Japanology Plus mini

Vacant Homes

One in every seven homes is empty in Japan. These 9 million vacant properties may increase the risk of fire and unlawful entry, or negatively impact local real estate prices. But new initiatives are emerging to make use of them. One regional community turned empty homes into shops and offices for technology companies, which led to an increase in the local population. In Tokyo, new tenants in formerly vacant storefronts have revitalized a shopping street. We investigate the issue of vacant homes in Japan and discover some creative solutions.