Kamiichi — buying kominka and vacant houses

We buy vacant houses in Kamiichi as they are.

At the foot of Mt Tsurugi, in the hills of Oiwa and Shirahagi, stand houses framed for the weight of snow. Winter roof clearing and snow removal are a heavy burden, and many houses fall empty when children who moved away cannot keep up. The town centre has old townhouses too. Sound structures are the rule here.

We buy vacant houses in Kamiichi Town as they are, contents included. No clearing needed.
Oiwa and Shirohagi at the foot of Mt. Tsurugi get deep snow, and the burden of clearing snow from the roof often leaves houses empty.
Farmhouses in the hills have thick beams and a large attic space, which is a strength if you repair and use them.
Subsidies are listed under "Various subsidies for vacant houses in Kamiichi Town".
Brokerage fee ¥0, free appraisal. As little as 2 weeks from the on-site survey.

Areas of Kamiichi we cover

Kamiichi town centre

Oiwa

Shirahagi

Ainoki

Yumisho

Minamikazumi

Kakizawa

Nishitane

and all of Kamiichi

We cover other districts too. We are a builder in Yatsuo, Toyama City, and drive to the centre of Kamiichi as well as the hills of Oiwa and Shirahagi. Just tell us where the house is and roughly what state it is in. Other municipalities in Toyama Prefecture are listed in Selling a vacant house or kominka in Toyama (overview).

Houses in Kamiichi, and why they fall empty

A clear stream in Kamiichi A clear stream through the hills of Kamiichi, with snow-capped mountains behind

※ Street scene in Kamiichi, not a property we handle. Photo: kiwa dokokano "Iori, Kamiichi"(CC BY-SA 3.0), cropped

Kamiichi lies at the foot of Mt Tsurugi. Old houses remain before the gate of Oiwasan Nisseki-ji and along the old road, and some hill-hamlet farmhouses still show traces of silkworm rearing. The town is known for a kominka that became a film location, and it draws people who see value in a mountain-village house.

A vacant house in the mountains is often written off from the start as “unsellable.” But a view of Mt. Tsurugi, an irori hearth, thick beams — these look like strengths to someone who wants to open a guesthouse or move there. Before you decide on demolition, take a look at what we'd offer for the house as it is.

If you want a broad view of prices before selling, see Using the akiya banks in Toyama. You can keep the house listed on an akiya bank and still have it appraised for a direct purchase.

How houses sell in Kamiichi

Hamlets string along the foot of Mt Tsurugi, and the further into the hills, the worse the snow damage and the more houses stand empty. Old streetscapes survive, such as before the gate of Oiwasan Nisseki-ji. Hill houses are hard to move through a broker, but we take them as they are and consider renting and repairing too.

Snow, roads and land in Kamiichi

Houses in Kamiichi differ between the old-road town on the plain and the hill hamlets like Shirahagi on the way up to Mt Tsurugi. The hills get deep snow, and farmhouses with a tall upper storey, a legacy of silkworm days, survive. Thick beams and a roomy attic are strengths when the plan is to repair and use.

On the fans of the Oiwa and Kamiichi rivers, irrigation channels run beside many plots, and the boundary with the channel or the upkeep of a bridge can become an issue when selling. Even without complete papers, we check the site against the cadastral map and sort it out.

Before deciding a hill house will not sell, it is worth at least checking its condition before the snow does more damage. If you want a plan before next winter, contact us by early autumn.

Kamiichi Town has announced that it will demolish dangerous vacant houses whose owner cannot be identified, on the town's own initiative. The stages of notice and the time limits are set out in A notice from the city.

Subsidies in Kamiichi

Kamiichi has subsidies for demolishing or renovating vacant houses. Budget and conditions are set each fiscal year, and starting work before the grant is approved disqualifies you as a rule. Whether selling, renting or repairing is best can depend on the scheme, so we check it alongside the appraisal.

Kamiichi vacant-house subsidies
Several schemes cover demolition, renovation and purchase of vacant houses, including renovation support for people moving in from outside the prefecture.

* Check the municipality's official page for current availability and requirements.

Kamiichi FAQ

Can I really sell a vacant house in Kamiichi without clearing it out?＋−

Yes. In Kamiichi too, we buy with the contents and the altar still inside; we dispose of them, so no clearing out. From hill houses in Oiwa and Shirahagi to townhouses in the centre, we take them all as they are.

How long from appraisal to handover in Kamiichi?＋−

As little as two weeks from the site survey. A few days from your request to the visit, and the price within a week. Many houses here were framed for snow load and still have sound structures, so within Kamiichi it goes smoothly.

Another firm said it can't be sold without demolishing. Is that true in Kamiichi?＋−

We don't assume demolition. We repair the houses we buy and pass them on, so there is no demolition cost to deduct from the price. Many requests here come from heirs living outside the prefecture, and the better the condition, the bigger the difference. Appraisal is free, with no charge if you decline.

The roof of our hill-hamlet house is snow-damaged. Will you still buy it?＋−

Yes. Leaks or sagging eaves, we look at it as it is. For many houses, a repair that just stops the damage changes the lifespan.

What should I do with a house that comes with fields and woodland?＋−

Talk to us about all of it. Farmland and woodland need their procedures checked, and we will work out whether we can take them together with the building.

I want to compare your appraisal with other companies before deciding on my vacant house in Kamiichi.＋−

Please do. Our appraisal is free, and saying no costs nothing. When you compare, check whether the thick beams and roomy roof spaces of the hill farmhouses are counted in the price, and whether the price assumes demolition. Priced on a demolish-first basis, a hill house rarely gets a price at all.

What can I do if my Kamiichi house is on the akiya bank and no buyer turns up?＋−

Honestly, hill houses rarely move through brokerage or the bank. You can keep it on the bank and still have us appraise it. We take the house as it is and price it with renting or restoring in mind. If you want it settled before next winter, talk to us by early autumn.