Public financial support for kominka renovation
Not a few people regret the gradual disappearance of kominka, traditional Japanese houses. However, it’s very costly to maintain them and difficult to get public financial support. Even registered cultural properties, after completing complex procedures, the owners can get a pittance for an inspection (not available for renovation) and tax reduction.
Most owners/users leverage funding programs for Akiya, vacant houses. Increasing abandoned houses is pressing challenges in Japan. The Vacant Houses Special Measures Act entered into force in 2015, which stipulates the roles of the central, regional (prefectural), and local (municipal) governments. The central government and prefectures are to formulate high-level action plans and to provide information and financial support for municipalities, while municipalities tackle with the issues on the front line by implementing inspection, constructing Akiya database, and taking practical measures for finding new owners and users. For the Act, please see: https://www.japanpolicyforum.jp/society/pt2022012616580811841.html#:~:text=The%20Vacant%20Houses%20Special%20Measures%20Act%20took%20effect%20in%20February,living%20environment%2C%20or%20the%20scenery
Therefore, it would be first suggested to contact the municipality in which any house in question is located for information on subsidies. In almost all cases, cultural-historic value doesn’t matter, but recipients should live or operate business there. The amount of assistance varies very widely: from 1,000,000JPY (approx. 9,000USD) to a voucher equivalent to 100,000JPY (900USD) available only in the same municipality. Also, there’re subsidies limited to improving earthquake resistance or converting unhygienic dry toilets into flush ones.
In addition, however, some prefectures directly support the renovation of vacant houses, as introduced below. Some other prefectures I don’t mention in this post provide ample financial backing for municipalities and the municipalities offer the residents generous subsidies. That being said, prefectures have bigger fiscal scale than municipalities and therefore can take bold actions.
For Kominka
https://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/ks26/wd27_000000038.html
Hyogo gives more generous subsidies specific for Kominka than usual Akiya, if the houses are valuable as Kominka, that is, built more than 50 years ago in a traditional way, and desirably historical architecture.
Inspection can be conducted at no expense to owners. The support for renovation is available if the owners/users is willing to use the house more than 10 years, and the municipalities support the project as well. The amount differs according to total renovation cost and cultural values:
- For usual Kominka: If the total cost exceeds 5,000,000JPY, the prefecture covers about one-third to one-half of total cost (though not all renovation work isn’t eligible). But the grant is up to 5,000,000JPY; and
- For historical architecture, basically same as usual Kominka, but the maximum grant is 10,000,000 for a project costing more than 30,000,000JPY.
For Akiya
https://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/ks26/machi-saisei/sato-akiya/sato-akiya.html
The prefecture supports the renovation if new users intend to live there more than 10 years. (Future) residents in some big cities in the prefectures isn’t eligible. There are severe disparities among cities/municipalities in Hyogo Prefecture, so it makes sense in view of reducing akiya in depopulated cities (usually they have limited budget.)
The amount depends of purpose (for residency, business, or hub of a local community), family status and age (the younger and young families with children are better supported), and dwelling house size. Taking a house, not condo, as an example, subsidies are: from 400,000 to 600,000JPY when the renovation costs from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000JPY. The maximum grant is 1,500,000JPY when the total cost exceeds 3,000,000JPY.
The amount of financial support is two-thirds of the total renovation cost or 2,500,000JPY, whichever’s cheaper. Furthermore, if the prefectural governor decide the project would contribute to mitigate Tokyo's dominant role, the subsidy increases to 75% of total cost (up to 5,000,000JPY)
https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/ju-taisaku/pppakiya.html
https://www.wakayamagurashi.jp/house/support-system
It supports: 1) up to 250,000JPY for inspection and organizing workshop to discuss and communicate with residents; 2) up to 1,000,000JPY or 50% of the total cost (with some exclusion), which is the cheaper.
https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/sec/toshiseisaku/akiya-munisub.html
Most owners/users leverage funding programs for Akiya, vacant houses. Increasing abandoned houses is pressing challenges in Japan. The Vacant Houses Special Measures Act entered into force in 2015, which stipulates the roles of the central, regional (prefectural), and local (municipal) governments. The central government and prefectures are to formulate high-level action plans and to provide information and financial support for municipalities, while municipalities tackle with the issues on the front line by implementing inspection, constructing Akiya database, and taking practical measures for finding new owners and users. For the Act, please see: https://www.japanpolicyforum.jp/society/pt2022012616580811841.html#:~:text=The%20Vacant%20Houses%20Special%20Measures%20Act%20took%20effect%20in%20February,living%20environment%2C%20or%20the%20scenery
Therefore, it would be first suggested to contact the municipality in which any house in question is located for information on subsidies. In almost all cases, cultural-historic value doesn’t matter, but recipients should live or operate business there. The amount of assistance varies very widely: from 1,000,000JPY (approx. 9,000USD) to a voucher equivalent to 100,000JPY (900USD) available only in the same municipality. Also, there’re subsidies limited to improving earthquake resistance or converting unhygienic dry toilets into flush ones.
In addition, however, some prefectures directly support the renovation of vacant houses, as introduced below. Some other prefectures I don’t mention in this post provide ample financial backing for municipalities and the municipalities offer the residents generous subsidies. That being said, prefectures have bigger fiscal scale than municipalities and therefore can take bold actions.
HYOGO PREFECTURE
Apparently, Hyogo is the only prefecture which has funding program for Kominka renovation, in addition to Akiya renovation.For Kominka
https://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/ks26/wd27_000000038.html
Hyogo gives more generous subsidies specific for Kominka than usual Akiya, if the houses are valuable as Kominka, that is, built more than 50 years ago in a traditional way, and desirably historical architecture.
Inspection can be conducted at no expense to owners. The support for renovation is available if the owners/users is willing to use the house more than 10 years, and the municipalities support the project as well. The amount differs according to total renovation cost and cultural values:
- For usual Kominka: If the total cost exceeds 5,000,000JPY, the prefecture covers about one-third to one-half of total cost (though not all renovation work isn’t eligible). But the grant is up to 5,000,000JPY; and
- For historical architecture, basically same as usual Kominka, but the maximum grant is 10,000,000 for a project costing more than 30,000,000JPY.
For Akiya
https://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/ks26/machi-saisei/sato-akiya/sato-akiya.html
The prefecture supports the renovation if new users intend to live there more than 10 years. (Future) residents in some big cities in the prefectures isn’t eligible. There are severe disparities among cities/municipalities in Hyogo Prefecture, so it makes sense in view of reducing akiya in depopulated cities (usually they have limited budget.)
The amount depends of purpose (for residency, business, or hub of a local community), family status and age (the younger and young families with children are better supported), and dwelling house size. Taking a house, not condo, as an example, subsidies are: from 400,000 to 600,000JPY when the renovation costs from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000JPY. The maximum grant is 1,500,000JPY when the total cost exceeds 3,000,000JPY.
YAMANASHI PREFECTURE
The prefecture has a three-stage program to promote business using vacant houses: 1) to list Akiya owners who wish to find new users; 2) to call for and authorize business projects; and 3) to give OWNERS subsidies for necessary renovation. Why do grant go to owners, not business operators? As far as I checked the website, probably it’s because some owners don’t want to part with their house.The amount of financial support is two-thirds of the total renovation cost or 2,500,000JPY, whichever’s cheaper. Furthermore, if the prefectural governor decide the project would contribute to mitigate Tokyo's dominant role, the subsidy increases to 75% of total cost (up to 5,000,000JPY)
https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp/ju-taisaku/pppakiya.html
WAKAYAMA PREFECTURE
The prefecture provides migrants from other prefectures to 22 specific municipalities in Wakayama with financial support for the renovation, up to 800,000JPY (two-thirds of total cost). It requires business operators designated by municipalities to go between.Interestingly, Wakayama also give subsidies for the house cleaning up to 80,000JPY, if the house is registered in the databases of abandoned houses managed by the prefecture. Probably it could be an incentive for Akiya owners to register their properties.
https://www.wakayamagurashi.jp/house/support-system
NIIGATA PREFECTURE
The prefecture has two funding programs for vacant stores in shopping streets and residential houses. The applications should be submitted through municipalities.It supports: 1) up to 250,000JPY for inspection and organizing workshop to discuss and communicate with residents; 2) up to 1,000,000JPY or 50% of the total cost (with some exclusion), which is the cheaper.
https://www.pref.niigata.lg.jp/sec/toshiseisaku/akiya-munisub.html
TOTTORI PREFECTURE
Tottori also has a similar program with Niigata. Those who are planning to renovate Akiya in Tottori to live or operate business there can receive 600,000JPY or 1,000,000JPY, respectively (but the subsidy rate is one-thirds). |
| our neighboring Akiya, in which ivy lives |
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