For those interested in an architecturally designed property, or something a little older or unusual, we are launching a special section on our site called Unique Spaces.

This is a carefully curated selection of properties currently listed for sale that, in our eyes, are different from the cookie-cutter apartments or homes that make up the majority of the listings in Japan. Some of these one-of-a-kind listings include pre-war homes, modernist masterpieces, and contemporary designs. Some may have been designed by famous architects or may have historical importance. We hope this section of our website will be a place where these properties are appreciated and exhibited, and may attract new owners who want a special place of their own.

Our current selection includes homes by Shigeru Ban and Yoshimura Junzo, as well as apartments designed by Tadao Ando and SANAA.

Due to the various age of these properties, they are in various conditions and some may require repairs and maintenance in order to restore them to their prime. We can introduce our clients to specialist architects and consultants who can assist in restorations and renovations.


Click below to view the current listings:

Unique Spaces


Japan has some of the top architects in the world, yet, based on our experience, the supply of uniquely designed homes listed for re-sale is extremely limited. Such homes rarely change hands and there are very few opportunities to buy. Awareness and appreciation of the value of architect-designed homes is also lost over time and, to our dismay, little attention may be paid to the history of homes by some realtors.

Historic homes are also gradually dwindling in number as developers buy up old estates and subdivide or redevelop them into apartments. Very little value is placed on these buildings, and as a result they are sold for essentially the value of the land.

Some of the examples of grand estates and historic buildings that have been lost in recent years:

Hanezawa Garden Hiroo
Hanezawa Garden, Hiroo. Built in 1915 for Yoshikoto Nakamura. A developer acquired the estate in 2011 and demolished the house in 2012. Apartments have since been built on the site.
Takada Residence, Kunitachi. Built in 1930. Demolished by a developer in 2015, with the land subdivided into smaller blocks for re-sale. The 600 sqm block of land would have had a value of around 300 million Yen, about 5 times the price of a typical home in the neighbourhood.
Suzuki Residence Denenchofu
Built in the 1920s. Demolished by a developer 2015, with the vacant land listed for sale for 1.12 billion Yen (about 9.3 million USD at current exchange rates).
Mitsui Bussan Yokohama Warehouse. Built in 1910. Demolished by a real estate company in 2015. A hotel is planned for the site.
Matsuhashi Ryuzo Residence, Ashiya City. A modernist home built in 1935. Due to a large inheritance tax bill, the owner was forced to sell. It was demolished in 2012 and replaced with a 5-storey apartment building.
Kodera Residence Kobe
Kodera Residence, Kobe City. A Spanish-style villa designed by architect William Merrell Vories and completed in 1931. The owners sold the property to a developer and it was demolished in 2011.

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