Akiya Banks – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

What is Akiya Banks?

 

Akiya Banks is a U.S.-based online platform launched in 2021 to serve as the first centralized, English-accessible resource for exploring Japanese akiya—vacant and abandoned homes throughout Japan. The platform was created in response to a lack of infrastructure in both Japan and abroad for navigating the complex and fragmented world of Japanese real estate, especially as it pertains to municipally managed akiya banks. Akiya Banks is the first of its kind to bring this information into one searchable, structured platform.

 

What does Akiya Banks do?

 

Akiya Banks curates and organizes publicly available property listings from official Japanese akiya banks operated by local governments. Our services include:

• A free public database of municipal akiya bank links across Japan

• A paid Property Portal featuring translated, manually-entered listings of Japanese vacant houses

• Educational content and tools to help users understand the Japanese real estate market, especially the niche world of rural and abandoned properties

• A streamlined way to explore and compare real Japanese akiya properties

We do not act as real estate agents, brokers, or advisors. We do not participate in buying, selling, or renting property. We exist to make Japan’s fragmented vacant house system more accessible—especially for international users.

 

What makes Akiya Banks different from other websites?

 

Most sites in the Japanese property search space pull listings from general real estate platforms like Suumo, atHome, or Lifull. These sites primarily feature listings from realtors—not true akiya.

Akiya Banks is different because we:

• Source listings exclusively from official municipal akiya banks

• Focus only on properties that meet the government’s criteria of a true akiya

• Do not scrape, crawl, or aggregate commercial listings

• Have real humans manually input every listing in our Property Portal to ensure accuracy and authenticity

 

How does Akiya Banks source its listings?

 

All properties featured in the Akiya Banks Property Portal are manually sourced from official municipal akiya banks across Japan. We do not scrape or crawl third-party real estate platforms. This human-powered approach ensures our listings reflect actual Japanese vacant homes currently promoted by local governments.

 

How can I contact Akiya Banks for business inquiries?

 

For business matters—including partnerships, collaborations, or mergers—please contact us at Admin@akiyabanks.com.

 

How can I advertise on Akiya Banks?

 

We offer limited advertising opportunities to businesses relevant to the Japanese real estate, relocation, or renovation sectors. Please email Admin@akiyabanks.com to discuss.

 

I'm a journalist, academic, producer, or researcher—how can I get in touch?

We welcome inquiries related to Japanese housing trends, rural revitalization, and vacant property studies. For research access, interviews, or data-related questions, contact Admin@akiyabanks.com.

 

What is Akiya Banks’ mission?

 

Our mission is to democratize access to Japanese akiya and make the complex world of Japanese vacant homes more navigable for international users. By organizing official data into a centralized platform, we aim to support foreign buyers, Japanese municipalities, and rural revitalization efforts—one home at a time.

 

What is an akiya?

 

An akiya (空き家) is a vacant or abandoned house in Japan, often located in rural or suburban areas. These Japanese vacant homes have become widespread due to depopulation, aging demographics, and urban migration. Many local governments now list these properties in official akiya banks, sometimes offering them for free or at extremely low prices.

 

I'm new here. How do I get started?

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1. Explore the Free Akiya Bank Database
   Start with our free directory of municipal akiya banks across Japan—organized by prefecture and community.

2. Subscribe to the Property Portal
   Gain access to curated, translated listings of real Japanese akiya properties, entered and maintained by a real team—not bots.

3. Research Before You Reach Out
   Study the basics of buying property in Japan, including foreign ownership laws, renovation responsibilities, and local real estate customs. Akiya Banks does not provide legal or purchase advice.

4. Contact the Municipality Directly
   If a listing interests you, reach out to the local municipal akiya bank that posted it. They control the process, pricing, and eligibility.

5. Take Your Time
   The world of Japanese real estate, especially rural homes, takes time and care to navigate.

 

Is access to the municipal akiya bank database free?

 

Yes. Our municipal akiya bank directory is completely free and open to the public. We perform regular audits to ensure accuracy, with the most recent completed on May 1st, 2025.

 

Does Akiya Banks sell or help purchase properties?

 

No. Akiya Banks does not buy, sell, or broker any properties. We simply host listings already made publicly available by official Japanese akiya banks. Any and all transactional matters must be directed to the appropriate local municipality.

 

What are the terms of my subscription?

 

All terms are detailed clearly at the point of signup. Subscriptions are recurring unless otherwise specified, and it is the sole responsibility of the customer to manage and cancel their subscription. Akiya Banks cannot cancel or modify your plan on your behalf.

 

Can Akiya Banks cancel my subscription for me?

 

No. For privacy and technical reasons, you must manage your subscription directly via your account dashboard or payment platform. Akiya Banks cannot intervene or process cancellation requests manually.

 

What languages does Akiya Banks support?

 

Akiya Banks supports English and Japanese only. Other languages are not natively supported at this time.

 

Is Akiya Banks affiliated with the Japanese government?

 

No. Akiya Banks is an independent company based in the United States. We are not affiliated with the Japanese federal government or any local municipality. Our data is drawn from publicly available sources.

 

Is Akiya Banks a hotel or rental service?

 

No. Akiya Banks is not, and has never been, a hotel, rental platform, or short-term accommodation provider. We do not offer stays or rooms for rent or lodging of any kind whatsoever. Akiya Banks is a Japanese real estate website, not a physical location.

All inquiries related to renting rooms, homestays, or booking accommodations will be ignored. Please do not contact us with travel or lodging questions—we cannot assist.

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