Japanese property listings show only an approximate area, never the street address.
We use the listing photos to pinpoint the exact spot on Google Maps, so you know
exactly what you're dealing with before you even contact an agent.
Listing pin
Approximate & misleading
Where the listing says it is
Exact match
Pinpoint accurate
Where it actually is
Real example from Maruyamacho, Hachiōji — found from listing photos alone.
You only pay €49 if we successfully find the location. Nothing if we don't.
Why is the address hidden?
In Japan, property listings on sites like Akiya Mart, Homes.co.jp, and Suumo do not show the exact address. The reasoning is cultural and commercial: local agents want to be the
information gatekeepers. As a result, you often see only a city, ward, and a vague map
marker that could represent a 2 km radius.
For a Japanese speaker with local knowledge, a quick call to an agent solves this.
For a foreigner, especially one researching remotely from Europe, the US, or Australia,
it creates a real barrier. How do you assess a property when you can't even check what
neighbourhood it's in, whether it's near a train station, or what the surroundings look like
on Street View?
That's the gap AkiyaLocate fills.
How it works
1
You submit
Paste the URL of the listing you're interested in. That's all we need to get started.
2
We search
We analyse the listing photos, surroundings, and any available clues to find the exact spot on Google Maps.
3
You pay only on success
If we find it, we send you a payment link for €49. Once paid, we send you the precise Google Maps location. If we can't find it, you owe us nothing.
Simple, fair pricing
One price. One rule: you only pay when we deliver.
€49
per successful location find
✓ Exact Google Maps pin & coordinates
✓ Street View link where available
✓ Notes on what we used to find it
✓ Typically delivered within 48 hours
✓Free if we can't find it
No subscription. No hidden fees. Paid per listing.
Who does this?
My name is Victor. I'm a foreigner who bought a house in Japan and spent months
hunting for it on sites like Akiya Mart, one listing at a time.
Along the way I discovered I have a real knack, and honestly a passion, for
finding exact locations from listing photos. The angle of a mountain, the
shape of a roof visible in a neighbour's window, a distinctive road junction, a power line
pattern. It became a sport for me. After months of research, I found my own house that way, and along the way dozens of others
I was also curious about.
I've since bought my house and miss doing this as a challenge. So I decided to turn it into
a service! I know how hard it is to research Japanese property from abroad, and I know
how much it helps to have that one piece of information: exactly where is this house?
If I can find it, you'll have it typically within 48 hours. If I can't, you pay nothing.
Get started
Send us the link to your listing and we'll get to work!
Usually within 48 hours. Some listings are easier than others. If a listing is particularly challenging we may take a little longer, but we'll keep you updated by email.
What if you can't find the location?
You pay absolutely nothing. We'll email you to let you know we exhausted our methods and weren't able to pinpoint it. No payment link will be sent.
What exactly do I receive?
A Google Maps link with the exact pin location, the coordinates (lat/lon), a Google Street View link where available, and a short explanation of how we found it. Useful if you want to verify it yourself.
Which listing sites do you cover?
Any Japanese property listing site: Akiya Mart, Homes.co.jp, Suumo, At-home, Chintai, local municipal akiya banks, and others. If you're not sure, just submit it and we'll let you know if we can work with it.
Do you only do rural/akiya properties?
Not at all. Any Japanese residential property listing works. Akiya (abandoned homes) is just a common term; we handle urban apartments and regular houses too.
How do I pay?
If we successfully find the location, we'll email you our Wise payment link. Once payment is confirmed, we send the location details immediately.
Is this legal?
Yes. We only use information that is publicly visible in the listing photos and publicly available mapping and satellite imagery. We don't access any private systems or databases, and we don't publish the result.
