Growing concern over Tokyo's shortage of emergency evacuation centers

  • 1.3 million residents will be turned away
  • 2.39 million residents will lose their homes
  • 4.48 million residents will be stranded until transportation services resume

Tokyo City is currently unable to provide enough emergency accommodation for the temporary refugees that would not be able to return home in the event of a magnitude 7 earthquake hitting Tokyo.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Residents suing Mitsui over liquefaction damage

Approximately 32 residents from Urayasu City, Chiba, are suing Mitsui Fudosan for 700 million Yen after their townhouses were damaged by liquefaction during the Tohoku earthquake.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Singaporean investment fund buys hotel in Okinawa

Singaporean investment fund RECAP (Real Estate Capital Asia Partners) has purchased the CSK Tsubogawa Hotel in Naha City, Okinawa, for an undisclosed sum.

The business hotel was scheduled to open in 2009 but the former owner, CSK Holdings, fell into financial difficulties. Although construction was complete, the hotel never opened. The former owner also built an office building on the adjoining site in 2009, which also remains empty.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Brick warehouse in Gunma at risk of demolition

A 90 year old red-brick warehouse built during the Taisho period in Ora Town, Gunma, is at risk of being demolished in the near future.

The building was once used in the production of "nakanogasuri" - a style of cloth-weaving dyed with wooden patterns, and is now owned by the JA Oura Tatebayashi Agricultural Cooperative (JA). The warehouse suffered structural damage during the Tohoku earthquake and the owner has expressed intent to demolish the structure.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Tepco finds buyer for Suginami sports ground

Suginami-ku announced plans to purchase a 4.3 hectare sports ground in Shimotakaido 2 Chome from troubled Tepco. The Tokyo ward has included the 6 billion Yen acquisition cost in their 2012 budget.

The sports ground includes tennis courts, a baseball field and a running track. Tepco had previously leased the grounds to the ward for local residents to use.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Iwate plans to allow rebuilding in tsunami-hit areas

Iwate Prefecture announced that they have decided on a plan which will allow the reconstruction of homes and community centers in areas that were inundated with 2 meters or less of water from the March 11 tsunami.Read more

by Zoe Ward

La Tour Shinjuku Grand

Average price: 1,183,000 Yen/sqm
Size range: 38.98 ~ 194.98 sqm (419 ~ 2098 sqft)

Average rent: 4990 Yen/sqm/month
Estimated Yield: 5.06% pa

 ABOUT

La Tour Shinjuku Grand is the latest addition to Sumitomo's La Tour Series of rental apartments. The special feature for this property is high ceilings. The ceiling height in each apartment is 3.7 meters, which is far higher than the standard 2.4m ceilings found in most Japanese apartments. The high ceilings are not wasted as some apartments come with lofts to maximize the usable space. The building is not big on amenities as it only has the standard concierge service and gym (no swimming pool). Residents also have free internet access.Read more

by Zoe Ward