This article is for people who are interested in a getting a feel for what you can buy outside of Tokyo for about $250,000 (about ¥26 million).
As detailed in this post (What is average price of a house in Tokyo?), in 2014, the average price of a re-sale house in greater Tokyo was about ¥29.5 million yen; the average land area purchased was about 148.73 square meters (1,600 square feet), and the average floor area was about 105.81 square meters.
Outside Tokyo, in Japan’s regional cities and the countryside, you can buy much more house with much more space around you.
Here are some examples of active listings in the $250,000 price range, around the country.
6-Bedroom House in Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Where: Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Price: ¥25,000,000 ($239,000)
Size and Layout: 181-sqm(1,948-sqft), 6-Bedroom (6SLDK) House
Floors: 2-stories
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 1999
Structure: Wooden construction
Asahikawa, Hokkaido
Asahikawa is the second largest city in Hokkaido, after Sapporo, with a population of about 350,000, and is located in the center of Japan’s northernmost prefecture.
From Tokyo, it is about an one hour 50 minute flight from Haneda to Asahikawa Airport, and from Sapporo, it is about a 1 hour 20 minute train ride to Asahikawa Station by JR Hakodate Line (limited express).
According to Lonely Planet, Asahikawa has the honour of being the city with the most days with snowfall in all of Japan, as well as holding the record for the coldest temperature (-40°C). Summers here, as in all of Hokkaido, are cool and pleasant.
The city is full of natural splendor, with the magnificent Daisetsuzan Mountain Range in the background and 120 rivers running through municipality. It is also the gateway for tourism to the Furano area. Asahikawa’s thriving art world has led it to be called a town for art, and it is also known for being home to Japan’s top zoo, the Asahikawa Zoo.
Hokkaido is Japan’s frontier: where you live if you want to get away from it all!
4-Bedroom House in Nago City, Okinawa
Where: Gabusoka, Nago City, Okinawa
Price: ¥23,000,000 ($220,000)
Size and Layout: 149.71-sqm (1,611-sqft), 4LDK
Floors: 1-story
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 1989
Structure: Wooden construction
Nago City, Okinawa
Nago City, with a population of about 62,000, is the largest city in the northern part of the main island of Okinawa. It is best known for being the first place in Japan where the cherry blossoms bloom every year.
Life here is the epitome of slow and laid-back island living.
However, Nago is also a major tourist destination, where people come for scenic landscapes, a 300-year-old Chinese banyan tree, resorts, and theme parks like Nago Pineapple Park, Nago paradise, Neo Park, and the Orion Brewery tour.
In recent years, Nago’s Henoko district is the most infamous area in Nago due to the Futenma US military base move controversy.
4-Bedroom House For Sale, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka
Where: Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka
Price: ¥23,900,000 ($228,000)
Size and Layout: 144-sqm (1,550-sqft), 4LDK
Floors: 2-stories
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 2006
Structure: Wooden construction
Hamamatsu, Shizuoka
Located in the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture, Hamamatsu is a city of about 810,000 people, about midway between Tokyo and Osaka.
With mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south, the Tenryugawa (Dragon River) to the east and Lake Hamana to the west, the city is surrounded by nature on all sides and is said to have some of the most pleasant weather on the island of Honshu. In winter, however, there a strong, dry wind (called the karakaze) that blows in from the Pacific.
3-Bedroom House For Sale in Daisen City, Akita
Where: Daisen City, Akita
Price: ¥20,800,000 ($199,000)
Size and Layout: 108.91 sqm (1,173 sqft), 3SLDK
Floors: 2-stories
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 2013
Structure: Wooden construction
5-Bedroom Designer House for Sale in Kagoshima
Where: Aira City, Kagoshima Prefecture (west of Kirishima and north of Kagoshima City)
Price: ¥28,500,000 ($272,000), over our budget!
Size and Layout: 116.13-sqm (1,250 sqft), 5SLDK
Floors: 2-stories
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 2016
Structure: Wooden construction
Notes: Kagoshima is Kyushu’s southernmost major city and the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan-Guide sums up the city beautifully: “The city is often compared with its Italian sister city Naples due to a similarly mild climate, palm tree lined streets, relatively hot tempered inhabitants and Sakurajima, Kagoshima’s Vesuvius.”
You may also be interested in: What can you buy in Tokyo for $250,000, which has details on things to think about when purchasing property in Japan as a foreigner.
Top Photo: Nago, Okinawa