If someone told you that you can live in an old abandoned house for a fraction of the house prices in North America, would you make that big move?
A couple from Vancouver, Canada shows us a glimpse of what to expect if one decides to move into one of the millions of abandoned houses in Japan.
Japan has recently encouraged people all over the world to move in.
The only catch is you’ll need to live in the countryside and in an old house.
These unoccupied old houses, called “akiya,” are becoming much more prevalent in Japan because of two factors.
Firstly, younger generations are seeking more opportunities in the cities that’s why they move away from the countryside.
Secondly, Japan’s birthrate is steadily declining and there are just not enough people to populate communities outside the city.
Mika and her partner Jesse took a chance on such property.
They uprooted their Vancouver life and moved to Shikoku, Japan’s smallest of the four main islands.
Luckily for them, they had a local friend who gave them information about an akiya so they were not moving out blindly – or so they thought.
The first thing you’d notice is how pristine and magical Japan’s countryside aesthetic is. It’s green farmlands and mountains as far as the eye can see. There are quiet streams and streets with little critters popping out from the grass.
The house they rented lay unused for seven years.
The woman who owned the house has since moved into a smaller dwelling. Her two children came back from the city just to finalize the transaction.
The total they need to pay for a year’s lease? ¥30,000, or a little over $200. The owners even gave back ¥10,000 to cover the rubbish removal fee.
The house needed some work but it was in great shape!
The doors slide well, the wooden floor and pillars are still whole and sturdy, and some pieces of furniture were in perfect condition.
The only tricky parts they needed to address right away were insulation and a more robust heating system, especially when they moved in the middle of winter.
Another catch is the fact that the house is not entirely abandoned.
And no, before you think of ghosts or things like that, the “house guests” are creepy crawlies and local animals.
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So if you decide to move into an abandoned home, get ready to meet huntsman spiders as big as your hand or house centipedes hanging out in your bathtub.
There are also monkeys and badgers loitering around, and Mika warned not to feed or interact with them so you won’t interfere with the wildlife.
Nonetheless, the community is also helping them out in their transition.
They give out supplies, snacks, or just a helping hand. They also have visitors every now and then like the neighbor’s dog who checks on them during his walks and a three-legged neighborhood cat who eyes their meals when they’re not looking. The cat is well-fed, mind you.
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The couple has since lived for a year in their akiya. You can check out their YouTube channel to see updates on their renovations and their adventures in the Japanese countryside.
Watch how this couple renovates an old abandoned house they rented for $200 a year.
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