Lee Xian Jie has restored three centuries-old buildings in Ryujin-mura, a village in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture. The property, which was previously home to four generations, is one of Japan’s many empty houses (known as akiya) that are for rent on good land and have two family graves in the area. Although it’s challenging to live rurally without having a good grasp of the Japanese language and social norms, Lee has fallen in love with Ryujin-mura, where he runs a farm-to-table cafe, farms and rents another akiya as a co-working space for digital nomads. He also bought a 100-year-old building next door, which he is converting into a guesthouse. Lee Xian Jie first stepped foot in the traditional farmhouse located in Ryujin-mura, a village in Japan’s Wakayama prefecture, it was “quite rundown” — with floors so rickety they shook beneath him with every step he took.
Lee paid a lot less for the two buildings he rents and runs a business from, than he would in Japan’s cities. Living in rural Japan has lower living costs, but the income is also lower due to limited available jobs. Lee, therefore, looked for business activities that would attract visitors to his rural location by organising tea workshops and cultural tours. He expects to make about $7,500 from the cafe, co-working space, tours and guesthouse at full capacity.
Lee’s interest lies in history and his dream of living in rural Japan has come true, as Covid-19 fast-tracked his rural lifestyle experience. Although hard work, Lee is happy to know he’s fully involved in growing and harvesting the ingredients he uses in his cafe. He’s also made many local friends and the connections he has are priceless. Lee’s life is mostly outdoors farming, running his business, and maintaining the grass around the land. Late nights, up to 16 hours, are typical.
There are a few things to consider when moving to Japan to purchase an akiya. If communication with the neighbours is not possible due to language barriers, it can be difficult. It takes at least four years of Japanese language study to gain a basic understanding, and up to seven to eight years to become fluent. Farm life can be romanticised, but farmers are busy and maintaining land has many social expectations. Grass maintenance is a significant task as Japan has a lot of rain and plants grow very well. If not kept tidy, weeds can affect neighbours’ crops. It’s also important to note that renovation costs for the akiya can be hefty, depending on the condition of the buildings.
Lee renovated the floors of the main farmhouse but ended up hiring a carpenter to replace the floorboards due to damage caused by humidity and termites. He also spent $97,000 with two friends to purchase and renovate the 190,000 sq. ft guesthouse on the same property. Another $37,000 was spent turning the main house into living space for himself and his cafe. He involved himself in the demolishing work to reduce labour costs, as there is a shortage of manpower in the village.
In conclusion, Lee Xian Jie said he was “never worried” about recouping his investment in the four buildings on the property. His experience as a tour guide gave him the knowledge needed to attract visitors to his businesses running from the location. Lee has found living in Japan’s rural area fulfils his interests in history, close contact with nature and fresh produce, and the priceless human connections he’s made.