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Notes -
There are varying degrees of countryside. We live within several hours of a tier 1 city, and covid outmigration put upward pressure on rents. If you live somewhere tucked away in a valley 12+ hours away by train from any major city, rent is probably stable.
But you also have to consider that housing that's >20 years old (a generous estimate) is essentially condemnable in the minds of the Japanese public, so when there's upward rent pressure, it's on a small fraction of the housing market (recent construction) which magnifies the effect. I've seen apartments near the station in my medium sized town, which is in a prefecture that does not border a metropolis, that are now asking near the same rent as in the suburbs of a metropolis. Truly nowhere is safe in developed countries.
Apologies in advance for typos as I'm enjoying some fine sake this evening.
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