TLDRs;
- Japan adopts satellite-powered AI to detect abandoned homes as the country grapples with nearly 9 million vacant properties.
- Tokyo startup Where Inc. uses lunar-crater algorithms to flag aging roofs and identify long-neglected houses.
- Ownership gaps hinder revitalization as millions of vacant homes have unclear or unregistered heirs.
- AI-powered scanning could accelerate property reuse if legal, financial, and renovation support ecosystems align.
Japan’s aging population, shrinking rural communities, and complex inheritance laws have all contributed to a mounting real estate challenge where millions of homes are sitting empty, deteriorating quietly across the country.
To confront the rise of abandoned properties, Japanese companies are now turning to artificial intelligence and satellite technology as a new line of defense.
A standout among these innovators is Tokyo-based startup Where Inc., which has developed an AI platform capable of scanning satellite imagery to detect vacant homes based on roof damage, discoloration, rust, and other visual clues. The company’s software adapts image-analysis models originally built for examining lunar craters, offering a rare example of space research reshaping domestic infrastructure problems.
Space-Tech Algorithms, Earthly Applications
The AI technology powering Where Inc.’s platform traces its roots to work associated with teams linked to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). What began as an effort to identify subtle patterns on the moon’s surface has now been repurposed to locate structures on Earth that show signs of long-term neglect.
Since launching the service in 2024, Where Inc. has attracted roughly 50 corporate clients, ranging from real estate groups to property management firms. By automatically identifying homes that may have been left unoccupied, the startup enables buyers and local authorities to initiate outreach to potential owners, sometimes with surprising results.
One rental company in Gifu, for instance, reportedly used the platform to pinpoint a neglected two-story home and, after tracing ownership through public records, purchased it for just 1 yen. Cases like this illustrate both the opportunity and the challenge where many vacant homes can be recovered and repurposed, but only if the owners or heirs are reachable.
The Ownership Puzzle Slowing Progress
While the technology identifies empty homes with growing accuracy, Japan’s underlying legal and administrative issues complicate the transition from discovery to revitalization. Government data indicates that around 9 million homes were abandoned in 2023, yet more than 3.8 million akiya have unclear ownership or unverified market status.
This confusion stems partly from long-standing inheritance practices. For decades, heirs were not required to register property titles after the original owner passed away, leaving countless homes legally tied to deceased individuals. In 2014, a government survey found that 63% of municipalities struggled to determine property owners, with a notable share of cases linked to unregistered inheritances or heirs living overseas.
Without clear ownership records, many promising AI-flagged properties cannot be quickly listed for sale or renovation. Legal reforms and more aggressive heir-tracing efforts will be crucial to transforming discovery into usable inventory.
A Market Growing Beyond Identification
Despite the bureaucratic hurdles, interest in vacant homes is increasing. Proptech startups, tourism operators, and hospitality entrepreneurs see potential in repurposing akiya into rentals, guesthouses, and cultural stays, particularly as the weak yen has fueled record tourism numbers.
In March 2024 alone, Japan welcomed an all-time high of 3 million foreign visitors, boosting demand for traditional and rural experiences.
Local governments are also pushing revitalization through akiya banks, alongside renovation grants, tax incentives, and startup visas aimed at attracting new residents and entrepreneurs. Prefectures with high vacancy rates, such as Wakayama, Tokushima, and Yamanashi, are emerging as priority zones for such programs.
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