You want to live in Japan.
Not just visit.
You have found the country. You may have found the property. Now comes the hard part — making it actually work. I help international buyers navigate Japan’s real estate, visa, and renovation process from first question to front door key.
Book your free introductory call →This is not a simple process
Japan welcomes foreign buyers. But living here long-term requires careful planning across three areas — all at the same time.
How I help lifestyle buyers
I act as your Owner’s Representative — in Japanese, on-site, with full accountability. You have one point of contact for the entire process.
Visa pathway consultation
Japan has no retirement visa. I connect you with immigration professionals who map the right legal pathway for your age, income, and goals — before you commit any capital.
Property search & livability assessment
I find properties that are suitable to live in — not just to own. I assess hospitals, transport, community, and seasonal conditions. Then I inspect in person and report back in plain English.
Acquisition support
I manage the purchase process on your behalf — title checks, heir resolution, zoning, building law compliance, and closing coordination. You do not need to be in Japan to complete the purchase.
Renovation for living
Renovation for a home you will live in is different from investment renovation. The focus is comfort, warmth, and practicality. I manage architects and builders so the result fits your life — not a rental yield spreadsheet.
Relocation setup
Address registration, utilities setup, municipal paperwork, and local community introductions. I handle the Japanese bureaucracy so your first weeks in Japan feel like a beginning — not a battle.
Where I work
I specialize in two regions. Both offer exceptional quality of life for long-term foreign residents.
70 minutes from Tokyo by Shinkansen. Deep winters. World-class skiing. Premium rice and sake culture. Sado Island offshore. A slow, grounded, beautiful life at a fraction of Tokyo prices.
Home to some of Japan’s longest-living people. Warm year-round. Turquoise water. A lifestyle built around nature, community, and ease — one of the world’s most desirable islands.
Why work with me?
There are many people who can show you properties in Japan. I do something different.
I represent you — not the seller
I am not a real estate agent. I am not paid by developers or listing agents. My fee comes from you. That means my only job is to protect your interests — in negotiations, in renovation, and in every decision along the way.
I was born and raised here
I grew up on Sado Island. My family ran a hotel there for generations. I know these communities, these contractors, these municipal offices — and the unspoken rules that no guidebook will tell you.
I have built a professional network you cannot replicate alone
A Tokyo-based Certified Tax Accountant. Judicial Scriveners for title registration. Architects and carpenters who work in snow country. Immigration professionals. This network took years to build. You get immediate access to it.
I live the life I am recommending
The Snow & Sun approach is not a marketing concept. I split my own life between Niigata and Okinawa. I understand what it actually feels like to live here as someone who bridges two cultures — and I can help you find your version of that balance.
Transparent pricing
All fees are fixed and agreed before work begins. No surprises.
| Introductory call 15 minutes · Video call · No commitment | Free |
| Visa pathway consultation 1-hour advisory session · Written summary included | ¥16,500 |
| Livability report Area + property assessment · Suitability for long-term living | ¥33,000–¥55,000 |
| Site visit In-person inspection · Photos, video, written report | From ¥33,000 |
| Acquisition support Full purchase management · Success fee only — no acquisition, no fee | 2–3% of purchase price |
| Renovation management Architect + builder coordination · Weekly updates · Based on renovation cost | From 8% |
| Relocation setup package Registration, utilities, community introductions · Flat fee | ¥100,000–¥150,000 |
A note on readiness. I work with buyers who have a clear visa plan and liquid funds ready. If you are still researching, I recommend starting with an Advisory Hour (¥16,500). We map your realistic pathway together before you commit to anything.
A third option: live here and earn here
Many of my most interesting clients do not fit neatly into “investor” or “retiree.” They want both.
The profile
You want to spend three to six months a year in Japan. You want a beautiful home — a renovated kominka, a coastal property, a quiet ski-country farmhouse. And you want the property to generate income when you are not there.
What this looks like in practice
A renovated property in Niigata or Sado Island, licensed for short-term rental (minpaku). You stay for the season you love. The property earns income the rest of the year. Your asset appreciates over time. Your lifestyle pays for itself.
My role
I design the property strategy from the beginning with both goals in mind — your comfort and your returns. Renovation decisions, layout, licensing, and operations are all planned together. This is not an afterthought. It is the architecture of the whole project.
If this describes you, mention it in your introductory call. This type of engagement is the most rewarding work I do — and the clients who pursue it tend to build something genuinely special.
Start with a conversation
A 15-minute call. No commitment. Just an honest conversation about whether Japan — and this life — is right for you.
Book your free introductory call →