This is really positive as I was half thinking of doing this when we retire in a few years time. I hadn't considered that there would not be a big supply here, but it makes sense given language barriers and I suppose the reluctance of many Japanese to expose their home to the outside world.TJKansai wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 7:35 amBecause hardly anyone in Japan does it he gets all kinds of offers. He swaps his ¥10,000,000 besso for homes that cost 5-30 times as much in Australia and Europe. Usual stay is a week, but often two.Moneymatters wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 7:42 am I hadn't though of house swapping. Could be a great way to slow travel to some other places.
Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
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Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
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Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
Can I butt in with a question? I, too, had never even thought of this... seems really interesting. Is it an AirBnB thing, or a different forum?Beaglehound wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 10:14 amThis is really positive as I was half thinking of doing this when we retire in a few years time. I hadn't considered that there would not be a big supply here, but it makes sense given language barriers and I suppose the reluctance of many Japanese to expose their home to the outside world.TJKansai wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 7:35 amBecause hardly anyone in Japan does it he gets all kinds of offers. He swaps his ¥10,000,000 besso for homes that cost 5-30 times as much in Australia and Europe. Usual stay is a week, but often two.Moneymatters wrote: ↑Fri Apr 11, 2025 7:42 am I hadn't though of house swapping. Could be a great way to slow travel to some other places.
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Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
I remember reading a Guardian article a few years back where they were comparing a few different platforms, warning of pitfalls etc. None of them were AirBnB from memory.AreTheyTheLemmings? wrote: ↑Fri Apr 18, 2025 1:13 amCan I butt in with a question? I, too, had never even thought of this... seems really interesting. Is it an AirBnB thing, or a different forum?Beaglehound wrote: ↑Thu Apr 17, 2025 10:14 amThis is really positive as I was half thinking of doing this when we retire in a few years time. I hadn't considered that there would not be a big supply here, but it makes sense given language barriers and I suppose the reluctance of many Japanese to expose their home to the outside world.
This topic also got me thinking that it would be good to have an intra-japan house swapping platform for us. Great way to see more of the country in retirement, or potentially before too.
Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
I haven't used it for a few reasons. The main one is I don't have a home to loan out. We also tend to stay 3-5 nights in a place, and this system is better for a week or more. Hotels also have the advantage of being a known quantity, with more flexible scheduling and cancellation options.
The platform my buddy uses is this: https://www.homeexchange.com/
He says he gets about 8-12 weeks of stays a year out of his property in Japan. Some of the places he's stayed in Europe and Australia would go for $300-500/night on AirBnB.
You can sign up and browse for free, but it costs real money to participate, I think about $200 or so per year.
There are a few options:
1. You can do direct swaps with people. Doesn't have to be simultaneous.
2. People use your place, you get "points" and then you can use those points to use someone else's place
3. You can buy points too
If any of you do decide to join, let me know beforehand as there is a bonus for referrals (plus you can get a bonus as well).
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Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
I like the idea but wouldn't want someone staying in our actual home. We're currently renting the place next door to ours too though, so that might be an option...TJKansai wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 7:26 am The platform my buddy uses is this: https://www.homeexchange.com/
He says he gets about 8-12 weeks of stays a year out of his property in Japan. Some of the places he's stayed in Europe and Australia would go for $300-500/night on AirBnB.

I wonder if this would fall foul of manshon 'minpaku' bans...
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Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
It is a bit of a gray zone, especially if you are doing a direct exchange.RetireJapan wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 3:21 am I wonder if this would fall foul of manshon 'minpaku' bans...
My friend's neighbors did complain to the homeowners association, but he isn't renting his place out so there isn't much they can do about it. They can't ban him from allowing people to stay for free.
Then again, he has a small house in a besso area and the nearest neighbor is 50-100m away. An apt/condo situation might be different.
The guy I know doing legit AirBnb filed some paperwork and is limited in the number of days he can rent per year. Since he is in the home when the guests are there I imagine the locals aren't too stressed by the idea of strangers passing though.
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Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
I imagine if it was a one off (realistically, I would only be doing this once or twice a year tops) and an exchange rather than a commercial arrangement there shouldn't be an issue as long as the guests behaved responsibly.
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Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
You'd be in the clear I am sure. Most guests are well-off and very considerate. Only trouble I heard about was misunderstandings about trash disposal. The real question is whether Sendai is on anyone's radar.RetireJapan wrote: ↑Thu Apr 24, 2025 4:30 amI imagine if it was a one off (realistically, I would only be doing this once or twice a year tops) and an exchange rather than a commercial arrangement there shouldn't be an issue as long as the guests behaved responsibly.

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Re: Options for payout of unused vacation when retiring
Shhhhhhhhhh.
Right now it isn't, and we like it that way

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