Buying a house in Japan, living 3 months/yr, renting the rest?

Interesting. I am from Hokkaido.. Is it goof for other prefecture except Tokyo?

@Shyla Juliana

Thank you for your replay, yes it’s ok

@Amandine Ccc

Hello!

Just one thing I think you should be aware of before making this plan.

At the moment, people in Japan are becoming very sensitive about properties owned by non-Japanese people and rented out, especially minpaku.

There have been quite a few problems with some minpaku properties where guests do not follow local rules or basic manners, managers do not properly manage the property, and problems such as noise, garbage, and complaints from neighbors are not dealt with quickly enough.

There is also growing public concern and anger about foreign investment in Japanese real estate, especially when properties are bought mainly for investment or profit rather than for actually living in Japan. Rising housing prices are part of that discussion as well.

Because of this, the Japanese government is now strengthening its oversight of foreign property ownership, especially investment-purpose purchases, as well as reviewing and tightening rules related to visas, immigration, and minpaku operations.

Minpaku in particular is receiving a lot of attention from both local residents and local authorities.

If the owner lives overseas, simply hiring a management company does not necessarily mean everything is fine. If the property is not being properly managed, or if complaints from neighbors cannot be dealt with quickly, there can be administrative action, including improvement orders, suspension of operations, or even orders to close the business.

Depending on the seriousness of the violation, there may also be fines or other legal consequences, and serious violations can potentially affect future visa applications or immigration screening.

This is not only an issue for foreign owners. Japanese owners have also received serious penalties when they failed to maintain a proper and responsive management system.

So before buying, I think you really need to check the local ordinances, minpaku regulations, management requirements, and also how the local community feels about short-term rentals in that particular area.

Right now, minpaku is a very sensitive issue in Japan, both for residents and for local governments. It is definitely not as simple as buying a house, hiring a manager, and renting it out while you are away.

You should also keep in mind that if serious problems or violations occur, they may affect not only the property business itself, but potentially your future stays and activities in Japan as well.