Free Houses in Japan

Free Houses in Japan offers a fascinating exploration into Japan's unique real estate landscape, shedding light on the phenomenon of abandoned homes in the country. Written by Anton Wormann, a former fashion model turned Japan enthusiast, the book provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by Japan's housing market. Wormann's firsthand experiences and comprehensive research make this book an invaluable resource for anyone interested in understanding the intricacies of Japanese real estate. As someone intrigued by cultural phenomena, I found Free Houses in Japan to be both informative and engaging, offering a fresh perspective on an often-overlooked aspect of Japanese society.

Ready to unlock the secrets of Japan's real estate market? Look no further than Free Houses in Japan! Anton Wormann takes readers on a wild ride through the fascinating world of abandoned homes in Japan, offering insights and advice that you won't find anywhere else. From debunking myths to sharing his own adventures in buying and renovating old Japanese houses, Wormann's enthusiasm is contagious. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just a curious explorer, this book is your ticket to uncovering the hidden gems of Japan's housing market. So, what are you waiting for? Grab a copy of Free Houses in Japan and get ready to embark on the ultimate real estate adventure! Trust me, folks, you won't be disappointed!

Having lived in Japan for a number of years, I was skeptical of this book by some young upstart model from Sweden. I mean, really, the nerve of him to write such a book at a young age and with just a few years experience in Japan.
But, boy, was I wrong! I ended up being really impressed overall. The writing is sound, the information is valuable and on target, and he is one of these rare foreigners that just "gets" Japan from the get go.
Now, the title is a total hook, but I can excuse that because there is a sense that he genuinely wants to help others succeed in their own endeavors and by sharing both his story and his learning, he is really giving the readers a gem. I am impressed, Anton, I really and truly am!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I'll take a few lashes from a soggy udon for pre-judging this guy!

I have been following Anton in Japan on Instagram and Youtube for about a year I think and as soon as I saw this book on Netgalley I just had to have it (and I will be buying it for my collection!)

Anton is from Stockholm in Sweden and found himself in Japan on a modelling contract and fell in love with this stunning country. Although his work took him to other countries, he would always want to return to Japan. In 2018 Anton moved to Japan permanently and in 2019 he bought his first (of 3) properties which he renovated, recording and posting his progress first on a Japanese Language Youtube and in 2023 burst onto Western social media with mixed language posts.

The first thing that struck e about this book is just how beautiful it is. I was actually expecting photographs an d narrative in the same vein as the channels, but this book is nore than that, it delves into the heart and soul behind the motivation to renovate, Anton's history, the renovation journey and the most wonderful illustrations

The book brought me back to one of the most memorable videos I saw, whereby Anton was describing his first forays into renovating in Japan and was paying high amounts for building refuse disposable than most peoples rent, and how the houses would be left, often with property left behind (I think that some ancient carpentry tools were found at one point)

Anton's personal timeline in the book is a really nice touch, and the nod to the influence of his families renovation in Stockholm and the Japanese influence on his life at an early age. Another great touch in the book is the realism. It might be great to buy a house for next to nothing, BUT! (This section is very well laid out and good to take note of) This book is not only whimsical, it is useful, informative, entertaining and engaging, and most of all, an inspiration if you are thinkning of relocating overseas

This book is truly a delight and whether you have seen Anton's channels or not, whether you are into renovationDIY or architecture, or just human interest, this book is a real pleasure to read

Thank you to Netgalley and Anton in Japan Media for this stunning ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all reviews are my own

The author has a you tube channel - watch it - Anton in Japan! There are no pictures in this book, only drawings!
He gives a lot of Real Advice - do not try buying property remotely, stay in Japan and know your community as your neighbors know about a lot of cheap local property.
Learn Japanese, some Japanese know English, but you will get better service and understand details about the property and documents that you will have to have translated otherwise!
Know what type of property you are looking for and know the hazards, risks, neighborhood, topography and weather of your chosen area.

The idea of free homes was very intriguing to me to how different this is to the British housing market, very interesting read overall.