Hi everyone, especially people living in Japan 👋
First of all, I want to say I’m not very knowledgeable about this topic. I’m asking purely out of curiosity, not to judge, so please be patient with me 🙂
I recently read an article about houses in Japan and it made me curious about a few things.
I read that many Japanese houses are built with wooden structures, partly because Japan is a very seismic (earthquake-prone) country. My questions are:
Are these houses durable over the long term?
Do they last many decades like brick or concrete houses in Europe?
Do they require more maintenance?
I also read that many homes in Japan don’t use heating systems common in Europe (like radiators or floor heating), and instead rely a lot on air conditioners.
Is air conditioning really enough to stay warm in winter?
If not, how do you usually heat your home during cold months?
Another thing I found interesting is that people say houses in Japan often lose value over time, while in many European countries homes often gain value.
Is this true in your experience?
Because of this, is it smarter financially for many Japanese people to rent instead of buy?
Or is buying still considered a good long-term choice?
I’m just trying to understand how housing works in Japan compared to Europe. Thanks a lot to anyone willing to share their experience or knowledge!
by [deleted]