We’re humbled and thankful to all of the new friends, content creators, and publications, who’ve taken the time to share our story. It still feels a little surprising that people are interested in what we’re doing, but since our story has been shared, we’ve had many people reach out with encouragement and questions. The thought that we might be able to help others who want to do something similar, helps me to get over my natural inclination to be private or shy about our lives.
Network Television Feature Episode: CNBC’s Make It » October 2024
We’re very excited to be featured on an episode of CNBC’s Make It! The home tour series Unlocked is focused on how much people across the globe spend on their housing, what they get for the money and what they had to sacrifice to make it happen. In our episode, we discuss why we chose Japan, our experience renovating our first ‘akiya’ into Benton Guesthouse, the cost breakdown, and revenue. This is our first major media appearance, as their YouTube channel has over 1.5 million subscribers!
In addition to the video CNBC published two accompanying articles. The first one, entitled Millennial couple left New Orleans to buy an abandoned home in Japan for $7500: Take a look inside, focuses on the business aspect and Benton Guesthouse. The second article, entitled, 40-year-old left the U.S. to live on a ‘stunning island’ in Japan for $710/month: ‘We’re so excited about our future here’, looks at our life and future we’re building in a Japanese island village. We’re super happy with both articles!
News Article Publication: The Guardian » October 2024
We were happy to be included in The Guardian’s article covering five examples of abandoned house renovations around the world. It’s a really interesting look at some super ambitious projects! The article is entitled, Rot, romance and renovations: the reality of buying a cheap old house on Instagram. We didn’t technically purchase our houses on Instagram, but we did discover one of our two houses from Cheap Houses Japan. We purchased our house with the guidance of local realtor Shimanami Property. Both of which, we highly recommend!
News Article Publication: The Japan Times » September 2024
We were interviewed for an article in The Japan Times, entitled First lesson of Japan’s akiya gold rush: No such thing as a free house. Most of the article talks about the hidden costs, increasing expenses, and sometimes costly reality of renovating an abandoned house, but, then casually mentions that our purchase, renovation, rental license, and furnishing, was only $38,000 total. It is possible to do this affordably! It seems like the writer did a lot of research, because it’s more well-rounded than most trending or sensational “akiya” articles. We’re only mentioned in a few paragraphs near the end of the article, but they even included a cute photo of Evan during renovation.
Article Excerpt: “Dani and Evan Benton started researching akiya properties before moving to Japan. By the time they arrived in 2023, they already had a business plan and a building picked out. They now operate an akiya guesthouse and honeybee farm on Ōmishima Island, Ehime Prefecture…Working with a local real estate agent, they chose to renovate an older akiya, maintaining traditional Showa Era details and documenting the renovation process on YouTube. “We like older things and we wanted to do the renovation. We weren’t really tempted by anything else,” Dani Benton said, noting that some beautiful move-in-ready akiya are on the market for those who don’t want to renovate.”
Journal Article Publication: Modus Journal » June 2024
Some of our abandoned house restoration photos were shared in a Modus journal article discussing Japan’s complex ‘akiya’ and aging population issue. The article, entitled Hollowing out: the scourge of Japan’s empty homes, is really interesting and well-written. They only mention our house renovation in the photo descriptions, but it was nice to be included. Their journalist reached out to us with questions and a photo request. Our friends over at the Coco Lencho Japan YouTube channel had their photos featured, too! The Modus journal is published by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, covering content on the built environment around the world.
Article Excerpt: “The causes of empty homes in Japan are complex and interwoven. In many ways akiya, in particular, are the memorials of huge social and cultural change…The government has acknowledged that empty and abandoned homes are a growing problem – a further jump in numbers is expected when it releases its quinquennial housing stock survey later this year. In an effort to tackle the problem, it has introduced new legislative changes.”
Feature Podcast: Just Japan Podcast YouTube Channel » June 2024
We’re really excited about this one! We had such a fun chat with Kevin of the Just Japan Podcast, about renovating abandoned houses, farming, honeybees, sustainability, and adjusting to life in rural Japan. He did a great job keeping the conversation flowing, with all of our shared interests and hobbies. His (quite popular) podcast is available on YouTube as well as on all the streaming platforms. So nice to meet new friends through this adventure!
“Show Notes: In this episode, Kevin chats with Evan and Dani Benton who have renovated two Akiya (empty homes) on the island of Omishima in Ehime Prefecture in Japan. They have a wonderful website and YouTube channel called “Benton Homestead” that documents their journey. They have renovated these two buildings, turning one into a guesthouse and the other, their home. They are also diving into the world of natural agriculture and bee keeping. They discuss the process of buying and renovating these old homes as well as how they were able to get visas to stay in Japan to complete this project.”
Video Shoutout: Real Rural Japan YouTube Channel » May 2024
Real Rural Japan is a great channel from an Australian living long-term in Japan. His YouTube channel has some really interesting content, showing his rural life, discussing life as a foreigner, how to integrate into the countryside community, and running his business. This video is talking about alternative ways to achieve visa status in Japan, and he discusses our approach using the Startup and Business Manager visas.
Feature Video + Tour: Coco Lencho Japan YouTube Channel » April 2024
Lawrence and Chiyoko from Coco Lencho Japan came to visit us at Benton Guesthouse for a weekend, and took the time to make a great little video! Join us for some conversation, and a walk around our guesthouse, our second ‘akiya’ abandoned house, our neighborhood, and one of our honeybee apiaries. It was so much fun to finally meet these two, and have some visitors! Please subscribe and follow his YouTube channel as well, for more ‘akiya’ and Japanese countryside content. He’s always got great videos discussing life as a foreigner in Japan, and their beautiful home and garden renovations continue.
“Show Notes: Join Evan + Dani Benton on their inspiring journey from an urban farm in New Orleans to the tranquil countryside of Ōmishima island, Japan. After traveling and house-sitting in Mexico, they received a Startup visa in Japan. Recently, they completed the renovation of two akiyas: one turned into a guesthouse listed on Airbnb, and the other into a ryokan (Japanese Inn). They also received a business manager visa, allowing them to embrace a homestead lifestyle while building a honeybee business. Explore the Benton Guesthouse, a lovingly renovated Shōwa-era vacation rental just minutes from the Shimanami Kaido. Experience slow life in the Japanese countryside, surrounded by traditional charm and modern comforts. Follow along as they share their journey of preserving traditional Japanese architecture and creating unique experiences for guests seeking an authentic countryside retreat.”
Feature Talkshow Podcast + Live Tour: Seek Sustainable Japan YouTube Channel » February 2024
It was so fun to chat with JJ Walsh, a Hiroshima-based entrepreneur, guide, consultant, and writer. She does everything! Her live-broadcast YouTube talkshow podcast Seek Sustainable Japan features discussions about Japanese culture, travel, and traditions with insiders and experts across Japan.
Interview Video Chat: “Seek Sustainable Japan: Abandoned Houses & Farmland Renovation in Rural Japan – with Dani Benton”.
Live Tour of Benton Guesthouse: “Renovated Japanese house walk-thru with Dani & Evan at Benton Homestead”.
“Show Notes: Originally from the US, Dani & Evan Benton have bought properties and land to live and run a guest house and to do natural farming in rural Japan. They have been documenting and sharing a variety of useful information about how to get a Japan business and startup visa, buy a house, renovate old houses, get rid of junk, reuse things, and repair and reuse as well as honor the memory of the original owners as much as possible. Dani and Evan are doing a great service to their local community as well as all of their interested fans around the world with their informative posts and videos. They decided to settle in the area of OMISHIMA because it is a beautiful area that has a lot of AKIYA abandoned properties. They now run a guesthouse on AirBnb and aim is to run a farm stand to sell their fresh farm produce and honey. There will be a lot of great insights in this talk for anyone interested in Japan, Japanese culture, life in rural Japan, starting a business, natural farming, and renovating old houses in Japan.”
Feature Article: Cheap Houses Japan » January 2024
With nearly 350,000 followers on their instagram page, Cheap Houses Japan is undoubtedly one of the most well-known and valuable resources for anyone looking to purchase a house in Japan. We were overjoyed when they offered to interview us for their blog! “Renovating an Old House into an AirBnB in Japan: An Interview with Dani & Evan Benton”.
We have Michael to thank for helping us come to the understanding that our dreams could be reality, as we ended up purchasing one of the akiya houses we saw on his page! He also recommended an immigration lawyer, who has proven to be an invaluable member of the professional team for our visa and Benton Homestead business incorporation.
Feature Podcast: Retire There with Gil & Gene » January 2024
Our very first podcast! I’ll admit: I was pretty anxious about doing an interview like this, but Gil and Gene were so kind, and made the process fun and easy. Their weekly podcast interviews people who choose to retire or live in another country, with a focus on the logistics and realities of expatriating. You can listen on all the major podcast platforms! Episode 168 Retire on Ōmishima Island in Japan.
“Show Notes: Are you courageous enough to move across the world to start a new life on rural land? Dani and Evan Benton relocated to Omishima Island, Japan and seem to be loving the challenge. The industrious couple purchased two akiyas (abandoned or vacant houses in rural japan) for a total of approximately $30,000. For income, they remodeled one of the homes and are renting on airbnb. They plan to earn additional income by raising honey bees and from Dani’s photography. Learn more about the Benton’s enterprising move on Episode 168 of Retire There with Gil & Gene.”
Feature Article: The Sun US » November 2023
After the interest generated from their first article (which we didn’t even know had been written or published), The Sun US reached out to us for a second article, this time focusing on our ‘akiya’ purchase and remodel, as we were preparing to launch our Benton Guesthouse. The Sun US: “We bought 2 abandoned homes for less than $30k”.
Feature Article: Ehime Shimbun + Yahoo! Japan » October 2023
Our very first article in Japan! The Ehime Shimbun is the largest newspaper in Ehime prefecture. It was pretty fun, as people we saw around Ōmishima would say, “we saw you in the paper!”. They put our photo on the front page, with a teaser of the article. Ehime Shimbun: “Mr. and Mrs. Benton moved to Imabari/Omishima from the US, renovated an old folk house, and opened a guest house in November.” The article was also picked up by Yahoo! Japan! So cool!!! Both articles are of course written in Japanese, but can be translated to English.
Feature Article: The Sun US » October 2023
This article seems to have been re-written from the Insider Business article below, for publication in The Sun US: “We left our rent-free life which could have continued indefinitely to buy home for $7,500 – both options are replicable”.
Feature Article: Insider Business + Yahoo! Finance » October 2023
Our very first international article from a major news source! We discuss our life since leaving New Orleans (and America) in 2021. Insider Business: “An American couple left their rent-free life in Mexico and moved to a $7,500 abandoned home in Japan: ‘We feel overwhelmingly welcome'”. The article was also picked up by Yahoo! Finance.
Feature Video + Tour: SlowSteading YouTube Channel » September 2023
It was so nice to have the opportunity to meet the family behind the Slowsteading YouTube channel, when they were visiting Ōmishima island. They were kind enough to document our progress restoring our ‘akiya’ abandoned house, while talking about logistics, hopes, and dreams. It feels a little funny to have a video made about what we’re doing, but, it also feels really great to share all of our hard work. I really admire their ability to take our rambling conversation, and turn it into a cohesive story with beautiful imagery from Ōmishima. It’s really fun to watch their post-homesteading world travels unfold through their YouTube videos, and we’re excited to see where they end up!
Video Shoutout: Coco Lencho Japan YouTube Channel » August 2023
Coco Lencho Japan is a Mexican-American living in rural Japan, with his wife. His YouTube channel has been documenting every step of the way, as their ‘akiya’ abandoned house is renovated into an absolutely beautiful home. The two of them have put a lot of thought into everything, and it really shows! He also makes content about life in the countryside, and life as a foreigner in Japan.
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