Buy Vacant Houses in Japan
Modelled Airbnb Yield 17–42%

Yes. Japan places no restrictions on foreign ownership of real estate — any nationality can buy freehold land and buildings, with no visa, residency or citizenship required and no limit on the number of properties. ROCKEDGE provides English-speaking agent support throughout the purchase.

The April 2026 FEFTA changes are reporting requirements, not restrictions. Buyers now disclose their nationality at property registration, and non-resident foreign buyers file a report (FEFTA Form 22) with the Bank of Japan within 20 days of acquisition. Ownership rights are unchanged — foreigners still buy freehold with no limits.

Properties in our portfolio range from ¥12M (~$75K) to ¥100M (~$631K) depending on location, size and condition. Rural akiya can be under ¥10M ($63K); properties near Mt. Fuji and Hakuba sit higher due to strong Airbnb demand.

Owners pay an annual fixed-asset tax (固定資産税) at a standard rate of 1.4% of the assessed value, plus a city-planning tax (都市計画税) of up to 0.3% in designated urban zones — many municipalities set it lower. Because akiya assessed values are low, combined annual property tax is typically modest. Budget separately for management, utilities and periodic maintenance.

Most properties in this pipeline model gross short-term-rental yields of 17–42% per year (median 25%) based on AirROI 2025–2026 market data, with payback periods of 2.4–5.7 years. Those bands cover the middle 80% of the portfolio — individual properties fall outside them in both directions. The figures are modelled on the conservative end of a total-investment range (purchase plus renovation, furnishing and acquisition costs), not the sticker price alone, and are projections rather than realised returns.

Yes. Foreign buyers routinely purchase without visiting. ROCKEDGE arranges video viewings, document translation, and a judicial scrivener (司法書士) to complete registration by proxy under power of attorney; funds are sent by international wire.

ROCKEDGE arranges local property and short-term-rental (minpaku) management — guest handling, cleaning, licensing and maintenance — so overseas owners operate hands-off. Management fees typically run 15–25% of rental revenue depending on area and service level.

Minpaku is Japan's home-sharing licence under the 2018 住宅宿泊事業法. You register with the local municipality to legally operate a short-term rental. National law caps operation at 180 days per year (counted noon-to-noon from April 1), and prefectures or cities may add stricter local rules; special zones (特区民泊) can allow year-round operation. ROCKEDGE verifies minpaku eligibility before listing each property.

A typical purchase completes in about 6–10 weeks: inquiry and shortlisting, video or in-person viewing, offer and purchase agreement, funds transfer, then registration. Renovation and minpaku licensing usually run in parallel before the property goes live for short-term rental.

Based on AirROI 2025–2026 data, the areas we currently hold stock in are Hakone ($291 ADR, 46.0% occupancy), Mt. Fuji / Fujikawaguchiko ($237 ADR, 48.1% occupancy), Izu Peninsula ($232 ADR, 34.8% occupancy), Nasu / Tochigi ($253 ADR, 31.6% occupancy), Karuizawa ($408 ADR, 36.1% occupancy).