Sunday, April 30, 2006
My kingdom for a castleIt is well known that Japan is an expensive country, especially for housing. With a population of 130 million living on a land smaller than California, most of it mountainous and earthquake-prone, it is no wonder that tiny apartments and condominiums (called "mansions" in Japan) can cost millions, hard to believe even for Californians used to housing sticker shocks.
That's no longer true. There is a large house that's been for sale in Japan at a very reasonable price, 41 million yen or 360,000 Bush dollars, give or take a few currency exchange percentage points. The bonus is that the three-story house was built as a honest-to-goodness castle, in feudal-era castle style atop a tall hill with steep rock walls. Inside, every room is decked out in traditional Japanese design, complete with tatami mats. However, the rest is modern construction and offers all current creature comforts and conveniences (maybe including musical toilets).
The castle was built only 15 years ago by the president of a construction company who had to put it up for sale when his business ran into financial trouble. The main drawback is that the castle is located in the small village of Yatsuo in Toyama Prefecture, in snowy country on the western side of Japan, fairly far away from the big cities like Tokyo and Osaka. That's probably why it has been on the market since last June, waiting for the next warlord.
So if you have always thought that your home is your castle, here is your chance to make it real. The commute might be a little long, but the view is spectacular. You can see it in the picture above left (click on it to increase floor space), and buy it from the real estate agency Shimada Jyutaku. Just remember that samurai, geisha, moats and crocodiles cost extra.
- posted by Woofwoof @ 7:18 AM
Comments:
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That's a beautiful castle. Are you sure it's really $360,000? Not possible.
# posted by 
: 30 April, 2006 08:55
: 30 April, 2006 08:55
There must be a catch. Forget about location. Just the cost of construction alone must be enormous.
# posted by : 30 April, 2006 12:56
: 30 April, 2006 12:56
Connecticut,
That's what the ad says. I didn't make it up.
Anonymous,
I doubted it too. But it's on the web, and therefore it must be true.
Ben,
Who knows. Maybe it sits on top of an earthquake fault. But all of Japan is like that.
John,
Surely you can afford it. That's just five barrels of oil for you.
Rikiya,
Welcome back! Castle or normal house, it's beautiful.
Hank,
That's the right thinking. Always what's good for the dog.
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That's what the ad says. I didn't make it up.
Anonymous,
I doubted it too. But it's on the web, and therefore it must be true.
Ben,
Who knows. Maybe it sits on top of an earthquake fault. But all of Japan is like that.
John,
Surely you can afford it. That's just five barrels of oil for you.
Rikiya,
Welcome back! Castle or normal house, it's beautiful.
Hank,
That's the right thinking. Always what's good for the dog.
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