In a quaint commuter town outside Okayama, Japan, Leika and Brandon Hansen, educators and new parents from Seattle, have found a unique solution to the pressures of modern urban living. In a bold move, they have purchased a 100-year-old Kominka-style farmhouse with adjoining land for $30,000.
The Hansens, who initially discovered Japan through missionary work, were attracted to the country’s relaxed lifestyle, safety, and efficient public transportation. Their decision to relocate was spurred by the affordability and family-friendly environment Japan offers, a sentiment encapsulated by Brandon when he said, “Japan seemed like a slower pace of life… It’s easy to live here.”
Their experience echoes the phenomenon of Japan’s unique housing market, where, unlike in the West, homes are seen as consumables that depreciate rapidly, much like cars. This perspective, coupled with Japan’s history, building codes, and tax incentives, has resulted in millions of vacant homes across the country.
The Hansen’s new home was unoccupied for 11 years before it was maintained by a real estate group, allowing the family to purchase a property steeped in history and culture. They are excited to pursue hobby farming, a dream that felt out of reach in the United States due to the expensive property prices. The affordable Japanese real estate market provides opportunities for both locals and foreigners, without the need for citizenship or a residence visa to buy.
Their Kominka, though smaller in square footage than their Washington condo, provides them with ample land and the potential for self-sufficiency and a connection to nature—values deeply ingrained in Japanese housing. In Japan, traditional homes, known as minka, often feature tatami flooring, sliding doors, and a direct connection to nature through wraparound verandas.
The Hansen family prepares for their new life, they are not only embracing a different architectural style but also a whole new way of living. Japan’s real estate market, with its clear legal framework and distinctive approach to depreciation, enables individuals to transition to a lifestyle focused on safety, community, and peace, moving away from the fast-paced urban environment they once knew.
Brandon said”We’re starting to have a family now. If we stayed here, it’d probably be another seven to 10 years before we had a home where we could have a hobby farm on it. And by that point, the kids would be halfway through their time with family.”
Relevant articles:
– We bought a house in Japan for $30,000. We’ll have more land than we could afford in the US, and our kids will be more independent., Business Insider, Mar 18, 2024
– The Japanese Housing Enigma: Why Homes in Japan Depreciate Like Cars 🏠🚗, linkedin.com
– Buying a House in Japan as an Expat, housingjapan.com
– Home Style Guide: Japanese Style Houses, newhomesource.com