FAQs

Yes, absolutely. There are no restrictions on foreigners buying property in Japan. Whether you're a resident or just someone who fell in love with the country, you’re free to buy land and homes here with no special permissions required.

Like anywhere else, prices vary depending on location. In big cities like Tokyo or Kyoto, prices can get pretty high. But in rural areas and smaller cities, it’s not uncommon to find houses in the ¥2–3 million range (roughly $15,000–$20,000 USD). There are even programs offering abandoned homes (known as "akiya") for extremely low prices — sometimes even free, though they usually need major renovations.

We always tell our clients to budget about ¥1,500,000 (around $10,000 USD) in extra costs.
This covers things like agent fees, taxes, government registration costs, and insurance. The exact amount fluctuates with the currency exchange rate, but the yen figure is fairly stable — so it's easier to plan around that number.

Don’t worry — we handle all of that for you.
When you buy with YukiHomes, we’ll assist you with getting your utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet) connected, helping you set up mail forwarding if needed, and making sure you’re registered properly for local taxes.

To give you an example, our taxes on our 4,000,000 Yen home in Otaru are about 30,000 Yen a year. So ya very low

Don’t worry — we handle all of that for you.
When you buy with YukiHomes, we’ll assist you with getting your utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet) connected, helping you set up mail forwarding if needed, and making sure you’re registered properly for local taxes.

It depends.
If you’re just using your house as a private getaway, your annual property taxes in Japan will be relatively low. If you plan on renting it out or using it for investment purposes, you’ll have to pay income tax in Japan.
To the best of my knowledge, the U.S. and Japan have a tax treaty — meaning you typically only pay the difference between what you owe in Japan and what you owe back home. That said, it’s always smart to check with a tax professional for your specific situation.

From my personal experience — yes, very much so.
The people in Japan are generally extremely polite, kind, and respectful. If you take the time to respect the culture and make an effort with the language, you'll find most people are quite welcoming. Like anywhere, attitude matters a lot.

If everything goes smoothly, the whole process from choosing a home to getting the keys can take about 3-5 months. Some cases are faster but that’s a good time frame to expect

No unfortunately I have no seen a foreigner yet get a loan.

No, you don't necessarily have to be physically in Japan.
It’s possible to buy remotely — we can help with virtual tours, document handling, and arranging everything by proxy if needed. Of course, if you can visit, we always recommend seeing the property in person before finalizing a purchase.

If you’re buying an older property (especially one of the cheaper rural homes), some repairs are usually needed. We have a network of trusted contractors who can help you renovate, fix, or upgrade your new place. We’ll walk you through your options and help you budget realistically.

Owning property in Japan does not automatically grant you a visa or residency status.
If you want to live in Japan long-term, you'll still need to qualify for a visa separately — but owning a property could strengthen your case, depending on the type of visa you're applying for.