Vintage apartment renovation in Shibuya gets 2,000,000 Yen/sqm price tag

A former expat rental apartment building in Shibuya’s Uehara neighborhood has been fully refurbished with the apartments now available for individual purchase. The condo-conversion is a growing trend in Tokyo where land is scarce and construction costs run high. 

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MLIT to forcibly finish land hazard surveys across country

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) plans to publish embankment and liquefaction risk maps online later this year in an effort to provide more transparency for home owners and buyers. 

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Miyazaki metabolist hall to be demolished

The former Miyakonojo Civic Hall, a metabolist icon in Miyazaki Prefecture, is expected to be demolished sometime this year as hefty maintenance costs prove too high for city finances.

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Scandal-hit site in Gotanda sold by rightful owner

Real estate developer Asahi Kasei Realty & Residence Corporation has emerged as the successful buyer of a scandal-hit property near Tokyo’s Gotanda Station. 

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Local market report: Daikanyama (2019)

Daikanyama is as fashionable and trendy as Omotesando, but with a more laidback vibe on weekends. Sitting in a prime position between Ebisu and Shibuya Stations, it is a great place for a lucky few to call home. It is extremely difficult to find suitable homes and apartments on the market in this neighborhood due to a naturally limited inventory (a lot of the neighborhood is low-density), while many of the residents tightly hold onto their homes for the long-term. 

Let’s take a look at the current real estate market conditions.

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150+ year old tea house discovered in Kyoto backyard

Left: A current image of the tea house (via the Kyoto Shimbun). Right: An early photograph of the tea house supplied by Okubo's great-grandchild.

A tea house that once belonged to Okubo Toshimichi (1830-1878) has narrowly escaped demolition in Kyoto. The owner has temporarily suspended demolition while the tea house is carefully dismantled and stored. Due to its historical significance, Kyoto City is considering potential ways to relocate and reconstruct it.

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Abandoned hotel in Okinawa to finally be demolished

Demolition has started on an abandoned hotel and local eyesore adjacent to Okinawa’s Nakagusuku Castle that has been sitting idle for almost five decades. In a rare move for privately-owned property, the prefecture has taken charge of demolition due to the need for a careful investigation for any historic artifacts and to avoid harm to protected wildlife. Demolition is expected to be completed by March 2020, after which the land will be converted back to parkland. 

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