--- type: Marketing Page title: "AkiyaHub at The Japan Real Estate Summit, Autumn 2026 | AkiyaHub" description: Get clear before you buy property in Japan. Two days of practical talks and workshops in Tokyo, Oct 17 to 18, 2026, with AkiyaHub on stage. In person or livestream. resource: https://akiyahub.com/summit tags: - akiyahub - japan-real-estate-summit - events - tokyo - japan-property status: stable stale_after: 2026-10-01 generated: by: process:akiyahub-public-markdown at: 2026-09-10T00:00:00Z sources: - resource: https://akiyahub.com/summit - resource: https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/en/e/japan-realestate-oct26 --- # Before you buy property in Japan, get clear on what actually works The Japan Real Estate Summit, October 17 to 18, 2026, Tokyo. Two days of practical talks and workshops for foreigners who want to buy, own, renovate, invest in, or build a life around property in Japan, without relying on guesswork, outdated assumptions, or listings that look better than they are. Join buyers, investors, operators, and Japan-based professionals at Tokyo International Forum. Attend in person, or watch every Main Room talk live online from anywhere. Brett Lee and Emily Kuno of AkiyaHub speak on Saturday. [Get your ticket](#tickets) or [attend from anywhere with the livestream ticket](https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/buy/1C0b:S1I:4d196?utm_source=akiyahub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jres-autumn-2026&utm_content=markdown-livestream). **Early-bird pricing ends September 30, 2026 at 23:59 JST.** 4.8 verified review rating · 50,000+ member community · 300+ partners across all 47 prefectures. ## Table of Contents - [The summit at a glance](#the-summit-at-a-glance) - [Two sessions to help you avoid the most expensive mistakes](#two-sessions-to-help-you-avoid-the-most-expensive-mistakes) - [Who is on stage](#who-is-on-stage) - [About The Japan Real Estate Summit](#about-the-japan-real-estate-summit) - [Full programme](#full-programme) - [Speakers](#speakers) - [Tickets](#tickets) - [Venue](#venue) - [Frequently asked questions](#frequently-asked-questions) - [Choose your next step](#choose-your-next-step) - [Related markdown](#related-markdown) - [Sources](#sources) - [Last verified](#last-verified) ## The summit at a glance - **Dates:** Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2026, 10:00 to 18:00 JST. Doors open 10:00 both days. - **Venue:** Tokyo International Forum, Hall D (D5, 5th Floor), 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005. - **AkiyaHub sessions:** Brett Lee in the Main Room at 11:30 and Emily Kuno in the Breakout Room at 13:15, both on Saturday. - **Watch from anywhere:** 50,000+ members, one hall. The Zoom livestream ticket covers every Main Room talk on both days, live in Japan Standard Time. Breakout Room workshops are in person only. - **Early bird ends:** Sep 30, 2026, 23:59 JST. Prices below are the organisers' early-bird rates in Japanese yen before booking fees. - **Organised by:** RealEstate.jp, Nippon Tradings International, Tokyo Family Stays and Ark Reform. AkiyaHub is a speaking partner. ## Two sessions to help you avoid the most expensive mistakes The costly errors in a Japan purchase happen early: expectations imported from another market, and a search that starts before the plan exists. Brett takes the first on the main stage, and that talk is on the livestream. Emily takes the second in the workshop room, in person only. Come to both in Tokyo, or catch Brett from anywhere. ### Western Expectations vs Japanese Mentality: Who Wins? **Brett Lee, CEO and Co-Founder, AkiyaHub.** Talk, Main Room, Saturday 17 October, 11:30 to 12:15 JST. On the livestream. Buying property in Japan is not just a search problem. It is a translation problem between expectations, systems, customs, risk, and reality. Foreign buyers arrive in Japan with expectations shaped by Western real estate markets. Japanese professionals operate inside systems, norms, and risk profiles that evolved for a domestic market. When those two forces meet, who actually wins, and at whose expense? Brett examines what happens at that collision point: where expectations clash, where they might align, and what really breaks down when foreigners try to buy and own homes in Japan. You leave with: - Where Western buyer expectations and Japanese practice collide, and where they quietly agree - What actually breaks down when a foreigner buys and owns a home in Japan - How to walk into a Japanese transaction with expectations the other side can work with Brett Lee is an entrepreneur and technologist who builds companies and systems around complex problems. As CEO and Co-Founder of AkiyaHub, he leads the company's technology, product, and strategy. Originally from the United States and now based in Japan, Brett brings a systems-driven approach to making difficult, cross-border experiences simpler and more accessible for everyday people. ### Step Zero: Before the Hunt **Emily Kuno, Advisor, AkiyaHub.** Workshop, Breakout Room, Saturday 17 October, 13:15 to 14:00 JST. In person only, not on the livestream. Most people looking for a home in Japan start with listings. That is usually too early. In this practical workshop, Emily Kuno leads attendees through Step Zero: deciding why you want a home in Japan, how you will actually use it, which regions fit that lifestyle, what to budget, and what ownership will require when you are away. You leave with: - Why you want a home in Japan, written down before you open a single listing - How you will really use it, and which regions fit that life - What to budget, and what ownership asks of you while you are away Emily Kuno is an Advisor at AkiyaHub who has worked directly with hundreds of international buyers as they consider homes in Japan. She helps members turn broad ideas about living, spending time, or building a life in Japan into concrete criteria and a realistic plan, guiding them from their earliest "Should I do this?" questions through to a confident purchase decision. [Get your ticket](#tickets). Not in Japan? [Get the livestream ticket](https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/buy/1C0b:S1I:4d196?utm_source=akiyahub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jres-autumn-2026&utm_content=markdown-livestream) and watch Brett's talk, and every other Main Room talk, live from anywhere. Emily's workshop is in person only. Early-bird pricing ends September 30, 2026 at 23:59 JST. ## Who is on stage AkiyaHub is an English-first platform for finding, buying, and owning a home in Japan. It brings together education, property search and market tools, purchase support, and long-term ownership services in one place, supported by a nationwide network of 300+ Japanese professionals and service partners. AkiyaHub's mission is simple: make owning a home in Japan practical and accessible for people around the world. On stage, Brett and Emily bring what that network sees every week: where foreign buyers lose money, where they lose months, and what the people who did it well decided before they started looking. - **300+** Japanese professionals and service partners in the network behind every member. - **50,000+** members around the world, most of them outside Japan, which is why the livestream matters. - **1** place for education, search tools, purchase support and long-term ownership services. [Create a free AkiyaHub account](https://akiyahub.com/jointhecommunity) ## About The Japan Real Estate Summit Two days that replace guesswork with people who do this work every day. Mortgages, renovation budgets, holding structures, exit strategy, hospitality returns, condo financing, compliance and visas: the summit puts the practitioners for each of them in one hall, with time to ask your own question. Whether you are exploring your first property in Japan, expanding a portfolio, or working through renovation, financing, short-term rentals or long-term living, you leave with a clearer path and fewer expensive assumptions. What to expect: - Expert talks and panel discussions from top voices in Japanese real estate - Actionable guidance on purchasing, renovating, financing and managing property - Insights into akiya, family stays, rentals and retirement planning - Opportunities to connect with trusted service providers and fellow investors - Networking in an international, English-friendly environment Who should attend: - Foreign buyers and investors interested in Japan - Current property owners seeking better returns or smoother operations - Entrepreneurs, expats and future residents planning a move to Japan - Anyone curious about how Japan's real estate market really works ## Full programme Main Room talks and Breakout Room workshops run side by side, so pick a track for each slot. Main Room talks on both days stream live. Breakout Room workshops are in person only. Times are Japan Standard Time and the organisers can change the schedule. ### Saturday, 17 October 2026 | Time | Room | Session | Speakers | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 10:00 to 10:30 | All | Registration and kick-off | | | 10:30 to 10:45 | All | Agenda review and orientation | | | 10:45 to 11:30 | Main Room | 50-Year Mortgages and 1% Interest Rates | Emil Gorgees, RealEstate.jp | | 11:30 to 12:15 | Main Room | **Western Expectations vs Japanese Mentality: Who Wins?** (AkiyaHub) | Brett Lee, AkiyaHub | | 11:30 to 12:15 | Breakout Room | What Makes a Good House in Tokyo? | Emil Gorgees, RealEstate.jp | | 12:15 to 13:15 | All | Lunch and free time | | | 13:15 to 14:00 | Main Room | The Struggles of Renovating Older Japanese Homes | Blanka Kobayashi, Ark Reform | | 13:15 to 14:00 | Breakout Room | **Step Zero: Before the Hunt** (AkiyaHub) | Emily Kuno, AkiyaHub | | 14:00 to 14:45 | Main Room | Why You Should Not Put Your Multi-Unit Investment Under Your Own Name | Alicia Qin Wang, Axolotl Capital | | 14:00 to 14:45 | Breakout Room | Which Materials Should I Use for My Renovation? | Blanka Kobayashi, Ark Reform | | 14:45 to 15:15 | All | Free time | | | 15:15 to 16:00 | Main Room | Japan's Boutique Hospitality Market: A Regional Snapshot | Chai Kanda and Ben Howard, Shiki Properties | | 15:15 to 16:00 | Breakout Room | How to Leverage Bank Loans for Your Investment Properties | Alicia Qin Wang, Axolotl Capital | | 16:00 to 16:45 | All | Experts Q&A panel | | | 18:00 to 20:00 | All | Gala dinner (separate ticket) | | ### Sunday, 18 October 2026 | Time | Room | Session | Speakers | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 10:00 to 10:15 | All | Registration and orientation | | | 10:15 to 11:00 | Main Room | Entering the Market with Exit in Mind | Ziv Nakajima-Magen, Nippon Tradings International | | 10:15 to 11:00 | Breakout Room | Boutique Hotel Investment Case Studies: Using Leverage to Enhance Returns | Yi Zhang, Shiki Properties | | 11:00 to 11:45 | Main Room | Booked in a Crowded Market | Tracey Northcott, Tokyo Family Stays | | 11:00 to 11:45 | Breakout Room | JRE Deal Analysis Studio: Product Updates and Demo | Ziv Nakajima-Magen and Jerome Marley | | 11:45 to 12:30 | Main Room | What AI Operations Actually Do to the Bottom Line | Sana Bhandari, SympleHost | | 11:45 to 12:30 | Breakout Room | The 30-Minute AI Makeover | Tracey Northcott, Tokyo Family Stays | | 12:30 to 13:30 | All | Lunch and free time | | | 13:30 to 14:15 | Main Room | Any Purpose. Any Residency Status. Any Major City. Financing Your Japan Condo | Wyatt Beck, YEN LOANS | | 13:30 to 15:00 | Breakout Room | Introduction to GoMinpaku | Max Delvita and Dave Singh, SympleHost | | 15:00 to 15:30 | All | Free time | | | 15:30 to 16:15 | Main Room | Beyond the Business Manager Visa: Entrepreneur Solutions | Hiroto Senda, immigration lawyer | | 15:30 to 16:15 | Breakout Room | Your Individual Borrowing Scenario | Wyatt Beck, YEN LOANS | | 16:15 to 17:00 | All | Experts Q&A panel | | | 17:00 to 17:45 | All | Goodbyes and photo ops | | | 18:00 to 20:00 | All | The afterparty | | ## Speakers Agents, lenders, renovators, hosts, operators and platform builders who work with foreign buyers and owners in Japan every day, with AkiyaHub first. - **Brett Lee, CEO and Co-Founder, AkiyaHub.** Entrepreneur and technologist who builds companies and systems around complex problems. Leads AkiyaHub's technology, product, and strategy. Originally from the United States and now based in Japan. - **Emily Kuno, Advisor, AkiyaHub.** Has worked directly with hundreds of international buyers as they consider homes in Japan, turning broad ideas about living in Japan into concrete criteria and a realistic plan. - **Emil Gorgees, Founder and CEO, RealEstate.jp.** A Tokyo real estate agent who specializes in helping foreign and mixed families find their perfect family home. Australian, two decades in Japan, 11 years actively buying, selling and managing property in the city. Also acts as a mortgage broker for his clients. - **Blanka Kobayashi, CEO and Co-Founder, Ark Reform.** Leads ARK Reform, a bilingual renovation and remodeling company serving the Kanto region, helping homeowners and business owners navigate renovation projects with clarity, transparency, and confidence. - **Tracey Northcott, Founder, Tokyo Family Stays.** Serial entrepreneur based in Tokyo and one of the most successful Airbnb hosts in the city. Also runs the software company Enfour with her family and Tracey Northcott Consulting, helping other hosts maximise their short-term rental businesses. - **Ziv Nakajima-Magen, Co-founder, Nippon Tradings International.** Co-founded NTI in 2011 to help foreigners research, source, acquire and manage real estate anywhere in Japan, with a focus on investment properties and holiday homes. Also co-founder and COO of Nippon Bridge. - **Alicia Qin Wang, Managing Partner, Axolotl Capital.** Seasoned real estate investor in the US and Japan who helps foreign investors acquire cash-flowing properties and obtain loans from Japanese banks. Holds law degrees from Japan and the US, and is a licensed attorney, real estate agent and loan officer in the US. - **Chai Kanda, Founder and CEO, Shiki Properties.** Kyoto-based real estate expert and serial entrepreneur helping foreigners invest in and manage traditional Japanese properties. Founded Shiki Properties in 2014, now one of Kyoto's most internationally friendly real estate and property management firms. - **Wyatt Beck, Head of Sales, YEN LOANS.** Leads loan origination and execution for borrowers investing in Japanese real estate. Former broker in residential and hospitality investment sales, US Navy veteran and graduate of Temple University Japan. - **Sana Bhandari, Co-Founder, SympleHost.** Co-founder of SympleHost, an AI co-host for short-term rentals. UX leader with over a decade at foodpanda, DBS, and GovTech, now working directly with hosts across Japan and Southeast Asia. - **Max Delvita, CEO and Co-Founder, SympleHost.** Senior product leader with 15+ years across fintech, hospitality technology, and startups, including Chief Product Officer at MoneySmart and founder of AI startups. - **Dave Singh, Co-Founder and CTO, SympleHost.** Technology leader with fourteen years building complex software systems. Leads the engineering behind SympleHost's AI operations platform, including channel connections, automation, reporting and government-format compliance outputs. Also leading sessions: Ben Howard (Shiki Properties), Yi Zhang (Shiki Properties), Jerome Marley (JRE Deal Analysis Studio) and Hiroto Senda (immigration lawyer). ## Tickets Choose the ticket that fits where you will be on October 17. Five tickets, sold by the organisers through Zaiko, the summit's trusted ticketing platform. Early-bird prices are in Japanese yen before booking fees and end Sep 30, 2026, 23:59 JST. After that, the organisers set the standard rates. Every link below opens that ticket's checkout. **Hall D5 cannot hold 50,000+ AkiyaHub members.** The room is a fraction of our community, and most of you are not in Japan in October. If you are not going to be in Tokyo, get the Zoom Livestream ticket: JP¥8,000 (about US$52) at the early-bird rate for every Main Room talk on both days, live in Japan Standard Time, including Brett's talk on Saturday. Breakout Room workshops, including Emily's Step Zero, are private in-person sessions and are not streamed. The organisers have not announced a recording, so plan to watch the talks live. | Ticket | Who it is for | Early-bird price | About in USD | Booking fee | Covers | Buy | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Zoom Livestream, Full Weekend | Members outside Japan | JP¥8,000 | US$52 | + JP¥924 | Every Main Room talk from both days, live online in Japan Standard Time. Workshops are in person only | [Buy ticket](https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/buy/1C0b:S1I:4d196?utm_source=akiyahub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jres-autumn-2026&utm_content=markdown-livestream) | | Full Weekend | General admission | JP¥15,000 | US$98 | + JP¥1,254 | Both days in person, Saturday and Sunday | [Buy ticket](https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/buy/1C0b:S1w:9b236?utm_source=akiyahub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jres-autumn-2026&utm_content=markdown-weekend) | | Saturday Only | General admission | JP¥8,000 | US$52 | + JP¥924 | Saturday in person, the day both AkiyaHub sessions run | [Buy ticket](https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/buy/1C0b:S1x:b17bf?utm_source=akiyahub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jres-autumn-2026&utm_content=markdown-saturday) | | Sunday Only | General admission | JP¥8,000 | US$52 | + JP¥924 | Sunday in person | [Buy ticket](https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/buy/1C0b:S1y:8f5e8?utm_source=akiyahub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jres-autumn-2026&utm_content=markdown-sunday) | | Gala Dinner | Saturday evening | JP¥10,000 | US$65 | + JP¥1,100 | Saturday 18:00 to 20:00, sold separately from day tickets | [Buy ticket](https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/buy/1C0b:Sbz:45267?utm_source=akiyahub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jres-autumn-2026&utm_content=markdown-gala) | If you work in real estate, the organisers also list industry tickets at checkout. US dollar amounts are approximate, at about ¥154 to US$1 (ECB reference rate, September 10, 2026). You pay in yen at checkout. ## Venue Tokyo International Forum, Hall D (D5, 5th Floor). 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005. Glass, steel and a five-minute walk from Tokyo Station, in the middle of Marunouchi. Getting there: - JR Yurakucho Station: about 1 minute on foot. - JR Tokyo Station: about 5 minutes on foot from the Marunouchi side. - Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line, Yurakucho Station: about 1 minute on foot, with an underground connection. [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Tokyo+International+Forum+3-5-1+Marunouchi+Chiyoda+City+Tokyo) Saturday at a glance, for AkiyaHub members: - 10:00: Doors open. Registration and kick-off in the main space. - 11:30: Brett Lee, Main Room. Western Expectations vs Japanese Mentality: Who Wins? (on the livestream) - 13:15: Emily Kuno, Breakout Room. Step Zero: Before the Hunt. (in person only) - 16:00: Experts Q&A panel. Bring the question you did not get to ask. - 18:00: Gala dinner, separate ticket. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is this an AkiyaHub event? No. The Japan Real Estate Summit is presented by RealEstate.jp, Nippon Tradings International, Tokyo Family Stays and Ark Reform. AkiyaHub is a speaking partner: Brett Lee gives a main-room talk and Emily Kuno runs a breakout workshop, both on Saturday. Tickets are sold by the organisers, not by AkiyaHub. ### I am not in Japan. Can I still watch? Yes, for the talks. Hall D5 cannot hold 50,000+ AkiyaHub members, and most of you are outside Japan, so the organisers sell a Zoom Livestream ticket that covers every Main Room talk on both days, including Brett's. It is JP¥8,000 at the early-bird rate. Breakout Room workshops, including Emily's Step Zero, are private in-person sessions and are not streamed. Talks stream live in Japan Standard Time, and the organisers have not announced a recording, so plan to watch live. ### Which ticket do I need to see Brett and Emily? It depends on what you want to see. Both AkiyaHub sessions are on Saturday, October 17: Brett in the Main Room at 11:30 and Emily in the Breakout Room at 13:15. To attend both, you need to be in the room that day, so a Saturday Only ticket is all it takes (a Full Weekend ticket includes Saturday too). If you only want Brett's talk, the Zoom Livestream ticket or a Saturday Only ticket both work. Emily's workshop is in person only and is not streamed. ### What language is the summit in? English. The organisers describe it as an international, English-friendly environment, the programme is published in English, and both AkiyaHub sessions are in English. ### Do I need to be an AkiyaHub member to attend? No. Anyone can buy a ticket from the organisers. If you want to keep going after the weekend, an AkiyaHub account is free to create and gives you the search tools, guides and the community most of our members start with. ### When does early-bird pricing end? The prices above are the early-bird rates listed by the organisers, on sale until Sep 30, 2026, 23:59 JST. A small booking fee is added to each ticket at checkout, shown next to each price. After the early-bird window closes, the organisers set the standard rates. ### Can I meet the AkiyaHub team there? Yes. Find Brett and Emily after their Saturday sessions. If you are already a member, bring your questions about your own search: that is exactly what the breaks between sessions are for. ### What are the organisers' terms of attendance? Speakers, schedules and sessions can change without notice, and changes do not entitle ticket holders to a refund. Speakers, sponsors and exhibitors are independent third parties. The summit is a private event, so recording, filming or streaming presentations needs prior approval from the organisers. Normal networking is welcome; unsolicited pitching or systematic solicitation of attendees is not, and can mean removal without a refund. The organisers publish the full terms of attendance with the ticket listing, and you accept them when you buy. ## Choose your next step Leaving unclear is expensive. A wrong region, a budget built from listing prices, a renovation scoped from photographs, an ownership plan with nobody to open the door while you are away: each one costs more than a ticket, and most are decided before the search starts. Two days in Tokyo, or two days of Main Room talks on the livestream, is the cheapest correction you will ever buy. - [Choose your ticket](#tickets) for Saturday, Sunday or the full weekend in Tokyo - [Get the livestream ticket](https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/buy/1C0b:S1I:4d196?utm_source=akiyahub&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=jres-autumn-2026&utm_content=markdown-livestream) to watch every Main Room talk from anywhere - [Create a free AkiyaHub account](https://akiyahub.com/jointhecommunity) and start before the summit does - [See how buying a house in Japan works](https://akiyahub.com/how-to-buy-a-house-in-japan) ## Related markdown - [How to Buy a House in Japan](/md/how-it-works.md) - [Reviews and customer stories](/md/proof.md) - [Pricing](/md/pricing.md) - [AkiyaHub overview](/md/home.md) ## Sources - Live page: [https://akiyahub.com/summit](https://akiyahub.com/summit) - Organisers' published programme, speaker profiles and ticket listing, as recorded on September 10, 2026 (resource listed in the front matter sources) ## Last verified 2026-09-10