What counts as an akiya

Akiya (空き家) means an empty house. Many sites use the word for any cheap property. We don't. A home appears here only if it passes all four checks:

1. It's an existing house. A detached house, farmhouse or townhouse. Not a new build, a condo, land or a shop.
2. It's for sale. Not for rent.
3. A municipal akiya bank lists it. Towns run akiya banks to find buyers for empty houses. Some owners list before they move out; those homes say "Currently occupied".
4. The listing is clear. If we can't read the type or status, we leave it out.

Red flags

We read each listing for six things that can make a cheap house expensive, and show them on the listing:

• Can't be rebuilt if demolished 再建築不可
• Leasehold: you don't own the land 借地権
• Urbanisation-control zone: building is restricted 市街化調整区域
• Private road or no road access 接道
• Built before the June 1981 earthquake standard 旧耐震
• Farmland: needs permission to transfer 農地

We report what the listing says. Always check a home with the akiya bank, an agent and a building inspector before you buy.