Deciding where to buy an akiya in Japan usually starts with the wrong question: where are the cheapest houses? Price tells you what you pay on day one. It tells you nothing about whether a contractor will show up, whether you can sell in five years, or whether the house sits in a flood zone the listing never mentioned. Buyers who regret their purchase usually optimized for the sticker. Buyers who are happy optimized for fit: a region that matches what they intend to do with t