Osaka – Page 30 – JAPAN PROPERTY CENTRAL K.K.

August rental data - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average monthly rent of a condominium apartment in greater Tokyo was 2,561 Yen/sqm in August, up 0.1% from the previous month and up 0.5% from last year. The average apartment size was 59.71 sqm and the average building age was 19.2 years.

The average rent in Tokyo’s 23-ku was 3,166 Yen/sqm, down 0.3% from the previous month but up 2.3% from last year. The average apartment size was 56.65 sqm and the average building age was 17.5 years.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Office vacancy rates in August 2014 - Miki Shoji

Left: Nippon Life Marunouchi Garden Tower; Center: Nihonbashi Diamond Building; Right: Oase Shibaura MJ Building

According to Miki Shoji’s office report, the office vacancy rate in Tokyo’s five central business districts (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku and Shibuya) was 6.08% in August, down 0.18 points from the previous month and down 2.14 points from last year.

The vacancy rate in brand new office buildings was 18.17%, up 0.76 points from the previous month and up 0.24 points from last year.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Japan’s standard land prices up in urban areas, but continue to decline in regional areas

According to the MLIT, the standard land price (kijun-chika) across Japan’s three major cities of Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya increased by 0.8% over the 12 months to July 1, 2014. This is the second year in a row to see an annual increase. In 2013, land prices increased by 0.1%. Residential land prices increased by 0.5% in the three major cities. This was the first time in six years to see an increase.

The nationwide average, however, fell by 1.2%. This is the 23rd year in a row to see a decline in land prices, although the rate of decline has shrunk (land prices dropped by 1.9% in 2013). Regional areas saw a 1.9% decline in land prices in 2014. This is the first time in 16 years that the rate of decline in regional areas has been as low as the 1% range. However, residential and commercial land values in regional areas suffering from declining populations have seen land prices drop further.

by Zoe Ward

Can I rent my home out on a short-term basis, like on AirBnb, in Japan?

Currently, any leases for less than 30 days require either a hotel license or minpaku registration.
Failure to meet licensing requirements could result in jail or a fine, depending on the type and severity of the violation.
Most homes and apartments do not qualify under current regulations.

Recently, the Japanese government has been deregulating the hotel and short-term letting industry to provide more accommodation options for foreign tourists in the lead-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. With the latest data putting Japan’s residential vacancy rate at 13.5%, this reform has been touted as a way to help fill up some of Japan’s 8 million empty homes, of which half are rentals.

AirBnb is already quite popular in Japan with listings ranging from traditional farmhouses in the countryside to contemporary apartments in downtown Tokyo.

The new short-term minpaku regulations now allow hosts to rent out their property on a short-term basis. Properties must still meet certain requirements, such as being in the correctly zoned location, having a building certificate, meeting minimum floor sizes, having lockable windows and doors, proper walls between rooms, adequate fire escapes, information provided in several languages, meet hygiene requirements and must meet construction and fire codes. If you plan to sub-let your apartment, you need your landlord's permission. If you own your apartment, the home owners association must allow minpaku rentals in the building (most do not).

A registered minpaku-type property may rented for up to 180 days per year. Local governments have the authority to reduce this limit to an even lower number, and many already do. In Tokyo, each ward has introduced their own set of rules and limitations.

by Zoe Ward

Secondhand apartment prices in July 2014 - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average asking price of a 70 sqm (753 sqft) second-hand apartment in Tokyo’s 23 wards was 41,740,000 Yen in July, up 0.3% from the previous month and up 4.7% from last year. The average apartment age was 22.3 years.

In central Tokyo’s six wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, Bunkyo and Shibuya), the average apartment asking price was 58,040,000 Yen, up 0.8% from the previous month and up 8.9% from last year. The average apartment age was 22.2 years.

The average price across greater Tokyo was 28,250,000 Yen, down 0.2% from the previous month but up 2.2% from last year. The average building age was 21.6 years.Read more

by Zoe Ward

July rental data - Tokyo Kantei

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average monthly rent of a condominium apartment in greater Tokyo was 2,558 Yen/sqm in July, down 2.0% from the previous month but up 1.0% from last year. The average apartment size was 59.92 sqm and the average building age was 18.9 years.

The average rent in Tokyo’s 23-ku was 3,174 Yen/sqm, showing no change from the previous month and up 2.5% from last year. The average apartment size was 56.38 sqm and the average building age was 17.1 years.Read more

by Zoe Ward

Office vacancy rates in July 2014 - Miki Shoji

Mercros Bldg Tamachi Front Bldg — Mercros Building (left) and Tamachi Front Building (right)

According to Miki Shoji’s office report, the office vacancy rate in Tokyo’s five central business districts (Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku and Shibuya) was 6.20% in July, down 0.25 points from the previous month and down 2.09 points from last year. This is the lowest level seen since March 2009 when vacancy rates were 6.05%.

The vacancy rate in brand new buildings was 17.41%, down 0.68 points from the previous month but up 4.69 points from last year.

The following office buildings were completed in July:

Mercros Building, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku: 9 floors; 6,980 sqm floorspace.
Tamachi Front Building, Shiba, Minato-ku: 9 floors; 5,730 sqm floorspace.
PMO Shiba Koen, Minato-ku: 8 floors; 3,500 sqm floorspace.

by Zoe Ward