Hello everyone! Today I will be brief but everything is going good, many renovation projects are being finished and we are just wrapping everyone to try to get their house ready for the winter season. I do have some amazing houses to share and hope that you enjoy!
Ingredient #1
📍 Location: Otaru City, Hokkaido
💰 Price: ¥1,100,000 (~$6,950 USD)
🏠 Type: Detached House
🛏 Layout: 5LDK
📐 Building Size: 107.46 m² (1,157 sq ft)
🌿 Land Size: 102.9 m² (1,107.1 sq ft)
Learn more here: Live Listing!
For this price, I think this house is really interesting! It has five bedrooms and a good amount of space, but what caught my attention the most is actually the location and the views. The house sits in an elevated area of Otaru, and according to the listing, you can see both the mountains and the ocean from the property. You can even see Otaru’s fireworks during the summer, which I think could be such a nice feature if you renovated the house and really took advantage of the views.
The house was built in 1979, and this is definitely one where I would plan for renovations. Looking at the photos, there are a lot of older finishes throughout the property, especially in the kitchen and living areas. I would probably update the kitchen, flooring, wallpaper, lighting, and some of the water areas, while keeping some of the Japanese rooms.
There are several tatami rooms upstairs, so you also have a lot of flexibility with the five-bedroom layout. You could keep one or two as traditional Japanese guest rooms and modernize the others, which I think would create a really nice mix of old and new.
One downside that is important to mention is that the property does not have parking. For me, this isn’t necessarily a dealbreaker, but it is something you would need to plan for before purchasing. Of course, we can always look into finding a monthly parking space nearby, but I would definitely want to confirm what options are available within a reasonable walking distance before moving forward with the property.
The location itself is actually pretty convenient. Otaru Station is only around 5-minute drive, and you have a supermarket around a 6-minute walk from the house.
Ingredient #2
📍 Location: Oaza Teruoka, Iiyama City, Nagano Prefecture
💰 Price: ¥1,480,000 (~$9,366 USD)
🏠 Type: Detached House
🛏 Layout: 5LDK
📐 Building Size: 142.74 m² (1,536 sq ft)
🌿 Land Size: 366.51 m² (3,945 sq ft)
🚍 Access: 7-minute walk to Nishi-Ōtaki Station on the JR Iiyama Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
I have to be honest, the outside appearance of this house is not my favorite haha! But this is definitely one of those properties where you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, because the inside looks SO much better than I expected, especially for such a low price.
A lot of the expensive work also appears to have already been done. The bathroom has been renovated and looks much more modern, and the kitchen has also been updated. From the photos, it looks like the wallpaper in the kitchen and living areas has been replaced as well, which immediately makes the house feel cleaner and brighter. These might seem like simple changes, but anyone who has renovated an older house in Japan knows that updating all of the water areas can quickly become one of the biggest expenses.
And of course, one of the biggest reasons I like properties in this general area is the location. You’re positioned between the mountain areas of northern Nagano and Myoko, giving you access by car to a many of the skiing and outdoor activities on both sides of the prefectural border. That makes it interesting not only as a countryside home, but also as a base for someone who wants to spend their winters exploring different ski resorts rather than being tied to just one.
The exterior definitely needs love but for such a low-priced house with an interior that already looks this good, I think this one has a LOT of potential!
Ingredient #3
📍 Location: Otaru, Hokkaido
💰 Price: ¥9,800,000 (~$62,018 USD)
🏠 Type: Detached House
🛏 Layout: 4LDK+S
📐 Building Size: 178.09 m² (1,917 sq ft)
🌿 Land Size: 169.57 m² (1,825 sq ft)
🚍 Access: 10-minute walk to Asari Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line
Learn more here: Live Listing!
Now that you can heart your favorite properties on our website, I’ve been keeping an eye on which houses everyone seems to like the most, and this one is currently our second most-hearted property! And honestly, I can see why. Unlike many of the properties I normally share, I really don’t think this house needs any renovations at all.
It was built in 1996 and, from the photos, the interior looks very well maintained and completely livable as it is. Of course, if you wanted to give it a more modern look, you could eventually paint some of the rooms, replace some wallpaper or carpets, and change the lighting, but those would really just be personal design choices rather than renovations that the house actually needs.
You have a system kitchen, a Japanese-style room, two toilets, a bathroom with a window, and a separate vanity area with a shower-style sink. Also, 4 bedrooms and 2 parking spaces.
The location is also really practical. The property is in Asari, which is a flatter part of Otaru, and Asari Station is only around a 10-minute walk away. You have a supermarket within a 10-minute walk, and the bus stop is only around four minutes away. So even though you have easy access to the mountains, you’re not living somewhere completely isolated.
And for skiing, Asarigawa Onsen Ski Resort is roughly 10–15 minutes away by car, making it incredibly easy to go skiing without actually living at a resort. You also have Sapporo Kokusai at roughly 30 minutes and Kiroro at around 35–40 minutes by car, depending on traffic and winter road conditions. Having several completely different ski areas within driving distance is a huge advantage if you’re planning to spend winters here.
Overall, I think this is a really good option for someone who wants an Otaru house without taking on a big renovation. And considering it is already the second most-hearted house on our website, it looks like I’m not the only one who likes it!
As always, let me know in the comments which house was your favorite or which area you would like me to search next. See you next week!
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This content is for informational and educational purposes only and reflects my personal opinions and experience. I am not a licensed financial advisor, tax advisor, or attorney. Readers should conduct their own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making any investment decisions.