Japan’s akiya, or abandoned house, turned into luxury Airbnb

Anton Wormann, 32, has always had a passion for DIY projects and creating beautiful spaces. So, after he discovered that his neighbor’s property had been abandoned, he decided to purchase it and bring it back to life.

Upon inspection, Wormann discovered that the property had been vacant for about 10 years after its elderly owners passed away.

This property was one of the 9 million “akiyas” — empty houses — across Japan, according to official government data as of 2023.

While many countries face a housing shortage, Japan is seeing something starkly different — an oversupply problem.

From its bustling cities to its beautiful and lush countryside, these abandoned properties are scattered across Japan, and here’s the kicker — they are going for as low as $10,000 a pop.

Japan’s unprecedented demographic crisis has led to millions of empty houses. The country’s population continues to fall as its fertility rate sinks to a record low of 1.2 births per woman as of 2023.

Meanwhile, Japan’s elderly population is growing rapidly with people aged 65 and over estimated to account for about 30% of the country’s total population, according to 2024 data.

Death rates have surpassed birth rates in Japan, contributing to abandoned properties. Some people, like Wormann, have identified this trend as an opportunity to buy real estate for cheap, and try to save some beautiful Japanese architecture from being lost.

Wormann, who grew up in Sweden and has lived in major cities such as Paris, London, Milan and New York for almost a decade, fell in love with Japan when he visited it in 2015 for a work trip.

Following that visit, Wormann made it a point to go back to the Asian country every year. “Every time I was about to leave, I just never felt that I was ready to leave,” he said. He was in awe of the beautiful scenery, delicious food, and the culture in general.

“I really wanted to stay here and spend more time here. I really can’t put words to it, but it just vibrated with me.” So, in October 2018, he took the leap of faith and moved to Japan.

Once he became more acquainted with the Japanese culture and language, Wormann discovered a big opportunity in purchasing “akiyas,” renovating them, and turning them into beautiful short-term rental properties.

“I kind of read some articles about it … and it fascinated me, but I never really understood how big of a problem, and also for me, how big of an opportunity it was until I actually moved here, learned Japanese and got integrated into society,” he said.

Wormann as a kid would explore ideas with his father on renovating old houses they came across, and was always interested in such projects. Before discovering his neighbor’s house, he already had experience renovating multiple properties in Sweden and Japan.

“Making something beautiful takes time … and it becomes something that no one else can replicate,”…