Hotel Okura Tokyo to be redeveloped

Hotel Okura Tokyo

Yesterday it was announced that the Hotel Okura Tokyo in Toranomon, Minato-ku, will be redeveloped. The new hotel is expected to be completed in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics.

The current 408-room hotel was completed in 1962 - two years before Tokyo hosted the 1964 Summer Olympics. The annex building was completed in 1973. It has been a landmark hotel and has hosted numerous foreign dignitaries and VIPs, the most recent being US President Obama who stayed in the hotel during his visit to Tokyo in April.Read more


Secondhand apartment prices in April - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average asking price of a 70 sqm (753 sqft) second-hand apartment in Tokyo’s 23 wards was 41,500,000 Yen in April, up just 20,000 Yen from the previous month and up 5.4% from April 2013. Although the last three months saw month-on-month increases, the rate of growth has been shrinking and appears to have almost stopped. The average apartment age was 21.4 years, up 0.5 years from the previous month.

In central Tokyo’s six wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo and Shibuya), the average apartment asking price was 57,250,000 Yen, up 0.1% from the previous month and up 8.8% from last year. This is the ninth month in a row to see a month-on-month increase, although the rate of growth also appears to have slowed considerably in April after seeing a 2.1% increase in February and a 0.7% increase in March. The average apartment age was 21.3 years, up 0.3 years from the previous month.Read more


Future redevelopment in Akasaka 7 Chome

Landowners in Akasaka 7 Chome have formed an association with a view to redeveloping their neighbourhood. Although details are yet to be confirmed, its possible that a developer is already involved in the planning.Read more


April rental data - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average monthly rent of a condominium apartment in greater Tokyo was 2,637 Yen/sqm in April, up 1.4% from the previous month and up 4.4% from April 2013. The average apartment size was 59.28 sqm and the average building age was 18.1 years.Read more


New apartment supply in April down 40%

According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, 2,473 new apartments were released for sale across greater Tokyo in April, down 46.7% from March and down 39.6% from April 2013. This is the third month in a row to see a year-on-year drop in the supply of new apartments.

1,848 apartments were sold, making the contract rate 74.7%. This is 5.1 points lower than the contract rate in March and 3.5 points lower than last year. Meanwhile, 2,785 secondhand apartments were sold during the month, down 30.3% from March and down 10.7% from last year. Read more


Briton arrested for running illegal lodgings in Tokyo

Adachi Illegal Hotel

A British expat was arrested on May 16 for operating a short-stay hotel without a proper license. The 28-year old wanted to offer cheap accommodation for foreign tourists and rented out rooms and bunk-beds in a share-house in Adachi-ku.Read more


Secondhand apartment transactions drop 30.3% in April but prices continue to rise

According to REINS, 2,785 secondhand apartments were sold across greater Tokyo in April, down 30.3% from the previous month and down 10.7% from April 2013. 

While the number of transactions saw a steep drop, actual sale prices have continued to increase. The average sale price across greater Tokyo was 26,880,000 Yen, up 0.9% from the previous month and up 5.2% from last year. The average price per square meter was 424,000 Yen, up 1.8% from the previous month and up 7.7% from last year.Read more