For Sale: Historic Taisho-Modern House in Shinjuku
*Update: This house was sold and demolished.
One of the first homes to be built in the Mejiro Bunka-mura subdivision is for sale. The pre-war home is one of just a very small number of surviving historic houses in this neighbourhood. As much as 70% of the Bunka-mura neighbourhood was destroyed during air raids in 1944 and 1945, while urban development in recent decades saw the demolition of many the few remaining original residences.
Although the age of this house is unknown, the Taisho-Modern style house could potentially be 90+ years old.
The property is being sold as land only, with the house to be included as-is. No value has been placed on the house as it is expected a buyer will demolish it to build a new one. As such, it is listed at land value. Read more
Japan’s residential land prices increase for first time in 9 years
For the first time in 9 years the nationwide koji-chika assessed land value for residential land across Japan increased from the previous year. In 2017, the residential land value increased by 0.022% from 2016. This is in contrast to a 0.2% decrease reported in 2016.
Of the 17,909 residential survey sites nationwide, 34% reported an annual increase in land values while 43% reported a decrease. The difference was particularly noticeable for land that was within walking distance to transport and shops compared to land that was further from the station and generally considered to be inconvenient. Residential land prices in regional areas decreased by 0.4%. This was the 25th year in a row to record a decrease, although the rate of decline has been shrinking for the past 7 years.Read more
Homat Woodville converted to condominium
The former Homat Woodville apartment building, now called Woodville Azabu, in Nishiazabu has been converted into a condominium with apartments to be sold off individually as tenants move out.
Sales started in February 2017 with three apartments offered for sale. All three were immediately sold, including a 185 sqm (1,991 sq ft) apartment priced at 298,000,000 Yen (approx. 2.64 million USD). Additional apartments ranging from 141 sqm (268,000,000 Yen) to 178 sqm (328,000,000 Yen) were later offered for sale.Read more
Average apartment rent in February 2017
According to Tokyo Kantei, the average monthly rent of a condominium-type apartment in greater Tokyo was 2,666 Yen/sqm in February 2017, down 0.6% from the previous month but up 5.5% from last year. The average apartment size was 60.09 sqm and the average building age was 20.4 years.
In the Tokyo metropolitan area the average monthly rent was 3,166 Yen/sqm, down 0.6% from the previous month but up 0.2% from last year. The average apartment size was 57.82 sqm and the average building age was 18.5 years.
In Tokyo’s 23 wards the average monthly rent was 3,328 Yen/sqm, down 0.1% from the previous month but up 0.6% from last year. The average apartment size was 57.23 sqm and the average building age was 17.8 years.
Kyoto hotel industry boosted by foreign tourists
Hotel revenues and occupancy rates in Kyoto are rising thanks to the recent boom in foreign tourist numbers. Even the typical off-season months in winter and summer are now seeing strong demand for accommodation.
According to the Kyoto Convention Bureau, a survey of 34 hotels catering to foreign tourists found that the hotel occupancy rate in January 2017, which is off-season, was 75.7%. This is an increase of 4.3 points from 2016 and the highest rate seen for the month of January in the past four years. Kyoto Hotel Okura had an occupancy rate of 89.0% in 2016, up 7 points from 2015.Read more
Hokuriku region's largest apartment building to be completed in 2018
Daiwa House is currently constructing a 23-storey, 206-unit apartment building in central Toyama City that will be the largest apartment building based on the total number of apartments to have ever been built in the Hokuriku region, which encompasses Toyama, Ishikawa and Fukui prefectures.
The 85m tall Premist Tower Sogawa is due for completion in March 2018. Floor 6 to 23 will be residential, while the first five floors of the building will contain retail and office space. Residents will be able to enjoy views of the Tateyama mountain ranges from a sky lounge, and will also have access to concierge services and guest suites.Read more