Japan’s high-rise apartment market from 2021 to 2025 onwards

If you were anticipating a post-Olympic slow down in the construction industry you may be in for a surprise. The latest report from the Real Estate Economic Institute shows a total of 280 high-rise apartment buildings either under construction or planned across Japan from 2021 onwards. This is an increase of 77 buildings from the previous report in March 2020.

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Jimbocho's largest bookstore to be redeveloped

One of the largest and perhaps most well-known bookshops in Jimbocho Book Town will close its doors next March as the building prepares for redevelopment.

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New brand moves into historic hotel in Otaru

Boutique ryokan developer and operator Hoshino Resorts has taken over a bankrupt hotel in Otaru, Hokkaido, with plans to re-open it this winter under their OMO brand.

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Crowdfunding for Mitaka's most famous apartment building

The Reversible Destiny Lofts MITAKA (In Memory of Helen Keller) has started a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for repairs to the iconic apartment building.

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Real estate assets under management hit highest level in history

Institutional investors both domestic and foreign are piling into Japan’s real estate market. As of the end of June 2021, REITs and private placement funds held a total of over 44 trillion Yen (approx. US$400 billion) in real estate - the highest level in history.

Why Japan and why Japanese real estate?

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Land values drop nationwide for second year, but increase in Tokyo

Japan’s Standard Land Prices were announced yesterday by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The national average dropped by 0.4% from last year. This is the second year in a row to see a decline, but it is a slight improvement from last year’s 0.6% drop. The nationwide average has been in the negative for 27 of the past 30 years.

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Karuizawa home of Nobel Prize winner demolished

The historic holiday home of Nobel Prize for Literature winner Yasunari Kawabata in Karuizawa has been demolished this month. The town had petitioned the current owner to allow the structure to be relocated but was unable to obtain their approval.

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