Buy a house in rural Japan without the expensive surprises.
I’m Matthew Ketchum, an independent advisor based in Yugawara, Kanagawa. I help you find akiya and kominka, check them properly before you commit, and get through the purchase with licensed partner brokers and professionals. Then I help you settle in.
A video call. The fee is shown and paid when you book. Cancel 48 or more hours ahead for a full refund.
Independent advisor · Not a real estate broker · Purchases handled by licensed partner brokers
The house is cheap. The surprises aren’t.
Many rural listings look like bargains, and some are. But the problems that cost real money usually aren’t in the listing. Before you commit, I check for things like:
- The house can’t legally be rebuilt (再建築不可), often because the road access doesn’t meet the rules
- The land includes farmland that can’t be bought or used freely without permission
- No public sewer, an old septic tank, or a well that needs work
- A pre-1981 structure that may need earthquake reinforcement
- Renovation that costs more than the house
- Hazard zones, snow, steep or private access roads, and distance to services
I flag these early, tell you which professional should verify each one, and help you decide: walk away, look closer, or move ahead.
How it works
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Book a paid consultation
I talk through what you want, your budget, your timeline, and where in Japan you’re thinking of. You get an honest view of whether rural Japan fits your plans, and what it really costs.
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Get your Buyer Brief
I turn that conversation into a written plan: target regions, property types, a realistic total budget (purchase, renovation, and running costs), and your deal-breakers.
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Search, shortlist, and check
I look across portals, municipal akiya banks, local sources, and partner brokers, then shortlist the strongest options with honest notes. For the ones you like, I prepare a Property Intelligence Report and help you prepare for viewings.
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Buy through a licensed broker, then settle in
A licensed partner broker handles the transaction itself, and a 司法書士 (judicial scrivener) handles registration. I keep you informed, interpret, and track the timeline. After you get the keys, I help set up utilities, contractors, and the practical side of living there.
A video call. The fee is shown and paid when you book. Cancel 48 or more hours ahead for a full refund.
For buyers
Know what you are looking at before you commit.
I help you search, check the house, and understand the purchase. A licensed broker handles the transaction.
For owners
Own an empty house in Japan?
I help owners understand and document what they have, and refer them to licensed brokers when they want to sell.
A video call. The fee is shown and paid when you book. Cancel 48 or more hours ahead for a full refund.
What you actually get
What you actually get
Buyer Product
Property Intelligence Report
A clear, written check of one specific house: access, legal and practical red flags, hazards, utilities, likely renovation issues, and the questions to ask your broker.
Owner Product
Property Dossier
A written package that explains your property honestly: what’s confirmed, what’s unknown, and what a buyer will want to see.
Featured
Example properties
Listed by a licensed real estate broker. Akiyaz is not the listing broker.
Grand Resort Complex in Yugawara-Atami — 16 Floors, 250+ Rooms
A rare large-scale hospitality asset straddling the Yugawara-Atami borderlands. A 16-story steel-reinforced concrete building with 250+ rooms and 14,712 m² of total floor area, set on over 33,700 m² of landholding spanning residential lots, forest, and a mineral spring right (鉱泉地). Pre-investigated for ryokan business permit. City gas, public water, and sewerage all connected. Delivered as-is, no warranty. 20-minute walk from JR Yugawara Station on the Tokaido Line.
Listed by a licensed real estate broker. Akiyaz is not the listing broker.
Secluded Island Getaway on Naru Island, Goto
A 1982 wood post-and-beam akiya in Goto City's Naru-cho Okushi on Naru Island. The inspected house has 136.74 m² of floor area over two above-ground floors, attic storage, and water service active at inspection. Set within the existing seven-parcel island holding, the April 2026 inspection identifies renovation priorities around possible rainwater leakage, kitchen ceiling mold and damage, living room floor sinking, Japanese room floor damage, and moisture-related subfloor deterioration.
Listed by a licensed real estate broker. Akiyaz is not the listing broker.
A Grand Coastal Estate in Shirako, Chiba
An expansive 6LDK home on 1,400 m² of land along the Kujukuri coast. Built in 2001 and currently vacant, the property suits multi-generational families, wellness retreats, or Minpaku businesses. Large attic, storage rooms, and serene garden.
Listed by a licensed real estate broker. Akiyaz is not the listing broker.
Why AKIYAZ
I explain the parts listings leave out
Facts vs. claims
I separate confirmed information, owner-reported details, visible issues, public-source context, and items that still need a professional to verify.
Local context
I look at access, roads, utilities, hazards, stations, local services, and the season. Those decide whether the house works.
Clear next step
I say what to do next: walk away, look closer, view the house, ask your broker, or hire a specialist.
From the Field
Property stories,
not just listings
Our documentation work helps buyers, owners, and regional partners see the setting, access, atmosphere, condition cues, and practical details around a place.
See field documentation servicesThe Abandoned Japan Alps Property That Comes With Its Own Forest
Property Types
Built for the properties that need explanation
The harder a property is to summarize in a normal listing, the more useful Akiyaz becomes.
Regions
Understand places,
not just properties
Hokkaido
Powder, peaks & wide-open spaces
Japan's northern frontier offers world-class skiing, pristine national parks, and a food culture built on the freshest seafood and dairy. Niseko, Furano, and the wild Shiretoko Peninsula await.
Kanto
Where tradition meets the metropolis
From the cultural richness of Kamakura and Nikko to the creative energy of Tokyo's neighborhoods, Kanto offers the full spectrum of Japanese life - ancient temples beside cutting-edge architecture.
Chubu
Mountains, hot springs & coastal gems
The Japanese Alps, the Izu Peninsula coastline, and the historic post towns of the Nakasendo trail. Chubu is where dramatic geography meets deeply rooted craft and culture.
Thinking about a house in rural Japan?
Start with a paid consultation. You’ll leave with a clear sense of what’s realistic, even if the answer is “not yet”.
A video call. The fee is shown and paid when you book. Cancel 48 or more hours ahead for a full refund.
Akiyaz is an independent advisory service and not a licensed real estate broker (宅地建物取引業者). Property transactions are handled by licensed partner brokers. Legal, registration, and construction work is handled by licensed professionals. Read the full disclaimer.