Land prices up in 71% of locations - MLIT LOOK Report

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) published the data on land price movements across Japan for the third quarter in 2013 (July 1 ~ October 1).

The Chika LOOK Report measures land price changes in 150 locations throughout Japan. According to the latest data, 107 locations (71.3% of the total) saw an increase in land prices. This is higher than the last quarter which saw 99 locations with an increase in land prices. 34 locations (22.7%) saw no change in prices, while 9 locations (6%) saw a fall in land prices.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Shoto Noh Theatre may be on the market

Shoto Kanze Noh TheatreThe owners of the Kanze Noh Theatre in Shoto, Shibuya, are looking into selling the building and land. The head of Yodobashi Camera is a possible buyer, having reportedly expressed an interest to redevelop the property into a private guest house to accommodate his foreign visitors.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Secondhand apartment prices in Tokyo City up 8.1%

According to REINS, 1,559 second-hand apartments were sold in Tokyo City in September, up 21.2% from September 2012 and up 41.1% from the previous month. A total of 3,123 second-hand apartments were sold across greater Tokyo for the month, up 12.5% from last year.

The average sale price across greater Tokyo was 26,540,000 Yen, up 6.5% from last year and up 3.8% from August. The average price per square meter was 409,500 Yen, up 8.7% from last year and up 2.3% from August.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Land prices increase for first time in 5 years

The MLIT announced the nationwide standard land prices (kijun-chika) on September 19. These land price surveys are carried out by the prefectural governments each year on July 1.

This year, commercial land prices increased in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya for the first time in five years.

Nationwide, the overall land prices were down 1.9%. This is the 22nd year of decline, although the rate has reduced from a 2.7% decline in 2012. The decline is being pulled down by rural or regional area suffering from depopulation, which saw prices drop 2.6% this year. Overall land prices in Japan's three largest cities, however, were up 0.1% after a 1% drop in 2012.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Daiwa House aquires development site in Ariake

Daiwa House have acquired a 3.6 hectare development site in Ariake, Koto-ku for 42.17 billion Yen (approximately 424 million USD). The land was sold by the Urban Renaissance Agency (UR).

The site is part of the Ariake North District on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay. It has water frontage on two sides and is walking distance to Odaiba.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Kyoto to ease building restrictions for narrow blocks

To encourage the redevelopment of ageing buildings located on land with narrow street frontages, Kyoto City will be easing building restrictions.

Many of Kyoto's small lane ways are crowded with wooden buildings that pose a fire hazard. The measures will target approximately 700 buildings built before 1950 in Kamigyo, Nakagyo, Shimogyo and Higashiyama-ku.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Central Tokyo secondhand apartment prices up 15.2% from last year

According to REINS, the number of second-hand apartment sales in greater Tokyo for the month of June 2013 increased by 17.9% from last year to 3,149 apartments. This is the 10th month in a row where sales have exceeded those of the same month one year prior.

The average sale price was 25,740,000 Yen (257,000 USD), up 6.9% from last year and up 0.1% from last month. The average sale price per square meter was 399,700 Yen/sqm, up 5.9% from June 2012 but down 0.4% from last month. The average apartment age was 19.12 years.

In central Tokyo's 3 wards (Chiyoda, Chuo and Minato), the average sale price of 45,500,000 Yen (454,000 USD) was 15.2% higher than last year and 3.6% higher than last month. The average price per square meter was 798,300 Yen, up 9.4% from last year and up 1.7% from last month.Read more

by Zoe Ward