Hi Casey,First off, I hope you are staying well and safe in Tokyo. 

Finding slightly older properties outside of the big cities of Tokyo and Osaka is a great way to get consistent cash-flow... and now with the land prices finally appearing to be starting to rise, you might even get some bonus capital appreciation.

I can only assume your idea of a "normal" population level is something like Tokyo Japan, with person stacked upon person? 

The reason for the question is because I'm from the U.S. but currently reside in Tokyo.

As demand for affordable housing and community-oriented living continues to rise, coliving communities are becoming an increasingly attractive option for real estate investors.According to recent research, the global coliving market is projected to reach $9.6 billion by 2025, with significant growth expected in major urban centers like New York, London, and Tokyo.

We paid a tenant once to keep the light fixture that she bought and that we had installed.I saw the coolest thing in Tokyo.

Going outside these norms is technically doable, but won’t be comfortable for most people...unless they have lived in Hong Kong or Tokyo before!

I've done all the different closing styles I think there are, Embassy, US Lawyer who notarizes in Tokyo, POA, and now remote closing.

I’m looking for an “out of the box” solution to get a mortgage in Tokyo for an apartment.

as the title stated, I’m looking for an “out of the box” solution to get a mortgage in Tokyo for an apartment.