Journal
Stories from
extraordinary Japan
Regional guides, renovation dispatches, and seasonal writing from the places and properties we work with.
Latest Dispatch
Earthen Wall Workshop in Yugawara: Learn Traditional Bamboo Lattice Craft
On May 23, 2026, Akiyaz is hosting a hands-on earthen wall workshop in Yoshihama, Yugawara, focused on the bamboo lattice techniques behind traditional Japanese mud wall construction.
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More from the Journal
The Onsen Ryokan in the Japanese Alps Is Real. So Is the Work.
A four-building property in Norikura Kogen brings together a licensed ryokan, a pension, two vacant villas, national-park land, and two onsen relationships. It is beautiful, rare, and not a passive purchase.
Norikura Kogen Lifestyle Guide: Skiing, Soba, Onsen and a Four-Season Highland Base
Norikura Kogen is not just a scenic address in the Northern Alps. For the right buyer, it is a four-season operating base with ski demand, mountain food culture, national-park trails, onsen, and a measurable climate advantage.
The Naru Island Akiya Is Island Romance With Inspection Notes Attached
A 1982 wood post-and-beam akiya on Naru Island comes with 136.74 square meters of floor area, seven land parcels, and April 2026 inspection findings that make the renovation work visible upfront.
The Yugawara-Atami Resort Complex Is a Repositioning Project, Not a Simple Ryokan
A 16-story, 250-plus-room hospitality asset with mineral spring rights, public utilities, and 33,748 square meters of land is not a countryside bargain. It is a serious redevelopment assignment.
The Yamanashi Hot Spring Inn Is a Quiet Hospitality Thesis
A three-structure hot spring inn in Nambu, Yamanashi pairs a private ancient-stone bath with 3,900 square meters of land in the Fujikawa valley. The opportunity is small-scale hospitality, not passive ownership.
The Chiba Coastal Estate Is a Lifestyle Property With an Operating Path
A 6LDK vacant villa on 1,401 square meters near the Kujukuri coast is not just a beach-house fantasy. Its scale, garden, attic, storage, and Minpaku eligibility make it a practical coastal base.
Beyond the Brand: Unpacking Japan's Stories, from Osaka to the Countryside
After a month spent traveling across Japan, from its bustling urban centers to serene rural landscapes, my journey recently led me to Osaka.
The Pioneer Model: A New Blueprint for Rural Revitalization in Japan
A recent article sparked a necessary conversation about investing in Japan’s akiya, but it is the concept of the pioneer investor that truly requires a brighter spotlight.
The Akiya Bargain Trap: Why Pro Help is Essential for Vacant Japanese Houses
A recent Reddit post starkly revealed a critical truth about Japan’s real estate market.
Hachijojima: The Ultimate Guide to Tokyo's Wild Tropical Island
Hachijojima beckons intrepid explorers with dramatic volcanic summits, emerald jungles, and hidden cascades. This Hachijojima adventure delivers adrenaline and serenity in equal measure.
Seeing Is Starting: How AI Prototypes Are Redefining Japan's Development Strategy
Along the coast of Kanagawa, just an hour from Tokyo, Oiso Beach has long been a quiet destination for surfers, retirees, and seasonal visitors.
Analog Rot: How Digital Stagnation Is Locking Up Japan's Real Value
Japan’s digital stagnation is often reduced to punchlines about floppy disks and fax machines.
Beyond Demographics: The Cultural Crisis Driving Japan Business Closures
Japan business closures have surged, not only in rural towns but also in bustling city corners.
Why Upfront Fees Are Essential for Buying Rural Property in Japan
When foreign or domestic buyers approach Japan’s countryside housing market, they almost always ask the same question: Why do I need to pay upfront?
Why Rural Prototypes Matter More Than Proposals
Creative rural projects in Japan don’t start with a committee. They begin with snow falling in silence, the dark outline of cedars, and a myth yet to be told.
Benefits of Long Commutes Beyond Japan’s Suburbs
For many, the idea of long commutes in Japan conjures images of overcrowded trains, packed platforms, and hours lost each day.
Geothermal Energy in Japan Can Power AI & Develop Rural Regions
The solution is already beneath our feet. The time has come to fully unlock geothermal energy in Japan.
Japan's Hoarding Problem Is Crippling Real Estate Value and Community Health
In a country where minimalism is glorified and cleanliness is considered a virtue, the existence of Japan’s hoarding problem represents a painful contradiction.
Rural Development in Japan Needs Future Thinking, Not False Nostalgia
When people talk about Japan’s shrinking countryside, they often reach for one phrase: rural revitalization.
Akiya Market: Foreign Investment & Japanese Rural Revitalization
The recent Bloomberg article, "It’s Too Easy for Foreigners to Buy Property in Japan," highlights growing concern about foreign investment in Japan
Public-Private Toleration, Vacant Properties, and Rural Development
In Japan’s countryside, public-private toleration is the new frontier of rural development.
Japan Consumption Tax Debate & Rural Revitalization Strategies
Japan’s consumption tax has been politically sacrosanct since its 1989 introduction to temper asset-price speculation.
Regional Revitalization Demands Innovation, Not Tokyo Blame Games
Regional revitalization in Japan can no longer rely on outdated playbooks or misplaced blame.
AI and Rural Life: Rewilding Through Regenerative Practices
The more AI enters our lives, the more we feel the pull of the countryside. At Akiyaz, we’ve watched this shift accelerate.
Akiyaz on NOS: Truth Behind Cheap Japanese Houses Revealed
Akiyaz recently appeared on NOS, the national broadcaster of the Netherlands, to help clarify what is really going on with cheap houses in Japan.
Rural Japan Needs Entrepreneurs, Not Just Families
Rural Japan entrepreneurs are not just wanted, they're essential. Despite ongoing rural revitalization efforts, most government policies still target families rather than founders.