While a very small fraction of land brokers in Japan can handle foreign languages, the construction sector remains largely domestic. Even in a shrinking market for new homes, many builders do not actively seek international clients. The Cost of "Tema" (Hassle) The reason is practical rather than ideological. Builders worry that language barriers will lead to mistakes in meetings, misunderstandings about specifications, or difficulties in mediating with neighbours. In short, i

Finding a plot of land that feels "right" is an emotional moment. However, in the complex world of Japanese custom home building, buying land before  narrowing down your potential builders or architects is a significant risk. The Method vs. Environment Problem Every piece of land has strict legal constraints, but it also has physical ones. Crucially, every builder has their own preferred construction methods. Some of these methods may be impossible to execute depending on the