If you own or manage property in Japan, you already know the ground here doesn’t sit still for long. Japan sits at the junction of four tectonic plates — the Pacific, Philippine Sea, Eurasian, and North American — which makes it one of the most seismically active countries on Earth. Since 1900, Japan has recorded […]
Why Japan Builds for the Shake: A Look at Japan’s Earthquake Technology Read More »
Walk through central Kyoto today and you’ll still find pockets of the city that look like they belong in another century — narrow wooden townhouses with lattice facades, tucked-away courtyard gardens, and tiled roofs that slope gently over the street. These are machiya, the traditional merchant townhouses that have defined Kyoto’s cityscape for over a
Two Houses a Day: Kyoto Is Quietly Erasing Its Machiya Read More »
Owning a home in Japan is an exciting milestone, whether you’re buying a primary residence, a vacation property, or an investment. From bustling urban centers to serene countryside spots, Japanese properties offer unique appeal. However, the true cost goes far beyond the purchase price. Understanding ongoing expenses is crucial, and enlisting professional help — like
Cost of Owning a House in Japan: Kansai Guide Read More »
Kansai — Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, and Shiga — holds some of Japan’s sharpest contrasts in the akiya story. One prefecture ties for the highest vacancy rate in the entire country, while two others are actually improving. Here’s what the 2023 Housing and Land Survey shows. Kansai by the numbers The region’s six prefectures
Kansai Akiya Crisis: Vacant Homes by Prefecture in 2026 Read More »
Kyoto City has pushed back the start date of its landmark vacant home tax by one year. If you own an unoccupied property here — an inherited family home, a holiday house, or an investment property you manage from abroad — this delay changes your planning window, but it doesn’t change the fact that the
Kyoto’s Vacant Home Tax Postponed to 2030: What It Means Read More »
If you’re considering buying property in Japan — whether an akiya, a condo, or an apartment — there’s a quietly significant shift underway in how the country manages its oldest housing stock. A new law took effect on April 1, 2026, and it has direct implications for anyone buying a unit in a Japanese condominium
Japan’s Aging Apartment Problem Read More »
