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It's easy for a foreigner to buy land/houses in Japan. There's lots for sale and there are few restrictions on foreign ownership. Can't buy agricultural land for example so if you want acreage the thing to look for is land zoned as forest land. Just need all cash because you can't get a loan. The hard part is finding the right piece of land but I hired a Japanese travel agent to take me around and translate for me. I tried a realtor but he was no use in finding that really nice piece of land off the radar. Once I found the right land though I used an English speaking realtor to handle all the transactions for me.
Japan allows me visa free stays up to 90 days which is more than enough as the longest I can be away from my business is 2-3 months. I thought about starting a business in Japan, partly in order to get residence, but I don't really need nor want residence as Japan levies income tax on global income of permanent residents. It also hits you with inheritance taxes on global assets and the tax situation is only going to get worse as Japan's fiscal situation inevitably deteriorates.
On the other hand, property taxes out in the hinterlands are low. I'm also able to drive in Japan using my Taiwan driver's license and own a car there so transportation is no issue. We live in snow country and skiing is great there, lift tickets are cheap, powder is good and we never have traffic or lift line issues as in North America or Europe.
Pitfalls? Almost no one speaks English where I live so I hire a translator on a case-by-case basis. My wife reads Kanji though so that helps. I had my translator translate recurring tasks into Japanese and now just show the laminated A4 sheet with translations on it when I need something -- refilling my kerosene tank, for example, or changing winter/summer tires. Also, Google translate has come along so well I can almost carry on an involved conversation with someone now just using it -- though some of the translations are hilariously off still. Another issue is bank accounts for paying utilities, property and auto taxes etc. Non-residents can't open a bank account but your realtor should be able to set you up with a local accountant who will, for a small monthly fee, pay your bills from a fund you set up with him.
Bottom line is we're very happy with our life in Japan as tourist visa property owners and have been able to work thru all the issues with no big problems.
Patrick, would you say there is any benefit to buying a place in Japan not out in the hinterlands? I would be interested in an area that is walkable and somewhat vibrant. Is the cost just not worth it at that point? And what passports do you carry?
Patrick, would you say there is any benefit to buying a place in Japan not out in the hinterlands? I would be interested in an area that is walkable and somewhat vibrant. Is the cost just not worth it at that point? And what passports do you carry?
Thanks for the info!
I like Sapporo and think it would be a nice city to live in. It's an affordable city with plenty of culture and nightlife. I'm not so inclined to live in the more impersonal cities on Honshu though. I get all the city living I need in Taiwan though so it's a relief for us to live way out in the countryside where our only neighbors are farmers. I'm a U.S. citizen and permanent resident of Taiwan. Hope to soon have my Taiwan passport though once they change the law to allow dual passports -- as native Taiwanese are allowed to do.
It's easy for a foreigner to buy land/houses in Japan. There's lots for sale and there are few restrictions on foreign ownership. Can't buy agricultural land for example so if you want acreage the thing to look for is land zoned as forest land.
That sounds beautiful. Forested land. I recall visiting north of Niigata, and seeing just unbelievably beautiful forested land in the mountains, that looked like something out of a story book.
I think Kyushu would be another interesting area, although I'm not sure how much is forested on that island.
I like Sapporo and think it would be a nice city to live in. It's an affordable city with plenty of culture and nightlife. I'm not so inclined to live in the more impersonal cities on Honshu though. I get all the city living I need in Taiwan though so it's a relief for us to live way out in the countryside where our only neighbors are farmers. I'm a U.S. citizen and permanent resident of Taiwan. Hope to soon have my Taiwan passport though once they change the law to allow dual passports -- as native Taiwanese are allowed to do.
Thanks for the info Patrick!
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