Hokkaido city struggling with abandoned buildings

A hotel near Kushiro Station that has been closed since 2012.

Kushiro City in Hokkaido is struggling with a growing number of vacant and seemingly-abandoned buildings in the city center.

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Restrictions on resort development in Kutchan lagging behind schedule

New restrictions on resort development in Kutchan Town, near the popular Niseko ski resort, were scheduled to be introduced this fall, but have been pushed back. These restrictions are aimed at protecting the town’s natural environment and scenery from an unchecked surge in development by foreign funds in the Hirafu and Hanazono districts.

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Sapporo’s most expensive apartments go on sale

Like other cities across Japan, Sapporo is no stranger to rising home prices. New apartment prices have risen by 37.3% over the past ten years. One new luxury condominium in the city has gone on sale this June with all apartments priced over 200 million Yen.

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Hokkaido sees 12% more offshore investors between 2019 and 2020

A survey by public broadcaster NHK has found that the there were 4,406 buildings and land parcels in Hokkaido owned by foreign funds and corporations as of January 2020. This is a 12% increase from 2019. Even with the international travel bans, some industry experts say acquisitions have continued throughout 2020 as foreign investors are confident that things will return to normal post-covid.

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Yubari Resort to file for bankruptcy citing pandemic-induced tourism downturn

Only a year after purchasing the resort and related hotels, the owner-operator of the Yubari Mount Racey Ski Resort is filing for bankruptcy. The closure of the city’s only ski resort and the only three hotels nearby have devastated the local tourism industry.

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Quick real estate news summary for the week

Homebuyer preferences change as pandemic continues, Nikko-branded hotel for Niseko, and Singapore funds see value in Japan’s logistics market. Below is a quick weekly summary of some of the recent goings-on in the Japanese real estate market.

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Quick real estate news summary for the week

Homebuilder to provide antiviral coating in new homes, Takanawa condo goes on sale, and Sapporo to have highest tower in Hokkaido in 2023. Below is a quick weekly summary of some of the recent goings-on in the Japanese real estate market.

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