Japanese abandoned house

What is an akiya and an akiya bank? Akiya (空き家) means vacant home in Japanese — and it has become a hot topic in the recent years. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications estimated there are approximately 8.2 million abandoned houses across Japan in 2013, with Kagoshima, Kochi and Wakayama in the lead with 10% or more of all homes empty in these three prefectures. The number is now estimated to have exceeded 10 million. Some organisations expect that by 2033, more than 30% of all…

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Tokyo's sprawling, concrete laden expanse often seems to go on forever, but when one does finally escape it, the scenery can change quite dramatically. Like this tiny village a few hours drive from the capital. A small group of houses nestled on the slopes of a tree covered mountain. An environment

“If the choice is between leaving (an akiya) empty or renting it out, please rent it out.”

A housing program in Japan seeks to reduce the number of uninhabited properties by giving away abandoned homes for free, or next to nothing.

The former Japanese Navy Fongshan Communication Centre in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, features some elements that are unusual for an abandoned location.

Ibuki Satsuki

What looks like an old and abandoned Japanese village is actually just a movie set. Many of the latest Japanese Samurai movies where filmed here. There are reconstructions of a farming village, a fishing village and a post town of the Edo period (1603–1867).