think twice
He Bought A Ski House In Japan For $6,000. He Says People Shouldn't Buy Them Just Because They're Cheap
Matt Guy visited Japan for the first time during a six-week trip in 2010. Half of the visit was spent snowboarding, while the other half was spent exploring the country.
At that time, Guy — who was born in Australia — had already traveled to 30 different countries and lived in several places before, but Japan piqued his curiosity.
[Matt Guy bought a traditional Japanese house in a ski town in Japan. Matt Guy.]
He'd spent the past couple of years looking at listings in Japan and scouting out different areas where he wouldn't mind living.
As someone who likes the outdoors and enjoys activities such as hiking, backcountry skiing, and snowboarding, he has always wanted to live in a ski town.
By a stroke of luck, a friend who owns a ski lodge near Myoko Kogen — a popular ski area in the Niigata prefecture — had invited Guy to spend the summer.
By the end of the season, Guy ended up finding his forever home.
[The Japanese home in the ski region of Myoko Kogen before it was painted. Matt Guy.]
He chanced upon the listing online after searching for property in the area.
The traditional two-story house, built in the '60s, was owned by a couple in their 80s who were eager to show him around.
Guy said he bought the property for slightly under 1 million Japanese yen, or about $6,000.
[The house before he renovated it. Matt Guy.]
"One of the things that I wanted was to live in a ski town up on the hill. I want the ski lift and the chairlift to be there," Guy said. "But as I've spent more time in the mountains, I've realized that if I come down a little bit, away from the more popular area, I'd be able to save money and enjoy other benefits too."
Guy — now a content creator who makes videos about off-the-beaten-path destinations in Japan — lives in the house with his partner, who's Japanese.
[He can see the ski slopes from his window. Matt Guy.]
The house was largely move-in ready, save for the bathroom, which had some termites, he said.
But he had his own idea of how he wanted the place to look, so he made some changes to the interiors.
"I recently renovated my bathroom and my shower room, and I made it out of Hinoki Japanese wood, and now that's become one of my favorite spots in the house," he added.
[Living in Japan has taught him to be more patient. Matt Guy.]
Since moving to Japan, Guy said, he's found himself living a life that's more connected to the present.
For instance, the way Japanese culture celebrates the changing seasons has encouraged him to focus less on what's next and more on what's happening now.
He's also grown to be more patient since Japanese culture emphasizes politeness and respect in daily interactions.
To read more about Guy's move to a Japanese ski town, head to Business Insider.
