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


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


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


Former British Embassy Villa in Nikko to be open to public

Tochigi Prefecture is making plans to restore and open up the former villa of the British Embassy on Lake Chuzenji to the public as a way to promote tourism in the Nikko area.

The prefecture has allocated 6 million Yen in their 2012 budget to start work on analyzing the foundations and earthquake-resistance of the villa. After carrying out any necessary repairs, the villa is scheduled to be open to the public from 2014.Read more


Any buyers? Minato Mirai's deficit difficulties lead to last minute sales tactics

Commission for anyone who can sell the remaining land in Minato Mirai.

Minato Mirai 21 (MM) is a 186 hectare waterfront business district in Yokohama, and is home to the Yokohama Landmark Tower. The land reclamation (40% of the area) and urban renewal project began in 1983, but there are still some large parcels of undeveloped land that the city is desperately trying to sell.Read more


Hotel Suigo in Ibaraki to be demolished due to earthquake damage

The Suigo hotel in Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki, will be demolished after it sustained damage in the March 11 Tohoku earthquake. Suigo is a local government operated hotel which offers low-cost accommodation. These type of lodgings are called "kokumin shukusha".Read more


30% of apartments with base isolation systems suffered damage in earthquake

A survey by the Japan Society of Seismic Isolation found that 30% of buildings constructed with base isolation (menshin) systems suffered damage to the building dampers during the March 11 Tohoku earthquake.Read more