Prices up in Karuizawa, down in Yuzawa - polarization in Japan's resort market
Japan's resort areas are seeing a dramatic polarization of their property markets. Some areas, such as Karuizawa and Okinawa are seeing prices rise, while other areas are seeing year-on-year falls. Why is this happening?Read more
Did you know: Atami City has a special tax on holiday homes
The popular beachside resort area of Atami in Shizuoka levies a special tax on owners of holiday homes and resort apartments within the city. Called a "besso" tax (besso = holiday house), it is very similar to a municipal tax. This tax is only charged on properties in Atami City, and is not found anywhere else in Shizuoka Prefecture.Read more
Resort development activity picking up in Hokkaido
Resort development activity is starting to accelerate in Hokkaido as the region begins to see a rebound in foreign tourist numbers.
Construction is scheduled to start on a large-scale resort in the Uenae area in Tomakomai City this June. The 1000 hectare site will include a hotel, horse-riding and trekking facilities. Aman Resorts Group's GHM (Singapore) are tentatively scheduled to be the hotel operator. The development is being designed by famed Japanese architect Tadao Ando and will be completed in 2014. They are targeting wealthy foreign tourists. The total investment is estimated at 13 billion Yen (158 million USD).
*Update: Aman's 'Chedi' brand of hotels is scheduled to operate the hotel. "The Chedi Tomakomai" is now scheduled to open in 2017.
*Update 2: Mori Trust have acquired the site in 2016 and will start construction on a resort in 2017 with completion expected in 2026.Read more
Revival of Karuizawa property market following March 11
Although land prices have been falling year on year in the popular resort town of Karuizawa, Nagano Prefecture, property transactions have increased since the March 11 Tohoku disaster as the power conservation and fear of radiation led people to seek safer and cooler locations outside of Tokyo.Read more
Sweden Hills, Hokkaido
Planning of the Sweden Hills neighborhood began in 1979 and construction started in 1984. The idea began after the Swedish Ambassador visited Tobetsu Town and remarked how similar the atmosphere and scenery was to his native Sweden. Tobetsu Town's sister city is Leksand in Dalarna County, Sweden.Read more
Tokyo residents buying up vacation homes in resort areas to escape summer heat and power shortages
Tokyo residents are flocking to Yatsugatake Nanroku near Kiyosato Station in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture to purchase vacation homes. Due to the predicted power shortages caused by the nuclear power crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant, the Kiyosato area with its cooler summers and relative distance from the Fukushima plant is seeing a revival.
Real estate company, Allcare, who develops holiday homes in the Yatsugatake Nanroku area, has started construction on 12 new homes in the past 2 months. They would normally only build 10~12 homes per year, so they are looking at a big increase in sales for 2011.Read more