Sumitomo to redevelop former Floracion Hotel in Omotesando

Sumitomo Realty & Development has acquired the former Hotel Floracion Aoyama in Omotesando and plans to redevelop the site, although details on the future project have yet to be announced. Demolition of the 3 ~ 6 story building is expected to take place between March and August.

The 5,700 sqm site is a 5 minute walk from Omotesando Station. A freehold land parcel of this size and this close to Omotesando Station is incredibly rare.Read more


Construction starts on Omotesando public housing redevelopment

Construction on the Kita Aoyama 3 Chome District Project began on March 1. This is the redevelopment of the former Aoyama Kitamachi Apaato public housing complex located just behind Omotesando Station.

The redevelopment is being carried out under a joint venture between Tokyo Tatemono, Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsui Fudosan Residential and Kajima Corporation. The exterior has been designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates - the same architect as the nearby Olympic Stadium which is currently under construction.Read more


Tokyo Apartment Sales in February 2018

The following is a selection of apartments that were reported to have sold in central Tokyo during the month of February 2018:Read more


Only 0.3% of Japan's apartment buildings approve of short-term letting

[LEFT] Signs at the concierge desk of an apartment building in Osaka (Image via the Asahi Shimbun); [RIGHT] A sign in the elevator of a Tokyo apartment building warns that short-term letting and share houses are banned.

A survey of condominium management associations across Japan has found that only 0.3% have decided to allow Airbnb-type short term letting. Over 80% have already updated building bylaws to ban any of these ‘minpaku’ rentals, while the remainder are still in the process of making a decision.Read more


Apartment asking prices in Tokyo in January 2018

According to Tokyo Kantei, the average asking price of a 70 sqm (753 sq.ft) apartment across greater Tokyo was 35,980,000 Yen in January 2018, down 0.5% from the previous month but up 0.8% from last year. The average building age was 23.2 years.Read more


Central Tokyo office rents increase for 49th month in a row

The average monthly office rent in central Tokyo’s business districts was 19,338 Yen per Tsubo (approx. 5,860 Yen/sqm) in January, up 4.1% from last year and the 49th month in a row to see a year-on-year increase. This is the highest level seen since October 2009. Office rents are now up 19.3% from their recent low of 16,207 Yen/Tsubo seen in December 2013, but are still 15.5% below a previous record high in mid-2008.

Vacancy rates were down 0.67 points from last year to 3.07%. This is similar to levels last seen in 2007 and a marked improvement from the average 8 ~ 9% vacancy rate seen between 2010 and 2014.Read more


Price of a new apartment in Japan reaches highest level in recorded history

The average price of brand new apartment released for sale across Japan hit a historic high in 2017. According to the Real Estate Economic Institute, the average price nationwide was 47,390,000 Yen, up 3.9% from 2016 and the highest price seen since record keeping began in 1973. A previous high of 46,180,000 Yen was last recorded in 2015.

The average price per square meter was 696,000 Yen, up 6.3% from 2016 and also the highest price on record. The previous record-high was 694,000 Yen/sqm in 1990.Read more