A push into the city and population decline are two reasons they sit empty, as well as the Japanese preference to newly built homes rather than pre-owned.
Foreigners see Japan's empty houses as a way to be homeowners for as little as $23,000. Moving there allows them a more adventurous and affordable life.
Take Kurosawa and Joey Stockermans working on their akiya renovation in Japan. Courtesy of Take Kurosawa. Japan has more than 8 million abandoned homes, with…