Holiday Homes in Japan

Izu-Atagawa is a hot spring resort town and there are numerous resort condominiums in the area. Many of them were built during the bubble period about 20 years ago and now because the owners are aging and selling them off, and also because there is a surplus of these resort condominiums, they are surprisingly cheap. Even foreigners living in Japan can now afford to have a second home. Let’s have a look at getting a second home in Japan.

Resort condo in Izu Atagawa

For around 2,000,000 yen ($20,000US), you could get yourself a little 22 square meter condo with small kitchenette and unit bath. That’s all you need if it is just the two of you. You may need something bigger if you’re a family of four. Since you are in a hot spring resort town, almost all of the complexes will have their own hot spring bathing facilities in the building. You could sit in the outdoor hot pools and look over the ocean. Your condo will probably come with a swimming pool and various other facilities such as a billiards table and table tennis table. 

Most condos will have their own hot spring facilities.

Of course you’ll have to pay the running costs if you purchase one. Maintenance costs will cost around 20,000 yen a month for a 22 square meter condo. If you have a bigger condo, you’ll pay more. The cost will also depend on the age of your condo, too. You’ll also need to pay for utilities, such as power and water. Oh, and don’t forget insurance.  

Japanese flooring, tatami.

Second home ownership isn’t for everyone. There are a few things that you need to keep in mind. Firstly, how far is it from your home? Ideally, you want something that’s not too far away. Perhaps a 3-hour drive at most. Secondly, If you have a second home, you’ll probably be going back to the same place all the time, rather than different destinations. 

Kitchenette

Unit Bath

However, with a second home you are not dictated by the check-in and check-out times of hotels. You won’t have to vacate your room by 10am, so you can sleep in, and perhaps head for home later in the evening after you are well rested. 

View from balcony

If you think you’d like a second home in Japan, there are many websites (in Japanese, naturally) that list resort condos. One company that deals in resort holiday homes his Himawari. Check out their website at http://www.himawari.com and if you see anything you like, organize a viewing. It would probably pay to have someone who can speak Japanese, especially if you decide to buy. When it comes time to buy, you’ll have to pay the land agents fees on top of the sale price, and there is a one-off property tax that needs to be paid about 3 months after the purchase date.