What Is an “Akiya” and Should I Buy One?

In Japan, the term “akiya” (空き家) refers to vacant homes that have been left unoccupied and, in many cases, abandoned.  This can happen for any number of reasons.  Sometimes younger people inherit these homes that they really don’t want because many of these homes are old, and the upkeep and maintenance can be expensive.  Furthermore, Japan is a country with large migrations away from small towns where many of these akiya are located.   For many people who end up with these properties, they ultimately decide that it’s less of a financial burden to leave the house abandoned and let nature run its course on them than try to recuperate them.

An akiya somewhere in Japan.

The akiya have become a social crisis in Japan.  According to government data from 2018, 8.5 million units of akiya houses are available, equivalent to 14% of Japan’s overall housing stock. And this number only continues to grow.  Some say that the issue is not solely financial, but also cultural as Japanese people have a strong tendency to upgrade to something shiny and new when it comes to housing.  And as Japan struggles with a ballooning aging population, declining birth rate, urbanization and crippling inflation, more young people feel the need to move to larger cities like Tokyo and Osaka for work and educational opportunities.  This exodus to the big cities results in small town living being a less and less attractive option for most.

A foreigner moving in to his newly purchased akiya.

At the same time, these properties present a unique opportunity for some potential buyers, as they are frequently sold at significantly reduced prices and are given away for “free” if the buyer commits to investing in the property and, therefore, the surrounding communities. We have seen stories in the press of foreigners who arrive to Japan with fists full of dollars or euros, eager to cash in on the sagging market costs.  They are able to snap up sprawling old homes located in scenic Japanese towns for a fraction of the cost in their home countries.  Of course, they must deal with several hurdles such as language and cultural idiosyncrasies, legal issues and steep renovation costs, but for the most part, the reviews have been positive.

Is the "akiya craze" too good to be true?

So, the question is, should I, as an African American, single male near retirement age, pull up my roots here in Colombia and go halfway around the world and dive directly into a culture of which I know very little and surround myself by a language of which I know absolutely nothing?  They tell me that Japan is a wonderful place to visit because the people are respectful, the cities are super safe and clean, and the food is out of this world.  Also, I would absolutely love to live in a huge house in a picturesque town surrounded by nature and quiet.   But what about the tsunamis, earthquakes and Godzilla attacks? Are Japanese people open and friendly towards Black people? If I get a hankering for Soul Food or rice and beans, will I be able to find those dishes in a small Japanese town? Will people tolerate the fact that I will never be able to learn a language as complicated as Japanese? 

Maybe my first task should be to visit Japan first, look around and see what the vibe is like before I plunk down tens of thousands of dollars on a rickety old house.  Who knows?

So many questions, so few answers and so little time…!

Very enticing!

Written by JeremyLeon

December 13, 2024

Word Count: 577

Reading Level:  High Intermediate

Keywords:  akiya, Japan, African-American, culture