The 2011 Japan earthquake and what it means for the real estate market

One month has passed since the March 11 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. With strong aftershocks continuing and a nuclear disaster that was just upgraded to the maximum level, uncertainty remains over what will happen to the Japanese economy in the short and medium term.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Land values in central Tokyo increased as much as 70% since 2000

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Land values in prime central Tokyo area have typically increased over the past 10 years. In some areas the increases have been as high as 71%.

Despite the Lehman Shock in 2008 where land prices have fallen, land values in 2010 are higher than they were in 2000.Read more

by Zoe Ward

More areas in Japan see increases in land prices

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On February 24, 2011, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) announced the latest Japan-wide land price trends in their "Land Price LOOK Report" for January 1, 2011.

Of the 150 surveyed districts across Japan, 16 districts recorded increases in land prices compared to the previous period. Some of the areas which reported price increases are:Read more

by Zoe Ward

Average Price of an Apartment in Shibuya-ku, February 2011

The following price guide is based on current real estate listings for apartments in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. Actual prices vary depending on factors such as age, location, distance to station, views and so on.Read more

by Zoe Ward

2010 Land Price Survey of Tokyo

The results of the 2010 Land Price Survey of Tokyo have been explained in an English report by the Tokyo Association of Real Estate Appraisers.

Some of the key points from the report are summarized below:

  • Some locations in Tokyo's 23 wards saw flattening land prices
  • Some areas saw increases over 6 months
  • Land prices are expected to moderately recover
  • Growth in the condominium market has increased demand for blocks with development potential
  • Residential land is expected to fare better than commercial land

The full report can be read here.

by Zoe Ward

Japan's largest apartments

The following is a ranking of the residential buildings across Japan with the largest average apartment size. The original list was published in Tokyo Kantei's [Apartment Data White Paper 1956-2006].

These apartments were built during Japan's real estate bubble in the 1980s and early 1990s - a time when developers could sell units for very high prices. In current times, Japanese developers focus on providing smaller units (eg. 60-80sqm) as these can be sold faster. It is now rare to see a new building where the majority of the units are over 150sqm.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Is it really smart to buy a South-facing apartment?

When looking at an apartment to buy or rent in Japan, everyone is told to look for places that are south-facing as these rooms get the most sunlight throughout the day and year round. Real estate search engines even have "South-facing" as a search option.

As such, South-facing apartments command a premium price over units facing other directions. Many consider North-facing to be the most undesirable as it receives the least direct sunlight. It would seem safe to assume that purchasing a South-facing apartment would be a sure-bet. But is this really the case?

an apartment facing which direction will increase in value after you purchase?

A recent survey by Attractors Lab has shown some interesting results. Read more

by Zoe Ward