Setagaya's population exceeds 900,000 for first time

On October 14, the population in Tokyo’s Setagaya ward exceeded 900,000 for the first time. The main factor behind the population growth has been an increase in the supply of housing, particularly newly built apartments. Of the new residents, a number have been young students attending the many universities in the area.

When the ward began recording data in 1932, the resident population in October of that year was 173,000. Following WWII, housing development, including the construction of many large-scale public housing complexes, saw the population swell to 500,000 by 1954 and 700,000 by 1965. Setagaya's population is forecast to reach 1,087,275 residents by 2042.Read more


Tokyo office rents increase for 45th consecutive month

According to Miki Shoji, the average monthly office rent in central Tokyo’s five business districts reached 18,995 Yen per Tsubo (approx. 5,747 Yen/sqm) in September, an increase of 3.59% from last year and the 45th month in a row to record a year-on-year increase. The average is still 17% below the recent record high of 22,901 Yen/Tsubo (6,929 Yen/sqm) seen in August 2008.

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The Kahala Hotel & Resort to open in Yokohama

Resorttrust Inc, a Nagoya-based hotel operator and developer, is planning to open The Kahala Hotel & Resort Yokohama in the city’s waterfront district of Minato Mirai by 2020.

Resorttrust plans to capitalize on the Kahala brand-name to attract both domestic and foreign tourists. The project will include two 14-storey hotels - one that is open to the general public, and one that is a members-only hotel. The smallest room will be a 50 sqm suite that is expected to be 100,000 Yen (890 USD) per night. There will also be four rooms of 120 sqm each that will be priced at around 300,000 Yen (2,675 USD) per night.

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New apartment prices in greater Tokyo increase for 6th month in a row

According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, 2,978 brand new apartments were released for sale across greater Tokyo in September, up 41.7% from the previous month but down 13.0% from last year. Back in 2013, as many as 5,970 new apartments were released for sale in the month of September.

The average sale price was 58,240,000 Yen, up 0.5% from the previous month and up 4.4% from last year. The average price per square meter was 846,000 Yen, down 2.9% from the previous month but up 7.6% from last year. This is the sixth month in a row to record a year-on-year increase.Read more


Average rent drops for 3rd consecutive month in Tokyo

In September, the average monthly rent of a condominium in Tokyo’s 23 wards was 3,287 Yen/sqm, down 0.2% from the previous month and down 2.4% from last year. This is the 3rd month in a row to record a year-on-year drop in rents and the lowest level seen in the past 12 months.Read more


Land in Ginza to sell for 64 million Yen (570,000 USD) per square meter

Articles appearing in both the Nikkei Business Publication and the Business Journal have suggested that a block of land (with building) alongside Ginza’s main shopping street will be sold for a record price of up to 64 million Yen per square meter (approx. 570,000 USD/sqm or 53,000 USD/sq ft). 

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Shinjuku plans to ban short-term accommodation on weekdays

Tokyo’s Shinjuku district is finalizing plans that will impose stricter limitations on short-term accommodation in some residential zones. The city is currently in the process of seeking public comments that will help shape the final regulations.

Under the proposal, properties located in exclusive residential zones cannot be let out to guests from Monday through Thursday, limiting the maximum allowable nights per year to 156, below the national government’s proposed limit of 180 nights per year.

What are exclusive residential zones?Read more