AKIYA × MUSUBI
A home is culture, connection, and story.
We reignite the value of vacant homes and connect them to the world’s way of life.
AKIYA × MUSUBI is a revitalization service that connects vacant homes with “lifestyle” and “community.”
Whether you live overseas or in Japan, we support foreign property owners with every step — from purchasing and renovation to utilities and vacation rentals.
Our specialized team guides you through every step, removing the hassle of complex procedures and language barriers.
We go beyond mere brokerage, leveraging our construction licenses and in-house capabilities to bring your ideal home and lifestyle experience to life.
Vacant homes offer the advantages of low cost and high flexibility, allowing for renovations tailored to your lifestyle.
MUSUBI thoughtfully connects people, cultures, and communities, reducing uncertainty through processes designed to be easy for international clients to navigate.
Vacant houses hold the skills rooted in the land and the memories of daily life.
AKIYA × MUSUBI performs a “re-editing” that respects this value while layering modern comfort.
The logo symbolizes the knot connecting people, the rising sun of rebirth, and the silhouette of a Japanese house. As a cultural bridge, it carefully connects past and future, region and world.
We also collaborate with local artisans and businesses to carefully select materials and construction methods, ensuring a seamless and stress-free process.
About AKIYA
AKIYA (vacant houses) refers to residential properties and buildings in Japan that have been unused for extended periods.
Against a backdrop of population decline, aging demographics, and migration to urban areas, vacant houses are increasing nationwide in Japan.
Particularly in regional cities and suburbs, many properties are structurally sound despite their age. As real estate assets available for purchase at low prices, they have recently attracted attention from overseas investors and prospective migrants.
【What is an Empty House?】
◆ General Definition
An “empty house” refers to a building that has not been occupied or used for a certain period of time. It signifies a state of no residents and no actual use.
◆ Legal Definition (under the Act on Special Measures for the Promotion of Measures for Vacant Houses, etc.)
Japan’s “Act on Special Measures for the Promotion of Measures for Vacant Houses, etc. (enacted 2015)” defines it as follows:
Vacant houses, etc.
“Buildings or structures, including any attached facilities, that are not used for residential or other purposes on a regular basis.”
Here, “regular basis” generally refers to a state in which the property has not been used for approximately one year or more.
About MUSUBI
“Musubi” is a profoundly important concept in Japan’s ancient spiritual culture. It signifies not merely the act of “tying,” but the interconnectedness of people, places, nature, the divine, and time.
✦ “Musubi” in Shinto
In Shinto, it is written as “Musubi” and symbolizes the power of creation, development, and harmony within the universe and natural world.
Takamimusubi-no-Kami
Kamimusubi-no-Kami
These deities appear in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, described as presiding over the creation of heaven and earth and the birth of life.
✦ Cultural Significance of Musubi
Rituals and prayers deepening human bonds—marriage, family ties, etc. (e.g., Izumo Grand Shrine, Ise Grand Shrine)
Water-drawn cords, strings, threads, ropes: Tied as symbols of prayer, gifts, or purification (e.g., shrine shimenawa ropes)
Words of conclusion: In Japanese expression, symbolizing “conclusion,” “reconciliation,” and “harmony”
✦ AKIYA × MUSUBI
Forging connections between vacant homes and new lifestyles.
Bridging Japan and the world, past and future, and diverse cultures.
A project meticulously reweaving sacred spaces, communities, and human bonds.
“Musubi” is more than a business name — it embodies a philosophy of regeneration, creation, and harmony at the heart of Japanese culture.
Start with a free consultation.
Consultation on Purchasing and Renovating Vacant Homes
Our experienced staff will assist you in your language.