Omotesando retail sells for 12.2 billion Yen

A small retail building behind the Prada Boutique in Omotesando has sold for 12.2 billion Yen (approx. 108 million USD). The Japan Retail Fund Investment Corporation, an affiliate of Mitsubishi Corporation, acquired the trust beneficiary rights to the property on October 25.

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Former apartment building in Omotesando to be redeveloped into retail

The vintage Minami Aoyama 571 apartment building in Omotesando has been demolished to make way for a retail store. The former building was privately developed in 1988 with 4 apartments over 4 floors. Back in early 2015 a full floor apartment was listed for sale for approximately 270 million Yen - a relative steal since it included a 130 sqm share of the land. Unfortunately several of our clients passed on this opportunity. Not long after, the apartment owners appear to have sold the building and land at an undisclosed but potentially attractive price. It was demolished several months ago by the new owner - a large real estate developer.

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Mitsukoshi to close historic department store in Niigata

Niigata City is losing major retail players due to a declining population and a shift in consumer habits towards online shopping and larger suburban malls. On September 26, Isetan Mitsukoshi Holdings announced the planned closure of their Mitsukoshi Department Store in the city by March 2020. The closure is expected to worsen the decline in the city center’s retail district.

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LaSalle buys Midosuji Front Tower

On October 3, LaSalle Investment Management, headquartered in Chicago, announced the purchase of Midosuji Front Tower in Osaka’s Umeda district through their Frontier Property LLC, signalling the end of the building's 8 year vacancy. The sale price was not disclosed.

Midosuji Front Tower was completed in 2010. It has sat vacant ever since due to a dispute between the owners.Read more


Shinagawa Development Project to be completed by 2024

On September 25, East Japan Railway Company (JR-EAST) published the details of their large-scale redevelopment plans for a 9.5 hectare site on the western side of the new station on Tokyo’s JR Yamanote Line between Shinagawa and Tamachi Stations.Read more


Don Quijote to develop 120m high-rise in Shibuya

On August 13, discount retail giant Don Quijote Holdings announced plans for a high-rise retail, office and hotel building to replace their former Shibuya Store in downtown Tokyo. Land readjustment work is scheduled to start next month with the new building scheduled for completion in April 2022.Read more


1000 room hotel for Osaka’s Umeda district

On August 7, Hankyu Hanshin Holdings announced plans to open a 1,000 room hotel in Yodobashi Umeda Tower - a 35-storey redevelopment adjacent to the Yodobashi electronics store in Umeda, Osaka. The first 8 floors of the building will be retail, with the hotel located on floors 9 and above. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2020 as Hotel Hankyu RESPIRE Osaka, with the lower-floor retail to open in late 2019. This will be the largest hotel based on room count in Osaka City.Read more