Attorney General's Motoazabu residence returned to Finance Ministry
The official residence of the Attorney General in Motoazabu will be returned to the Ministry of Finance, as the government follows its plan of reducing the number of underutilized and over-subsidized housing for senior public officials across Japan.Read more
Chiba's radiation hot spots scaring off buyers
A survey* by the Chiba Association of Real Estate Appraisers found that 60% of real estate agents in Chiba Prefecture believe that radiation fears are directly impacting the sluggish local real estate market.
Following the discovery of several radiation 'hot spots' in Kashiwa and Matsudo Cities, there has been a sudden increase in the number of homes put up for sale as residents want out. Meanwhile, the interest from buyers has almost stopped completely.Read more
Former village office in Yamagata to be demolished
The former Kogane Village Office in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, is going to be demolished as the historical property has become too difficult to maintain. Tsuruoka City owns the property and does not have the financial ability to preserve and maintain the building.Read more
Apartment rent falls again in November
According to Tokyo Kantei, the average apartment rent in Japan's three largest cities fell again in November.
In greater Tokyo, the average monthly rent fell 0.7% from the previous month to 2533 Yen/sqm. This is the fourth month of continual decline. In Tokyo City, rent fell by 0.6% to 2924 Yen/sqm. Kanagawa Prefecture saw the average monthly rent rise by 1.1% to 2044 Yen/sqm.Read more
Kengo Kuma designs Starbucks store
Japanese modern architect, Kengo Kuma, has designed a Starbucks Coffee store for Dazaifu City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The new store is located along the road that leads to the Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine and is scheduled to open on December 16, 2011.Read more