A Hawaii family buys an oceanfront home in Japan for $16,000 and it has a surf break out front, a bike path, and ski resorts 40 minutes away. This is how they did it. In this episode, host Take Kurosawa sits down with Chris Rose, a former Army veteran, longtime Hawaii resident, and Buying a House in Japan direct program customer, at the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden on Oahu's east side. Chris shares his full journey: from falling down the Instagram rabbit hole of cheap Japanese homes to closing on a stunning two-story oceanfront property in Itoigawa, Niigata for just ¥2.5 million (~$16,000 USD). What You'll Learn How Chris went from browsing Instagram to owning an oceanfront home in Japan in under two months The one filter trick on the Buying a House in Japan website that helped him find the perfect property the day it was listed Why he passed on a more popular (and pricier) Myoko ski town property The "checklist method" Chris used to evaluate every listing, and the boxes his Itoigawa home checked that nothing else did What it's really like to arrive at your new Japanese home in February with snow on the beach How they set up the house before arriving: Amazon JP deliveries, heaters staged by their coordinator Eric, and a professional deep clean Tips for meeting your Japanese neighbors the right way (hint: bring macadamia nut chocolates from Hawaii) How Chris's son Luke practiced with a Japanese water polo team, including a former Olympian coach, during their trip Why Chris recommends buying in Japan for the right reasons, not just because it's cheap The logistics of getting from Honolulu to a small coastal town in Niigata, and how they're still refining their travel systemAbout Chris Rose Chris Rose is a former U.S. Army veteran and 25-year Hawaii resident who spent two years living in Okinawa while working a government position at Pearl Harbor. A surfer, skier, and homeschooling dad of three, Chris purchased his Japan vacation home through the Buying a House in Japan direct program in late 2025. His property is located in Itoigawa, Niigata; oceanfront, with a 20-mile coastal bike path behind it, a surf break out front, and ski resorts 40 minutes away. Resources & Links Mentioned Buying a House in Japan website: browse 500,000+ English-friendly listings at https://www.akiya-mart.com/ Amazon Japan (amazon.co.jp): for pre-arrival furniture and bedding delivery Hard Off / Book Off: secondhand shops in Japan for gear, surfboards, and more Myoko, Niigata: popular ski town and nearby reference point Joetsu City: the nearest major city to Chris's property, with Shinkansen access Toyama: alternative arrival city with a Costco, ~2 hours from ItoigawaKey Takeaways Set your search filters to "listed within the last day" and check daily, the best properties go fast Write a personal letter with your offer explaining who you are and how you'll use the home as it matters to sellers Budget for a deep professional clean ($500–$1,000) before your first stay, which is worth every yen Bring gifts for neighbors immediately; macadamia nut chocolates from Hawaii were a hit Hawaii residents have a geographic advantage; you're already halfway to JapanSubscribe & Leave a Review If this episode helped or inspired you, please leave us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, which takes five seconds and makes a huge difference. Share this episode with anyone who's been dreaming about buying in Japan.
