Too many ghost homes: Why 9 million houses are lying empty in Japan

Japan currently has around nine million empty homes. These are not unfinished projects or abandoned construction sites, but houses and apartments where nobody lives anymore. Some still have curtains on the windows, while gardens have grown wild, roofs are slowly collapsing, and entire neighbourhoods are becoming quieter every year.Japan’s growing number of vacant homes, known as akiya, has become one of the country’s biggest demographic and economic shifts. According to the 2023 housing survey, nearly 13.8% of all homes in the country are now vacant, the highest level ever recorded. Experts say the problem is linked to population decline, ageing communities, inheritance complications, rural depopulation, migration towards cities, and policies that encourage owners to leave old homes standing. Out of the nearly nine million vacant homes, many are not available for rent or sale, while a significant number are fully abandoned properties with no residents, tenants, or future plans.As homes remain empty for years, their condition gradually worsens.Without regular maintenance, roofs begin leaking, wooden frames weaken, and mold spreads inside the structure. Overgrown gardens and pest problems also become common.Local authorities sometimes step in when abandoned properties begin posing risks to nearby residents or public spaces. Structurally unsafe buildings can affect surrounding homes and create additional financial pressure for local communities already dealing with shrinking populations.Many akiya reportedly remain untouched for decades, becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to restore with time.