Kitakyushu modernist buildings at risk of demolition

February 26, 2014Modernist Architecture in Japan,Kitakyushu,Togo Murano (Architect)Demolition,Historic Properties,Real Estate News,All

Yahata City Meeting Hall Yahata Library
Left: Yahata City Meeting Hall; Right: Yahata Library

Two buildings designed by modernist architect Togo Murano are at risk of demolition as the rising maintenance costs are proving too much for the city's finances. The Yahata City Meeting Hall (1958) and Yahata Library (1955) are located in Yahatahigashi-ku, Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Possible new subway line to connect Harumi and Ginza

February 25, 2014Tokyo Bay,HarumiAll,Tokyo

Tokyo bayside new subway line

Chuo-ku will soon begin investigating the possibility of creating a new subway line to link Tokyo's bayside areas, including Harumi, to the Ginza district.

The manmade islands are currently going through a construction boom with a number of high-rise apartment towers under construction. The Athletes' Village for the 2020 Olympics is  expected to boost the population by 12,000 after the Olympics are finished and the apartments are made available to the public.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Office vacancy rates in January - Miki Shoji

February 24, 2014Japan Office Rent,Tokyo Office Market,Tokyo Office Rent,Japan Office Vacancy RatesOffice/Retail News & Information,Real Estate News,All,Osaka,Nagoya,Tokyo

According to Miki Shoji's office report, the office vacancy rate in Tokyo's five central business districts (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku and Shibuya) was 7.18% in January, down 0.16 points from the previous month and down 1.38 points from January 2013. Vacancy rates have been decreasing for the past 7 months.

The vacancy rate in brand new buildings was 14.42%, down 0.08 points from the previous month and down 9.79 points from last year.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Park Mansion Akasaka Hikawazaka Sold Out

February 21, 2014Park Mansion,Akasaka apartmentsNew Construction,Real Estate News,All,Tokyo

Park Mansion Akasaka Hikawazaka 2

All 36 apartments in Mitsui Fudosan's Park Mansion Akasaka Hikawazaka have now sold out. 

The two and three-bedroom apartments were priced from 164 ~ 680 million Yen. With an average price of 2,190,000 Yen/sqm (2,000 USD/sqft), this is among the most expensive apartment buildings in Tokyo. Read more

by Zoe Ward

New apartment prices in January

February 20, 2014Tokyo apartment prices,New Apartments in TokyoReal Estate News,Market Information,All,Tokyo

According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, a total of 1,826 new apartments were released for sale in greater Tokyo in January, down 77.9% from the previous month but up 6.1% from January 2013. 

The contract rate for the month was 78.6%, up 2.5 points from the previous month and up 9.4 points from last year.

The average apartment price was 46,370,000 Yen, down 1.8% from last year. The average price per square meter was 660,000 Yen, down 4.2% from last year.Read more

by Zoe Ward

New apartment prices in Sendai now higher than the the peak of the bubble in 1991

February 19, 2014SendaiReal Estate News,Market Information,All

According to advertising firm DG Communications, the average price of a brand new apartment in greater Sendai in 2013 was 35,599,000 Yen, up 7.3% from 2012. This is now 0.7% higher than the peak of 35,339,000 Yen seen in 1991 during Japan's asset price bubble.

The average price per square meter was 468,200 Yen, up 9.0% from the previous year.Read more

by Zoe Ward

January rental data - Tokyo Kantei

February 18, 2014average rent japan,average rent tokyo,rental market tokyoReal Estate News,Rental Market,Market Information,All,Osaka,Nagoya,Tokyo

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average monthly rent of a condominium apartment in greater Tokyo in January was 2,574 Yen/sqm, up 1.6% from January 2013 and up 2.4% from the previous month. The average apartment size was 58.86 sqm and the average building age was 19.0 years.Read more

by Zoe Ward