Watch: Meet the Tiktokers buying up Japan’s empty homes

Content creators are going viral for renovating abandoned Japanese homes for low prices - but is all as it seems?

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifyUS ElectionElection pollsKamala HarrisDonald TrumpJD VanceTim WalzSportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersMeet the Tiktokers buying up Japan’s empty homesContent creators in Japan are going viral for buying and renovating cheap, abandoned homes known as akiyas.

In Tokyo, akiyas can be purchased for a fraction of the price of what a home would cost in other major cities around the world.

Outside major cities it’s even cheaper. In some remote locations, akiyas are even being given away for free.

It may seem like an unbelievable opportunity to those struggling to get on the property ladder, but the BBC’s Japan correspondent Shaimaa Khalil investigates the reality behind the social media trend.

Video by Isabelle Rodd

https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/c9wk01d2gvxo

---