas outside the places international buyers normally look at, and hopefully I can keep discovering more of them as I travel around Japan.
Ingredient #1
- 📍 Location: 2-24-6 Midori, Otaru, Hokkaido
- 💰 Price: ¥9,800,000 (~$61,859 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 3LDK
- 📐 Building Size: 124.19 m² (1,337 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 73.61 m² (792 sq ft)
Learn more here: Live Listing!
This is a really interesting Otaru house because it already has several upgrades done, so I don’t think you would need to spend a huge amount of money renovating it from the beginning. The house has three bedrooms, a spacious living and dining area, additional storage space, and a built-in garage with parking for two cars. One of the garage spaces even has an electric shutter, which is such a convenient feature during winter.
The house was built in 1989, but looking at the photos, the interior actually seems to be in really good condition. The kitchen and bathroom have already been renovated, and the living room has floor heating, so some of the more expensive improvements have already been taken care of. There are still things I would change aesthetically like some of the wallpaper, flooring, and maybe the style of a few rooms, but I don’t think this needs to be a major renovation project at all.
Something else I really like is that there are two toilets, one on the second floor and another on the third floor. The bedrooms are upstairs and you still have some traditional Japanese-style rooms, including tatami rooms that appear to be in pretty good condition. There are also balconies on both the second and third floors, plus air conditioning in some of the rooms.
The location is probably one of the biggest advantages for everyday living. The bus stop is only around a 2-minute walk away, but you also have a supermarket and convenience store around 2 minutes away on foot and a post office around 3 minutes away. The property is also on a corner lot and the surrounding area is relatively flat, which I think is worth mentioning in Otaru because so much of the city can be quite hilly.
Overall, I think this is a really practical Otaru property. It might not have the huge number of bedrooms that some of the houses I normally share have, but you’re getting a house that already looks well maintained, two indoor parking spaces, two toilets, floor heating, a renovated kitchen and bathroom, and daily necessities basically around the corner. For someone who doesn’t want to spend the first year doing a complete renovation, I think this one is definitely worth looking at!
Ingredient #2
- 📍 Location: 2-7-16 Tsukioka, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture
- 💰 Price: ¥20,490,000 (~$129,336 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 3LDK
- 📐 Building Size: 204.22 m² (2,198 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 264.87 m² (2,851 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 13-minute walk to Kita-Arai Station on the Myōkō Haneuma Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
This is a really interesting house because even though it only has three bedrooms, but the house is really big! It has three floors and a much more open layout than many of the traditional houses I normally find around Myoko. One of my favorite features is the open ceiling, which makes the interior feel even bigger and gives the house a lot of character.
The living area is on the second floor and looks incredibly spacious from the photos. You also have a pantry next to the kitchen, two toilets, floor heating, and a bathroom with a window. The property has space for three or more cars, which I think is especially valuable in the Myoko area. If you’re coming here for skiing, you’re most likely going to want a car to explore the different resorts, and having enough parking for several guests makes the house much more practical as a vacation property as well.
I also really like that some important maintenance work is already being taken care of. The property includes termite prevention treatment, a roof-leak inspection, and equipment inspections. Even better, the listing provides a two-year warranty after handover covering roof leaks, defects or corrosion affecting major structural components, and certain plumbing failures or water leaks. The termite prevention work also comes with a five-year warranty, which gives you some extra peace of mind when purchasing a secondhand property.
The house is also around a 13-minute walk from Kita-Arai Station, so you’re not completely isolated. You’re closer to everyday conveniences while still being able to drive toward the different ski areas around Myoko.
Ingredient #3
- 📍 Location: Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture
- 💰 Price: ¥19,800,000 (~$124,980 USD)
- 🏠 Type: Detached House
- 🛏 Layout: 7LDK
- 📐 Building Size: 315.32 m² (3,394 sq ft)
- 🌿 Land Size: 342.41 m² (3,686 sq ft)
- 🚍 Access: 23-minute walk to Arai Station on the Myōkō Haneuma Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
Another one in the Myoko area because I think this has great potential! This property has seven bedrooms, two toilets, a large bathroom, a system kitchen with IH cooking, and a mix of Western and Japanese-style rooms. The listing actually mentions that the house could also work for two-generation living, which makes sense considering just how much space there is.
One of the things I really like about this house is that it was clearly built with Myoko winters in mind. It has a raised design, a roof designed for snow to naturally slide off, stainless-steel roofing, and even its own snow-melting system using a deep well on the property. The road in front of the house is also around 8 meters wide, which is another thing you should always pay attention to when looking at properties in heavy-snow areas.
The first floor of the building has enough garage space for three cars, so you don’t have to leave your cars completely exposed to the snow during winter. For a house this large, I think that is incredibly practical, especially if you have a big family or several people staying at the property.
I also don’t think this is a house where you would need to immediately start a huge renovation. Personally, I would concentrate more on cosmetic changes and interior design to make some of the spaces feel a little more modern.
And that’s all for this week’s Bento Box!
As always, if there is a specific prefecture, city, or area you want me to search next, let me know in the comments! I’m always looking for new places to explore.
See you next week!
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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.
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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.