New apartment developments around Tokyo Sky Tree

November 3, 2011Tokyo Sky TreeNew Construction,Real Estate News,All

The area surrounding the new Tokyo Sky Tree in Sumida-ku is seeing more and more new condominiums hit the market. Developers are promoting properties that are within walking distance to, or have views of the new tower.

In July, Sumitomo Corporation began selling apartments in "City House Narihirabashi Station Court" which is just a 4 minute walk to Sky Tree. The price of a 2-bedroom apartment in this building is around 40 million Yen (512,000 USD) which is comparatively higher than surrounding buildings. Although only a portion of the 35 apartments have views of the Sky Tree, most of the apartments offered for sale in the initial sales period have been sold.  Sumitomo's PR department said that the new retail development around the base of the Sky Tree will add to the convenience of the neighborhood, as will gradual improvements to the surrounding streets. Buyers are anticipating that the neighborhood's image will improve over time.Read more

by Zoe Ward

70 - 80 percent drop in rosenka land values in Tohoku

November 2, 2011Japan land values,japan tsunami,Tohoku,Tohoku earthquake,Rosenka land valuesLand,Real Estate News,Market Information

In order to account for changes in land values due to the March 11 Tohoku disaster, Japan's National Tax Agency (NTA) announced adjustment ratios, or scaling factors, for the 2011 rosenka (prices of land fronting major roads). Along with the 1995 Hanshin Earthquake, this is only the second time in history that adjustment ratios have been introduced.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Foreign visitors to Mt. Fuji area down 77%

November 1, 2011Japan foreign tourists,Tourism Japan,Mt FujiAll

Foreign visitors represent an important of the tourism industry in the areas surrounding Mt. Fuji. The Mt. Fuji Visitor Center in Yamanashi Prefecture reported that the number of foreign visitors to the center between April and September, 2011, fell 77% from a year earlier to 20,650.

Chinese tourists typically make up the majority of foreign visitors to the Mt. Fuji area, however, the number of Chinese visitors fell by 78% to 10,300. Fuji Kyuko, a tourism company that operates in conjunction with the Visitor Center, had opened a sales office in Shanghai in July, 2010, but the effects of the March disaster continue to have a negative effect on their business.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Daikanyama Hillside Terrace Apartment for Sale

October 31, 2011Daikanyama Hillside TerraceAll

 

Price: No longer on the market
Size: 122.35 sqm (1316 sqft)

This apartment in Daikanyama Hillside Terrace is a very special offering as it is extremely rare to see any apartments in this complex listed for sale. This is the first apartment to be listed in at least 2 years.Read more

by Zoe Ward

"Bansuisou" to be designated as a cultural property

October 30, 2011Important Cultural Properties of Japan,Ehime Prefecture,Bansuisou,Matsuyama CityHistoric Properties,All

Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs has decided to designate a French-styled residence in Ehime Prefecture as an Important Cultural Property. Located on the perimeter of the Matsuyama Castle grounds, "Bansuisou" was built in 1922 as the residence for Count Sadakoto Hisamatsu, a descendant of the Matsuyama Daimyo. Count Hisamatsu had a long history with France, having first gone there to study when he was 16 years old. He then graduated from French military academy, École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr. He was later appointed as the military attache to the French Embassy before returning to Japan in 1906.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Foreign tourist numbers drop 25% in September

October 26, 2011Japan foreign tourists,Tourism JapanAll

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of foreign visitors to Japan in September, 2011, was 539,000. This was 24.9% lower than the number of visitors in September, 2010.

This is the 7th continuous month of decline following the March 11 Tohoku disaster. The JNTO said that the high yen and ongoing nuclear disaster has kept away wealthy visitors as well as those traveling with children and family.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Sendai's hillside houses still at risk of landslides

October 22, 2011Sendai City,LandslidesBuyer Beware!,All

The hillside residential areas in Sendai City suffered from serious landslides during the March 11 Tohoku earthquake and a recent survey by Kyoto University's Disaster Prevention Research Institute has shown that landslides are continuing in these neighborhoods.

While aftershocks and heavy rains were thought to be the main cause, the Institute said that it is unusual for landslides to continue for such a long period of time.Read more

by Zoe Ward