Abandoned Houses Exist Under Tokyo Skytree

Quick Overview

The creator completed the 60-minute "Tokyo Akiya Marathon" challenge in Sumida-ku, finding a total of 19 visibly abandoned houses (akiya), significantly more than found in previous runs in wealthier wards like Chiyoda, Minato, and Chuo combined, culminating the run near the Kokugikan Sumo Arena.

Key Points: The creator completed a 60-minute running challenge called the "Tokyo Akiya Marathon" specifically in Sumida-ku, Tokyo. The final count of visibly abandoned houses (akiya) found during the run reached 19, a new record for the creator. Sumida-ku is described as being northeast of Tokyo, relatively small (13 square kilometers), and historically associated with sumo and old Edo streets. The price for one specific 1950s wooden structure (33 sqm building space on 49 sqm land) was cited as \u00a56.98 million (approx. $44,400), which is considered cheap for Tokyo but non-rebuildable. The creator noted that the density of akiya seemed higher in Sumida-ku compared to wealthier wards like Chiyoda (12 found), Minato (3 found), and Chuo (12 found) combined. The final segment of the run concluded near the Kokugikan Sumo Arena, where the creator spotted a sumo wrestler exiting, suggesting active use nearby despite the surrounding abandoned properties. The run accumulated 19 akiya sightings in approximately 58 minutes and 50 seconds of active searching.

Context: The video documents the creator, Shu Matsuo Post (Co-Founder of AkiyaHub), undertaking a personal challenge called the "Tokyo Akiya Marathon," where he runs for 60 minutes in a specific Tokyo ward to count how many visibly abandoned homes (akiya) he can find. This particular run focuses on Sumida-ku, an area noted for being the home to sumo and possessing older neighborhoods that contrast sharply with modern Tokyo skyscrapers like the Tokyo Skytree, which is visible throughout the run.

Detailed Analysis

The video documents the second run of the creator's "Tokyo Akiya Marathon" challenge, this time focusing on Sumida-ku, Tokyo. The creator sets a goal of running for 60 minutes to find as many abandoned homes (akiya) as possible. He introduces Sumida-ku as being northeast of central Tokyo, home to sumo, and geographically small (13 square kilometers). In the first few minutes, he spots several akiya, including one heavily covered in ivy. He contrasts the count in Sumida-ku with previous runs in wealthier wards, noting that Sumida-ku already surpassed the combined counts of Chiyoda (12), Minato (3), and Chuo (12). By the 7-minute mark, he had already counted 14 akiya. He details one specific property built in 1950 (33 sqm living space, 49 sqm land space) that was being operated as a private minpaku (short-term rental) for \u00a530 million (approx. $191,000), noting that it was non-rebuildable. As he ran further south toward the Sumidagawa River, he observed the area becoming more urban, and the rate of finding akiya slowed. He eventually reached the Kokugikan Sumo Arena and Ryogoku Station. The final tally after nearly an hour of running was 19 akiya, which he considered a new record, attributing the high number to the ward's mix of old Edo-style streets and proximity to major landmarks like the Tokyo Skytree.