This essay covers the journey of Lloyd Enbom and his wife Mandy Rutherford, who transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to purchasing a home in Hakuba, Japan. They initially thrived as travel content creators during the pandemic, despite restrictions in Australia. Their experiences traveling to diverse locations—including Thailand, North America, and Southeast Asia—inspired them to seek a stable base.
Lloyd explains that buying a home in Japan is surprisingly accessible for foreigners, differing from places like Thailand where residency is usually required for ownership. After much research and consideration, they found a property near Hakuba, known for its ski culture and accessibility to international communities.
They bought the home for about $22,000, accepting its “as-is” condition, which involves significant renovation needs. Despite the challenges of moving from extreme nomadism to homeownership, they envision Japan as their home base while maintaining their traveling lifestyle.
The couple appreciates Japan’s culture, affordability, and friendly atmosphere, choosing to spend half the year there while continuing their work in travel content creation.
