Commercial real estate volume reaches 2.3 trillion in first half of 2023

The total volume of real estate acquisitions made during the first half of 2023 reached 2.3 trillion Yen (approx. US$15.5 billion), according to the Japan Real Estate Institute, up 9.5% from the second half of 2022.Read more


Developer acquires Gaetano Pesce-designed building in Osaka

A landmark office building in Osaka has been sold to Kintetsu Real Estate in June. Organic Building was designed by Gaetano Pesce and built in 1993. The facade is comprised of various red planter panels, with the 80 varieties of plants kept alive with a computer-controlled watering system. Read more


Luxury hotel in Sapporo now a casualty of rising construction costs

Plans for a luxury hotel to crown the top of a high-rise project in front of Sapporo Station in Hokkaido have been scrapped due to rapidly rising construction costs. The upper floors will, instead, be office space to cater to the high demand from office tenants in central Sapporo.Read more


New high-rise development announced for west side of Shinagawa Station

On August 29, Keikyu Corporation and East Japan Railway Company released details on the Shinagawa Station District Redevelopment Project that will see three buildings on a 3.3 hectare site on the western side of the station.Read more


Tokyo's compact office market sees some record high rents

How are office rents doing for the compact sector of the office market? According to the latest biannual report by AtHome, the market seems fine. Overall, rents in Tokyo were relatively flat in the first half of 2023 but several areas saw rents hit 10-year highs. Read more


Omotesando retail sells for over 5 billion Yen

A 3-story retail building alongside Kotto-dori Street in Omotesando has reportedly sold for 5.383 billion Yen (approx. US$37 million). The seller was the Japan Metropolitan Fund Investment Corporation, a J-REIT. The buyer was not disclosed but is a domestic corporation.Read more


Demolition starts on 56-yr old building in Akasaka

Demolition of the 56-year old Sankaido Building near the US Embassy will start this month. The building is making way for a new redevelopment project by Norin Suisan Shoreikai and construction giant Kajima Corporation.Read more