According to the Statistics Bureau and the Tokyo Shimbun, the number of towns, cities and wards within the greater Tokyo area with vacancy rates below 10% has halved in the 10 years since 2003. In 2013, there were 56 districts with vacancy rates below 10% and 65 districts with vacancy rates over 15%.
Growing vacancy rates are caused by a variety of factors, including decline population in regional areas, an increase in the supply of housing, as well as an increase in the number of abandoned or uninhabitable homes that are left to rot instead of being demolished.
Highest vacancy rates
| TOKYO METROPOLITAN AREA | |
|---|---|
| [1] Toshima-ku | 15.8% |
| [2] Ota-ku | 14.8% |
| [3] Musashino City | 14.1% |
| [4] Nakano-ku | 13.7% |
| [5] Chiyoda-ku | 13.3% |
| GREATER TOKYO AREA | |
| [1] Nasu Town, Tochigi | 50.5% |
| [2] Katsuura City, Chiba | 36.8% |
| [3] Yugawara Town, Kanagawa | 33.4% |
| [4] Isumi City, Chiba | 28.6% |
| [5] Kamogawa City, Chiba | 26.3% |
Beware of relying on this data
Investors should not rely on this data as it is far from accurate for the rental market.