Imagine a morning in your own traditional Japanese home.
You take a cup of tea out to the veranda. Beyond it, a carefully tended garden gives you somewhere to sit and watch the seasons change.
Later, you could head into town. Explore the grounds of a castle with a history stretching back more than 400 years. Stop for a bowl of ramen. Or explore displays of samurai weapons inside the castle keep.
Then return to a quiet residential neighborhood and a home with space for guests, a hobby room, or a studio.
This is Wakayama City, south of Osaka.
And you can own here for a price that might surprise you…
To step back for a moment…
I’ve already visited Japan once this year. And I plan to go back there in the coming months.
This is one of the most advanced countries on earth. Yet its demographics—an aging population and a shrinking number of people—have helped make real estate in parts of Japan shockingly affordable.
As the population shrinks and homes are left empty, you can find prices that seem extraordinary for a country with Japan’s infrastructure, services, and quality of life.
That’s why I want to put boots on the ground here again.
I’m planning to visit Okinawa. White-sand beaches. Extraordinary food. And beach homes from around $100,000.
But that’s not the only part of Japan where you can find incredible value.
The property I’m sharing today is a case in point.
We recently featured it on our Your Overseas Dream Home Instagram account.
It’s on the market for ¥9,560,000 (about $60,000). Here’s what your money buys…
The home is in Hironishi, a residential area of Wakayama City.
Built in 1973, it sits on a plot of about 6,265 square feet.
The house is arranged on one level, with seven rooms plus a dining/kitchen area. It was renovated about 15 years ago, preserving its traditional character.
The home also has an engawa—a traditional Japanese veranda overlooking the garden.
Somewhere for your morning tea…a quiet hour with a book…or simply a seat overlooking the garden.
There’s also a garage.
The house needs repairs to its roof, and it could do with some modernization.
But the location gives you a quiet setting without putting you far from transport. Kii train station is a 15-minute walk away.
And there’s plenty to explore in the surrounding city and region…
Wakayama City sits on the western side of the Kii Peninsula on Japan’s main island. It’s a city where you can explore historic gardens, eat fresh seafood, and enjoy a bowl of the local ramen.
At its heart stands Wakayama Castle.
Originally built in 1585, it became the seat of an important branch of the Tokugawa family, whose shoguns ruled Japan for more than 250 years.
The main keep was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the 1950s. But the original stone walls survive, along with some historic structures.
Today, you can climb to the top of the castle keep for views across the city, explore displays of samurai armor and weapons, or stop for matcha and Japanese sweets in a tea house in the gardens.
In spring, the grounds fill with cherry blossoms. In fall, the garden’s foliage turns red and gold.
Express trains connect Wakayama with Osaka in around an hour. Kansai International Airport is approximately 45 minutes from the city by train.
You could spend a day exploring Osaka, then return to your own garden. Or stay closer to home and visit Wakayama’s castle, museums, and seafood market.
Seven rooms. About 1,440 square feet of living space. A traditional engawa and Japanese garden. And a railway station within walking distance.
All for $60,000.
You can read the full listing here.
Wishing you a good real estate investing,
P.S. If you’re interested in this listing you should hire an attorney and do your own due diligence. We haven’t done any due diligence on it.
P.P.S. For more listings of affordable overseas dream homes, click here to follow our Your Overseas Dream Home Instagram account.
