RetireJapan

Our rental cottage is insured through JA. If the property is in a rural area they seem a good option and they paid up promptly on the one claim we have had to make.

I'm seriously worried abut inflation. I have decent savings and receive a pension but inflation could seriously damage my financial health if it carries on at this level, not just Japan but UK too

The FIRE number is about retirement and living standards as far as I can tell. But does it include the ability to start your own business, whatever that might be? Say you wanted to open a restaurant or coffee shop, or take on some rental properties, or start a language school - that is going to take...

Personal experience for me, with a mansion in Tokyo, was that the rental market was a good option - rent more than covers the mortgage and I think the place is holding its value, and possibly even appreciating, contrary to received wisdom. That said, the tenants are on a fixed term contract so there...

I just cut down a nondescript bush which was on its last legs. It has given me the chance to plant a cherry tree sapling. The blossom is one attraction but really I am jealous of a neighbour who has one which they sit under in the summer and it just looks perfect (insects notwithstanding)

Thanks, yes, we got some financial support. I might post elsewhere on the issues around caring for an elderly relative in the Japanese system, which offers quite a lot of support but is still onerous on the family I think. In our case money is not the problem, since he has a good pension (former tea...

I guess what I am saying is you can get quite a lot done for a reasonable price and quality, both when purchasing and when renovating. Of course if you want something really specific or unusual you are likely to have to pay a lot for it. Builders are not always keen to try something new or use non s...

We don't have children so I can't help you there, but I do see the local children getting the bus or walking to the junior school which is in the next village, about 3km. High school is a 30 minute bus ride away at least. Actually that is exactly the same as my bus journey to school from the age of ...

Our place is second hand, and is about 30 years old, wooden construction, in the country. We've had it painted and the roof re-sealed and some internal changes made. That apart, very little expenditure beyond normal wear and tear - in fact less than on our new apartment in Tokyo. There are well buil...

We have been using Freee for a few years for our business - restaurant and guest house. We are a kabushikikaisha so have to submit a tax return and accounts, so the choice is to pay an accountant or use a service like Freee. Overall Freee is quite good provided you have some basic Japanese. We used ...