A millennial moved to Japan and bought a $6,000 house in a ski resort

• Matt Guy moved to Japan in 2023 and bought a traditional house in a ski resort for $6,000.
• He lives in the two-story house built in the 1960s with his Japanese partner.
• He hopes people won’t buy property in Japan just because it’s cheap or fashionable.

Matt Guy visited Japan for the first time during a six-week trip in 2010. Half the visit was spent snowboarding, while the other half was spent exploring the country.

By that time, Guy — who was born in Australia — had already traveled to 30 different countries and lived in several places before, but Japan has piqued his curiosity.

“I left the country feeling 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 year-long course to learn the language.

Little by little, the idea of move to Japan began to take root. In 2016, he returned as english teacher and stayed there for two years. But he couldn’t wait to see the world again, so he left.

It is only in 2023 that it returned to Japan – and this time, for good.

“When I committed to making Japan my home, it wasn’t on a whim. I arrived with knowledge, experience and respect for a place I learned to love deeply,” he said.

Looking for accommodation in Japan

At that time, Guy – who has a background in construction – was looking for permanent accommodation.

He had spent the last two years watching ads in Japan and explore different areas where he wouldn’t mind living.

“I would keep looking even when I was abroad,” Guy said. “I spent all this time defining what is most desirable for me and what checks the boxes for me.”

Loving the outdoors and activities such as hiking, cross-country skiing and snowboarding, he always wanted to live in a ski town.

Luckily, a friend who owned a ski chalet near Myoko Kogen — a popular ski area in Niigata Prefecture — had invited Guy to spend the summer.

By the end of the season, Guy finally found his forever home.

“I came here not intending to buy anything, but it turned out this house was available,” he said.

He stumbled across the ad online after searching for property in the area.

The traditional two-story house, built in the 1960s, belonged to a couple in their 80s who wanted to show him around.

“He said to me: ‘Come in, let me show you the good things about my house. If you open this window in the summer and this window, you will have this cross ventilation coming through. This window gets the best sunlight’ “, said Guy. , recalling the words of the former owner. “It was incredible.”

Guy said he purchased the property for just under a million Japanese yen, or about $6,000.

“One of the things I wanted was live in a ski town on the hill. I want the ski lifts and the chairlift to be there,” Guy said. “But as I’ve spent more time in the mountains, I’ve realized that if I go down a little bit, away from the most popular, I could save money and enjoy other benefits as well.

For example, it doesn’t snow as hard where it is.

“I don’t need to plow snow. Some of my neighbors up the hill do,” he said. “There are fewer bugs; there are fewer woodpeckers destroying your house. There are no bears here.”

Rural but convenient

Guy – now one content creator who makes videos about off-the-beaten-track destinations in Japan – lives in the house with her partner, who is Japanese.

The house was largely move-in ready, except for the bathroom, which had termites, he said.

“Everything else could have stayed as is. No renovations were really necessary,” Guy said.

But he had his own idea of ​​how he wanted the place to look, so he made some changes to the interiors.

“I recently I renovated my bathroom and my shower room, and I made it from Japanese Hinoki wood, and now it has become one of my favorite places in the house,” he added.

Even though the area he lives in is considered rural, there are still plenty of amenities nearby.

“For example, my next door neighbor is a sushi restaurant. Two doors down there is a soba restaurant. My local hospital is about a 35-second walk away. The pharmacy is across the street. The office The post office is a 15-second walk away,” Guy said. “So it’s all very convenient.”

To arrive at Tokyoall he has to do is board the Shinkansen, known as the high speed trainand he will be there in about two hours, he said.

A more present and intentional life

From move to Japansaid Guy, he found himself living a life more connected to the present.

For example, the way Japanese culture celebrates the changing of the seasons has encouraged it to focus less on the future and more on what’s happening now.

“This change has brought a deeper sense of gratitude for everyday moments, whether enjoying a seasonal meal or participating in a local tradition,” he said.

He has also become more patient since japanese culture emphasizes politeness and respect in daily interactions.

“Whether it’s waiting for your turn to speak, listening attentively, or waiting in line for a train or a popular restaurant, patience becomes second nature,” Guy said. “The emphasis on maintaining harmony also means that situations are often handled calmly and thoughtfully, which has taught me the importance of slowing down and considering others.”

Japanese society also views people as equal, regardless of their job, he said.

“Whether you’re a bus driver or a doctor, you’re treated with as much respect as anyone else,” Guy said. “People know that you are necessary to function. You are still part of the system that is necessary to make everything work.”

Play a role in the community

Guy said one of the most important things people should consider is that buy a house in Japan means participating in the local community.

“I think it’s important to think about how you contribute to the community,” Guy said. “It can’t be a completely selfish approach like ‘I just want a cheap ski house in Japan’.”

For example, Guy and his neighbors get together every three months to do community service, like cleaning the streets together.

“I think the first question is, ‘How can I be of service to the community I live in?’ “And it has to go beyond teaching English to people who never need to use it in this community,” he said. “It has to go beyond their cook things or bake them cookies.”

Guy, who also does real estate advice next door, added that it is important for people to think carefully about their decision before buying a house in Japan, especially since it is a trend at the moment.

According to Japan Ministry of Justice2,604 Americans moved to the country in 2023, bringing the total number of American expats in Japan to 63,408.

Four Americans who have already spoken with BI listed the safety standards and affordable price as the reasons for their decision. A few foreigners even choose to buy and renovate one of 8 million in the country cheap abandoned houses.

Guy hopes that people who buy property in Japan do so because they truly love the country and its culture and want to contribute to it – not just because they like the aesthetic of owning a home there.

“Buying a home in Japan is not just a financial transaction; it is a cultural exchange that affects both the buyer and those around them,” Guy said. “My hope is to see Japan retain its unique character and charm rather than buying houses just because they are cheap.”

Have you recently moved to a new country and found your dream home? If you have a story to share, contact this reporter at agoh@businessinsider.com.