Japan is facing a grave property problem, there are more houses than people. Akiya, also known as 空き家, means ‘vacant home’ in Japanese. The steep declining population in rural areas has resulted in a massive inventory of vacant properties, especially in Kagoshima, Kochi, and Wakayama where 10% or more of the homes are empty. In an effort to repopulate the area, the Japanese Akiya banks are offering you the opportunity to get one of these vacant homes – for free! Interested in learning more? Check out the full story below:
According to a Gaijinpot post, “the estimate of Akiya [abandoned homes] in Japan has risen to exceed 10 million. By 2033, it’s estimated that 30 percent of all homes will be vacant or abandoned.” In addition, Gaijin estimates that approximately 900 small towns will no longer exist by 2040. Let’s take a deeper dive into why abandoned houses are on the rise in Japan.
Though the majority of Akiya is in rural areas, even big cities like Tokyo has its fair share of abandoned properties. That is, 1 in 10 properties lies empty here and the ratio is higher than London or New York.
As a result of the American population decreasing since the baby boomer generation, it will be interesting to see if America will end up in a similar future situation. Thanks for reading!
How to Search Property Records and Learn Everything About a House: Find Land Records
Uncover the Past of Old Houses: A Comprehensive Guide to Researching Property Records and Gaining Insights About a House's History Through Land Records
The Flight Begins at Home: Flying through Amelia Earhart’s Abodes
Join us on a captivating journey through the various homes of the pioneering aviator, Amelia Earhart. From her humble beginnings in Atchison, Kansas, to the sunny neighborhood of Toluca Lake, California, discover the places where Amelia lived, loved, and soared to new heights.
Exploring Island Ruins at Ross Island
In the southern Andaman district of India, an Island sleeps in hibernation. Formerly named Ross Island after its discoverer, marine surveyor Daniel Ross, it is now known as Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Island.
How to find my home’s history? A quick how-to guide to travel back in time with Google Street View
Time traveling with Google Maps is simple, here's how to do it.