You get what you pay for, the old saying goes. That may be more true than ever with this condominium listing that went viral on Japanese social media recently.
A lot of English language websites tout that you can buy old, abandoned properties for cheap in Japan. And that’s true. The number of akiya (空き家) is sitting at about 13% of all homes in Japan currently. This number is liable to rise as population decline continues.
What these articles don’t tell you is that many of these homes are in a state of disrepair and will likely cost multiple times what you paid to bring them into a useful state.
Which brings us to the subject of today’s article.
The listing on Japanese realty site SUUMO went viral thanks to user @rea87736817 on X. On January 12th, they posted this picture of the listing for a cheap condominium unit in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The listing in the building, Uzushio Mansion Number 1, is a two bedroom going for 2.8 million yen – a mere USD $17,888.
“I can see myself going nuts and buying this on an impulse,” they wrote. “Heck, I might buy Uzushio Mansion Number One.”

(Note that “mansion” here is a Japanese false friend loan word that designates a large, spacious apartment building; “condominium” is the word that best approximates it in English.)
Planning a trip to Japan? Get an authentic, interpreted experience from Unseen Japan Tours and see a side of the country others miss!

"Noah [at Unseen Japan] put together an itinerary that didn’t lock us in and we could travel at our own pace. In Tokyo, he guided us personally on a walking tour. Overall, he made our Japan trip an experience not to forget." - Kate and Simon S., Australia


We hate paywalls. Our content remains both free and fiercely independent. If you love the values we stand for and want to help us expand our coverage of Japan, consider a recurring or one-time donation to the Unseen Japan Journalism Fund today.
A quick search reveals that, yes, this is an actual, active listing on SUUMO. (Here’s an Internet Archive link in case someone snaps up this hot property and they take the listing down.)
The apartment is actually quite spacious by Japanese apartment standards, coming in at 93.14 square meters (around 1,000 sq. ft.). However, the interior may leave a little to be desired. As one user put it, “the decor is charming lol.”

Then again, if you’re in the market for an apartment that looks like a Showa-era retro kissa, this may just fit the bill!
The SUUMO listing touts this place as having an “oceanside view” and that it would serve well as a “second house.” Be prepared for a healthy stroll to get anywhere, however: the closest train station, Akikawajiri, is 39 minutes away by foot.

On the plus side, you might have a good neighbor. One eagle-eyed Netizen discovered a room in the building has a banner proclaiming it as “Chiitan’s House,” a reference to the self-proclaimed “crazy mascot” whose antics have made headlines in Japan and abroad.

The user wrote about their discovery: “Horrifying, I’m crying.”
I can see a YouTuber or similar somebody with money to burn buying this place on a whim. Personally, I’d worry about the building being condemned. It looks like it’s one city ordinance away from getting the Nara Dreamland treatment.
What to read next

Why a Backyard BBQ in Japan Might Bring The Cops to Your Door
Can you BBQ in your backyard in Japan? One Chinese resident learned the hard way that what’s legal isn’t necesarily considered polite.

Someone in Japan Tried to Give Away a TV. Then a Neighbor Complained
Want to recycle a TV in Japan? Think you can leave it out with a giant “free” sign on it until someone takes it? Well, think again.

Tokyo’s “Cafe Refugees” Seek Seats as Remote Workers Crowd Coffee Shops
Why is it so damn hard to find a seat at a cafe in Tokyo these days? Tourism is one factor – but not the only one.