We relocated from New Orleans to a Japanese island and purchased an abandoned house for $7,500. Explore its interior.

In 2021, we sold our small urban farm in Louisiana and embarked on a continent-spanning adventure that would transform our lives.

On the outskirts of New Orleans, we spent five years teaching ourselves how to garden, keep honeybees, and raise chickens, selling our honey and eggs. I ran my photography business, while Evan worked as a licensed massage therapist.

Although we enjoyed certain aspects of our urban lifestyle, we eventually recognized our desire for a more self-sufficient and rural existence. Due to financial constraints, we were unable to achieve our desired level of sustainability in the U.S., so we decided to explore other countries where our dream could become a reality.

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We were able to narrow down our search because Evan speaks Spanish and Japanese. After spending 15 months traveling through Mexico as full-time house- and pet-sitters, we decided to settle in the Japanese countryside, beginning our new life in early 2023.

Our guesthouse and honeybee farm on Japan's Ōmishima Island is a small business that we own and operate. We have two restored homes that we now call our own. This move has been the best decision we have ever made.

Buying and renovating property in rural Japan

We moved to Japan with a Startup visa, designed to facilitate business establishment for foreigners.

The guesthouse, now known as Benton Guesthouse, was constructed in 1953. It had been vacant for a decade when we purchased it in the spring of 2023. The traditional Japanese style is evident in its massive wooden beams, interlocking joinery, tile roofs, sliding screen doors, and tatami mat flooring.

The cost of the property, including a $7,500 house, $1,500 transaction fees, $212 real estate acquisition tax, and an $80 annual property tax, totaled $9,292.

We cleaned and restored the property to make it inviting again after obtaining the keys. We did most of the work ourselves to keep costs low, but also hired local contractors for some tasks.

Due to the time constraints of the Startup visa, we completed the renovations in under six months while living in the guesthouse. Our goal was to demonstrate the viability of our business and host our first guests before submitting our visa extension application at the five month mark.

The total cost of the renovation, rental license, and amenities was $29,000.

Our monthly expenses include approximately $40 for internet, $15 for water, up to $120 for electricity, $10 for gas, $400 for groceries, and $100 for our phone bill.

For $2,000, we purchased a small truck and annually pay $300 for car insurance.

In September 2023, we purchased our second abandoned house, located near the guesthouse, for $18,500. The property, which was previously an inn, features two plots of untended land.

We have made this house our primary residence and are currently renovating and rehabilitating it.

Take a look inside Benton Guesthouse

Since our opening in November 2023, we have consistently maintained a near 5-star rating. To differentiate ourselves, we provide a private full-house rental option.

To date, Benton Guesthouse has generated approximately $14,000 in revenue.

We put in great care and effort to decorate the house in Showa-era style, which lasted from 1926 to 1989, to give our guests the feeling of walking into a Japanese grandmother's house.

We sourced a Nintendo Famicom system from the 1980s for our entertainment room, and even the smallest details can make a space special to us.

Our options for future renovations are numerous, such as reviving the old wood-fired bathtub, installing a second bathroom, and constructing an outdoor barbecue patio.

We intend to establish a garden for our guests' pleasure and create an educational hive on the property's periphery.

After completing additional renovations, we will be able to accommodate more guests, from six to ten, increasing our revenue.

Cyclist groups make up more than half of our bookings, but we also have couples and solo travelers.

We plan to transform the detached garage of the guesthouse into a retro-style roadside farm stand, showcasing and selling vintage items such as antiques, furniture, tools, and cookware, many of which were previously owned by the properties' previous owners.

Growing our business and looking to the future

By next spring, we will have doubled the number of our honeybee colonies, which we plan to continue increasing annually.

We're fortunate to have a local beekeeper teach us about the challenges and predators honeybees face in Japan, as beekeeping in Japan has a bit of a learning curve.

Our first batch of spring honey had a citrus flavor that people loved, and it sold out quickly.

In addition to honey, Benton Homestead sells tomatoes, tomatillos, and hot peppers at local farmer's markets, with the long-term plan being to produce hot sauce and salsa.

We've been documenting every step of our journey on the Benton Homestead YouTube channel and blog in the hope of sharing as much helpful information as possible.

In the United States, it wouldn't have been feasible within our budget.

From the moment we arrived on Ōmishima Island, it felt like home. Now, we can't imagine living anywhere else.

Dani Benton, an award-winning photographer and owner of Dani Benton Photography, resides on Ōmishima Island with her husband Evan, cat Ponkan, and dog Bosco. Along with Evan, Dani runs Benton Guesthouse and their expanding honey business. To discover their homestead and home renovation journey, follow them on YouTube and Instagram.

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