$33,000 Japan apartment: What did it get us?


Hi from Anthony and Jodie! We are the Learners and Makers. Traveling the world full time since 2022, we empower families and people with mobility disabilities to travel confidently, their way.

Greetings from… the USA!

We’re back in the States for a few months, seeing family for the holidays and taking care of a few things. We’re also still tired from the LOOOOOONG travel days from Malaysia, flying west via the Middle East. It’s been a time, yall.

Still. As 2025 winds down, we’ve got a lot to look back on with fondness. Above all?

Over the summer, we bought a condo in Japan.

It’s a new base for our family, and it gives us a foothold in one of our favorite places in the world.

Something extra special that comes with it? A warm, cozy feeling.

Here in the US, we’re excited to see loved ones. But we’re also excited that come spring, for cherry blossom season, we’ll not only go back to Japan

We’ll go home.


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$33,000 JAPAN APARTMENT: What did it get us?

The Japanese real estate market now has one less akiya, or unoccupied property, to choose from.

And when our family travels to Japan, we don’t have to hunt for vacation rentals that offer enough room for a family. We can simply… go home.

Just over a year after we sold our house in the USA, we did something… unexpected. We bought an apartment… in Japan!

Come tour the apartment that we chose!


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The carry-on backpack that’s survived 3 years of full-time travel

After 3 years of full-time travel, we thought it was a good idea to check over our his-and-hers Cotopaxi Allpa 35L travel backpacks. From Malaysia to Mexico to Morocco, we've stashed them in overhead compartments on planes, tucked them between our feet on buses, and tetrised them into car trunks.

The verdict? Both packs show minimal wear and function as well as day one.

The Allpas distribute weight evenly, which is crucial for Jodie's comfort and endurance when walking with her prosthetic leg. The discreet tech compartments keep our laptops secure and protected. We love how the main clamshell-style opening gives us quick access and efficient organization.

If you're shopping for a reliable travel backpack, for yourself or as a gift, Cotopaxi’s Allpa line offers sizes from 28L to 42L to match different travel styles:

If the button above doesn't work, use this link below:
https://cotopaxi.pxf.io/QjMXOo


More about finding a home in Japan as a foreigner

$33K vs $55K Osaka Apartments — Which Would You Buy?

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FAQ: You Asked, We Answered: The Truth About Buying Property in Japan

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Thanks for reading! See you next time, and happy travels

Anthony & Jodie

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