AkiyaMart Direct Agent Interview: Meet Mika

An episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, hosted by Take Kurosawa, titled "AkiyaMart Direct Agent Interview: Meet Mika" was published on April 25, 2025 and runs 50 minutes.

April 25, 2025 ·50m · Buying a House in Japan

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

Join hosts Take and Joey in their first video podcast as they visit their newly purchased Akiya home in Nagasaki. They've invited Mika Auslander, a seasoned real estate agent specializing in vacant homes (Akiya) for overseas buyers, to share her insights and experiences. This episode is filled with personal anecdotes, valuable advice for prospective buyers, and a look at the exciting future of Akiya real estate in Japan. 00:37 Fukuoka and Softbank Hawks 01:07 Podcast Setup and Introduction 02:42 Meet Mika: Our Real Estate Agent 04:35 Mika's Background and Career Journey 07:59 Real Estate in Tokyo vs. Nagasaki 11:42 Exploring Nagasaki: Hidden Gems and Local Cuisine 19:21 Nagasaki's Cultural Diversity and Scenic Beauty 22:34 Abandoned School and Rural Life in Japan 27:01 Encounter with Abandoned Homes 27:39 Buying the Abandoned School 29:30 Emotional Sale of Family Home 31:01 Cultural Differences in Real Estate 31:57 Challenges of Renovating in Japan 38:16 Real Estate Advice for Foreigners 48:07 Exploring Other Areas in Japan 51:24 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Episode Description

Join hosts Take and Joey in their first video podcast as they visit their newly purchased Akiya home in Nagasaki.

They've invited Mika Auslander, a seasoned real estate agent specializing in vacant homes (Akiya) for overseas buyers, to share her insights and experiences. This episode is filled with personal anecdotes, valuable advice for prospective buyers, and a look at the exciting future of Akiya real estate in Japan.

00:37 Fukuoka and Softbank Hawks
01:07 Podcast Setup and Introduction
02:42 Meet Mika: Our Real Estate Agent
04:35 Mika's Background and Career Journey 07:59 Real Estate in Tokyo vs. Nagasaki
11:42 Exploring Nagasaki: Hidden Gems and Local Cuisine
19:21 Nagasaki's Cultural Diversity and Scenic Beauty
22:34 Abandoned School and Rural Life in Japan
27:01 Encounter with Abandoned Homes
27:39 Buying the Abandoned School
29:30 Emotional Sale of Family Home
31:01 Cultural Differences in Real Estate
31:57 Challenges of Renovating in Japan
38:16 Real Estate Advice for Foreigners
48:07 Exploring Other Areas in Japan
51:24 Final Thoughts and Farewell