Why Buy a Home in Japan If You Only Visit a Few Times a Year?

I get this question all the time. “Why would I buy a house in Japan if I only go once or twice a year?”

It’s a fair question, but once you actually look at the numbers (and the lifestyle side of it), it starts to make a lot of sense.

1. The Remote Work Equation

If you can work remotely, the math is easy. Spending 4–6 months a year in Japan makes owning a home here incredibly affordable. Homes can start at around $20,000 USD, sometimes less. Add in the fact that property taxes and homeowner’s insurance are extremely low, and you’re looking at negligible recurring costs compared to the West.

Even if you only stay part of the year, you’re saving thousands compared to long-term rentals or hotels. And unlike paying rent, you own a tangible asset, one that’s uniquely Japanese, in a town or village you’ll grow attached to over the years.

2. It’s Not Just About Money

This part often gets overlooked. Owning a home in Japan isn’t purely a financial decision, it’s about freedom and adventure.

It gives you an excuse to hop on a plane anytime you want. You have a base. A place that’s yours. You can leave your snowboard, your clothes, your favorite Japanese coffee mug, everything that makes it feel like home.

There’s something magical about walking through your own front door in Japan. It’s a total culture shock from the West, yet somehow it feels peaceful and familiar. That mix, of foreign excitement and personal belonging, is something you can’t put a price on.

3. The Income Side

Now let’s talk numbers again, because yes, you can absolutely earn from it.

While I don’t like overpromising, a realistic 8–10% annual return is very achievable with the right property in a desirable area (ski towns, beach towns, or cultural hotspots).

Our clients who partner with us often have their properties professionally managed and listed on Airbnb or Rakuten Stay. That means while you’re abroad, your house is working for you, generating steady income and keeping itself maintained.

In many cases, the income from Airbnb fully covers your flights to Japan each year. You’ve essentially created a self-sustaining lifestyle where your Japan travel pays for itself.

4. The Tax Perks

Here’s the icing on the cake. Because your Japanese property is an investment, your trips to Japan to check on it are legitimate tax write-offs.

Flights, accommodations, meals related to the property, all deductible against your rental income. So not only does the property help pay for your travel, but the travel itself can reduce your taxes.

You’ve effectively created tax-free vacations to Japan whenever you want.

5. A Lifestyle Worth Owning

So yes, maybe you only visit a few times a year. But every time you do, you’re not just visiting Japan... you’re living there.

You’re part of a neighborhood, not a hotel rotation. You get to return to the same local ramen shop that remembers your order, the same quiet train station, the same snow-covered street. It’s the difference between being a tourist and being a part-time local.

And for me, and for many of our clients, that’s what makes owning a home in Japan worth every yen.

Browse opportunities yourself: Check out current listings at Nipponhomes.com

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