Political power spot in Chiyoda to be rebuilt
The building that once housed the head office of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) is going to be demolished and rebuilt starting next year. In recent years the 58-year old building has become increasingly worn out. The decision to rebuild was made after an inspection in 2014 found that the structure did not meet current earthquake-resistant standards.
A new building design will be selected in September and demolition will begin from April 2016. The new building is expected to be 7-storeys and should be completed sometime in 2018.Read more
HULIC moves into luxury ryokan business
To capitalise on the growing industry for luxury boutique-style ryokans (traditional Japanese inns), real estate giant HULIC and Kato Pleasure Group (KPG) established KH Resort Management on July 1. The company will engage in the operation of ryokans as well as providing consulting services.
In April 2015, HULIC acquired two hotels from KPG - the Hakone-Suishoen and the Atami Fufu Ryokan - for approximately 4 billion Yen (approx. 33.6 million USD at the time). The newly formed company plan to acquire up to 10 high-end ryokans in hot spring resort areas within 1.5 ~ 2 hours from central Tokyo.Read more
Same-day sellout in 29-storey Yokohama tower
Tokyu Land Corporation have seen strong demand for a 29-storey condominium tower currently under construction in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai waterfront area.
Branz Tower Minato Mirai's sales office received over 6,000 inquiries before sales started, and all 150 apartments offered for sale in the first round of sales last month received purchase applications on the first day. An average of 2.4 applications were made on each apartment, with the most popular apartment receiving 19 applications. The building is now 75% sold.
Apartments were priced from 45.7 ~ 228.7 million Yen, with an average price of around 1,330,000 Yen/sqm.Read more
Secondhand apartment prices in June 2015 - Tokyo Kantei
According to Tokyo Kantei, the average asking price of a 70 sqm (753 sq ft) apartment in greater Tokyo in June was 30,110,000 Yen, up 0.4% from the previous month and up 6.4% from last year. This is the first time since April 2011 that the price has exceeded 30 million Yen, and is the 10th month in a row to see a month-on-month increase. The average building age was 22.1 years.
In Tokyo’s 23 wards, the average asking price was 46,840,000 Yen, up 1.7% from the previous month and up 12.5% from last year. The average building age was 22.2 years.
Meanwhile, Yokohama saw prices remain flat from the previous month, while Saitama City (-0.2%) and Chiba City (-2.1%) both saw prices fall from the previous month. In Chiba City, prices are down 3.0% from last year.
In central Tokyo’s six wards, the average price was 65,740,000 Yen, up 1.3% from the previous month and up 14.2% from last year. The average building age was 21.6 years.Read more
Historic Daimaru Shinsaibashi Store Facade to be Preserved
Last year, J. Front Retailing announced plans to redevelop the historic 82-year old Daimaru Shinsaibashi Department Store in Osaka. The ageing building was becoming increasingly cost and difficult to maintain, and was short on floor space.
Original redevelopment plans involved razing the building. After J. Front’s announcement, local architects and historians lobbied the company to preserve as much of the intricately-designed building as possible. Although redevelopment is going ahead next year, J. Front are now considering preserving the historic facade.Read more
Sumitomo announces 100 billion Yen project for Ariake
New details have been released regarding Sumitomo’s plans for three high-rise towers in Ariake, Tokyo. Ariake Garden City (Ariake North 3-1 District Plan) is a 100,000 sqm site located just north of Ariake and Kokusaitenjijo Stations on a man-made island in Tokyo Bay.
Sumitomo plan to build apartments (City Towers Tokyo Bay), a hotel, commercial and office facilities. Planning approval is expected to be granted in March 2016, with construction starting on the first phase of the project in October 2016. The entire project is expected to be completed in 2026 and has an estimated project cost of around 102.8 billion Yen (837 million USD), including land acquisition.Read more