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

Jeff Layfield and his wife, Mamiko, left Hawaii to retire in Japan.Provided by Jaff Layfield.Jeff Layfield and his wife, Mamiko, left Hawaii and retired on Suo-Oshima, an island in Japan.

They bought one of Japan's vacant homes, known as an akiya, for about $25,000."In most places in the US, we'd have to live in a very rural area for me to be able to afford a home," Layfield said.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 for the Marine Corps, while his wife, Mamiko, worked in retail.

Every time they traveled to Mamiko's hometown of Nara to visit her mother, the couple carved out time to explore other parts of the country.In 2018, they visited Asuka, a rural town that was once the ancient capital of Japan. Captivated by the landscape, the visit cemented Layfield's desire to retire in Japan's countryside.

Back in Hawaii, the couple lived in the upstairs apartment of his parents' home.Provided by Jeff Layfield."I told Mamiko, this is where we're going to retire," Layfield, now 67, told Business Insider.

They returned to Hawaii, where life resumed much as it had before, but the idea of living in Japan lingered at the back of their minds.In 2022, a series of life-changing events convinced Layfield it was time to make the leap. Have you relocated abroad — especially to Asia — for career opportunities, retirement, or lower living costs?

We want to hear from you. Fill out this short form to share your story with a reporter. Over the course of a few months, he had a skin cancer scare, survived a minor shark attack while surfing, and lost his stepfather.

As he was processing it all, his employer ended pandemic-era remote work and ordered him back to the office.Several life-changing events convinced him it was time to stop put