1. Could you briefly introduce yourself and explain what made you interested in buying an akiya in Japan?
Hi, we’re Sergio and Liz from Australia. I’ve always been fascinated by Japanese culture and history, but it wasn’t until 2023 that I finally convinced my wife to travel to Japan with the family and experience it firsthand. Once we arrived, our sons instantly connected with the culture and environment. They were so inspired that they decided to start saving money to study Japanese. That’s when the idea of buying a property for them to live in for the next three years or more started to make sense. They later traveled on their own and discovered that the vibe in Osaka resonated more with them than Tokyo.
2. What were your biggest concerns before purchasing, and how did you overcome them?
There wasn’t just one big concern. We were facing several at the same time. First, the language barrier. You can browse and explore properties, but unless you have someone who speaks fluent Japanese, even something as simple as booking a house inspection becomes 100 times more difficult. Secondly, in our case, we had to manage everything while being overseas. Third, and this really surprised me, it’s actually not that easy to search for houses online. Japanese websites aren’t as user-friendly as the ones we’re used to in Australia. I even had to use a VPN app just to access some sites without them crashing. On top of that, you often see the same house listed on multiple websites with different prices and photos.
After several conversations with my wife and more than a few YouTube videos on how to buy an akiya from overseas, we realized we needed an agency to handle the legwork. We needed someone who not only speaks the language but also understands the entire process: how to book and attend inspections, and how to communicate with the seller’s agent. We needed someone on our side. After some searching, we found Akiya Heaven.
3. How would you describe your experience working with Akiya Heaven, from your first consultation to finalizing the purchase?
Our experience with Akiya Heaven wasn’t just good, it was excellent. From the very first online consultation, where Anthony and Sam introduced their company and explained the process in detail, we felt confident in their expertise. They clearly broke down the additional costs beyond the property price itself, including both the obvious ones like property taxes, agent commissions, and their service fees, as well as the less visible ones such as potential renovation expenses.
They took the time to listen to our expectations regarding the kind of house we were looking for and worked hard to match those with our budget. Up to that point, to be honest, their service was exactly what I expected based on all my YouTube research. But from then on, they completely exceeded any expectations I had about what they could deliver.
From gathering, selecting, and even grading properties based on our criteria, to conducting inspections, meeting with different agents, and most importantly, finding effective solutions when unexpected challenges came up (and we did have a few), Akiya Heaven truly impressed me.
4. Did the buying process go as you expected? Were there any surprises along the way?
Did we encounter problems during the process? Yes. But life has taught us that any deal can fall through at any moment for a variety of reasons. Akiya Heaven researched 8 properties for us and conducted 5 house inspections in total, all based on our requests.
For the first 5 houses, we made an offer on one that was initially accepted. However, during the document preparation phase before the contract signing, Anthony and Sam discovered that the seller didn’t have all the necessary paperwork. It was too risky, so we decided to walk away from the deal.
The second house seemed promising, and everything was going smoothly until the seller suddenly claimed to have received a higher offer and backed out.
Akiya Heaven didn’t stop. After some discussion and a few adjustments to our budget, they came back with 3 more options. They inspected all three in one day, video-called us during each visit, showed us every detail of the properties, and answered all our questions in real time.
5. What part of our service was the most valuable to you, and why?
The most valuable part of Akiya Heaven’s service is that they truly operate as a one-stop shop. They have the knowledge, the connections to access great listings, and they are always available. Most importantly, they are genuinely willing to go the extra mile to help you find the right home.
6. What are your plans for your akiya property moving forward?
Our house, a beautiful two-storey home located near the top of a hill with a view of the Osaka skyline, will become for my wife and I our vacation home after a few kitchen upgrades. For our sons, it will be a safe and inspiring place to stay while they study the Japanese language, and perhaps even the starting point of a new chapter in their lives.
7. What advice would you give to someone considering buying an akiya in Japan?
It’s scary at the beginning, but every change comes with some risks. My advice is to do your research, be clear about what you’re looking for, and make sure your dream home matches your budget. In my case, it turned out to be better to aim for a house that cost more than I originally planned, but needed little to no renovation, rather than going for a really cheap one with a high renovation cost. And most importantly, ask for help from the right people.