Set Sail and Buy Your Own Gilligan's Island in Japan
MSN News/Mainichi Daily News
January 18, 2005

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/news/20060118p2g00m0dm030000c.html

Buying deserted islands has become something of a talking point in Japan at the moment, according to Flash (1/31).

For the past five years, Osaka Prefecture-based Aqua Styles has been selling uninhabited islands, mostly overseas, but recently with an increasing emphasis on Japan.

"We started off only letting people know about islands for sale in other countries, but decided we'd also sell deserted islands inside Japan, too," Masanobu Sato, head of Aqua Styles, tells Flash. "Land is more expensive in Japan, so we recommend groups of buyers pool their money to buy a single island. It does depend on the local government involved, but in some cases it's even possible to name the island yourself."

Apart from the obvious appeal of owning your own island, Sato says the benefits of buying one with its comparatively cheap land and low fixed asset tax mean it's unlikely to place a hefty atoll, er, toll, on the wallet.

Sato's top recommendation for an island in Japan is Marujima, just over 1,000 square meters off the coast of Mie Prefecture up for sale at around 30 million yen -- the price of a cheap apartment in Tokyo's outer suburbs.

"(Marujima) is only 60 meters off the mainland and has firm ground. There's no power or water supply, but being so close to the mainland means it wouldn't be too hard to connect them," the real estate boss says. "This island is also known only by its common name so it may be possible to change the name, though I can't give a guarantee about that. Wouldn't it be wonderful to see maps with an island on them that you've named?"

At about twice the price, but for more than 10 times the land and a lot more thrown in, there's Togasaki-shima off the coast of Nagasaki Prefecture.

"It's got an uninhabited house just 150 meters away from the mainland. It has power, phones and a well, though the water can't be used for drinking," Sato tells Flash. "(On Togasaki-shima) there are also two houses, which belonged to people who once cultivated pearls. It's a perfect place for those who enjoy fishing or marine sports."

Super value for money can be found on the Seto Inland Sea with Yamaguchi Prefecture's Katajima, over 18,800 square meters of island carrying a price tag of just 20 million yen.

"It's warm, with the Seto area having an annual average temperature of 15.6 degrees, and quite idyllic. The waters around the island are crystal clear, making it a famous spot amongst anglers," Sato says. "At nights, you can sometimes see the Southern Cross just above the horizon."

Buying Tsukuga-shima, an atoll of 33,000 square meters priced at 67 million yen and located off the coast of Hiroshima Prefecture could prove to be a fruitful venture.

"The entire island is up for sale. At the moment, there's a large mandarin field running across the island, so extensive changes would be needed if you're going to build a big house or some other kind of building," Sato tells Flash. "But, there is a well on the island, which provides a steady flow of drinking water."