# Swedish couple sell dream home, buy Japanese house for Rs 42 lakh 2026-08-08T16:01:01+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Sia and Mikael Lilja bought land near Malmö, Sweden in 2020 to build their dream home. They moved in by end-2023 but soon changed their minds. IVF delays during the pandemic made them reconsider having children, and the house felt too big for just them and their dog. The couple had travelled Asia in 2019 and began exploring Japan. By November 2025, they sold their Swedish home and visited Japan for three weeks. They bought an old vacant house (akiya) in the Kansai region for 8 million yen, about Rs 42 lakh. They left their jobs, handed over keys in May 2026, and plan to move officially in September 2026. The neighbours have already taught them how to tend bamboo shoots. ## Coverage - timesofindia.indiatimes.com Tags: akiya houses, IVF delay, Japan real estate, lifestyle change, remote work, Swedish expats Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/swedish-couple-sell-dream-home-buy-japanese-house-for-rs-42-lakh/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/swedish-couple-sell-dream-home-buy-japanese-house-for-rs-42-lakh/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.