In this episode of the Buying a House in Japan podcast, hosts Joey and Take record live from Tama Base Camp in Tokyo, bringing exciting updates on their real estate ventures. They discuss their new house at Tama, successful delivery of items via a Japanese phone number, and an exciting Mikoko ski property acquisition bought for a mere 3,500 USD due to its proximity to a graveyard. They address renovation challenges, such as dealing with an unreliable contractor in their Beppu property renovations, sharing advice and lessons learned. The complexities of securing services like renovation and property management in Japan as foreigners are candidly discussed, with insights on leveraging local strategies for real estate bidding. They also provide practical tips on getting a Japanese phone number to simplify various logistics like deliveries. The episode wraps up with a brief mention of the hosts' speaking engagement at an upcoming Japan Real Estate Summit. Japan Real Estate Summit: https://www.realestate.jp/ 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 00:24 Recording Live from Tama Base Camp 00:38 Navigating Japanese Delivery and Phone Numbers 00:59 Diary Series and Tokyo Updates 01:07 Journey to the New House 01:48 Property Updates and Reflections 03:22 Exciting News: New Car License Plate 03:54 Sake Suite Renovation Plans 05:10 Off-Market Deal in Miyoko Ski Country 10:50 Challenges with Kitakyushu Property 13:17 Drama with Beppu Property Renovation 20:16 Final Thoughts and Upcoming Events