My house....

[Sniperz]

Be nice....

http://www.as4l.com/h1.jpg

http://www.as4l.com/h2.jpg

http://www.as4l.com/h3.jpg

http://www.as4l.com/h4.jpg





I eyed this place over a year and made friends with the owner/builder. His company came on hard times during the collapse in the 90s and this house was one of the last luxury homes he built. The bank screwed him and stole his customer and he was stuck with the bills. Sooooo.....

Enter the Gaijin....

I'm driving in the mountains, I go offroad in these places often and find ancient civilization long lost. Came across this place and talked and talked. Over a year he checked back in regulary.

This summer, he came up with a scheme. To get out of the tax problems, he handed it over to the bank. Now, the house and property are an "island" with no road access. So I come along and buy up the only road access point, no one wants to buy the house, I wind up with this place and 250tsubo. They wanted someone they knew to live there and they also wanted help with their sons english and getting into a junior college back in the states. Ok, what the hay.

So now I'm living here...battling snakes and various bugs.

I'm working on pinning down the loan using the Jutaku(Ithink thats what its called) loan service. I think I'll be able to pull it off.

In the end, I'm getting the place at 17,000,000Y.

I have plans to hydro power the place tapping the river up the hill. I already run my diesel LandCruiser on used vegetable oil...my goal is to get to zero cost to live in Japan. Just a fun hobby to see what I can actually do.

[Sniperz]

What a wacky rule....

http://www.as4l.com/h5.jpg

http://www.as4l.com/h6.jpg

http://www.as4l.com/h7.jpg

[iLyo]

that's amazing. I envy you. Where, if you dont mind me asking, is that located (roughly)? Is the electricity currently from public sources or a generator? Good luck with the project and please update your progress!

[Sniperz]

Matsuyama, always welcome to visit.

Electricity is from the grid, but I like to do things the hard way.

I like it, the property is a blank slate with a LOT of possibility.

With this purchase, also comes a wrap around deck, made to my specs. A second upstairs veranda. A custom kitchen...gaijin no saizu wo taisetsu desu. I'm going to change the shower room from cedar to slate. Possibly add a fish pond in the front..possibly using the waste water from the turbine (hhave to see if I'm going to pipe the water in or just the electricity). Going to have a psuedo-barn built as a garage for 2 cars...I do all my own automotive work. Possibly and upstairs loft in the garage for visitors/storage.

Also going to change the Japanese room (NO TATAMI...I HATE TATAMI) to a theatre and build an HD projector. Floors are hardwood, softwood, and chinese red wood. Mains are douglas fir and hinoki. Paneling is all cedar.

I'm also working with the owner to use more of his land to start a small business....airgun shooting and possibly an outdoor english school.

Thus enter chapter four of my life....

[Danger Man]

Thanks for the photos....but if your name is 'sniper' and you are into...what you are into...shouldn't you be hanging out with all the survivalist nuts on the 'country living' thread?

[madeira]

Gorgeous house! Mostly agreed on the tatami, but it is very nice to sleep on, and some of my relatives refuse to use beds. I left one tatami room in our house.

Good luck getting off the grid, let us know how it goes. My in-laws had no luck with their solar panels; they broke down a long time ago. Don't know how...

[kurogane]

.............is a very very fine house.

So, WTH is Matsuyama?

[Sniperz]

Google be thy friend.....kurogone. The area is named for the twisted pine, matsuki, that used to grow all over the countryside.

I actually work in International marketing and advertising for a small company that develops and sells model guns and military training aids.

And Dman: I am posting in the country livin section. You following me?

Seriously though, my family, upbringing (which was mostly normal outside of the strong engineering influence, my father being a mechanic, grandfather engineer, etcetcetce) all tought serious self-reliance. Don't call the repair guy, do it yourself. I take pride in knowing I can do things the Japanese and foreign people think are nuts. Heres a good example...how many of you guys change your own brake pads? You just wait and fork over for the shaken? Heck no, not me...I save myself the 600usd and do it myself...simple job....hours worth of work for all four wheels. Total cost: 60usd. Just an example of the money you save and the gratification you get from doing things on your own.

My idea for hydro power is quite unique also. If it works...it could very well turn some serious coin. Its a new generator/turbine design never before really seen. Can't give away too many details.....

[kurogane]

Google be thy friend.....kurogone. The area is named for the twisted pine, matsuki, that used to grow all over the countryside......

Oooh! Free Jpn lessons, too! ;)

Nice house, though, seriously. Groove on, Commander.

Shame about the gun thing, but hey, there's a lot weirder around here.

[Sniperz]

"Oooh! Free Jpn lessons, too!" Ask a silly question get a silly answer. If you're able to speak Japanese, why did you ask..."Whats a Matsuyama"? If nothing else, you should have said, "wheres pine mountain?". Its actually a very famous city in Japanese culture with a famous old book written and taking place in Matsuyama. The famous onsen is also in, uh, whats that anime...the one where the young girl works at the hotspring....its done by the same company that did Princess Mononoke. Bah, I was never good at remembering those names. If its not Evangelion or Fooly Cooly..I never remember it.

[edin日本]

Thanks for the photos....but if your name is 'sniper' and you are into...what you are into...shouldn't you be hanging out with all the survivalist nuts on the 'country living' thread?

I resemble that! We aren't nuts. We're ahead of our time. Muwahahahahahahahahaha!

[edin日本]

"Oooh! Free Jpn lessons, too!" Ask a silly question get a silly answer. If you're able to speak Japanese, why did you ask..."Whats a Matsuyama"? If nothing else, you should have said, "wheres pine mountain?". Its actually a very famous city in Japanese culture with a famous old book written and taking place in Matsuyama. The famous onsen is also in, uh, whats that anime...the one where the young girl works at the hotspring....its done by the same company that did Princess Mononoke. Bah, I was never good at remembering those names. If its not Evangelion or Fooly Cooly..I never remember it.

It's called Spirited Away and was by Studio Ghibli. A very good anime.

[kurogane]

"Oooh! Free Jpn lessons, too!" Ask a silly question get a silly answer. If you're able to speak Japanese, why did you ask..."Whats a Matsuyama"? If nothing else, you should have said, "wheres pine mountain?". Its actually a very famous city in Japanese culture with a famous old book written and taking place in Matsuyama. .

Calm down, Rifle Boy.

WTH = Where the Hell?

It was a jibe at crapasss country towns.

And don't get too snotty about Japanese skills when you have none.


PS the book is called Botchan.

[Sniperz]

Wow...what a jaded prick you're turning out to be.

WTH is usually WHAT the hell. Much like WTF.

I guess if you don't live in a crowded, foreigner filled, gross metropolis...you're not worth anything. Yeah, um, no. I hate Tokyo, every time I go there on business I can't wait to get out.

You're right, my skills aren't there yet, I forgot just about everything I learned in high school. Sorry...we can't all have been here for 10 years and be jaded pricks.


Thats the name...I always forget what its called for some reason.

[kurogane]

Wow...what a jaded prick you're turning out to be..

Settle down, sonny.

BTW, I hate Tokyo, too. So we do have something in common.

For a poster with your level of snotty presumption, joking or not, you're pretty touchy.

You might want to leave that at the door.

I was just rising to what I thought was the spirit of your posts.

[edin日本]

Settle down, sonny.

BTW, I hate Tokyo, too. So we do have something in common.

For a poster with your level of snotty presumption, joking or not, you're pretty touchy.

You might want to leave that at the door.

I was just rising to what I thought was the spirit of your posts.

Kuro

Give the kid a break! You've been playing troglyte too long, get out of the basement and do something constructive like unpacking your baseball bat and buying JD and Clownie a Burly beer.:D

[kurogane]

Kuro

Give the kid a break! You've been playing troglyte too long, get out of the basement and do something constructive like unpacking your baseball bat and buying JD and Clownie a Burly beer.:D

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!????

He impugned our collective sexual prowess, then disparaged our collective Japanese skills, and then gets touchy when I make a couple of snappy remarks?

Newbies.....................................

So, about this Burly beer.................

is it palatable?

[Sniperz]

Talk about touchy....I never said a word about anyones Japanese skills. Are you so insecure with your own accomplishments that you are constantly on the defensive? Jeezum crow...get an enima and get over it.

While I did joke about the lack of sexual experience due to the lack of simple answers, never did I say, "You don't know no Japanese."



I'm really excited to begin some work on this place. As soon as my loan goes through I'm going to tear into that shower room...should be pretty cool when I'm done.

The best part of this place is....15 minutes in any direction will get me to the beach, downtown, shopping, work, hotsprings...pretty much anything. While its complete wilderness, its only about 20 minutes outside the main city. The valley is an old village occupied pretty much by one family. The father lives at the top and the son lives at the bottom. The son is the builder/owner of the house.

I love it out there, just got to get used to the weather changing in minutes. Makes timing the sentakumono a bit tricky.

I can't wait till next June. Hotaro season. The area is somewhat famous for its fireflies...being from California, I never got to experience that. Oh, and the Kabutomushi. Those are just fun.

[kurogane]

Talk about touchy....I never said a word about anyones Japanese skills. Are you so insecure with your own accomplishments that you are constantly on the defensive? Jeezum crow...get an enima and get over it.

While I did joke about the lack of sexual experience due to the lack of simple answers, never did I say, "You don't know no Japanese." .

Yes you did allude to that, whether here or on the other thread, but if you can't be bothered to remember what you wrote, I can't be bothered either. Anyways, like I mentioned here or on the other thread, I have forgiven you your trepasses.

You came across as mildly snotty in your original posts, again, whether here or on the other thread, and I was simply rising to the spirit in which I thought you were posting. As EdinNipon pointed out, maybe I just needed a Burly Brew.

We got off to a bad start. Why don't we just let out a mutual Oops! and start again.




I'm really excited to begin some work on this place. As soon as my loan goes through I'm going to tear into that shower room...should be pretty cool when I'm done.

The best part of this place is....15 minutes in any direction will get me to the beach, downtown, shopping, work, hotsprings...pretty much anything. While its complete wilderness, its only about 20 minutes outside the main city. The valley is an old village occupied pretty much by one family. The father lives at the top and the son lives at the bottom. The son is the builder/owner of the house.

I love it out there, just got to get used to the weather changing in minutes. Makes timing the sentakumono a bit tricky.

I can't wait till next June. Hotaro season. The area is somewhat famous for its fireflies...being from California, I never got to experience that. Oh, and the Kabutomushi. Those are just fun.

Start Again.


Yes. A very nice house. Reminds me of that CSNY song.

I might suggest you get rid of those fancy bannister decorations, but hey, that's all personal taste and priorities. They just seem a little cluttered to me, given the nice clean lines of the outside and inside layout.

Also, the tiling of the shower room is a very good idea. I have a feeling that house was intended as a weekend cottage. With only occasional use, a cedar finish is fine, and it really was all the rage back then, but with daily use and the ambient and added humidity, that could turn into one stinky room. You've seen the mould they get there, yeah? Yucky stuff.

And do keep those blow by blow accounts of your New Adventure coming. Especially the Pubic Science Research results.

Never did understand the shaving thing (too much visual information there, thank you), but hey, to each his own.

Oh, btw: they're Hotaru. Like Ooh! ;)

[edin日本]

So, about this Burly beer.................

is it palatable?
Ask Hijinx and Clownpuncher:D

[kurogane]

Ask Hijinx and Clownpuncher:D

I am not sure how reliable either of those opinions would be.

Hijinx drinks Suntory (Blech!), and there is a reason we call him Clownfelcher.

If he drinks clown _____, he can't be too picky about his beer.

Nice to see them grouped together like that, though.

This could be pure gold.

[edin日本]

I am not sure how reliable either of those opinions would be.

Hijinx drinks Suntory (Blech!), and there is a reason we call him Clownfelcher.

If he drinks clown _____, he can't be too picky about his beer.

Nice to see them grouped together like that, though.

This could be pure gold.

A cage match in the making.

[Sniperz]

I hate to stir it up again...

But please please don't assume anything...especially from me. I am usually very forward and am clear...so mistakes are very clear. Allusions is another way of saying...interpretations, opinions, and assumptions. You have been here (board and JP) a while, you strike me of having a lot of preconceived notions of foreigners living in Japan. While yes, stereotypes hold true more often than not...people do break them. Don't be so quick to dismiss someone based on opinions forged by years of watching JETS get off the plane and douchebags in Shibuya. This aint your normal gaijin here.

Anyhow....


Absoluetly...I HATE THOSE PILLARS. Once we get into the deck, I plan to hook those up to my truck and give em a yank. They just breed spiders between them...the big ugly ones, http://lsniperxl.tripod.com/airsoft/index.album/img01979?i=11 .

The place is designed and built as a permanent residence and its huge inside. I don't know WHAT he was thinking with untreated wood in the bathroom. Its already showing damage. So I'm going to do slate using local materials and design a vine plant system that will act as a blind and ditch the cheesy venetian blinds that are in there now. Maybe do a little mosaic at the foot of the tub.

My girl like it. She digs the place and the area, two sources of employment nearby too. I didn't tell her about the snake in the house yet though...or the big one outside. But hey, everyone likes surprises.


On that note...anyone have a pictorial guide on snakes of Japan? I found one, but its not very conducive of browsing...nor does it list poisonous or not. I know there are atleast 2 poisonous snake species in the area and I want to know what to look for.

[edin日本]

I hate to stir it up again...

But please please don't assume anything...especially from me. I am usually very forward and am clear...so mistakes are very clear. Allusions is another way of saying...interpretations, opinions, and assumptions. You have been here (board and JP) a while, you strike me of having a lot of preconceived notions of foreigners living in Japan. While yes, stereotypes hold true more often than not...people do break them. Don't be so quick to dismiss someone based on opinions forged by years of watching JETS get off the plane and douchebags in Shibuya. This aint your normal gaijin here.

Anyhow....


Absoluetly...I HATE THOSE PILLARS. Once we get into the deck, I plan to hook those up to my truck and give em a yank. They just breed spiders between them...the big ugly ones, http://lsniperxl.tripod.com/airsoft/index.album/img01979?i=11 .

The place is designed and built as a permanent residence and its huge inside. I don't know WHAT he was thinking with untreated wood in the bathroom. Its already showing damage. So I'm going to do slate using local materials and design a vine plant system that will act as a blind and ditch the cheesy venetian blinds that are in there now. Maybe do a little mosaic at the foot of the tub.

My girl like it. She digs the place and the area, two sources of employment nearby too. I didn't tell her about the snake in the house yet though...or the big one outside. But hey, everyone likes surprises.


On that note...anyone have a pictorial guide on snakes of Japan? I found one, but its not very conducive of browsing...nor does it list poisonous or not. I know there are atleast 2 poisonous snake species in the area and I want to know what to look for.

I won't get into the sterotyping BS. I've been around too long and have seen too many people come and go. At one point we were all entrepreneurs, the English teacher was few and far between. That changed in the 70's and 80's.

Places change too, once upon a time Shibuya was the armpit of Tokyo, Shinjuku was homeless central and Ueno was the blackmarket and druggie hub.

There was a time too when gaijin couldn't own property, we were actively discouraged from staying long term and the list of jobs we couldn't do was 500 pages long.

A lot has changed.

By all means enjoy your house. Fix it up! I envy you to an extent.

So, to sum up Kurogane is Bilbo Baggins, oops that's food for another thread.

[karamatsu]

Nice place. However, if the bank owns it and you alone control access, you can really turn the screw. I don't know about Matsuyama in particular, but if the circumstances are as you describe, I think you could get it a lot cheaper. In this kind of situation, it is the circumstances that drive the price, not the size, quality of build, or any of that.

[Sniperz]

Kara: Its already gone through auction, this whole thing was arranged to basically "keep it in the family". I'm alright with the price land and locale is nice, house is great. Comparable place in the US would be as much or more. This also gets me in good with the whole community...a place I'll be spending a good portion of my stay on earth in. Thanks for the input though. I don't want to burn any bridges in there yet...I'm only 27...

Ed: How long HAVE you been here? What trends are you witnessing now? Do you think we'll be rounded up and put in camps one day (joke there). Seriously, what is your take on the gaijin problem in Japan. I just want to make sure my investment in this country doesn't end up getting seized by the government due to policy change.

[kurogane]

Well, I think a lot of assumptions were being made mutuallly there, but yeah, let's just Bilbo Baggins it.

Clean Slate?


Now, BOT.

Clarification needed:

do you own the house and the land, or just the land by which you access the former?

Anyways, I thought that was a good price for all that, too.

Mind you, Jpn land prices aren't going up much anytime soon, if ever. A decreasing, increasingly impoverished population doesn't make for a booming land market, except maybe in certain hot urban pockets.


As for camps, no. And yes, I know you were just joking. I think that the legal situation of resident foreigners willing to put in their time and their money will probably improve (they seem quite liberal lately with Permanent Resident applications for qualified applicants).

On the Dark Side, I noticed quite an increase in kneejerk xenophobia over the last 5 or so years. Not everywhere, and certainly not from everyone, but it does seem to be on the rise, especially in demagogic media reports. It may well be an expression of economic, political and demographic insecurity, but at street level, it is just plain tiresome.

Still, they may be bigots, but they usually aren't violent bigots. I think in a place where you are, with a solid local patron, you'll be fine.

Maybe join the local fire brigade. With your handy dandy fix it skills, they'll love you.

All I ever got to be was grunt labour. Yech. Still, good fun, good companionship, and a great way for you to learn the lingo.

[edin日本]

Kara: Its already gone through auction, this whole thing was arranged to basically "keep it in the family". I'm alright with the price land and locale is nice, house is great. Comparable place in the US would be as much or more. This also gets me in good with the whole community...a place I'll be spending a good portion of my stay on earth in. Thanks for the input though. I don't want to burn any bridges in there yet...I'm only 27...

Ed: How long HAVE you been here? What trends are you witnessing now? Do you think we'll be rounded up and put in camps one day (joke there). Seriously, what is your take on the gaijin problem in Japan. I just want to make sure my investment in this country doesn't end up getting seized by the government due to policy change.

Depends on who is in power. Under Abe there have been FTA's signed with the Philippines, Malaysia, Oz, Thailand, Vietnam and now India. These have been to, respectively, acquire trained nursing and medical staff, secure a supply of LNG, foodstuffs, coal, iron ore, food and cheap skilled labour for Toyota and IT and computer saavy wageslaves.

A lot of these people won't be leaving Japan when their visas are up, as many of them have the dream of owning land and aren't afraid to get dirty they will be moving into the countryside.

The Japanese government hates to admit it but we will be the salvation of their country and there will come a time when pureblood Japanese will be a minority.

[kalphakomega]

If you need any help building your turbine let me know. I use to build electrical generators for fun when I was younger, and wouldn't mine aiding you on yours.

[KenElwood]

Hiya sniperz,

Hey, nice lookin’ piece of house there. Thanks for sharing your pictures of the house and the property. As a fellow 27 year old and someone who hopes to one day buy property in the countryside like you, I was wondering if you could share a few more details with those of us who aren’t up to snuff yet on the inns and outs of buying a home and property here in the countryside. I’m guessing since you will take out a loan for the place and eventually drop 1700万円 for it, you’ve done your homework. If you don’t mind I would like to ask just a few simple questions. Thanks in advance for reading this and much much thanks in advance if you take the time to answer them.

Now, the house and property are an "island" with no road access. So I come along and buy up the only road access point.
1. How exactly did you obtain easement for access to the 'island'? – from whom did you buy it and how much did it/will it cost in yen? Will you pay an annual fee or did you pay a one time fee? Speaking of easement, did you make sure there were no utility easements running through or under the property? For example, the municipal water company may have an easement to run water pipes under the property. Your name is on the deed (you're the title holder) and you still own the property, but the water company has the right to use a part of it, for its pipes.

Or another example would be, the electric company can string wire across 'your' property. Since it's their right of way, you cannot take them down or block their path.


I'm working on pinning down the loan using the Jutaku(Ithink thats what its called) loan service. I think I'll be able to pull it off.

2. How much of a loan are looking to receive?
3. Will there be a mortgage? How much monthly?


I wind up with this place and 250tsubo.

4. Being that your home and land is on the side of a mountain there, did you check the deed closely to determine whether the mineral rights have been severed and belong to someone other than the owner of the surface rights to the property?
5. I see some trees there on the property…..What about timber rights? You’ve got those too right? In case you decide to sell or use some timber.

Hey, sorry for so many questions… I will understand if you haven’t the time to answer them all. Anyway, cheers and all the best with your new place!!


...anyone have a pictorial guide on snakes of Japan? I found one, but its not very conducive of browsing...nor does it list poisonous or not.

VIPERIDAE(Kusari-Hebi) The family of poisonous snakes.
http://www.gaijinpot.com/bb/showthread.php?p=413410&highlight=snakes#post413410

-ken

[johnElarue]

Be nice....

In the end, I'm getting the place at 17,000,000Y.

I have plans to hydro power the place tapping the river up the hill. I already run my diesel LandCruiser on used vegetable oil...my goal is to get to zero cost to live in Japan. Just a fun hobby to see what I can actually do.

Very nice place you got going there.

It may be difficult to get a loan if you don't have Permanent Residency.

Are you running WVO or biodiesel?



Maybe join the local fire brigade. With your handy dandy fix it skills, they'll love you.

All I ever got to be was grunt labour. Yech. Still, good fun, good companionship, and a great way for you to learn the lingo..

I think in a place where you are, with a solid local patron, you'll be fine.


Good advice and great BBQ's maybe nightlife after!




A lot of these people won't be leaving Japan when their visas are up, as many of them have the dream of owning land and aren't afraid to get dirty they will be moving into the countryside..

Definately true we need the health care workers, but I wonder how many of them actually have the kanji level to get skilled employment, doctors, RN's. The high schools and senmongakko are churning out 'home helpers' already.
I wouldn't leave either once in Japan though.



If you need any help building your turbine let me know. I use to build electrical generators for fun when I was younger, and wouldn't mine aiding you on yours...

Can anyone get this help?

[Sniperz]

oh boy fun posts...

Kuro, ok, start over.

The way it went down, the owner was a developer and log house builder who hit some trouble. So to keep the house with people he knew, he made a deal with me to basically buy the driveway. Since a third party held the land, he couldn't be strongarmed by anyone to get the land. In return for the favor, I got a good, price, and some unique purchasing arrangements. So once I put down my loan (senman), I'll bbe set and its all mine. Then later 5-6 years, pay the remainder.

Kalpha: I might take you up on that. I'm wondering if I should do a battery bank to store up for peak hours or just backfeed the meter. Batteries are more fun, but are a constant cost. This new generator/turbine design in my head is pretty interesting conceptually...will it work? Dunno. KA, if this goes off well, even in basic form....there may be a small business in building these hydro systems for mountain dwellers...any interest?

KE: Truthfully, I'm fumbling my way through this also. Reading everything on escape artist, whatever google coughs up, loan info, everything. I found theres a world of urban based gaijin loan suppliers now, and their terms are pretty loose. They don't require PR status, only 2 years at the same job among a few other stipulations.

1. No easments to my knowledge. The owner of the land actually bought a very large plot, even by US standards. He then logged it and used the logs to builds homes in Shikoku. He then sold off plots of land and built custom log homes for interested parties. I will look into this, I was unaware of such possibilities. I don't think there will be an issue.
1a: The owner wanted to discourage others from buying the property at auction, so he sold me the "driveway" and put up a foundation in front of the house. This made onlookers disappointed and people viewing the papers see its not worth it. This whole thing has been arranged from day one.

2. Loan amount. Simple 12,000,000. I only 10,000,000 to complete the papers and change names. But the extra 2 is for repairs, upgrades, tight times, and whatever else. An additional 6,000,000 will be paid in 5-6 years. This arrangement was done to make it easier to get a loan and make it more appealing to potential "repo" investors making the loan seem like a good risk.

3. Ah yes, one of the answers for me on, "What makes an adult." I will be paying roughly 40,000-50,000 for 20-25 years. I have some options there, hence why I say roughly etc.

4-5. Yes, the place isn't leached out to corps or anything. The owner again bought the land for his own logging and village concept.

Sankes...seen a baby Mamushi and a yamakagashi (mildly poisonous from eating toads) http://www.h3.dion.ne.jp/~abumania/yamakagashi.JPG

---------------------------

JE:

1. Loan. According to my various loan sources, the companies are setup JUST for that reason.

2. WVO. http://www.as4l.com/bj74.jpg. The 1HZ engine in there will eat anything.

3. I might actually do this. I saw them galabanting around on the fire engine the other day when I was biking in up the hill to my place. 28km+ that day, 50% up mountain hills to 1300m.

[edin日本]

The Yamakagashi is actually a backfanged species. Their venom is similar to a Ghila Monster's and they inject it by hanging on and chewing. They don't get it by eating frogs or toads, they have it so they can eat frogs and toads-their venom breaks down the toad's venom, it's engineered that way

[Sniperz]

Friendly disagreement...

http://news.mongabay.com/2007/0129-snake.html

Dated 01/29/2007

I still don't need to get nibbled by one. Sasuke, the snake eater already scared a black and green mouse eater out of the entryway.

[myhobbyis]

So I come along and buy up the only road access point, no one wants to buy the house, I wind up with this place and 250tsubo.
I'm working on pinning down the loan using the Jutaku(Ithink thats what its called) loan service. I think I'll be able to pull it off.



Hi Sniperz,
Are you negotiating the loan for the land on a seperate loan from the house ?
I bought a house with farmland attached and one problem I continually ran into was a house with land designated as 農地(farmland),山林（forest) etc. does not qualify for a house loan because it's not solely a house.

J.A. said they had a problem if the land was on a different
site from the house. The other banks (UFJ,105,Daisan) had a problem with any land not designated as 宅地（residential land), 庭(garden) etc.

Has this problem reared it's ugly ___ yet?

[edin日本]

Friendly disagreement...

http://news.mongabay.com/2007/0129-snake.html

Dated 01/29/2007

I still don't need to get nibbled by one. Sasuke, the snake eater already scared a black and green mouse eater out of the entryway.

Oooops! I haven't been keeping up on the reptile research. At least I'm current on aquatic plants, fish and inverts.

[Sniperz]

Myhobby: No, and I don't think it will. Its all one deal.

[myhobbyis]

Myhobby: No, and I don't think it will.
.

Can you explain why?

Where are you with the bank?
They've seen the property details from the deeds and are happy to process your application with the land as it is?

That would certainly mean you're in the clear.

Or is there another reason you don't think it will be a problem?



Its all one deal.

Having the 250tsubo of 山林（sanrin-forest) clumped together on one contract with the house and garden which is probably 宅地（takuchi - residential land)　may cause headaches.

The bank may say split it into 2 contracts. Use a small general loan for the 山林　and the juutaku loan for the house and garden.

Just something to prepare for.

Hope it works out anyway.

[Chromedome]

What kind of roof is that?

[Sniperz]

I am in the application process right now.

I'm not quite sure I understand why you think there will be a problem. This was original a hillside that was flattened for home building purposes. I will deffinately check on these things, but I don't think it will apply.


http://maps.google.com/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=33.914304,132.829213&spn=0.00073,0.002771&t=h&z=19&om=1

Thats the house and land, the red one in the middle.

The roof is a type of asphalt paper.

[karamatsu]

Myhobbyis

I think anyone can buy sanrin land. Its hatake and tanbo that are subject to rules. 250 tsubo will also cost very little. You could almost buy it on a credit card.

Sniperz

So the guy sold you the access land to scupper an auction. I got ya. That's a nice little arrangement. Its amazing how wild it can get barely outside the city limits in Japan. You see it around bigger cities than Matsuyama too.

I've thought about WVO but we're subzero for about a third of the year. I'd probably have to make biodiesel.

Good luck with the eco projects.

Everyone else

Land without access generally goes for a small fraction of the nominal value for that area. My brother just got an extra 200 sqm for his back garden in Aberdeen for one thousand pounds since it was enclosed wasteland left by subdividing land for a new suburb. My father in law also got 130 tsubo in suburban Aichi for 4,000,000 yen since he controls access to it. The normal price would be around 250,000 a tsubo. He's leased it straight out to a delivery firm for parking at 100,000 a month, so he'll get his money back in three and a half years. In Japan, access means a two meters of frontage on a road, either directly or via a private road which is at least 2m wide. In my FiL's case if he packages the land with a 2m strip of his land, he can sell it as normal land for a normal price. If he did so within five years though, the capital gains tax on it would be around 40%. Individuals who flip property get hammered.

[Sniperz]

OK...

Found out, it is full property rights (trees, mining, wires, pipes, etc) and 50/50 forest/house zoning. We'll see what happens.

[Sniperz]

GREAT INFO...

Kara: Thats EXACTLY what we did. A few other tricks were setting up the foundation...which would put a house right outside your front door. He also put in a bunch of old scaffolding and pallets to make it look less desirable. It all worked. The foundation I'm going to use to make a model barn and store two cars in (mine and future wife...hopefully...god I'm falling for her).

You can run SVO in -10 IF your car is prepped. Run a mix of kerosene and you're good to go. The thing with Bio...you have to pay tax on all automotive fuel refined on JP soil. I don't think you can argue rendering WVO to Bio ISN'T refining. They really should start pushing bio-diesel...it cuts the PM count by huge amounts...which is what they are trying to fight in the major cities by outlawing diesel. With the amount of tempura in this country, you'd think they could cut dependency down to nothing. The other problem with Bio, I don't know the laws on lye and methyl alcohol. In some countries its restricted...others don't care. Also, I don't know what to do with the waste glycerol.

[johnElarue]

You can run SVO in -10 IF your car is prepped. Run a mix of kerosene and you're good to go. The thing with Bio...you have to pay tax on all automotive fuel refined on JP soil. I don't think you can argue rendering WVO to Bio ISN'T refining. .

Sniperz, I'm sure you know this, but for anyone else considering running SVO(straight vegetable oil) and Kerosene 50%/50% in a road vehicle, if you get caught you're screwed. Odds are you won't get dipped(tested), but with SVO prices now more than diesel and Kerosene just under diesel's price, it's the same. Yes you'd be helping the enviroment, less PM(particulate matter). If you have some kind of import connection with cheaper than diesel SVO, it'd sure be tempting, but best to use it in you're mechanically injected tractor or tiller.

Sniperz, as for WVO(waste veg. oil) are you using a German kit?

Thanks,
johnE

[karamatsu]

Here are some ideas about glycerine.

http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_glycerin.html

The site in general has absolutely loads of info about other stuff too.

[KenElwood]

oh boy fun posts...

KE: Truthfully, I'm fumbling my way through this also. Reading everything on escape artist, whatever google coughs up, loan info, everything. I found theres a world of urban based gaijin loan suppliers now, and their terms are pretty loose. They don't require PR status, only 2 years at the same job among a few other stipulations.

1. No easments to my knowledge. The owner of the land actually bought a very large plot, even by US standards. He then logged it and used the logs to builds homes in Shikoku. He then sold off plots of land and built custom log homes for interested parties. I will look into this, I was unaware of such possibilities. I don't think there will be an issue.
1a: The owner wanted to discourage others from buying the property at auction, so he sold me the "driveway" and put up a foundation in front of the house. This made onlookers disappointed and people viewing the papers see its not worth it. This whole thing has been arranged from day one.

2. Loan amount. Simple 12,000,000. I only 10,000,000 to complete the papers and change names. But the extra 2 is for repairs, upgrades, tight times, and whatever else. An additional 6,000,000 will be paid in 5-6 years. This arrangement was done to make it easier to get a loan and make it more appealing to potential "repo" investors making the loan seem like a good risk.

3. Ah yes, one of the answers for me on, "What makes an adult." I will be paying roughly 40,000-50,000 for 20-25 years. I have some options there, hence why I say roughly etc.

4-5. Yes, the place isn't leached out to corps or anything. The owner again bought the land for his own logging and village concept.

Sniperz,

Got it. Thanks for your reply. All the best to ya.

[Sniperz]

Kero just under diesel? Are you sure? Its 74y vs 119y here. Yes, normal canned vegetable oil IS more expensive than diesel though, theres really no reason to go that route in this country.

As to getting dipped. I don't think its illegal. Maybe the kerosene,, but not the oil. I've smelled several fleet trucks that smelled a little "fishy" (yeah thats a good pun there) as they went by. I even had one large store deny me their oil and admit they use it in their haulers. I searched taxes and laws about this, and the only refrence I have found was regarding refinement of fuels.

I run the mix to get a more even and complete burn on the WVO. I also use it to clean out the engine.

I am using an Elsbett kit.

[johnElarue]

Kero just under diesel? Are you sure? Its 74y vs 119y here. Yes, normal canned vegetable oil IS more expensive than diesel though, theres really no reason to go that route in this country.

As to getting dipped. I don't think its illegal. Maybe the kerosene,, but not the oil. I've smelled several fleet trucks that smelled a little "fishy" (yeah thats a good pun there) as they went by. I even had one large store deny me their oil and admit they use it in their haulers. I searched taxes and laws about this, and the only refrence I have found was regarding refinement of fuels.

I run the mix to get a more even and complete burn on the WVO. I also use it to clean out the engine.

I am using an Elsbett kit.


Thanks and orry bout the misinformation on diesel thought it was nearer 100. You've got lots of excellent practical info that can help many of us if you don't mind.

I don't blame you one bit for using kero, I applaud you. But it's not a motor fuel, not taxed for road use. I was going to get an old Prado myself and do 50/50 but didn't want to take the risk. SVO and WVO are as you well know, legal though.

What kind of filtration system are you using on the WVO?

Thanks for taking the time,

johnE

[Sniperz]

Prefiltered to roughly 10 microns, then settled in a 50gal drum, then pumped through a 5 micron/water blocker filter into the car.

Theres actually a lot of fuels that can be run through diesels here. Theres Toiyu (kero), Keiyu (diesel), jyuyu (I believe this is marine fuel), and one other, I think a type of plane fuel. Theres really no way to prove you are running a kerosene mix, in the states its died so the color gives it away. Using it as a mix in winter to help the cvar heat up and stay warmer, should be OK. I don't think they even DO dip checks in this country....the biggest concerns in my area are the seat belt spies and alcohol checkpoints.

Its not good to run a high percent kero for long periods or hard mountain climbs. It burns too easily and too hot and will literally melt your pistons. I carry kero in a couple jerry cans when I'm going out...that way I can use it in lanterns, stoves, starting campfires, or a fuel.

Be careful with the Prados....they are notorious for having the heads crack. Look around for that specific symptom online. Its about a 3000usd job to repair it. Get a toyota with a 1hz, 13b, 13b-t, 1hdt-fe, or 1hdt. These are all tank engines. They are used in everything from landcruisers to busses to boats. If not, get a pre-98 pajero. The engines are solid and very simple. The cars themselves also come with a lot of amenities...like rear heaters and adjustable shock rates (really nice). the super select 4wd is also nice...especially if you're not going hardcore. I have freehubs on my LC (get out and flip the switch), this is for ultimate reliability. I go out into nomans land and REALLY don't need to get stuck out there.

[karamatsu]

Be careful with the Prados....they are notorious for having the heads crack. Look around for that specific symptom online. Its about a 3000usd job to repair it. Get a toyota with a 1hz, 13b, 13b-t, 1hdt-fe, or 1hdt. These are all tank engines.

Prados too? I don't know my ___ from my elbow with cars, but I've got a 2.4DT Hilux and mine cracked on me at 100,000km. I know two other people it happened too. It seems like its a notorious lemon. Since it was my first car (as a thirty y.o) i got it fixed. It cost 180,000 for that and a new timing belt. I thought it was just a 2.4 being underpowered problem, so its almost a relief to know that "better" cars have the same weakness. I think its small amount of rust in cooling system -> overheat -> cracked head type chain reaction, but the ___ from elbow disclaimer still applies.

Based on my experience I would never have bought another Toyota, but its them that make the Prius.

I don't use my car so often, so I might ditch it and get a kei truck. The ownership cost is so much lower, even if you go to the center yourself and blag the shaken like I did.

[johnElarue]

Be careful with the Prados....they are notorious for having the heads crack. Look around for that specific symptom online. Its about a 3000usd job to repair it. Get a toyota with a 1hz, 13b, 13b-t, 1hdt-fe, or 1hdt. These are all tank engines. .


Thanks for that tip, didn't know bout the bad heads.

What kinda mileage are you getting if you know?

[Sniperz]

Ugh...don't support the Hybrid motion. They are the WORST things for the environment yet. Yes, they limit the amount of chemicals from combustion...but how many chemicals and how much energy does it take to create a Lithium Ion battery, or Nickle Cad, or Lithium Poly, or Nickle metal hydride. How much chemicals does it take to dispose of those EVERY 10 YEARS. How about the batteries themselves...all of those are serious heavy metals that will leach into water systems. How about the hundreds (yes hundreds) miles of wire running through these new "eco" cars? All that copper, aluminum, steel, tin, gold, and silver...all precious metals...all rare on the earths surface. How about the hundreds of miles of pllastic and rubber covering all that wire. Lotsa petro chems running to make those...not to mention breakdown. How about the labor force and waste ivolved with disposing of such a vehicle. How about the highly tuned, highly technologoical...HIGHLY TOUCHY engine/e-motor in them. How about the charging system. The car itself is designed to last ROUGHLY as long as the batteries, so rather than burdened with 15kusd in battery costs, the consumer merely buys a new car.

The hybrid is a joke. Rather than doing the TRUE eco thing and eliminating bulk waste and concentrating on new fuels...they made an incredibly complex machine. You don't even want to know about the computers and programming running them.

Seriously...diesels are designed to run hundreds of thousands of miles without issue. Australians are reporting work trucks (Toyota LCs) hitting the 300,000mile mark. Yeah, it makes sense from marketing, build a car that needs replaced in 10 years...that way they'll buy new cars. If everyone drove a real diesel, no one would ever buy new cars.

Think about it. The diesel engine was invented in the 1800s and was originally designed to run on peanut oil. An engine, largely unchanged in over 100 years, is still in use today in every major countries modes of bulk transportation. That says something about this "outdated" technology.

We won't even go into simplicity, materials, fuels, biofuels, economy, power, etc....


My monster truck....

You can't gauge too much by my car. It has a turbo, something the original didn't, adjusted fuel amounts, and a driver that likes to go around the trails. That being said...I get about 7km/L. I could do better if I install an intercooler and adjust the fuel amount. Right now....little tapped to splurge on an IC system.

[myhobbyis]

Myhobbyis

I think anyone can buy sanrin land. Its hatake and tanbo that are subject to rules.


Yep, Karamatsu, You're absolutely right.

Sniperz, apologies,

I had our estate agent round for a nabe party ; damn Osakajin wiped me out with his cheap dodgy Happoshu,still recovering.
Anyway he confirmed that only 農地（nouchi-farmland) is subject to the no juutaku loan rule. Sanrin if fine.


As Karamatsu says sanrin on it's own is the cheapest 地目（chimoku-zoning classification) to buy.

[karamatsu]

Sniperz

A "15kusd" battery (and thousand of miles of wire) in a $22,000 car? That's the funniest thing I've heard in years!You need some better info, my friend. Did you get that one off Fox News? Or some biodiesel internet forum? Biodiesel people are even more anti-Prius than SUV owners. Its as if they are desperate to prove that diesels are the bestest and most eco things ever made. For a "long-lasting, reliable" engine, my diesel sure cost a lot of money to repair. Everyone looked at me like an idiot for not scrapping the car.

[Sniperz]

Actually no....that comes from the engineers in Nagoya....

Yours wasn't a diesel issue...yours was a design/materials issue. Wait till the prius throws a hissy fit and the AI says...nah...I don't want to be diagnosed today. And they DO do that.

All the engines I listed are problem free and are used in generators, boats, forklifts, busses, and cars. The climate varies from antarctica to south africa. They are meant to run for days without being shut off.

No thanks...I'll stick with a more solid system than be an EV1 guinea pig.


BTW...lets here some disputing facts. I'd like to see you refute the use of poisonous heavy metals and the amount of energy spent to produce them. Or try fixing one of these cars in your front yard or garage.

[karamatsu]

This is gonna be easy.

新型プリウスの バッテリー　128,000円
新潟県長岡市　トヨタ店での交換工賃11,760円

Total 140,000 yen

15kusd is

15,000 * 116 = 1,740,000 yen. You're only a factor of 12 out there.

The guarantee on the Prius battery in Japan is 100,000km (100,000 miles in US), which is longer than my cylinder head (i.e. part of the design and materials of a supposedly tough diesel engine) and my wife's Mitsubishi RVR transmission (80,000km) lasted. There is very little data on how long Prius MkII batteries last, mainly because so few have been replaced. There are thousands of cars already over 100,000km though. They've sold around 500,000 of the hatchback MkII. If there were fundamental problems, we'd know about them by now.

Our Prius does 24km/l. My diesel does about 10, which is great but only because its much smaller than most Japanese diesels. I know which one I'd rather cycle behind as well.

[Sniperz]

Ah...cycling behind...got it....you don't actually need to get to places so a putt around vehicle is fine for you.

Honestly, I'm not in this game to save the world. I'm in it for myself, to do it myself. No offense green people.

I will never own an electric vehicle or hybrid as long as I can avoid it. I mean....the reasons are endless for me not to own. One of the MAJOR factors is...I can't work on it. If I'm stuck in bumbsville...in a Prius...I'm stuck. If I'm stuck in a diesel or gasser...diesel especially....the local farm supply can probably fix it if I can't.

It strikes me as you just want to argue....

In the end....I guarantee I can ____ farther than you.

[edin日本]

Ah...cycling behind...got it....you don't actually need to get to places so a putt around vehicle is fine for you.

Honestly, I'm not in this game to save the world. I'm in it for myself, to do it myself. No offense green people.

I will never own an electric vehicle or hybrid as long as I can avoid it. I mean....the reasons are endless for me not to own. One of the MAJOR factors is...I can't work on it. If I'm stuck in bumbsville...in a Prius...I'm stuck. If I'm stuck in a diesel or gasser...diesel especially....the local farm supply can probably fix it if I can't.

It strikes me as you just want to argue....

In the end....I guarantee I can ____ farther than you.

Karamatsu, he has you there. Parts for the Prius are hard to come by and you have to be a rocket scientist to replace/repair them. But, given incentive Sniperz can come up with spare parts from anywhere for his diesel engine. And you won't get him to convert to an electric eco machine until he's sure that he can go to the local motor vehicle graveyard and scrounge parts for the beast. and I bet he does his own bondo work as well.

[Sniperz]

Bondo...ick...thats a last resort. First is cutting welding, shrinking...then filling the imperfections.

Anyhow...just sent in my pre-app...see what happens.

[johnElarue]

Hi Sniperz,



Honestly, I'm not in this game to save the world. I'm in it for myself, to do it myself. No offense green people.


Are you sure, maybe just a little green? You burn WVO, are into wind and hydro power, want to live in a log cabin. Can't purchase any assault rifles.

Next thing you know you'll be canning veggies and making quilts, trying to sell them at the michinoeki . I won't tell Ralph Nader if you don't :)

[Sniperz]

OK...MAYBE a little...but its not the prime motivator here.

I like to see what I can do on my own without "outside" intervention.

BTW...my mom does make quilts.

[karamatsu]

It strikes me as you just want to argue....


Are you in a huff?

I'm just pointing out the obvious errors in your little hybrid rant there. A 15kusd battery in a 22kusd car?? The things people believe....

Its not made of lithium or NiCd either.

[ziggie]

this house is very vey nice.

wishing you all the best

[johnElarue]

Prefiltered to roughly 10 microns, then settled in a 50gal drum, then pumped through a 5 micron/water blocker filter into the car.
.

Hi Sniperz,

Can you post a pic or two of your filter system and pump if possible? I would really appreciate it. How's the house going?

JohnE