Osaka City looks to end ‘special minpaku’ licensing applications in 2026
Osaka City is home to the most relaxed minpaku (short-term letting) rules in Japan, but with growing complaints, now appears to be making moves to stop accepting new applications from mid-2026. The city has almost 6,700 registered Special Zone Minpaku accommodations as of July 2025, a 22% increase from the end of 2024.Read more
Co-living property in Osaka 80% pre-leased before opening
Global Agents, the operator of ‘social apartments’ or co-living housing, opened its first property in Osaka City on August 9 in collaboration with the West Japan Railway Company and West Japan Food Service Net Company. The building was 80% leased up prior to opening.Read more
Mizuho launches fund targeting older buildings
Mizuho Financial Group announced the establishment of a new value-add fund to acquire aging buildings over 20 years old and improve their environmental performance. The group is planning to invest around 200 billion Yen (US$1.36 billion) over the next five years, starting with the 50 billion Yen acquisition of a 35-year old office tower in central Osaka.Read more
Tokyo apartment rents hit new high in June
Asking rents in Tokyo’s 23 wards reached 4,803 Yen per square meter in June, up 2.4% from the previous month and up 10.8% from last year. The increase is somewhat the result of a larger share in brand-new and near-new apartments, especially luxury apartments in central Tokyo, that have pulled up the average.Read more
Tensions rise over minpaku conversions
Short-term rental conversions are becoming a growing source of tension in Japan’s multi-family sector, with some landlords attempting to illegally force out long-term tenants to make way for profitable short-term guests. At the same time, neighbors are increasingly raising complaints about noise, security, and trash issues. In Osaka City, where ‘minpaku’ (short-term letting) rules are the most relaxed in the country, resident backlash is starting to gain momentum, with city officials now considering launching a project team to introduce countermeasures.Read more
Osaka casino construction to start April 24
Construction of Japan’s first casino is scheduled to begin on April 24. The 49-hectare site is located on Yumeshima island in Osaka, across the street from EXPO 2025.Read more
Softbank acquires Sharp factory in Osaka for data center conversion
Sharp is selling part of its Sakai Display Product (SDP) plant and land in Osaka to Softbank with a sale price estimated to be around 100 billion Yen (US$671 million). The electronics manufacturer is expecting to post a 75.4 billion Yen (US$506 million) profit on sales as a result.Read more