We bought an abandoned home in a Japanese ski town for $22,000. It's given our nomadic family the home base we were missing.
Lloyd Enbom and his wife bought a home in a ski town in Japan for $22,000. They plan to live a nomadic lifestyle, but Japan will be their home base.
Lloyd Enbom and his wife, Mandy Rutherford, purchased an abandoned home in Hakuba, a rural ski town in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, for $22,000. The couple, who are Australian digital nomads, have been traveling full-time for nearly five years. In 2021, while living in Thailand with their two-year-old daughter, Lyla, they began researching the possibility of owning a home in Japan.
They discovered that it was possible to buy property remotely, which excited them. They found a charming house within 15 minutes of the ski town of Hakuba, known for its multicultural atmosphere and proximity to the Winter Olympics site from 1998. The couple purchased the as-is property in March 2026, signing the contract and receiving a five-month window to complete the settlement process.
Upon moving in July, they encountered various challenges, such as fixing the boiler for hot water, renovating the bathroom, and fully furnishing the kitchen. Despite these hurdles, the Enboms are excited to establish a home base in Japan and embrace their nomadic lifestyle.
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