The Australian couple making the most of Japan’s cheap abandoned houses

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Enjoying a cup of tea on their own tatami mat is all part of the Japanese dream for Australian couple John and Miranda Bertram.

Originally from Brisbane, they took the plunge and bought a vacant home in Japan two years ago.

Australians John and Miranda Bertram bought and renovated a house in Japan.

“We absolutely love living here, and we feel like really welcome guests in this country,” Ms Bertram said.

The husband and wife spent about $150,000 purchasing and renovating the property that was once a geisha house.

“Ever since I was 12 years old, I dreamt of visiting a world that was really peaceful and serene and elegant, and that’s what first attracted me to geisha culture, and we’ve gone from there,” Ms Bertram said.

They are now running the home in Atami, about two hours south of Tokyo, as an Airbnb.

John and Miranda Bertram’s house in Japan, which they have renovated and operate as an Airbnb.

At the same time, they are renovating a second rundown property they bought next door.

“It had been empty for 20 years … and it was completely covered in vines,” Mr Bertram said.

“The number one difficulty is there’s no Bunnings in Japan.

“They don’t have the DIY culture that we have in Australia. You’ve got to look really hard for the right products.”

There are an estimated nine million empty or abandoned houses, known as akiya, in Japan.

The Bertrams are two of more than 13,000 Australians living in Japan who are cashing in on the cheap property market.

Some homes in the country sell for just a few thousand dollars.

Cross You Real Estate’s Jason Erb helps foreigners, like the Bertrams, get into the market.

“A lot of people want to own homes, but they can’t afford it in Australia and America. They can come here and they can buy something within a week or two,” he said.

The house has been restored after being bought in a dilapidated condition.

“I get a certain satisfaction from explaining how to do things and encouraging them to buy something of good quality - not be tricked into buying something that’s a money pit.”

For Australians dreaming about buying a home in Japan, the Bertrams recommend using a real estate agent and management company to help with the upkeep of the property.

“There are termites, there are rats who will come and chew on your wires, there are all kinds of risks. You really want someone local who can come and look after it,” Ms Bertram said.

There is also the task of obtaining a Japanese work, tourist, spousal or business visa to make the most of a home purchase.

“Sadly there are a few foreigners who end up abandoning their homes, and it has a very negative impact on the community and it has a very negative impact on the way that some Japanese can view foreigners coming here,” Ms Bertram said.

“Visit Japan as many times as you can for as long as you can because it’s a really big decision both for yourself and for the community”.