Who are we at Yuki Homes?

We’re a group of friends who’ve spent the last decade traveling together, mainly on surfing and backcountry splitboarding trips. After spending our first winter in Japan in 2023, we’ve been back every winter since—first in Myoko, then in Otaru.

Growing up on the East Coast of the US, spending winters in Vermont with yearly trips out West, we were completely blown away by everything about Japan. Resort day passes are often under $50—and some even include lunch. The tonkatsu you find in Japanese ski lodges alone is worth coming back for every year.

Then there’s the snow, bottomless powder, an insane variety of resorts, and easily accessible backcountry. There’s nowhere else like it. As East Coasters, we’re used to skiing tight trees in icy, bulletproof conditions with limited if any backcountry. Japan is pure paradise in comparison.

When we heard about how cheap housing in Japan is, we assumed there had to be a catch—especially coming from the skyrocketing prices we deal with in NYC and many others around the US and Canda are experiencing. While many post-WWII homes weren’t built to great standards, Japanese building quality after that era is generally up to American standards. There are a few major differences—like how most homes don’t have insulation—but overall, the houses are solidly built. The two main reasons homes in Japan are so cheap are population decline and cultural preference towards new buildings (I’ll be posting a full blog on this topic soon). This has led to a huge surplus in homes with an estimated 8.4 million “Akiya”.

After a few years of research, we finally decided to take the leap and bought a house of our own in Otaru, Hokkaido. We linked up with a bilingual expat who helped us through the buying process and now helps manage our property. We ended up teaming up with him to share his expertise with other foreign buyers.

We want to set ourselves apart by being a true one-stop shop. We’ll help guide you through the buying process, give you access to listings (including off-market ones), translate contracts, change utilities, set up Wi-Fi, pay your taxes, collect your mail, and even manage your property. We can handle it all.

We also have the experience and expertise to help you choose the right house. While houses in Japan are cheap and there’s an ever-increasing supply of Akiya, there’s a lot of junk to sift through—whether you’re looking for a short-term rental or just a vacation home. We have real market experience and can help you find the right house, not just any house.

I’ll be posting weekly blogs about Japanese real estate, the best ski towns to buy in, and how to invest in Japan. Follow along—we’re just getting started.