Chinese investors are flocking to buy temples in Japan, but the risks are significant.

• Chinese Short Dialogue | Website
• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Learn Chinese | 중국어 배우기 | 中国語を学ぶ | Изучать китайский язык | Học tiếng Trung | Belajar bahasa Mandarin | Aprender chino | تعلم اللغة الصينية

陈花: Huang Gang, did you see that news? Some Chinese people spent millions to buy a temple in Japan and ended up regretting it.
黄刚: Yes, I saw it. They originally thought they could use the religious corporation status to avoid taxes and get permanent residency, but it turns out it's not that simple.
陈花: I thought buying a temple could be turned into a guesthouse, offering a 'temple stay' experience, but it seems I was overthinking it.
黄刚: Exactly. Japan’s Religious Corporations Act is very strict. You can't just change things as you like. And while temple income is tax-exempt, that's only for religious activities, not for commercial ventures like guesthouses or parking lots.
陈花: I heard some people were lured by the pitch that 'buy a temple and get a visa,' but after spending millions, they still couldn't get a visa.
黄刚: Moreover, Japanese society values community identity. A foreigner suddenly becoming a temple abbot — many locals won't accept that. A temple isn't just a building; it has cultural and historical significance.
陈花: So, it's one of those 'looks great on the surface' deals but is actually a trap. Investing in domestic cultural tourism projects might be a better idea. At least we understand the cultural context better.
黄刚: Exactly. You can't just chase the hype. Buying a temple is buying a responsibility, not a shortcut.