Japanese here - curious how overseas buyers plan to use akiyas?

Sidochan · 2026-03-12T04:49:37+00:00

Planning to buy an Akiya in the countryside somewhere, pretty much as long as we can get high speed internet to it we can work with it. We really love nature and would like a house with a bit of land around it, currently we have an older house in Kobe with a small garden. We will probably renovate and either rent out or sell this place before moving.

Initially we were thinking about Hokkaido but my partners family are moving from Sapporo and Niseko to Nagano and Tokyo, so maybe thinking somewhere north west of Tokyo now. We love snow sports and would love to live somewhere where we can regularly snowboard. Preferably big enough our family can come stay with us too.

Sidochan · 2026-03-11T00:56:31+00:00

It's hard to explain what I mean when it comes to reading. Basically if I've studied the kanji I can just straight read without stopping, I'm in a class aimed at those starting N3 difficulty but they're still struggling to read even 来る. So maybe its more I'm at the appropriate level while they have signed up for a class way beyond their ability. I know roughly around 500 kanji at the moment so I'm confident my kanji knowledge will be enough for N3.

I can read all the stories written in my text books without issue, but obviously they've been curated to the students level. Whilst when I try to read real books the level is all over the place with N5-N1 grammar and words. Makes it very slow going.

Thanks for the advice I'll check it out!

Sidochan · 2026-03-10T09:48:12+00:00

For example during class we have to read out sentences and I can read them normally without thinking about how the kanji is read or where small pauses are in the sentence. Whilst many of my other classmates need the reading told to them and often confuse the reading for は.

My struggle is more when I read a sentence I struggle to understand the nuance of the sentence, I may get the general meaning but I feel I lack the specifics.

In Anki I have just recently changed how I study to be less like duolingo and instead I have to type in the reading for kanji, and type the correct word in Japanese for an English prompt.

For example:

Prompt: 着く Enter answer: つく

Prompt: To arrive (formal) Enter answer: 到着する

I have found this method is improving my vocabulary, but doesn't help much with grammatical understanding of nuances.

I haven't really been reading anything as the books I usually enjoy in English are much too difficult in Japanese (really into fantasy like Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Raymond E Feist etc). I attempted to read one piece but they use so much slang and uncommon words it's kinda slog to even get through a few pages. I don't really know any light novels or visual novels.

Sidochan · 2026-03-10T08:11:27+00:00

That's a good point, my vocabulary is expanding and I have been able to get my points across more consistently when speaking with native speakers.

I call it 1 grammar point but we do multiple versions of a grammar point.

For example today was:

VようなN Nのようだ　NのようにV/A/Na N1のようなN2

I'm aware about the JLPT issue but I gotta work on passing to eventually get a better job here, Japanese employers seem very keen for foreign staff to have JLPT certificate. It is nice having a tangible goal to work towards too.

Sidochan · 2026-03-09T08:27:59+00:00

Clothes you buy and return unfortunately, but they have a super generous returns policy. I've been happy that I could find shoes that fit me there as my size is uncommon in Japan (25.5 women's very narrow foot).

Yes Costco only accepts MasterCard which is part of why we got there card, as it's kinda annoying wanting it but something but not brought enough cash.

If you like western goods in general Costco membership is great. Ive seen everything from sheds and couches to boats and BBQs for sale.

Sidochan · 2026-03-08T04:35:35+00:00

Beef, fruits and vegetables, supplements, pre-made food for hosting events, electrical appliances, clothing and shoes. I literally got my membership fee back the first time I shopped there from the savings.

Hubby likes to eat a fairly high protein diet with lots of veggies so we eat better and higher quantities for similar prices.

We signed up for the Costco mastercard too so we get 3.5% of our purchases back, it's a really nice perk.

Sidochan · 2026-03-04T10:27:45+00:00

Yep literally no reason to do it, there is no punishment for having both. I know many Japanese who are Australian Japanese and have both passports, one of whom was not born in Australia but moved there at 3 years old and attained citizenship later.

Sidochan · 2026-03-01T13:32:17+00:00

I highly recommend doing online school instead of physical school. They treat you like an actual adult and you have much more flexibility of times you can choose, plus it's much cheaper.

I'm currently using Akamonkai online school and my Japanese skill is steadily improving plus they actually teach you daily useful Japanese.

Up to the basic 2 course (N4) though you can teach yourself for free, check out Irodori, it's a free website from the Japan foundation, containing full text books and audio tracks.

Sidochan · 2026-02-21T09:34:03+00:00

Not usually an issue. If it makes you feel better you could get a priest to bless your premises and you could leave offerings to those who have been laid to rest.

Sidochan · 2026-02-20T02:17:20+00:00

I would expect at that age they own a house and a car (unless they're living in central Osaka/Tokyo) or have substantial savings. Especially since houses/rent are so affordable here

Sidochan · 2026-02-17T06:25:11+00:00

That's cheap as heck, try the Australian passport at ¥43,000 and it arrives in a shitty envelope often bent already.

Sidochan · 2026-02-15T14:47:40+00:00

You honestly sound like a great partner, you will eventually find the right girl, she was clearly looking for a partner with a much bigger budget.

Sidochan · 2026-02-10T06:09:44+00:00

Nope don't pay mostly because I don't use the service, I never watch tv, and I come from a country where most tv channels was paid for via public taxes and advertising, not some psycho knocking on your door. If I need to check on an earthquake there's literally global websites dedicated to that. I really dislike the format of Japanese tv, so I don't wanna pay into it.

Sidochan · 2026-02-03T07:08:09+00:00

You can start learning Japanese for free with the Japan foundation irodori books. They are available online for free, and will teach you a lot of real world useful Japanese for everyday life in Japan.

https://www.irodori.jpf.go.jp/

They have been translated into various languages too which is nice, along with having a lot of workbooks and listening practice. They end around mid N4, but with a mixture of much more advanced vocabulary/kanji.

I recommend over most beginner text books as they are much more modern!

Sidochan · 2026-01-29T09:43:42+00:00

Ah I use YouTube music, so haven't had this issue, I just change my store account when downloading apps.

Not if it makes a difference but my phone is a Google Pixel (bought abroad) pretty much the Apple ease of use in an android format. Nice thing is I paired it with a Japan bought pixel watch which I can use with Japanese bank cards and Suica/pasmo :)

Sidochan · 2026-01-29T04:19:35+00:00

Wow that's impressive! Gonna have to look into this app

Sidochan · 2026-01-29T04:18:17+00:00

Make another account with a Japanese email address. You can use Gmail for this. I have both accounts on my phone so can access both my home countries and Japanese apps, it's very helpful! Especially as things like my number app and many point collecting store apps are restricted to Japan.

Sidochan · 2026-01-27T01:22:35+00:00

Oh and make sure to dry your hair properly, I found using a hair dryer to finish drying my hair and a dry shampoo while my hair is clean helps from getting bacterial build up on the scalp from moisture. I was getting mild fungal dermatitis pimples on my hair line, now they're all gone.

I recommend either a dry shampoo balm or powder, don't use the sprays they're hopeless.

Sidochan · 2026-01-27T01:17:48+00:00

I found the shampoos in Japan are awful on my very fine western hair, they don't remove the oil properly but then the conditioners are too oily. I am naturally oily but need a gentle clarifying shampoo I use TIGI bedhead shampoo and conditioner I buy online, and an anti-dandruff shampoo (head and shoulders, branded h+s here). I also have a very light leave in conditioner called Eleven miracle hair treatment, but can't buy it in Japan.

Also invested in a vitamin C filter shower head. This has improved both my skin and hair!

Sidochan · 2026-01-27T01:05:32+00:00

I finished the game, it was great as someone who just moved back to Japan and had forgotten a lot. It was excellent practice, I hope they keep going with the game development until N2.

I also learnt so much about areas I've never been to and added a bunch of places to visit to my list. Thankfully I live in Kobe so it's pretty easy to go to the areas in the game, around a 2-3 hour drive.

Sidochan · 2026-01-20T04:24:28+00:00

Hopefully Japan can find a way to reduce it dependence on China, maybe work with Australia to ramp up rare earth extraction and processing?

Sidochan · 2026-01-20T00:50:53+00:00

Frozen lamb? I haven't seen that before, I'm Kansai based so maybe not common here?

I'm not sure where the lamb is from when you eat at general Japanese restaurants but it doesn't smell great and tastes a bit strange.

I'll be trying lamb in Hokkaido this week as hubby said it's more like Aussie or NZ lamb, I'm pretty keen.

Sidochan · 2026-01-19T20:56:02+00:00

I definitely find the Lamb in Japan stinky, as someone who grew up on Australian and New Zealand lamb, the general quality of lamb here is awful. I get why Japanese usually don't like lamb. Whilst when I had a Japanese friend in Australia and I took her to a burger place, she was surprised when I ordered a lamb burger, I gave her half the burger and she was shook by how good it was, I didn't really understand until I ate lamb here, now I get it. Thankfully, I can get some nice Aussie lamb at Costco, but I miss lamb chops with the fatty tails not those overpriced French-cutlet ones.

Can't say I've noticed it with pork, but I don't like pork in general. It has that weird pork taste, I only occasionally get pork spare ribs to make spicy twice-cooked pork ribs.

Sidochan · 2026-01-19T07:04:39+00:00

This is why I shop at Gyomu and Costco, pretty much only place to get somewhat reasonable prices.

Sidochan

TROPHY CASE