Nipponhomes the Zillow of Japan
So simply put, there are a few what you could call “Zillows” in Japan.
The two biggest are AtHome and Suumo, the most popular Japanese real estate listing sites.
The Problem for Foreign Buyers
The issue, of course, is that as a foreigner looking to buy property in Japan, all these websites are in Japanese and designed primarily for the domestic market.
You can use Google Translate, and it works reasonably well, but the sites are still laid out in an extremely unfamiliar way. Buttons are in unexpected places, map search features are hidden, and the design is far more text-heavy than what users in the U.S., Canada, Australia, or Europe are used to.
Even if you manage to find a home you like and translate a message to an agent, 9 times out of 10 you won’t get a response.
And even if you do, the conversation usually ends the moment they realize you don’t speak Japanese.
It’s not racism or gatekeeping, it’s a genuine fear of miscommunication. Japanese real estate agents often worry that foreign buyers may not fully understand the social and business norms that come with property transactions in Japan. And honestly, they’re right to be cautious, it’s a very different system.
Why We Built NipponHomes.com
That’s exactly why we created NipponHomes.com, a modern, English, language real estate search platform for Japan, designed from the ground up for foreign buyers.
We scrape listings from major Japanese real estate websites like Suumo, AtHome, Rakumachi, and more, and present them in a familiar “Zillow-style” interface:
- Map-first search experience
- Clean, modern filters
- English listings
- And even layers to help you understand zoning for things like Minpaku and Ryokan licenses (the two legal frameworks that let you rent your property as an Airbnb or guesthouse in Japan).
We’re a small, dedicated team of three working across both NipponHomes and YukiHomes, and we deeply value our users’ feedback.
If you ever find bugs, have ideas for new filters, or want new tools — please reach out. Our users drive everything we build.
From Search to Keys: The YukiHomes Process
We didn’t just stop at the search platform.
We combined NipponHomes with our end-to-end buying process at YukiHomes, where we act as your Japanese real estate experts from start to finish.
Once you find a home you like, you can book a free meeting with us directly.
We’ll walk you through the process, highlight potential issues, suggest properties, and answer any questions you have, the floor is yours.
If you choose to move forward, our trusted Japanese partners, licensed agents, contractors, and property managers, will handle everything on the ground. They understand Japan’s real estate culture and can help you secure and even manage your home as an Airbnb or vacation rental if you wish.
The Bottom Line
If you’re searching for the Zillow of Japan, we built it.
It’s called NipponHomes.com — the easiest way to find, buy, and manage real estate in Japan as a foreigner.
Start searching today, and let YukiHomes guide you from search to keys.
Browse opportunities yourself: Check out current listings at Nipponhomes.com
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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.