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Five Homes in Japan, Every Week

Find Your Place in Japan. Every Friday we hand-pick five homes for sale across Japan and show you the life that comes with each one: the town, the seasons, the mountains and the coast.

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A sample of what you'll get

This is what lands in your inbox every Friday. Every issue opens with the same simple map: this week's five homes, numbered, with icons showing the lifestyle each one suits and how much work it needs. Below it, the lifestyle ratings for all five, side by side.

Sample issue: a map of Japan with five numbered homes in Hokkaido, Kanto, Kyoto, Shikoku and Okinawa, a key to the lifestyle icons, and a table comparing the lifestyle ratings of all five homes
A sample map and ratings grid. Then each home follows with photos, price, a deep dive on the town and our honest pros and cons.

Dreaming of a home in Japan?

We're Japan experts, not real estate agents. We live here and have spent years guiding people across the country, from Hokkaido's ski towns to the slopes of Mt. Fuji. Each week we take five homes and give you our honest take on what living in that particular home might be like: the good, the hard parts, and who it suits.

The newsletter is for inspiration, a way to discover places and kinds of homes you might not have thought of. For picks chosen around you and your plans, try our one-to-one consultation.

How each issue works

  1. One map, five homesA simple map of Japan showing where this week's five homes are, numbered so you can follow along.
  2. The homePhotos, price, land and floor size, year built, and a link to the original listing.
  3. The town and the lifeA deep dive on the area: what there is to do, the seasons, getting there, daily life, and the people.
  4. Lifestyle ratingsSix scores for every home, plus a grid comparing all five side by side.
  5. Our honest takeWhat we like, and what to think hard about, from snow load to road access.

Our lifestyle ratings

Every home is scored from 1 to 5 on six things that shape everyday life. The scores are based on real travel times, not guesswork, and there's no overall score, because a skier and a retiree will weigh them differently.

  • ActivitiesSkiing, surfing, hiking, golf and more. A 5 means something within 15 minutes, or four or more within an hour.
  • Daily essentialsSupermarkets, schools, a hospital and other everyday needs within 30 minutes.
  • WalkabilityWhat you can reach on foot within a 15-minute walk.
  • Getting thereTravel time from the nearest major airport or city, from Tokyo and Osaka to Sapporo and Kyoto.
  • SeasonsWhether the area is good to live in all year, or mainly in one season.
  • EnglishHow easily you can get by in English, from services to the local community.

Who it's for

  • Just dreamingYou love the idea of a home in Japan and want to see what's out there.
  • Not sure whereYou don't know yet if you're a ski town, surf coast or island person.
  • Living abroadYou want a view from people who actually live here.
  • Planning aheadA holiday home, a move, or retirement, sometime in the next few years.

Why you can trust our picks

We do

  • Live and work in Japan, in the places we write about
  • Choose every home ourselves
  • Tell you the downsides as well as the dream
  • Feature a range of prices and regions every week

We don't

  • Act as real estate agents or brokers
  • Take commissions or referral fees from agents or sellers
  • Accept paid listings
  • Give legal, tax, visa or investment advice

Want to know who's behind it? Read about us.

Questions about the newsletter

When does it arrive?

Every Friday, straight to your inbox.

Are the homes still for sale?

They were when we published. Good homes can sell within days, so check the listing link first.

How do I cancel?

Log in on shogunhomes.com and manage your subscription from your account, or reply "cancel" to any issue and we'll do it for you. You keep access until the end of the period you've paid for.

Is the consultation included?

No. The one-to-one consultation is a separate product, booked and paid for on its own.

The Shogun Homes newsletter provides general information about homes and regions in Japan. Listings are shown for information only and may have sold or changed. We are not a licensed real estate brokerage, lawyers, tax advisers or immigration specialists. Confirm details with a licensed professional before you act.

Last updated .