I’d like to buy a mountain please…

[Designer Bovril]

Or a forest, I’m not picky, Has anyone else done that?

I’ve heard that quite a lot of rural mountain/forest land is quite cheap, and I’d like to buy some. Apparently 59% of Japan's forests are privately owned so there should be plenty to go round.

To be clear, I’m not planning to build a house on it, or make any money out of it. I just like the idea of owning some, and maybe trying to improve the ecological balance of it - especially on land blighted by monocultural logging back in the day.

A few questions that I have are:
Where’s a good place to find it? I’ve found a couple of websites but they both seem a bit dead. (http://www.sanrin.net/buy.php / https://www.shin-rin.net/)
If I buy it and a tree falls on someone’s head, am I going to gaol?
I understand I’ll have to pay property tax, roughly how much is that?

My budget is about $10-20k for the first bit and then go from there.

Thanks.

[Moneymatters]

There might be sites specific to a local area. I found one that only deals with rural land for just one part of Chiba.
but I'd say pick a specific area and hit up a few local looking real estate agents with a specific yet flexible request.

Highly recommend.
https://www.japansimplelife.com/
That's an excellent resource (and could prove very useful to confirm what's bitten you after you take ownership and spend some time on your nature reserve..)

A quick google seems to show you'd potentially be liable for damage from branches/trees falling onto access roads on your borders or rights of way..
but this could be completely wrong as I've no personal knowledge (but sadly I'm not passionate enough about future exchange rates to participate elsewhere on this forum so you'll need to put up with me..).
　個人宅の庭木や生け垣，沿道の山林の樹木など，倒木や張り出した枝の落下，落雪等により，通行中の歩行者や車両が損傷する事故が発生した場合は，法律によりその所有者が賠償責任を問われる場合があります。
https://www.jinsekigun.jp/town/formatio ... u/touboku/
the two laws are referenced but 43 seems to come up more..

Also, please know I pronounced your spelling of jail as ガオー and made little tiger fists with my hands. Until I realized what that was and felt quite silly..

Property tax should be a straight 1.4% of the assessed value. Not what you buy it for. Some of this stuff is a nightmare to off load so could be offered at a discount.. So worth confirming the last assessed value before making an offer. But based on your budget it should not be much.
https://yamaichiba.com/property-tax/
hang on. that site is literally called "Mountain Market" ha. who knew..
I've not looked but it would be awesome* you could specify by the height of mountain you needed. Should be some affordable given that in Japan anything above 2 flights of stairs is a "Mountain". Just in case someone wants to debate my assertion.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Tenp%C5%8D
and I'll quote "is currently Japan's second lowest mountain". 4.53 metres and 2nd. I could pop round with a shovel and get them first place in an afternoon. but I digress..

Now. Once you are established, and if around Kanto, I'd appreciate an invite to come and test some of the highly illegal weaponry I'm developing for use post societal break down.. However, rest assured. I will not arrive dressed like Sigue Sigue Sputnik. I'm sure we've all grown tired of the lazy fashion trope found in post apocalyptic movies. Isn't there one vision of the future where violent gangs roam wastelands on bicycles dressed as beatnik poets?
But no. It's just more motorbikes and mohawks.
Given my deep love for dystopian cinema this is something I need to face far too frequently.

*A word American's use to describe anything.

[Jansen]

Shimoda Life has mentioned in some of his earlier videos the processes and costs of buying a mountain.

He's also on Facebook in the https://www.facebook.com/groups/buildin ... useinjapan group if you'd like to speak with him directly.