She left the U S for Japan… and Bought a House Right By Tokyo

Quick Overview

An American couple from Seattle purchased a four-level, 100 sq. meter house in Kawasaki, Japan, for ¥25.8 million ($165,000 USD) after the husband secured a highly skilled worker visa, planning extensive renovations including new bathrooms, wallpaper, and utilizing the basement as a craft/studio space.

Key Points: The couple moved from Seattle, WA, USA, to Kawasaki City, Kanagawa, Japan, where the husband works in Shinjuku (a 40-minute commute). They purchased their four-level home, including a basement, for ¥25.8 million ($165,000 USD) in 2023, which was significantly cheaper than their previous Seattle rental's last listing price of $1.6 million. The wife (Ivy) planned renovations including sanding and new wallpaper for the main living/dining area, replacing the bathroom unit and vanity, and installing air conditioning units in the upper rooms. The basement (100 sq. meters) is designated as a large craft and studio space for 3D printing, painting, and sewing, utilizing pre-installed wall mounts. The husband qualified for a highly skilled worker visa based on his 10 years of work experience, despite neither partner having college degrees, which granted them a five-year visa and eligibility for permanent residency in three years. The couple initially visited Japan in April 2020 but had to scrap their travel plans due to the global shutdown. Ivy expressed excitement about having her own office space on the third floor, which features a skylight and balcony access.

Context: The video features an interview with Ivy, an American woman who recently moved to Japan with her husband and ten-year-old son, leaving their life in Seattle, WA. The interview is conducted by Shu Matsuo of AkiyaHub, focusing on the decision to move, the process of buying an older house (built in 1994) in Kawasaki, and their plans for renovation to make it their 'forever home.'

Detailed Analysis

The video documents the journey of an American couple, Ivy and her husband, who moved from Seattle, WA, to Kawasaki, Japan, to raise their son and establish a permanent home. The husband secured a highly skilled worker visa based on his ten years of work experience, which was surprisingly fast (COE took about a month, visa process under 48 hours), allowing them to stay for five years initially. They bought a 100 square meter, four-level house (including a basement) built in 1994 for ¥25.8 million ($165,000 USD), noting this price was far below what they paid for their previous rental in Seattle ($1.6 million listing price). Ivy plans several immediate renovations, including applying new wallpaper to the main floor, replacing the bathroom unit and vanity, fixing a cracked window in the attic office space, and installing AC units. The basement is specifically earmarked as a large studio for crafts, sewing, and 3D printing, leveraging pre-existing wall mounts. Ivy noted that the local community has been friendly and quickly inclusive, partly due to her ability to speak some Japanese. The couple is excited about the stability of owning their home, especially for their son who will attend a local elementary school.