Guides
The honest map I wish I'd had.
No affiliate fluff, no recycled lists. Guides written from a real move and a real home in rural Japan.
Read first
The decisions that matter most.
Cost of living in Japan
What it really costs to live here — and why rural Japan can be far gentler on your budget than the headlines about Tokyo suggest.
Moving to rural Japan
How to actually move to and live in the Japanese countryside as a foreigner — the part the travel blogs skip.
Buying an akiya
Can a foreigner buy a house in Japan? Yes. Here's the decision, the hidden costs and the risks — from someone who bought one.
More on the way
The pillars we're building out.
New guides are added as we go. Coming next, drawn from the same lived experience:
Kominka & traditional houses
The premium end of old-house life — beauty, craft, and what restoration really asks of you.
Visa paths to staying
Digital nomad, cultural activities, long-term residence — which doors are actually open to you.
The cultural bridge
Tatami, genkan, engawa, onsen — the words and rituals that turn a stranger into a neighbour.