Unraveling Japan's Enigmatic Enclaves: The Mind-Boggling Saga of Deserted Dwellings and Jaw-Dropping Bargain Bonanzas

New Delhi 11 June (VNI)The serene summer landscape of Shirakawago in Gifu prefecture. In rural Japan, there is a considerable number of homes available, often accompanied by large plots of land. These houses, known as "akiyas" (meaning "empty house" in Japanese), have been left abandoned for many years and are now being auctioned or sold at bargain prices due to a recent initiative to revitalize rural areas, as reported by The New York Times. Chihiro Thursfield, a Japanese resident who purchased an akiya with her husband in 2017, explained that while many Japanese people prefer new homes, foreigners perceive the low-cost houses as opportunities for customization and renovation within their budget and preferences.

These abandoned houses have various reasons for being vacant, often stemming from the passing of the original owners. In some cases, heirs refuse to accept the homes left behind by their families, similar to Thursfield's situation. Other times, the owners do not designate an inheritor, or relatives who receive the property do not require it but choose not to sell the family land out of respect. Regardless of the circumstances, the outcome is typically the same—an empty house left to deteriorate.

However, local governments recognize that abandoned houses can adversely affect the landscape and pose hazards if they collapse. To encourage owners to either demolish or maintain these properties, many municipalities have implemented new taxes. Unfortunately, due to Japan's declining population, numerous akiyas remain unclaimed. In such cases, the government assumes ownership and seeks to auction or sell these houses at minimal prices. Thursfield and her husband were fortunate to purchase their home for $23,000, while another homeowner mentioned in The New York Times acquired their property for $1,800 in 1973. However, they have since invested approximately $700,000, with half of that amount coming from municipal grants, to ensure its upkeep.

To facilitate the connection between potential buyers and available properties, municipalities throughout Japan have established web pages called "akiya banks" to compile listings. Nevertheless, some private sector entities believe that these government-run solutions do not adequately assist interested buyers. Consequently, they have launched their own firms to facilitate transactions. One such firm, Akiya & Inaka, offers akiya listings, with one property priced at 12,000,000 yen (around $90,000). Matthew Ketchum, a co-founder of Akiya & Inaka, noted that a significant increase in international clients, particularly from the United States, has been observed since the firm's inception in 2020.