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Free Houses in Japan: The True Story of How I Make Money DIY Renovating Abandoned Homes
Discover the secrets of Japan's cheap abandoned homes, with
Free Houses in Japan
as seen in Asahi Shinbun, Business Insider, Daily Mail UK, TV4, NHK World, VOGUE, Engoo, and more.
Amid housing crises gripping many nations, Japan stands out with an intriguing predicament—over ten million abandoned houses. But why? And what's even more baffling, why are some of these houses available for free? In Free Houses in Japan , we delve into this unique real estate landscape, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities it presents and debunking myths from a first hand perspective.
This groundbreaking book, the first-ever English-language guide for beginners, illuminates the captivating realm of Japanese real estate. It spotlights the often-overlooked, old, neglected properties, unveiling the wealth of opportunities they hold. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just a curious explorer, this book is your gateway to navigating Japan's real estate market and seizing the remarkable potential of akiyas—abandoned homes in Japan.
Meet Anton Wormann, originally from Stockholm, Sweden, now a full-time resident of Japan. Anton's journey from a globe-trotting fashion model who has graced iconic cities like New York, Paris, London, and Milan to settling in Japan is an unexpected twist. In 2015, his first visit to Japan ignited a lasting connection to this captivating country.
Anton is the creative force behind the popular YouTube channel, Anton in Japan , where he shares his experiences of life in Japan and his adventures in buying and renovating old Japanese houses in Tokyo. With hundreds of millions of views, his channel has gained global recognition.
Copyright ©2023 Anton Wörmann
Illustrated by Megan Douglas
Published in the United States by Anton in Japan Media
Amid housing crises gripping many nations, Japan stands out with an intriguing predicament—over ten million abandoned houses. But why? And what's even more baffling, why are some of these houses available for free? In Free Houses in Japan , we delve into this unique real estate landscape, providing insights into the challenges and opportunities it presents and debunking myths from a first hand perspective.
This groundbreaking book, the first-ever English-language guide for beginners, illuminates the captivating realm of Japanese real estate. It spotlights the often-overlooked, old, neglected properties, unveiling the wealth of opportunities they hold. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just a curious explorer, this book is your gateway to navigating Japan's real estate market and seizing the remarkable potential of akiyas—abandoned homes in Japan.
Meet Anton Wormann, originally from Stockholm, Sweden, now a full-time resident of Japan. Anton's journey from a globe-trotting fashion model who has graced iconic cities like New York, Paris, London, and Milan to settling in Japan is an unexpected twist. In 2015, his first visit to Japan ignited a lasting connection to this captivating country.
Anton is the creative force behind the popular YouTube channel, Anton in Japan , where he shares his experiences of life in Japan and his adventures in buying and renovating old Japanese houses in Tokyo. With hundreds of millions of views, his channel has gained global recognition.
Copyright ©2023 Anton Wörmann
Illustrated by Megan Douglas
Published in the United States by Anton in Japan Media
- GenresNonfiction
308 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2023
37 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 9, 2023
Love it!!! This book seamlessly blend practical advice with storytelling. The author's passion for the subject matter is palpable, and it translates into a narrative that is both informative and engaging. Each chapter is meticulously crafted, providing a wealth of knowledge on the intricacies of acquiring and renovating these unique "free houses."
One aspect that truly impressed me was the author's ability to capture the essence of Japanese culture. Through vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes, he paints a vivid picture of the country's rich history, architectural wonders, and the warm hospitality of its people. It felt as if I was embarking on a personal journey, exploring hidden gems and uncovering the secrets of these abandoned houses alongside the author.
Moreover, the book is filled with stunning visuals and you also get to know the author and his life through pictures.
One aspect that truly impressed me was the author's ability to capture the essence of Japanese culture. Through vivid descriptions and personal anecdotes, he paints a vivid picture of the country's rich history, architectural wonders, and the warm hospitality of its people. It felt as if I was embarking on a personal journey, exploring hidden gems and uncovering the secrets of these abandoned houses alongside the author.
Moreover, the book is filled with stunning visuals and you also get to know the author and his life through pictures.
February 18, 2024
So this guy from Sweden is looking for a place to stay in Japan and figures out that it would be cheaper to just buy a place, and he ends up learning everything about it. This book talks about the market, financing, remodeling tips, etc. He even brings up ideas that aren't as practical, like getting your own real estate license (with a 15% pass rate, that won't be practical for most people).
This guy really knows his subject, and it's really interesting how things in Japan are both similar and different compared to the US. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
This guy really knows his subject, and it's really interesting how things in Japan are both similar and different compared to the US. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this
February 16, 2024
Having lived in Japan for a number of years, I was skeptical of this book by some young upstart model from Sweden. I mean, really, the nerve of him to write such a book at a young age and with just a few years experience in Japan.
But, boy, was I wrong! I ended up being really impressed overall. The writing is sound, the information is valuable and on target, and he is one of these rare foreigners that just "gets" Japan from the get go.
Now, the title is a total hook, but I can excuse that because there is a sense that he genuinely wants to help others succeed in their own endeavors and by sharing both his story and his learning, he is really giving the readers a gem. I am impressed, Anton, I really and truly am!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'll take a few lashes from a soggy udon for pre-judging this guy!
But, boy, was I wrong! I ended up being really impressed overall. The writing is sound, the information is valuable and on target, and he is one of these rare foreigners that just "gets" Japan from the get go.
Now, the title is a total hook, but I can excuse that because there is a sense that he genuinely wants to help others succeed in their own endeavors and by sharing both his story and his learning, he is really giving the readers a gem. I am impressed, Anton, I really and truly am!
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'll take a few lashes from a soggy udon for pre-judging this guy!
March 4, 2024
When Wörmann first visited Japan on a modelling contract, he started dreaming—and when he learned of Japan's surplus of akiya, or abandoned houses, that could be bought for a song, he started scheming. What followed was a new sort of adventure: a day job as a model and a passion-project-turned-profitable buying and renovating properties to rent out.
Now, the title is intentionally misleading. The houses aren't free, but they can be very, very cheap (think tens of thousands of dollars rather than hundreds of thousands of dollars), largely because there isn't cultural value for old houses, so they depreciate quickly, and the value is perceived to be in the land. In choosing to renovate rather than tear down and rebuild, Wörmann was going against the Japanese grain, but it paid off for him.
This is not a memoir: it's structured as something of a how-to guide, with the premise that the reader might be interested in buying and renovating their own akiya in Japan. My preference would have been for memoir, because Wormann's story is genuinely interesting, and I have no plans to renovate a house anywhere, let alone in Japan; I love house-restoration memoirs because they let me live vicariously through people who take on that challenge. If you read this, be aware that Wörmann only really gives details of one of the three places he has so far renovated, and even those details are pretty scattered. The focus is much more on challenges that you might not know to expect when buying and renovating a house.
The material is still fascinating, partly because for all the house-restoration memoirs I've read, they've almost all taken place in the west (with, if I remember correctly, the occasional detour to Morocco). The writing is something of a letdown; it's a 300-page book but with perhaps 150 pages of material, because almost every piece of information is delivered at least twice. As an example, when talking about different investment strategies involving akiya, Wormann says: How it works: find and buy an abandoned house in a central urban area, renovate it, and turn it into an Airbnb. ... This strategy works by buying an abandoned house in a central urban area, then renovating it and turning it into an Airbnb (loc. 783). One of the next 'investment strategies' is about manshons, or flats, rather than houses: How it works: find and buy an old condo in a central location, renovate it, and rent it to a long-term tenant without excessive fees (loc. 829). Repeat for buying an abandoned house and renting it out long-term, etc., etc. While it's interesting to think about the pros and cons of long-term rentals vs. Airbnb, and houses vs. flats (e.g., in Japan it's very hard to set up a flat as an Airbnb, because you need permission from everyone in the building), the structure of the book is extremely repetitive. I wish that this had gone through further editing to eliminate the repetition and leave space for more story: to walk us through each of the properties step by step rather than dribbling out scattershot bits of story, to tell us what it actually means to need to retrofit older properties for contemporary earthquake-resistant building standards, to take us through a day or a week in the life.
Recommended if you have insatiable curiosity about house renovation (that's me!) or living in far-off places (also me!) and are a fast reader who can skim through some of the repetition (...also me), but otherwise you might get more satisfaction from just watching a few of Wörmann's YouTube videos.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
Now, the title is intentionally misleading. The houses aren't free, but they can be very, very cheap (think tens of thousands of dollars rather than hundreds of thousands of dollars), largely because there isn't cultural value for old houses, so they depreciate quickly, and the value is perceived to be in the land. In choosing to renovate rather than tear down and rebuild, Wörmann was going against the Japanese grain, but it paid off for him.
This is not a memoir: it's structured as something of a how-to guide, with the premise that the reader might be interested in buying and renovating their own akiya in Japan. My preference would have been for memoir, because Wormann's story is genuinely interesting, and I have no plans to renovate a house anywhere, let alone in Japan; I love house-restoration memoirs because they let me live vicariously through people who take on that challenge. If you read this, be aware that Wörmann only really gives details of one of the three places he has so far renovated, and even those details are pretty scattered. The focus is much more on challenges that you might not know to expect when buying and renovating a house.
The material is still fascinating, partly because for all the house-restoration memoirs I've read, they've almost all taken place in the west (with, if I remember correctly, the occasional detour to Morocco). The writing is something of a letdown; it's a 300-page book but with perhaps 150 pages of material, because almost every piece of information is delivered at least twice. As an example, when talking about different investment strategies involving akiya, Wormann says: How it works: find and buy an abandoned house in a central urban area, renovate it, and turn it into an Airbnb. ... This strategy works by buying an abandoned house in a central urban area, then renovating it and turning it into an Airbnb (loc. 783). One of the next 'investment strategies' is about manshons, or flats, rather than houses: How it works: find and buy an old condo in a central location, renovate it, and rent it to a long-term tenant without excessive fees (loc. 829). Repeat for buying an abandoned house and renting it out long-term, etc., etc. While it's interesting to think about the pros and cons of long-term rentals vs. Airbnb, and houses vs. flats (e.g., in Japan it's very hard to set up a flat as an Airbnb, because you need permission from everyone in the building), the structure of the book is extremely repetitive. I wish that this had gone through further editing to eliminate the repetition and leave space for more story: to walk us through each of the properties step by step rather than dribbling out scattershot bits of story, to tell us what it actually means to need to retrofit older properties for contemporary earthquake-resistant building standards, to take us through a day or a week in the life.
Recommended if you have insatiable curiosity about house renovation (that's me!) or living in far-off places (also me!) and are a fast reader who can skim through some of the repetition (...also me), but otherwise you might get more satisfaction from just watching a few of Wörmann's YouTube videos.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.
February 14, 2024
I have been following Anton in Japan on Instagram and Youtube for about a year I think and as soon as I saw this book on Netgalley I just had to have it (and I will be buying it for my collection!)
Anton is from Stockholm in Sweden and found himself in Japan on a modelling contract and fell in love with this stunning country. Although his work took him to other countries, he would always want to return to Japan. In 2018 Anton moved to Japan permanently and in 2019 he bought his first (of 3) properties which he renovated, recording and posting his progress first on a Japanese Language Youtube and in 2023 burst onto Western social media with mixed language posts.
The first thing that struck e about this book is just how beautiful it is. I was actually expecting photographs an d narrative in the same vein as the channels, but this book is nore than that, it delves into the heart and soul behind the motivation to renovate, Anton's history, the renovation journey and the most wonderful illustrations
The book brought me back to one of the most memorable videos I saw, whereby Anton was describing his first forays into renovating in Japan and was paying high amounts for building refuse disposable than most peoples rent, and how the houses would be left, often with property left behind (I think that some ancient carpentry tools were found at one point)
Anton's personal timeline in the book is a really nice touch, and the nod to the influence of his families renovation in Stockholm and the Japanese influence on his life at an early age. Another great touch in the book is the realism. It might be great to buy a house for next to nothing, BUT! (This section is very well laid out and good to take note of) This book is not only whimsical, it is useful, informative, entertaining and engaging, and most of all, an inspiration if you are thinkning of relocating overseas
This book is truly a delight and whether you have seen Anton's channels or not, whether you are into renovationDIY or architecture, or just human interest, this book is a real pleasure to read
Thank you to Netgalley and Anton in Japan Media for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all reviews are my own
Anton is from Stockholm in Sweden and found himself in Japan on a modelling contract and fell in love with this stunning country. Although his work took him to other countries, he would always want to return to Japan. In 2018 Anton moved to Japan permanently and in 2019 he bought his first (of 3) properties which he renovated, recording and posting his progress first on a Japanese Language Youtube and in 2023 burst onto Western social media with mixed language posts.
The first thing that struck e about this book is just how beautiful it is. I was actually expecting photographs an d narrative in the same vein as the channels, but this book is nore than that, it delves into the heart and soul behind the motivation to renovate, Anton's history, the renovation journey and the most wonderful illustrations
The book brought me back to one of the most memorable videos I saw, whereby Anton was describing his first forays into renovating in Japan and was paying high amounts for building refuse disposable than most peoples rent, and how the houses would be left, often with property left behind (I think that some ancient carpentry tools were found at one point)
Anton's personal timeline in the book is a really nice touch, and the nod to the influence of his families renovation in Stockholm and the Japanese influence on his life at an early age. Another great touch in the book is the realism. It might be great to buy a house for next to nothing, BUT! (This section is very well laid out and good to take note of) This book is not only whimsical, it is useful, informative, entertaining and engaging, and most of all, an inspiration if you are thinkning of relocating overseas
This book is truly a delight and whether you have seen Anton's channels or not, whether you are into renovationDIY or architecture, or just human interest, this book is a real pleasure to read
Thank you to Netgalley and Anton in Japan Media for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all reviews are my own
June 4, 2024
This DIY challenge 'guidebook' takes quite a comprehensive, step-by-step look at scouting for, purchasing, financing, renovating and more, an akiya - a vacant &/or abandoned house in Japan. There are apparently a plethora of these and ripe for the picking if you know how. Anton Wormann, the author, doubles this book as a sort of journal of the 'how-to' and a memoir, with interesting tidbits of how he came about this new hobby. I liked that Wormann was sensitive to keeping Japanese traditional and cultural design while also bringing these 'old' homes into a more modern era. Since he is Swedish, he sprinkled some of his Scandinavian flavor into his Free Houses as well. BTW, the houses are not truly free, rather very cheap if you know how to look for the correct deal, Wormann is quick to inform.
The book did get somewhat technical for me in places. However, by reading this book I believe those who would be truly interested in such renovations could be inspired and benefitted greatly should they wish to engage in their own respective, potential purchases of free houses in Japan. A glossary of terms and of futher useful information such as website helps and of Wormann's own videos of his work, are shared at book's end.
Overall, I quite enjoyed learning about these houses and of some of the Japanese culture. And who knew an international model would take to modeling, or should I say remodeling, his own houses.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
June 2024
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
The book did get somewhat technical for me in places. However, by reading this book I believe those who would be truly interested in such renovations could be inspired and benefitted greatly should they wish to engage in their own respective, potential purchases of free houses in Japan. A glossary of terms and of futher useful information such as website helps and of Wormann's own videos of his work, are shared at book's end.
Overall, I quite enjoyed learning about these houses and of some of the Japanese culture. And who knew an international model would take to modeling, or should I say remodeling, his own houses.
~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~
June 2024
Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.
February 20, 2024
Ready to unlock the secrets of Japan's real estate market? Look no further than Free Houses in Japan! Anton Wormann takes readers on a wild ride through the fascinating world of abandoned homes in Japan, offering insights and advice that you won't find anywhere else. From debunking myths to sharing his own adventures in buying and renovating old Japanese houses, Wormann's enthusiasm is contagious. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just a curious explorer, this book is your ticket to uncovering the hidden gems of Japan's housing market. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a copy of Free Houses in Japan and get ready to embark on the ultimate real estate adventure! Trust me, folks, you won't be disappointed!
February 21, 2024
Free Houses in Japan offers a fascinating exploration into Japan's unique real estate landscape, shedding light on the phenomenon of abandoned homes in the country. Written by Anton Wormann, a former fashion model turned Japan enthusiast, the book provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by Japan's housing market. Wormann's firsthand experiences and comprehensive research make this book an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of Japanese real estate. As someone intrigued by cultural phenomena, I found Free Houses in Japan to be both informative and engaging, offering a fresh perspective on an often-overlooked aspect of Japanese society.
March 8, 2024
Thank you to Anton Wormann for giving the opportunity to review Free Houses in Japan. It was a interesting insight to his journey moving to Japan and renovating houses in Japan. He documents the highs and lows of the journey with entertaining, informative storytelling. Detailing the process in a first-hand account making this a must have resource for anyone interested in making the leap into the Japanese real estate for practical research to get on the housing market in Japan, learning more about Japanese culture or inside look at the experiences of a migrant making the move to live in Japan.
March 20, 2024
Free Houses in Japan was a very thorough and detailed book about looking for, renovating, and giving properties in Japan new life. For someone looking to purchase and renovate properties in Japan for personal use or for profit, this book is a goldmine of information. Anton shares his own personal experiences throughout the book as well, charting his journey from Sweden to Japan and how he became familiar with the country, language, and culture. For prospective visitors to Japan, this book also offers tons of information on customs, the language, terms, history, and architecture. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
March 4, 2024
The secret power of this book lies in the fact that Anton’s enthusiasm for renovation is infectious. After finishing it I went for an early morning walk, armed with Google maps and my newfound knowledge of what to look for. I explored my local area, logging Akiya and thinking of cost, design, timing, and strategy. I spoke with neighbors, pet dogs. Had a can or two of coffee, and a great time.
Any book that inspires direct, tangible action is a 5/5. Recommended.
Any book that inspires direct, tangible action is a 5/5. Recommended.
July 8, 2024
A bureaucratic, instructional manual of my fantasy plan B ; buying and renovating abandoned property in Setagaya - the Brooklyn of Tokyo. As seen on my nap time - scrolling sessions - YouTube Anton In Japan.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews