How expensive would it be to buy a 1 bedroom room/house in Japan? -

My brother and I are looking for a vacation house in Japan. Not exactly a vacation quot;housequot; but a room to purchase and stay in for frequent visits. (nothing big)

Foreigner foreigner foreigners~~~~~~ You mean you wanna purchase a room in TOKYO. If so, it is impossible. If you wanna purchase a room in rural area Japan.... this is also impossible. What I tell to foreigner is , if you do not like, just leave and go home

I don t think you re understanding the situation in Japan. It is one of the most crowded countries and has the highest land prices in the world. Even quot;cheapquot; run down condominiums and rural houses start at $200,000 or more to purchase, and the monthly/yearly taxes and fees additionally cost almost as much as renting an apartment, whether you are staying in it or not (this is intentional of course, because the government doesn t want vacant property sitting unused in such a crowded country). Furthermore, if you are not a permanent resident then it is very difficult to own property (especially land) in Japan. They are not terribly fond of foreigners staying there. You would need to have some kind of agent on retainer, which of course is going to bill you monthly whether you are using the property or not. I suggest you look at gaijin houses, weekly mansions, or serviced apartments. They are cheaper than hotels for long visits, but much more practical than renting or owning property for an occasional visit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Housing_in_... A weekly mansion is like a small apartment but billed weekly or monthly instead of needing a 1-2 year contract, and they tend to include furniture and some utilities. A serviced apartment is like a hotel room but much cheaper for long-term stays.

It s expensive but there are no restrictions on non-resident foreigners owning property in Japan as some suppose. Here are the listings for the Nisko resort which is preferred by Australians. http://www.nisekoproperty.com/faq.php

here you go....happy shopping.....