Great stuff. I’ll be putting out some videos down the track on people who can help you get a place and make the process easier. If you don’t speak Japanese it’s a bit of a slog but it can be done. Good luck
Learn to read, write and speak Japanese first. Also what kind of visa are you eligible for? Do you realize that there is no central heating in Japan? And there are earthquakes daily?
Wouldn't it be amazing to discover cool expat neighbors or fellow townspeople? I plan to be great at Japanese before making the leap but have always found Aussies fun, outgoing, knowledgeable and interesting. American here, wishing you all the best! 👍🏻
@@efisgpr Hey why not? we can all buy akiyas near each other and form a support community group😍... hubby and i are retired and always up to making new friends...(and even Americans too haha!)
You can extend the 3 months to 6 months, or take an English teaching position, or get a business visa or a digital nomad visa. There are varying conditions for each
In my experience they sometimes will but I can't speak for all of them. Ive dealt with a few and they often reply in Japanese but google will translate it automatically (I use Gmail so I'm not sure if others do that). Sometimes I will get English directly back. Either way email hasn't been a problem. However, they will often say "Do you speak Japanese or have a friend who can accompany you, since our agents don't speak (or have limited) English'. In my case my wife is Japanese. If they don't speak English and you don't have a Japanese friend it will often end up in the too hard basket. I will be talking about english/Japanese speaking go-betweens (brokers) in future videos and they are a good option.
Japan is a nice place to live, but gosh almighty do you have to jump through some hoops prepping for it and it isn't English-ready, so it only helps to have some Japanese friends.
Be warned!!!! There are hidden costs. Housing prices in Japan depreciate. You will need Japanese. The process is not quick. And you have to be accepted by the local community. Plus there are ongoing costs and taxes. It is do-able but it is not all roses. The subsidies are only for Japanese citizens/nationals only. And finally try to get a bank account in Japan as a foreigner...YOU CANT!!!
"... you have to be accepted by the local community". Japan is a give and share society with many unwritten cultural and social rules established over hundreds of years, that all foreigners are expected to understand and follow. If a "foreign homeowner" does not culturally reciprocate they will very possibly be ignored and possibly shunned. Japan is already getting impatient with foreigners in their midst as many break rules, are too noisy and intrusive, are non-fluent in Japanese and act ignorantly. When you move to Japan all are expected to act and speak like the Japanese.
@@seanmcbride3899 That is a tall order. I got tired of paying taxes in a country where I am a second class citizen. Expat males are chased by Japanese females, so the cheat level is typically very high. Japan is very different for expat males than it is for expat females. Females are expected to fit into society in a much more complicated way. I lived there for over 10 years and decided to leave just to preserve my sanity. Look at life there not just from a male point of view.
@@modtomodern I guess everyone's experience is different and may depend too on where you live. Currently I am in Okinawa and find they have a more mellow attitude than the rest of Japan. Where dd you move back to?
Glad i came across this video 😊
Thanks Eloise
We are planning to do the same too...currently living in Sydney but planning to buy one to spend part of our retirement in Japan😄
Great stuff. I’ll be putting out some videos down the track on people who can help you get a place and make the process easier. If you don’t speak Japanese it’s a bit of a slog but it can be done. Good luck
Learn to read, write and speak Japanese first. Also what kind of visa are you eligible for? Do you realize that there is no central heating in Japan? And there are earthquakes daily?
Wouldn't it be amazing to discover cool expat neighbors or fellow townspeople? I plan to be great at Japanese before making the leap but have always found Aussies fun, outgoing, knowledgeable and interesting.
American here, wishing you all the best! 👍🏻
@@efisgpr No.
@@efisgpr Hey why not? we can all buy akiyas near each other and form a support community group😍...
hubby and i are retired and always up to making new friends...(and even Americans too haha!)
I LOVE your journey, Sean. So proud of my friend ❤🎉
Thanks Sanjiv. Kind of you to say
This was another fantastic episode from an amazing person! Thank you for sharing it.
Thanks Mickey. Glad you enjoyed it!
Good presentation and informative Sean. Approve the new hair!
Thanks Mark. Brown is the new black :-)
I’m loving Escape to the Akiya 😁
Haha love it
Ouch, Sean - don't let them do that to your hair!
So interesting. Thank you for sharing.
Bri
Too late, but I'm happy with it :-)
Another great insight Sean!! Really enjoyed this too. Hope you are both keeping well.
Thanks Andrew. We’re currently in Masamoto. Beautiful castle. Off to Shimizu tomorrow. Misao’s home town. Been a great road trip so far. Cheers
Australian sense of humour about spider sizes is funny!
At least nothing much will kill you here, except bears 😅
How can you actually live there once purchased. Australians can only stay up to 3 months. Unless you are looking for PR?
You can extend the 3 months to 6 months, or take an English teaching position, or get a business visa or a digital nomad visa. There are varying conditions for each
Thanks Sean. This is the clearest video I have seen regarding Akiyas
Or marry for a visa. Most expat men do that.
@ do they though, just for a visa. I’d be surprised if that was their only motivation.
Hi there, will the real estate agent respond if they receive enquiry in English?? Heard that they themselves hardly speak English well..!
In my experience they sometimes will but I can't speak for all of them. Ive dealt with a few and they often reply in Japanese but google will translate it automatically (I use Gmail so I'm not sure if others do that). Sometimes I will get English directly back. Either way email hasn't been a problem. However, they will often say "Do you speak Japanese or have a friend who can accompany you, since our agents don't speak (or have limited) English'. In my case my wife is Japanese. If they don't speak English and you don't have a Japanese friend it will often end up in the too hard basket. I will be talking about english/Japanese speaking go-betweens (brokers) in future videos and they are a good option.
@seanmcbride3899 Sean, thank you for your quick reply, much appreciated and looking forward to your coming videos..🙏😊
Japan is a nice place to live, but gosh almighty do you have to jump through some hoops prepping for it and it isn't English-ready, so it only helps to have some Japanese friends.
Very true. Not for the feint hearted but worth the effort I think.
Be warned!!!! There are hidden costs. Housing prices in Japan depreciate. You will need Japanese. The process is not quick. And you have to be accepted by the local community. Plus there are ongoing costs and taxes. It is do-able but it is not all roses. The subsidies are only for Japanese citizens/nationals only. And finally try to get a bank account in Japan as a foreigner...YOU CANT!!!
Yes , while all of that is true I will be talking about the downside in my next video and encouraging people to use a go-between.
"... you have to be accepted by the local community". Japan is a give and share society with many unwritten cultural and social rules established over hundreds of years, that all foreigners are expected to understand and follow. If a "foreign homeowner" does not culturally reciprocate they will very possibly be ignored and possibly shunned. Japan is already getting impatient with foreigners in their midst as many break rules, are too noisy and intrusive, are non-fluent in Japanese and act ignorantly. When you move to Japan all are expected to act and speak like the Japanese.
@@modtomodern so true. I will be encouraging people throughout the videos to embrace Japan, learn the language and become part of the community
@@seanmcbride3899 That is a tall order. I got tired of paying taxes in a country where I am a second class citizen. Expat males are chased by Japanese females, so the cheat level is typically very high. Japan is very different for expat males than it is for expat females. Females are expected to fit into society in a much more complicated way. I lived there for over 10 years and decided to leave just to preserve my sanity. Look at life there not just from a male point of view.
@@modtomodern I guess everyone's experience is different and may depend too on where you live. Currently I am in Okinawa and find they have a more mellow attitude than the rest of Japan. Where dd you move back to?
@@seanmcbride3899 Vancouver.
@@seanmcbride3899 Vancouver.