City worries about preservation as heritage-listed imperial residence in Kyoto is sold to developer
Kyoto City was in discussions with the owner of a nationally registered Tangible Cultural Property after learning of plans to sell the 150+ year old historic building and land. A few days later, it was announced that a major developer has acquired the property with future plans for the site yet to be decided.Read more
Kyoto's kominka matching program connects buyers with 200+ year old homes
Since its formation in April of last year, Kyoto Prefecture’s kominka matching program has already found new residents for nine historic properties. One of those is a 250-year old estate that once belonged to the village headman.Read more
Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto changes hands in May
Kyoto hotels are back on the radar for major real estate firms and investors, as the historic former capital recovers from the pandemic. Last month, Mori Trust acquired the Rihga Royal Hotel Kyoto from Fortress Investment Group for an undisclosed price.Read more
More details on Kyoto’s new building height rules
The city of Kyoto is planning to relax building height limits on the southern side of Kyoto Station in an effort to attract more office and residential development.
Togo Murano-designed hotel in Kyoto to close its doors
Hotel Rubino Kyoto Horikawa will permanently close next March as the prolonged pandemic takes its toll. The hotel was designed by iconic modernist architect Togo Murano and opened in 1972.
Less than 3% of Kyoto's machiya avoid demolition
A recent attempt by Kyoto City to save its historic machiya townhouses has only resulted in 5 out of 170 properties avoiding demolition. Back in 2016, a survey found that as many as 800 traditional machiya townhouses in Kyoto were being demolished each year. With an estimated 40,000 machiya in the city, they could vanish within the next 50 years, leaving no trace of the city’s merchant past.
Foreign investors find Kyoto real estate cheap
According to the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper, offshore investors are out in force buying up real estate in Kyoto, with property prices in the historic city considered comparatively inexpensive.