Why This Hawaii Family Bought a Second Home in Japan

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 system

About 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 Itoigawa

Key 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 Japan

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