Ski Akiya in Japan: Cheap Homes Near the Slopes (Winter 2026)

Hello everyone! I hope you’re doing well!

Ski season is just around the corner, which is honestly crazy to think about! We’re getting closer and closer to 2027, and I can’t believe how quickly this year has gone by. It feels like we were just starting some of these projects, and now we’re seeing so many of them finally come together.

One of the things we’re most excited about is that we’ve started putting several of our clients’ properties live across the different booking platforms, and we’re already seeing a lot of interest and bookings coming in! We still have more properties getting ready to go live before the end of the year, so it’s really exciting to finally see all the work behind the scenes turning into actual stays and guests.

We might also have a new project coming up in Gunma, which would be one of the first houses our team has worked on in the area! The property needs quite a bit of work to bring it back to a comfortable and livable condition, so I’m really looking forward to seeing what our team can do with it and, hopefully, sharing the transformation with you.

There is honestly SO much happening before the end of the year. We’re getting close to finishing renovations on around eight houses, while also preparing properties for guests and starting to look ahead at new projects. Seeing how different some of these houses look compared with when we first started working on them has probably been one of my favorite parts of the job.

I’m really happy with everything our team has accomplished so far, and hopefully next year we can take on even more projects, explore some new areas of Japan, and continue bringing some of these older houses back to life!

Anyways, enough updates from me, let’s get started with this week’s properties!

Ingredient #1

• 📍 Location: Kamidodo 2-chome, Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture
• 💰 Price: ¥13,000,000 (~$82,599 USD)
• 🏠 Type: Detached House
• 🛏 Layout: 9DK
• 📐 Building Size: 223.35 m² (2,404 sq ft)
• 🌿 Land Size: 578.85 m² (6,231 sq ft)
• 🚍 Access: 22-minute walk to Kita-Arai Station on the Myōkō Haneuma Line

Learn more here: Live Listing!

The house has nine rooms, but what really caught my attention is how much of the original Japanese character has been preserved. Some of the tatami rooms have beautiful wooden details and a traditional shoin-style design that gives the house that feeling of an old Japanese merchant residence rather than just a regular house.

Looking at the photos, I actually wouldn’t want to modernize everything here. The tatami rooms and traditional woodwork look like some of the strongest features of the property, so I would keep and restore those while focusing the renovation budget on the areas that really need updating. There are also some surprisingly practical spaces already here, including a very large washroom and bathroom and even a commercial-style kitchen with commercial cooking equipment. I think that makes the possibilities for this property much more interesting, especially if someone wanted to explore using it for accommodation or another hospitality concept, subject to the necessary licenses.

Outside, you have a beautiful traditional Japanese garden that fits the house perfectly, as well as a separate two-story reinforced-concrete storage building. That additional building really caught my attention because having a completely separate structure gives you even more flexibility for storage or another use, depending on what is legally possible.

The location is another big advantage. The listing says the nearest ski area is only around a 17-minute drive away, while Kita-Arai Station, a supermarket, convenience store, are all within walking distance. The road in front of the property also has a snow-melting pipe system, which is great and can make winter access much easier.

Overall, I think this could be such a fun project because you’re not starting with an empty shell. The house already has so much personality that I would focus on restoring and highlighting what is already there rather than completely changing it. With nine rooms, a commercial kitchen, Japanese garden, huge interior, and a separate concrete storage building, there are so many directions you could potentially take it. For someone who loves traditional Japanese architecture and wants a large property within driving distance of the Myoko ski areas, I think this one is definitely worth looking at!

Ingredient #2

• 📍 Location: 3-chome Hanazono, Otaru City, Hokkaido
• 💰 Price: ¥13,000,000 (~$113,929 USD)
• 🏠 Type: Detached House
• 🛏 Layout: 4LDK
• 📐 Building Size: 145.80 m² (1,569 sq ft)
• 🌿 Land Size: 108.24 m² (1,165 sq ft)
• 🚍 Access: 11-minute walk to Minami-Otaru Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line

Learn more here: Live Listing!

This house caught my attention because, even though it is an older Japanese home, the interior looks surprisingly well maintained and I don’t think this is a property where you would necessarily need to start with a huge renovation. It has four bedrooms, and one of my favorite parts is the large traditional Japanese room.

Looking at the house, I actually like the contrast between the more traditional rooms and the areas that feel a little more modern. Instead of completely changing everything, I would probably focus on smaller updates such as wallpaper, lighting, flooring in certain areas, and eventually modernizing some of the older finishes. I would definitely keep at least one of the tatami rooms because I think it gives the house much more character.

Another feature I really like is having two toilets. It might sound like a small detail, but if you’re considering a house for a larger family, guests, or potentially a rental property, having two toilets makes a HUGE difference. It can also potentially work as two separate complexes.

Location is another big advantage here. The station is only around an 11-minute walk away, which makes the house much more practical for everyday living and also means you’re not completely dependent on a car. For me, having a detached house with this much space while still being able to walk to the station is always something worth paying attention to.

Ingredient #3

• 📍 Location: Iizuna Town, Kamiminochi District, Nagano Prefecture
• 💰 Price: ¥29,980,000 (~$189,755 USD)
• 🏠 Type: Detached House
• 🛏 Layout: 3LDK
• 📐 Building Size: 129.18 m² (1,390 sq ft)
• 🌿 Land Size: 108.24 m² (1,165 sq ft)

Learn more here: Live Listing!

Oh yes — seeing the photos completely changes how I would describe this one. I would make the cabin design and renovations the main selling point, because unlike many of the properties you feature, this looks essentially ready to enjoy rather than like a renovation project.

I’d write it like this:

This is probably one of my favorite houses I’ve found in the Iizuna area recently! The property has already been renovated, and I absolutely LOVE the cabin-style interior. There is wood everywhere, from the walls and exposed beams to the high vaulted ceiling, and the large open living space makes the house feel much bigger and more impressive than you might expect. The wood-burning stove in the corner completes the mountain-cabin atmosphere, and I can already imagine how cozy this room would feel during winter with snow outside.

Another feature that really caught my attention is the large wooden deck overlooking the surrounding forest. You really feel surrounded by nature here, and I think this would be such a nice space during spring, summer, and autumn as well. Reisenji Lake is also only around a 2-minute drive away, so this isn’t a property that would only be enjoyable during ski season.

The renovations also look really well done. The bathroom is much more modern, the washbasin has a simple design that still matches the wooden interior, and the house has a system kitchen, so you aren’t buying an older mountain property and immediately having to replace all of the expensive water areas. I especially like that the renovation didn’t take away the cabin feeling—the newer areas still work really well with the original wood throughout the house.

And then, of course, you have the location. You’re in Iizuna with access to nearby skiing, including Iizuna Resort, while Kurohime, Madarao, Tangram and the Myoko ski areas give you even more options by car. I think this makes the property especially interesting for someone who wants a winter base but doesn’t necessarily want to be directly inside one of the more expensive ski resort areas.

The listing also mentions that renting is possible, which makes this even more interesting from a rental perspective. Of course, the specific property and licensing requirements would still need to be confirmed, but visually, I think this house already has the type of atmosphere people look for when booking a mountain getaway. The high ceilings, fireplace, forest setting and wooden deck really give it that experience rather than just feeling like a regular house.

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!

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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.