Tokyo's office construction boom and it's repercussions
The construction of new office buildings in central Tokyo is steadily progressing. In January, Mitsubishi Jisho's Marunouchi Eiraku Building was completed. In Spring, JP Tower and the Palace Building were completed, and Otemachi Financial City will be completed in fall.
According to the Urban Research Institute Corporation, the total supply of commercial office space in 2012 will reach 2,680,000 sqm (28,836,800 sqft). This is close to the past decade's peak of 2,980,000 sqm in 2003. A quarter of the office supply is located in the Marunouchi area on the western side of Tokyo Station.Read more
Ginza Theatre Building sold
Tokyo Theatres Company announced that they will be selling the Ginza Theatre Building in Ginza 1 Chome for 17.8 billion Yen (222.5 million USD) to an undisclosed buyer.
The building was sold to improve the financial situation of the company. The future of the company's "Ginza Theatre Cinema" and Hotel Seiyo Ginza which are located in the building are yet to be decided.Read more
Office vacancy rates down for second month
According to Miki Shoji, office building vacancy rates in Tokyo's central 5 wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, and Shibuya) fell 0.11 points at the end of March to 9.04%. This is the second continuous month where vacancy rates have fallen. However, the lower vacancy rates are not a sign of a market recovery but are due to falling office rents.Read more
Dai-ichi Life Insurance sells head office in Oi Town
The Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company sold their head office building in Oi Town, Kanagawa, to coffee and tea mail-order company Brooks Holdings for 2 billion Yen (25 million USD) this month.Read more
Office vacancy rates fall slightly
According to Miki Shoji, the average vacancy rate for office buildings in Tokyo's five central wards fell to 9.15% in February 2012 (down 0.08 points from January).Read more
Hulic purchases Ginza building from Recruit
Hulic announced on January 27 that they have acquired the Recruit Ginza 7 Building from Recruit. The retail and commercial building is located at the Ginza Nishi 6 Chome crossing. The building has 9 stories and 5 basement floors and was completed in 1962. The land is 1500 sqm and the total building area is 19,790 sqm.Read more
PM companies leaving Hokkaido amid Sapporo office market slump
Several real estate property management companies have begun to close down their offices in Sapporo, Hokkaido, as the local commercial market continues to decline.
At the end of March, Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL) will close their Hokkaido branch. Also, CBRE and the Sumitomo Life Insurance Company will no longer have representatives stationed in Hokkaido. Sumisei Building Management, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Life Insurance, is also closing their office in March as part of cost cutting measures. Sanko Estate currently has one staff member stationed in Hokkaido but all duties will be transferred to Tokyo from spring.Read more