Erik Buhrow dropped $69 on a three-bedroom house in Niigata Prefecture without seeing it first. The 40-year-old Minnesota construction business owner, who grew up in Japan, spotted the 1970s property online and pulled the trigger immediately. His December 2025 purchase taps into Japan’s akiya phenomenon—abandoned rural homes selling for pocket change as countryside populations dwindle.
“When I saw the house I could not believe the price,” Buhrow said. “I knew it would get taken up so quickly.”
First Look Reveals Surprising Features
The walkthrough video shows tatami rooms, modern amenities, and previous owners’ forgotten belongings scattered throughout.
Buhrow’s filmed tour reveals a surprisingly intact property despite its bargain price. Two floors connect via separate staircases, leading to three individual bedrooms lined with traditional tatami mats.
The formal dining area flows into a functional kitchen, while the bathroom boasts both a modern toilet and urinal—luxuries that impressed Buhrow, given his $69 investment. Previous owners left behind furniture, dishes, and personal items throughout the space, creating an archaeological treasure hunt. The back patio offers neighborhood views, though it needs railings and parking improvements.
- Property specs: 1970s construction, three bedrooms across two floors
- Current condition: Rundown but structurally sound with modern plumbing
- Renovation budget: $30,000 planned investment
- Theme concept: Snoopy-inspired Airbnb with cartoon house aesthetic
- Location: Rural Niigata Prefecture, known for rice and sake production
Rural Japan’s Real Estate Opportunity
Akiya houses sell cheaply because countryside depopulation leaves properties abandoned, creating opportunities for adventurous buyers.
Japan’s rural exodus drives these bargain prices. Young people migrate to cities, leaving aging villages with empty homes that municipalities desperately want occupied rather than demolished. Properties labeled “haunted” or simply forgotten languish until foreign buyers discover them through akiya banks—official programs matching abandoned houses with new owners.
This rural-urban divide intensifies as 2025-2026 data shows nationwide land prices climbing 2.7% year-over-year while countryside properties remain dirt cheap. Urban rents soar alongside construction costs, making rural fixer-uppers attractive alternatives for those willing to embrace renovation challenges.
Buhrow’s Snoopy-themed vision aims to attract international tourists to experience authentic rural Japan—from Niigata’s famous Koshihikari rice fields to coastal seafood markets. The renovation documentation promises compelling content as Buhrow transforms his $69 gamble into a functioning Airbnb, potentially inspiring other adventurous buyers to explore Japan’s forgotten countryside.
