Moves to restrict land purchases by foreigners near Camp Schwab

Japan's Minister of Defense, Naoki Tanaka, is pressuring the government to introduce legislation that will restrict the purchase of land by foreign corporations and individuals in the Henoko area in Naga City, Okinawa. Henoko is home to Camp Schwab and is the proposed site of a new US Military air base, which will replace the Futenma Airfield in Naha.Read more


Singaporean investment fund buys hotel in Okinawa

Singaporean investment fund RECAP (Real Estate Capital Asia Partners) has purchased the CSK Tsubogawa Hotel in Naha City, Okinawa, for an undisclosed sum.

The business hotel was scheduled to open in 2009 but the former owner, CSK Holdings, fell into financial difficulties. Although construction was complete, the hotel never opened. The former owner also built an office building on the adjoining site in 2009, which also remains empty.Read more


Chinese citizens can now receive 3-yr multiple entry tourist visas for Japan

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (MOFA) announced that from July, 2011, citizens of mainland China can apply for multiple entry tourist visas to Okinawa Prefecture.

The visa's term of validity is 3 years and the tourist can visit as many times as they like during this period and stay for a maximum of 90 days each visit. The terms require the traveler to arrive in Okinawa and stay for at least one night, after which they are free to travel elsewhere.

This will be a welcome change for Chinese citizens wanting to visit Okinawa and Japan. Up until now, individual tourist visas for Chinese citizens only allowed them toRead more