- Matt Guy moved to Japan in 2023 and bought a traditional house in a ski town for $6,000.
- He lives in the two-story house — that was built in the '60s — with his Japanese partner.
- He hopes that people will not buy property in Japan solely because it's cheap or trendy.
Matt Guy visited Japan for the first time during a six-week trip in 2010. Half of the visit was spent snowboarding, while the other half was spent exploring the country.
At that time, Guy — who was born in Australia — had already traveled to 30 different countries and lived in several places before, but Japan piqued his curiosity.
"I left the country feeling kind of different," Guy, 40, told Business Insider.
He knew he wanted to explore and understand the country more deeply, which led him to move to Japan in 2014 and enroll in a one-year course to learn the language.
Slowly, the idea of relocating to Japan started to take root. In 2016, he returned as an English teacher and stayed for two years. But he was itching to see the world once again, so he left.
It wasn't until 2023 that he returned to Japan — and this time, for good.
"By the time I committed to making Japan my home, it wasn't on a whim. I came with knowledge, experience, and respect for a place I had grown to deeply love," he said.
House-hunting in Japan
At that time, Guy — who has a background in construction — was on the hunt for a permanent place to call home.
He had spent the past couple of years looking at listings in Japan and scouting out different areas where he wouldn't mind living.
"I would still be searching even when I was overseas," Guy said. "I spent all of that time shaping up what is most desirable to me and what ticks the boxes for me."
As someone who likes the outdoors and enjoys activities such as hiking, backcountry skiing, and snowboarding, he has always wanted to live in a ski town.
By a stroke of luck, a friend who owns a ski lodge near Myoko Kogen — a popular ski area in the Niigata prefecture — had invited Guy to spend the summer.
By the end of the season, Guy ended up finding his forever home.
"I came here without an intention to buy anything, but it just lined up that this house became available," he said.
He chanced upon the listing online after searching for property in the area.
The traditional two-story house, built in the '60s, was owned by a couple in their eighties, who were eager to show him around.
"He's like, 'Come in, let me show you the good points of my house. If you open this window during the summer and that window, you get this cross ventilation coming through. This window gets the best sunshine,'" Guy said, recalling the previous owner's words. "It was incredible."
Guy says he bought the property for slightly under 1 million Japanese yen, or about $6,000.
"One of the things that I wanted was to live in a ski town up on the hill. I want the ski lift and the chairlift to be there," Guy said. "But as I've spent more time in the mountains, I've realized that if I come down a little bit, away from the more popular area, I'd be able to save money, and enjoy other benefits too."
For instance, it doesn't snow as heavily where he is.
"I don't have to clear snow. Some of my neighbors up the hill do," he said. "There are fewer insects; there are fewer woodpeckers that destroy your house. There are no bears here."
Rural but convenient
Guy — now a content creator who makes videos about off-the-beaten-path destinations in Japan — lives in the house with his partner, who is Japanese.
The house was largely move-in ready, save for the bathroom, which had some termites, he said.
"Everything else could have been left as it was. There was really no renovation necessary," Guy said.
However, he had his own idea of how he wanted the place to look, so he made some changes to the interiors.
"I recently renovated my bathroom and my shower room, and I made it out of Hinoki Japanese wood, and now that's become one of my favorite spots in the house," he added.
Even though the area he lives in is considered rural, there are still plenty of amenities around.
"For example, my next-door neighbor is a sushi restaurant. Two doors down, there's a soba restaurant. My local hospital is about 35 seconds walk away. The pharmacy is across the street from that. The post office is 15 seconds walk away," Guy said. "So it's all very convenient."
To get to Tokyo, all he has to do is hop on the Shinkansen, bullet train, and he'll be there in about two hours, he said.
A more present and intentional life
Since moving to Japan, Guy says he's found himself living a life that's more connected to the present.
For instance, the way that Japanese culture celebrates the changing seasons has encouraged him to focus less on what's next and more on what's happening now.
"This shift has brought a deeper sense of gratitude for everyday moments, whether it's enjoying a seasonal meal or taking part in a local tradition," he said.
He's also grown to be more patient since Japanese culture emphasizes politeness and respect in daily interactions.
"Whether it's waiting your turn to speak, carefully listening, or queuing for a train or a popular restaurant, patience becomes second nature," Guy said. "The value placed on maintaining harmony also means situations are often handled calmly and thoughtfully, which has taught me the value of slowing down and considering others."
Japanese society also views people as equals, regardless of their jobs, he said.
"Whether you are a bus driver or a doctor, you're very much treated with just as much respect as anybody else," Guy said. "People know that you're needed to operate. You are still part of the system needed to make everything work smoothly."
Playing a part in the community
Guy says one of the biggest things people should consider is that buying a house in Japan means participating in the local community.
"I think it's important to think about how you are a contributor to the community," Guy said. "It cannot be an entirely selfish approach of 'I just want a cheap ski house in Japan.'"
For instance, Guy and his neighbors meet every three months to do community service, such as cleaning the streets together.
"I think the first question is, 'How can I be valuable to the community that I live in?' And it's got to go beyond teaching English to people who don't ever need to use English in this community. It's got to go beyond cooking them things or baking them cookies," Guy said.
It's important that people consider their decision carefully before buying a house here, especially since it's quite a trend right now, Guy — who also does property consulting on the side — said.
According to Japan's Ministry of Justice, 2,604 Americans moved to the country in 2023, bringing the total number of American expats in Japan to 63,408.
Four Americans told BI previously listed the country's safety standards and relative affordability as their reasons for making the move. Some of them even buy and renovate one of the country's 8 million cheap abandoned homes.
He hopes people who purchase property in Japan do so because they genuinely love the country and its culture, and want to contribute to it — not just because they like the aesthetics of owning a house there.
"Buying a house in Japan is not just a financial transaction; it's a cultural exchange that affects both the buyer and the surrounding area," Guy said. "My hope is to see Japan maintain its unique character and charm rather than having homes purchased solely because they are inexpensive."
Have you recently relocated to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at [email protected].