Living and retiring in Japan

Have been reading a lot about Japan and planning to visit in April (finally!) after 3 years of planning. I also am interested in buying a small place. Question is, is it it the right time to buy? Do you have any recommendations? Is it currently a buyer's market in Japan? Are people selling?

It has been a buyer's market in Japan for a long time- interest rates are low, and house (or more specifically, land) prices are currently about a quarter of what they were during Japan's "bubble" back in the late 80s and early 90s. Prices have not risen in well over a decade. People are always selling.

I wonder what visa you are thinking of coming here on? There is no visa specifically for retirees, and buying a house here does not entitle you to any kind of visa, so you may be looking at having to come in and out of Japan on tourist permits. Immigration typically only allows 180 days per year in Japan on tourist permits though.