We bought an akiya (vacant house in Japan) for 5 million yen, approximately $35,000 USD. We hired a local carpenter to conduct an extensive renovation. This traditional Japanese house had been vacant for over five years, and the grounds were neglected for quite some time. The previous owner’s property was still in the house when we purchased it. The total renovation cost was around $230,000 USD. We hope you enjoy following this akiya renovation compilation.
First, we removed all the previous owner’s property and pulled many weeds around the house. Next, we made multiple trips to various recycle centers to dispose of the property, with a total cost of around $500 USD. The renovation started in October 2022 and ended in July 2023, completed by a local carpenter named Kayaki-san from Asahi.
#japanesehouse #akiya #traditionaljapanesehouse #japanesegarden
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****Recommend using “Chrome” as a browser for Japanese to English translation.****
Akiya Bank for my area near Iwakuni City and Hiroshima City: Miwa Town in Yamaguchi
https://iwakuni-iju.jp/akiyajoho
Miwa Town Information:
https://iwakuni-iju.jp/miwa.html
Dave Olson’s website:
Dave provides many links and information Akiya and Komika purchase.
“Akiya” abandoned, cheap/free* houses in Japan / annotations, resources, riffs, musings, stories
At Akiya Sumai you can search for vacant houses around Japan.
https://akiya.sumai.biz
At Ie Ichiba there is a Bulletin board to search vacant houses / Akiya Houses and old buildings in Japan
https://www.ieichiba.com
Other Useful Links:
https://www.akiya-mart.com
https://www.athome.co.jp/
https://www.kurasapo.net/
https://www.koryoya.com/
https://www.homes.co.jp/akiyabank/
http://www.inakanet.jp/index.html
https://www.akiya-athome.jp
CAMPER VAN INFORMATION:
– EENOUR PA600 Portable Air Conditioner, Cooling Capacity, 1.758 kW/6,000 Btu
– Jackery Portable Power Supply, 2000 Plus
34 Comments
Not sure if it's allowed but couldn't y'all technically do a massive bonfire and burn all the stuff from the previous owners?
minus the chemicals, etc of course
Thanks for sharing, you're living the dream 🙂
This was a nice nostalgic recap of the journey to transform your property from beginning to current. I wish I had videoed the construction process on my latest home, but I guess my photos will have to suffice. Your grounds and house look wonderful with lots of well thought out touches & details. Thanks for sharing your journey. I'm grateful & honored you accepted my suggestion for the kitchen "annex"! I hope you & your wife continue to enjoy your slice of paradise in the Japanese countryside for many years to come.
What a huge lovely home indeed looks great
David Austin Roses have beautiful shrub and climbing roses. There's a Japanese store, but also a US version of the site for full English info. Their Lady of Shallot is a beautiful rose to start with, planted in a group of 3 or 5. You'll be hooked.
Yo what a huge backyard you guys have can have a greenhouse full of vegetables fruits and crops again
On one side a greenhouse with raised beds of everything you guys like again
What a huge land indeed just for that much so cheaper indeed countryside Japan
Very strongman yourself God bless always and your adorable wife many more years
日本人がどんどん捨て去っている伝統的な日本家屋。その価値を大切にしてリノベーションして下さった事を、関わった全ての人が喜んで感謝していると思います。どうもありがとう。そしてこの素晴らしい家で最高の生活を送って下さい。❤
Bathroom in the craft room 🥰
Everything looks so nice. You have a beautiful home.
beautiful
Hello Sir, I was wondering if you are able to provide the name of the contractor(s) or company that worked on your house. Thanks so much…..
Wow!!! The Japanese craftsmen did an awesome job with the renovation of your Akiya! Thank you for sharing your journey of country living in Japan!!! Ganbette ne!
really nice wrap-up of your progress. didn't plan to watch the whole video but I did. 🙂 you may be able repair some of the dents to the floor by steaming them with a damp cloth and an iron. a woodworking trick but I've done it in spots to my oak floors and since your floors are unfinished it should work better… but probably should test on a piece of scrap or someplace hidden.
Wow – that craft room is so cool. Your wife is so lucky to have such an awesome husband like you … 🤣
Very nice. Question how difficult is it to seismic retrofit these type of homes?
The Japanese carpenters built a house without nuts and bolts, it's amazing.
Very nice video wrap-up on the house and grounds from start to finish. I'm looking myself at something similar. I think my restoration would take longer than 3 months as well.
wow congrats on a job well done! great work recording this as well… question: how feasible is it to do somehting like this if you are not fluent in japanese (and not married to a japanese woman)? i assume the language barrier would be too daunting. best wishes!
I wish I had a husband like that & im not even gay- lady- u sooooo lucky 🍀 😂❤
Top 3 akiya renos I’ve watched on YouTube.. great efforts- house looks like a dream- not just saying that.
I really enjoyed watching this. I lived in Japan for 33 years and really miss a lot of the features in a Japanese house especially the Ofuro/shower room. You did an excellent job.
Love your set up man!
You've done a great job. Worth every dollar you spent on it! Well done. Great craft room as well.
I am getting ready to remodel a house on Teshima Island. The architect actually comes tomorrow. My main request was that I wanted the beautiful beams throughout the house exposed. They are each so unique and the joinery a work of art. When completed it will combine modern and traditional Japanese styles. The house is part of a compound with two barns, a second room that was lived in attached one of the barns, and a bathhouse. The center of the compound has a Japanese garden with a waterfall and koi pond which I have already renovated. Your house has given me many ideas and is beautiful.
Well done. What you got for your money is astounding. Great that you exposed the beautiful wooden beams. One thing that you can count on is the high quality work of Japanese tradesmen.
I just turned 69 this month and I live on un-improved parcel of land in a temporary structure w/ solar power here in Hawaii, but after following your videos, you make me believe that I can have the life in Japan I have dreamed of so often over the years. Mahalo for showing people like me that even at my age I don't have to settle. FYI: I am not a total stranger to Japan, I was blessed to have lived my first 5 yrs there and it has always been a dream to return, how fitting would it be to come full circle and spend my twilight years there.
Beautiful home. May you have many wonderful memories.
Earthquake-resistant wooden houses can withstand only one earthquake of magnitude 7.
It happens once every 300 to 1000 years.
J'ai adoré voire les belles rénovations et bravo à l'équipe de rénovateurs pour leurs trvail ! Merci de partager avec nous ! Qc , Canada
Ur house is cozy n beautiful
What a dream come true. The garden and home are beautiful. Well renovated and lovingly updated.Your wife's craft room is the same as mine, outside. I am going to raise my ceiling and add lots of windows. It is a former carpenter workshop the previous owner used. I love the little sink! Looking forward to seeing how your property develops. Roses and Hydrangeas are my favorites. Your page is inspiring!
Wonderful video! Thank you for sharing! Enjoy your Japanese enhanced house 🥰 I’m sure the locals appreciate the love you and your wife put into it 🥰
Omg. The recycling plant looks amazing compared to where I lived