House locations in Japan
Nine regions. 47 prefectures. Explore the landscapes, towns and everyday realities behind a house search, then browse homes in the places that suit you.
Destination photos · resized and cropped · property listings below
1 prefecture
Hokkaido is Japan's largest prefecture and a two-speed market: international resort money around Niseko and Furano, and much cheaper ordinary houses everywhere else. Winter, not the asking price, decides whether a cheap house is livable.
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9 prefectures
Chubu cuts across Honshu from the Sea of Japan to the Pacific. Nagoya is the industrial hub; the Alps, snow country, and the Fuji-Shizuoka coast are different markets with different running costs.
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7 prefectures
Kansai combines major urban markets with historic towns, commuter belts, mountain communities, the Kii Peninsula, and Ise Bay. Compare access and local rules before treating nearby prefectures as interchangeable.
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1 prefecture
Okinawa is a distinct island market with limited land, strong tourism demand, subtropical weather, and different construction priorities from mainland Japan.
Explore houses and local guidance →Destination photographs are credited beneath each image. Images are resized and cropped for display; they do not show properties for sale.
A destination you enjoy for a weekend is a starting point, not yet a place you know how to live in. This guide covers all 47 prefectures, with places to explore and a practical question to take into a house search. First choose two or three settings; then compare actual addresses, services and buildings.
Regional boundaries vary by guide. Here Chubu includes Hokuriku and Shinetsu, Mie sits with Kansai, and Okinawa has its own section. Each prefecture appears once. JNTO uses some different regional groupings; the prefecture links below lead to its official destination guides.
Updated 25 September 2026. Local highlights are source-backed context; the viewing questions are our suggested checks, not surveyed property results. This is not a ranking of prices, vacancy rates, safety or rental demand. Tourism popularity does not prove a home is available, suitable or profitable.
Sapporo, Hakodate and the ski areas around Niseko offer different starting points; Ainu culture and national parks add depth beyond winter sports. Compare a city neighbourhood with a rural base, then ask who clears the access road and maintains the house during winter absences. Official destination guide.
For live house counts, prices, snowfall and hazards in all six prefectures, read our Tohoku buying guide.
Hirosaki's castle town, the Nebuta festival and the landscapes around Towada make a useful cultural-and-nature itinerary. When comparing Hirosaki with Aomori or Hachinohe, test the final journey from the station to the house and ask for a winter maintenance plan. Official destination guide.
Morioka, Hiraizumi's temples and the Sanriku coast reveal distinct sides of Iwate. Choose whether your priority is a city base, inland heritage or the sea; for coastal candidates, walk the evacuation route and check the exact parcel on municipal hazard maps. Official destination guide.
Sendai provides an urban starting point for Matsushima Bay and the prefecture's onsen areas. Compare a Sendai neighbourhood with a smaller coastal or inland town. Verify the actual grocery, healthcare and station journey rather than treating access to Sendai as access to every home. Official destination guide.
Kakunodate's samurai district and the hot springs around Hachimantai offer reasons to explore beyond Akita city. For a countryside house, investigate heating, roof access and snow storage; a convenient arrival station does not establish year-round access to the property. Official destination guide.
Yamagata city and Zao make an inland pairing, while Tsuruoka and Sakata open onto the Shonai coast. Mountain temples, onsen and winter scenery enrich a scouting trip. Compare access in the season you intend to live there, including the last bus and road maintenance. Official destination guide.
Aizu-Wakamatsu's heritage and the lakes and mountains around Urabandai offer a different visit from the Pacific coast. Keep Aizu, the central corridor and coastal towns separate in your shortlist. For each address, consult current municipal access information and services instead of generalising across the prefecture. Official destination guide.
Tsukuba pairs science attractions with a mountain landscape, while the coast around Hitachi Seaside Park offers another kind of outing. Separate a Tsukuba-area search from coastal or northern villages. Verify which station you would actually use and whether routine errands require a car. Official destination guide.
Nikko's shrines, Lake Chuzenji and Utsunomiya's food culture make a varied scouting route. An Utsunomiya base and a mountain retreat answer different needs. Ask about winter access and heating at the property's elevation, and measure the full journey to your regular destinations. Official destination guide.
Kusatsu's baths and Minakami's outdoor activities are strong reasons to explore Gunma beyond its cities. Compare a Takasaki or Maebashi base with an onsen or mountain town. Check the final road, winter maintenance and year-round services before assuming a resort visit represents everyday life. Official destination guide.
Kawagoe offers historic streets, Chichibu offers mountain outings and the Omiya area provides an urban reference. These are different search areas. Build a weekday itinerary from the actual house; include transfers, parking and the journey home after dinner, not only the fastest train. Official destination guide.
The Boso Peninsula and Kujukuri coast provide a seaside counterpoint to Chiba's Tokyo-facing urban areas; Narita adds a historic temple town. Compare your preferred coast with a station-served base, then check storm exposure, evacuation routes and the last connection home. Official destination guide.
Asakusa's streets and the western mountains belong to the same prefecture but suggest very different daily lives. Compare an urban neighbourhood with a Tama-area base. Test your real weekday journey, shopping and evening return; a Tokyo address alone says little about convenience. Official destination guide.
Yokohama's port districts, Kamakura's temples and Hakone's onsen give Kanagawa several identities. Pick the setting before comparing homes. For hillside or coastal candidates, inspect the walk from transport, steps, retaining walls and parcel-level hazards rather than relying on a scenic view. Official destination guide.
To compare the snow country, the Alps and the Pacific coast on prices and practical risks, read our Chubu buying guide.
Rice, sake, the ski areas around Yuzawa and Sado Island give Niigata several distinct settings. Decide between the mainland city, snow-country valley and island first. For a rural home, ask how access, roof maintenance and deliveries work during the season you expect to occupy it. Official destination guide.
Gokayama's traditional houses and the Tateyama mountain route contrast with Toyama city's base on the plain. A scenic mountain itinerary is not a residential access plan. Ask about the property's own road, snow-clearing arrangements and access to tradespeople before comparing renovation projects. Official destination guide.
Kanazawa's craft traditions and museums make a useful starting point; Kaga and Noto deserve separate itineraries. Do not extrapolate conditions in Kanazawa to the peninsula. Obtain current local information on roads and utilities, and a property-specific condition assessment, before arranging a rural purchase. Official destination guide.
Eiheiji Temple, Echizen pottery and the Tojinbo coast offer cultural and outdoor stops around Fukui. Compare a city base with the specific coastal or inland town that interests you. Check the final connection, winter access and the availability of contractors for the building's materials. Official destination guide.
The Fuji Five Lakes, orchards and wineries offer different reasons to explore Yamanashi. Compare the Kofu basin with a higher-altitude lake or mountain base. Test ordinary shopping and healthcare journeys, and ask how heating and water systems are managed when the property stands empty. Official destination guide.
Matsumoto's castle, Kiso's post towns and the ski areas offer very different ways into Nagano. Choose a valley and daily-service base before a mountain view. Inspect insulation and heating, ask about frozen pipes during absences and test the actual winter approach to the house. Official destination guide.
Takayama's old streets, Shirakawa-go and Seki's craft heritage reward exploration beyond a single postcard. Separate northern mountain towns from the southern Gifu area. For traditional buildings, establish maintenance responsibilities and any site-specific conservation requirements before assuming a familiar renovation approach will work. Official destination guide.
Tea-growing landscapes, Fuji views and Izu's coast make Shizuoka more than a stop between major cities. Compare the urban rail corridor with an Izu town. For each candidate, walk the evacuation route, check slopes and drainage, and measure the last leg from the station. Official destination guide.
Nagoya's museums and food culture sit within a prefecture shaped by manufacturing and historic castle towns. Compare a Nagoya-area neighbourhood with a smaller town rather than treating Aichi as one market. Test the journey to your actual workplace and everyday services before choosing a house. Official destination guide.
Ise's shrines, Toba's coast and Iga's ninja heritage support very different itineraries. Northern Mie and the southern coast should be separate searches. Check the entire trip from house to services, plus coastal evacuation or slope access where relevant; a prefecture-wide travel estimate is not enough. Official destination guide.
Lake Biwa, Hikone's castle and historic merchant towns give Shiga a distinctive setting. Compare different sides of the lake instead of treating them as equivalent for commuting. Test the exact train and road route, and inspect drainage and local hazard information for the property. Official destination guide.
Kyoto city's machiya and temples are only one part of a prefecture that also includes rural and coastal areas. Decide which setting you want. For an older townhouse, request the building records and applicable alteration rules before planning a renovation around its appearance. Official destination guide.
Osaka's food districts and castle offer an urban introduction, but a residential search needs neighbourhood-level comparison. Walk between each house, its station and daily shops at different times. Inspect road access and the building itself; proximity to nightlife is a preference, not proof of housing quality. Official destination guide.
Kobe, Himeji's castle and Kinosaki Onsen show how varied Hyogo is. A southern urban base and a northern onsen town need separate budgets and routines. Compare actual door-to-door journeys and seasonal maintenance instead of extending Kobe's transport convenience to the whole prefecture. Official destination guide.
Nara's temples and Yoshino's mountain heritage make a rewarding contrast. Separate the northern city area from southern mountain settlements. Check everyday access, road width and contractor access before falling for an isolated traditional house; an attractive pilgrimage route does not establish daily convenience. Official destination guide.
Koyasan, the Kumano Kodo and Shirahama's coast are distinct reasons to visit Wakayama. Choose between a coastal base and a mountain community. Check drainage, retaining walls and the exact access road, and visit outside a holiday period to see which services you would actually use. Official destination guide.
To compare the Sea of Japan and Inland Sea coasts on prices, housing age and landslide zones, read our Chugoku buying guide.
The dunes near Tottori and the landscape around Daisen offer contrasting outdoor bases. Compare Tottori city with the Yonago side and a rural candidate. For each house, establish shopping and healthcare access and ask how the approach road is maintained through winter. Official destination guide.
Matsue, Izumo's shrine, Iwami Ginzan and the Oki Islands offer several possible journeys through Shimane. Mainland towns and islands require separate planning. Before choosing an island house, check passenger and freight connections, contractor travel and your fallback when the usual transport is unavailable. Official destination guide.
Okayama's garden and Kurashiki's canals offer an accessible cultural pairing; northern rural towns provide a different setting. Sunshine branding is not a safety assessment. For any candidate, inspect flood and slope maps at parcel level and test the journey to your essential services. Official destination guide.
Hiroshima city, Onomichi and the islands around the Seto Inland Sea suggest different home bases. Compare city streets, hillside neighbourhoods and islands separately. For a sloping or island property, investigate road access, deliveries and the practical route to medical care before budgeting a renovation. Official destination guide.
Hagi's pottery and old streets, Shimonoseki's seafood and the Akiyoshidai area offer different entry points to Yamaguchi. Choose a daily-life base before assembling sightseeing trips. Verify the house-to-station journey and contractor coverage; a stop on the main rail corridor does not serve every village equally. Official destination guide.
For prices, vacancy rates and the typhoon and Nankai Trough checks in all four prefectures, read our Shikoku buying guide.
Awa Odori, Naruto's whirlpools and the Iya Valley give Tokushima an unusually varied itinerary. A city base and a mountain house imply different daily routines. For a valley property, inspect the final road and delivery access, and test how you would reach services in poor weather. Official destination guide.
Takamatsu, udon culture and the art islands make a useful introduction to Kagawa; Shodoshima offers another island setting. Separate a mainland base from island living. Check the ferry you would actually use, freight arrangements and your plan for appointments when services are disrupted. Official destination guide.
Matsuyama and Dogo Onsen offer an urban-cultural base, while the Shimanami Kaido links island landscapes around Imabari. Compare these settings with an inland town. For an island or hillside house, check vehicle access and everyday services rather than judging the location from a cycling holiday. Official destination guide.
Kochi's markets, the Shimanto River and the Muroto coast offer different ways to explore the Pacific side of Shikoku. Choose between a city, river-valley or coastal base. Check the parcel's flood or tsunami information and walk the evacuation route before making views your deciding factor. Official destination guide.
Fukuoka's food stalls and Dazaifu's heritage make an easy cultural pairing, but the prefecture extends beyond its best-known city. Compare a city neighbourhood with your chosen smaller town. Test the actual commute and regular errands; a convenient regional gateway does not guarantee a convenient house. Official destination guide.
Arita and Imari's ceramics, Karatsu's coast and Takeo's onsen offer several reasons to explore Saga. Pick the town that fits your routine rather than a prefecture-wide label. Check transport after opening hours, grocery access and whether the building suits the use you have in mind. Official destination guide.
Nagasaki's port history and the Goto Islands offer markedly different settings. Compare an urban hillside neighbourhood with an island candidate. Check steps, vehicle access and freight costs at the specific address; a memorable ferry trip does not establish a workable plan for renovation materials. Official destination guide.
Kumamoto's castle, Aso's caldera and Kurokawa Onsen form very different scouting stops. Compare city and upland homes separately. For each candidate, request repair history and a technical inspection, then consult current local hazard information rather than assuming scenic volcanic surroundings are only a tourism feature. Official destination guide.
Beppu and Yufuin's hot springs contrast with the spiritual heritage of the Kunisaki Peninsula. Choose an ordinary service base as well as a favourite attraction. If a home advertises an onsen connection, ask for its contract, maintenance responsibilities and charges; proximity to baths does not include private access. Official destination guide.
Aoshima's surf coast and Takachiho's gorge and shrines offer distinct versions of Miyazaki. Choose coastal or inland life before comparing properties. Test the drive to services and inspect shutters, drainage and evacuation access; a pleasant holiday climate does not settle a home's maintenance needs. Official destination guide.
Sakurajima, Kirishima, Yakushima and Amami show the breadth of Kagoshima beyond its capital. Mainland and island homes need separate planning. Check the address against current volcanic and other hazard information, and ask about cleaning, roof maintenance and transport contingencies rather than dismissing ash as a minor detail. Official destination guide.
For concrete, typhoon and island-logistics checks on the main island and the remote islands, read our Okinawa buying guide.
Ryukyu heritage, coral coasts and the islands around Ishigaki and Miyako give Okinawa a distinct identity. Separate a Naha-area base from outer-island living. Inspect the building for maintenance needs associated with its exposure, and obtain delivery and contractor quotes before assuming mainland renovation arrangements apply. Official destination guide.
For each candidate, record the municipality, the station or airport you would use, the last connection home, access to groceries and healthcare, and who could maintain the house while you are away. Visit on an ordinary weekday and, where possible, in the season that will be hardest for your plans. Ask for written, property-specific estimates rather than applying a prefecture-wide renovation allowance.
Check the exact address on the GSI/MLIT hazard-map portal and consult the relevant municipality for local maps and evacuation information. The checks above are prompts, not an exhaustive inspection. Building condition, documents and parcel hazards need individual review even in a popular destination.
Use the viewing checklist, compare total purchase costs, and then browse the location directory. A destination profile is not a claim that we currently have available homes in every municipality.
Each prefecture links to its official JNTO destination guide, reviewed on 25 September 2026 for the geographical and cultural context used here. Check operators directly for current opening hours, routes and seasonal access. GaijinPot’s destination directory inspired the coverage research; this article uses original writing and no copied photographs or article passages.
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