Japan

Priced out of Hawaii, this couple bought a home in rural Japan instead

Jeff Layfield spent years imagining where in the US he and his wife would retire after leaving Hawaii. Instead, they now live in a traditional home overlooking the sea in Japan.Before retiring, the couple lived in an upstairs apartment at his parents’ home on Oahu. Layfield worked in data management…

We moved to Japan 3 years ago. We have a lower cost of living and travel more.

Three years ago, my family of three left New Zealand for Kobe, Japan, desperate for a total reset. We were running on empty, exhausted by skyrocketing living costs, limited career growth, and relentless financial stress.We already loved Japan as tourists, but moving here permanently felt like a massive gamble. Instead,…