Redevelopment discussions underway in Tsukuda 2 Chome, Chuo, Tokyo

Landowners in the Tsukuda 2 Chome address in Tokyo’s Chuo ward are considering a large-scale redevelopment. Current considerations are for a mixed-use project including a hotel, retail and apartments. 

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New potential redevelopment plan announced for Shibuya Station area

On December 18, Tokyu Land announced the formation of a project agreement with the Next Shibuya Sakuragaoka District Town Area Redevelopment Preparation Committee. 

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Kyoto hotels outperform Osaka in 2018

In 2018, the Kansai area was struck by an earthquake in June and typhoon Jebi in September. Although the effects of these two events had very little impact on Kyoto’s tourism industry, they did affect Osaka which saw a drop in visitor arrivals from other Asian countries. STR’s Global Hotel Study for 2018 reported a 7.7% drop in the room revenue index for Osaka, while Kyoto saw a milder 0.2% decrease. 

Given that these two cities are only 13 minutes apart by bullet train, why did Kyoto perform better than neighboring Osaka?

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Proposed law could allow the forced sale of abandoned land

On February 22, the Cabinet approved a bill that will allow land with unidentifiable owners to be forcibly sold off by a court-appointed trustee, thereby helping to free up some of the vast swaths of idle land across the country with missing owners. 

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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Yodoko Guest House re-opens after 2-year restoration

The Yodoko Guest House in Ashiya, Hyogo, reopened to the public on February 16 after undergoing two years of intensive repairs and restoration work. 

This is the only surviving Wright-designed residence in Japan that has remained in largely original condition. The house has a total floor area of 542 sqm (5,832 sq.ft) and sits on over an acre of land. 

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It’s tax time for property owners in Japan

If you currently own property in Japan, you should be receiving your annual property tax bill this month or next. These taxes are owed by anyone who owns real estate in Japan, be it residential, commercial or otherwise. Those living overseas are taxed the same as those living in the country.

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Tokyo Apartment Sales in March 2019

Motoazabu Hills

The following is a selection of apartments that were reported to have sold in central Tokyo during the month of March 2019:

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