Yuki no Kuni is an independent index and journal for foreigners drawn to Japan's snow country. We index every municipal akiya bank in twelve prefectures, translate the listings into plain English, and link every entry to its original Japanese source so the reader can verify the facts themselves.

Why this exists

I started this index in 2024 because I couldn't find one. I had been looking for a kominka in Nagano for two years — bouncing between SUUMO's English filter (which strips most akiya), the municipal akiya bank websites (which are in Japanese and never updated), and YouTube videos of foreigners who had already bought (which are advertising). The information existed; the access did not.

The site you are reading is the access layer. Free, forever. No commissions. No paid placements. No exclusivity agreements with sellers. Every property we list comes from a public source we credit by name, and links back to that source on the listing page.

What we will never do

  • Take seller commissions. We are not licensed real-estate agents and we have no economic interest in a buyer choosing one listing over another.
  • Run sponsored placements. Listings are not promoted in exchange for payment.
  • Sign exclusivity deals with municipalities or sellers. Every listing remains discoverable on its original source page.
  • Hide listings behind a paywall. The index is and will remain free.
  • Sell user data. Your saved listings and search history are yours, full stop.

What the subscription pays for

The subscription pays for the work that doesn't scale: weekly translated briefings, municipal-grant tracking, English-language summaries of source listings, viewings on the ground, and the concierge service for buyers who need a person in Japan. The free index is what we believe in. The subscription is what funds it.

About Evan

I am the founder, editor, and sole full-time staff. I've lived in Japan since 2018, in Tokyo and now in Iiyama, Nagano. I bought my first kominka in 2022, a 1971 two-storey ten minutes from Iiyama Station. I am not a licensed real-estate agent and this site is not legal or financial advice. For all transactions, work with a licensed shiho-shoshi (judicial scrivener).

You can reach me at hello@yukinokuni.com, or via the contact form. I read every message and reply within two business days.