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From investing, buying, and renting Japanese property to visas, taxes, and market trends — insights that help you decide.
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- Market & Areas
Can You Check Liquefaction Risk Before Buying? Ground, Reclaimed Land and Quake Insurance
How to check liquefaction risk when choosing property in earthquake-prone Japan: municipal maps, landform classification, ground data, what the pre-contract briefing covers, and where earthquake insurance fits.
- Tax & Legal
Who Pays Property Tax in the Year You Buy? How the Pro-Rata Settlement Works for Resale Properties in Japan
Fixed asset tax is levied on whoever owns the property on January 1, so when you buy mid-year the seller and buyer normally split the tax by days. This article covers how the settlement works, a worked example, and what to check before signing.
- Visa & Immigration
Do You Need to Notify Immigration When You Change Jobs? Reporting Your Employer and the Certificate of Authorized Employment
If you hold a Japanese work visa and change jobs, a change of status is generally not needed when the new job fits your current status, but you must file a notification within 14 days. This article covers the notification rules, the certificate of authorized employment, and gaps between jobs.
- Renting & Living
Do You Always Have to Pay a Renewal Fee? How Lease Renewals and Renewal Costs Work in Japan
Japanese rental leases are commonly renewed every two years. A renewal fee comes from a special clause in the contract, not from the law. Here are the renewal rules under the Act on Land and Building Leases, typical renewal costs, and what to do if you do not want to renew.
- Buying Guide
How Much Is the Agent Fee When Buying in Japan? The Cap and the “3% + ¥60,000” Formula
When you buy property in Japan, the brokerage fee is capped under the Real Estate Transaction Business Act and a related notice. This guide covers the “3% + ¥60,000” formula, sample amounts by price, and when the fee applies.
- Property Investment
Do Rising Rates Hurt Real Estate Investing? What the BOJ’s “2% Reached” Call Means for Loan Costs
Japanese media report the Bank of Japan is likely to say on October 30 that inflation has effectively reached its 2% target. Here is how higher rates change loan payments, cash flow and net yield, using an illustrative calculation.
- Market & Areas
Is This Area Safe from Floods? How to Check Hazard Maps Before Choosing a Property
Flood risk is easy to overlook when house hunting in Japan. Learn how to use the official hazard map, how river, urban and storm-surge flooding differ, and what to check before a viewing.
- Tax & Legal
Do You Need a Revenue Stamp on a Japanese Property Contract? Stamp Duty Amounts, Reductions and E-Contracts
Property sale contracts and mortgage agreements in Japan are subject to stamp duty. This guide covers typical amounts, the reduced rates said to apply to contracts made through March 2027, e-contracts, and the penalty for forgetting the stamp.
- Visa & Immigration
Will a Trip Abroad Cost You Your Status? Re-entry Permits vs. Deemed Re-entry Permits
A guide for foreign residents of Japan leaving and re-entering: the difference between the deemed re-entry permit (one year) and the re-entry permit (up to five years), the procedure, and deadlines that are easy to miss.
- Renting & Living
Can Garbage Day Get You in Trouble? Sorting, Collection Times and Bulky Waste for Renters in Japan
With more visitors to Japan, street littering has become a problem, and Tokyo is considering an ordinance with administrative fines. Here is a renter's guide to the basics of garbage disposal in Japan and what happens if you break the rules.
- Buying Guide
Why Are Buyers Asked Where Their Money Comes From? Preparing ID and Transfer Records
Reports say Japan’s land ministry will revise its anti-money-laundering checklist for property deals. Here is why agents ask, and which ID and funding records buyers can prepare in advance.
- Property Investment
What Is the Difference Between Gross and Net Yield?
Gross yield is annual rent divided by the price and ignores holding costs. Net yield deducts operating costs and divides by the total investment including purchase costs. Compare Japanese income properties on net yield.
- Tax & Legal
What Taxes Do You Pay Every Year After Buying Property in Japan?
Owning property in Japan means paying fixed asset tax every year, plus city planning tax in urbanization promotion areas. Tax is based on the assessed value set by the municipality, not the purchase price. Here are the rates, reliefs and who pays.
- Renting & Living
How Much of Your Deposit Do You Get Back When Moving Out in Japan?
In principle, normal wear and tear and ageing are not the tenant's cost, so part of the deposit is usually returned. Tenants pay for damage they caused. Here is what the Civil Code says and what to watch at the move-out settlement.
- Renting & Living
Do Foreigners Need a Guarantor to Rent in Japan?
Usually not. Most Japanese leases now use a rent guarantee company instead of a personal guarantor, and foreign nationals can sign without problems. Here is how guarantee companies work, what to prepare and what to check before signing.
- Renting & Living
How Much Are Move-In Costs When Renting in Japan?
Move-in costs for a Japanese rental, including deposit, key money, agency fee, guarantee fee and fire insurance, often total around four to six months' rent. Here is what each one is, and which you get back.
- Visa & Immigration
Does Buying Property in Japan Get You a Visa?
No. Buying or owning property is not a requirement for any residence status. To live in Japan long term and run a property-related business yourself, you must separately meet the criteria for a status such as Business Manager.
- Buying Guide
Can You Buy Property in Japan While Living Overseas?
Yes. Buying property in Japan is generally not restricted by nationality or residence status, and you can sign and register from abroad. What differs from local buyers is the registration paperwork, financing and management after handover.
- Buying Guide
Can Foreigners Get a Mortgage in Japan?
You can apply, but the bar depends on your residence status. Permanent residents and spouses of Japanese nationals are approved more easily; on a work visa, fewer banks lend and down payments are usually higher. Here is what banks look at and how to prepare.
- Buying Guide
How Much Does Buying a Home in Japan Cost on Top of the Price?
Beyond the purchase price, buying property in Japan involves brokerage fees, registration tax, real estate acquisition tax, judicial scrivener fees and insurance. Buying from overseas adds translation, certification and international transfer costs. Here is what to expect and when.
- Buying Guide
Do Foreigners Need Permanent Residency to Buy a Home in Japan?
No. Buying property in Japan requires neither permanent residency nor Japanese citizenship. What your visa status changes is whether you can get a mortgage, and on what terms.
- Property Investment
How Do You Choose a Property Manager? Checking Fees and Scope for Japanese Rental Property
Choosing a property manager on the lowest fee alone can quietly erode your net income through vacancy handling and repair costs. This guide covers typical fees, service scope and what to check under Japan's rental management law.
- Market & Areas
Where Do You Check Prices? Land Price Indexes Compared: Kōji Chika, Kijun Chika and Rosenka
Japanese property searches often mention three official land price figures: the published land price, the prefectural benchmark and the roadside rate. Here is how they differ and how to check actual transaction prices.
- Tax & Legal
Another Tax Bill After Buying? How Japan's Real Estate Acquisition Tax Works
A few months after you buy property in Japan, a prefectural tax notice may arrive. Here is how the real estate acquisition tax works, how it is estimated, which housing reductions apply, and what overseas buyers should watch for.
- Visa & Immigration
When Should You Apply to Renew Your Period of Stay in Japan? The 3-Month Window and the Special Extension Period
You can generally apply to extend your period of stay about three months before it expires. This guide covers timing, typical documents, what happens if your status expires during review, and common pitfalls.
- Renting & Living
Can You Sign If You Can't Read the Japanese Contract? Rental Disclosures and Language Support
Even if a Japanese lease worries you, there is a lot you can check before signing. This guide covers the pre-contract explanation, translations and interpreters, and how to review special clauses.
- Buying Guide
Can a Foreign National Get a Japanese Mortgage? Residency, Income and Documents Explained
Foreign nationals can sometimes get a mortgage in Japan, but each lender sets its own conditions. Here is what lenders tend to check, a worked repayment example and the documents to prepare.
- Property Investment
What Happens to Your Income When a Unit Goes Vacant? Testing Vacancy Risk With Numbers
The yield quoted for an investment property usually assumes full occupancy. See how vacancy, advertising fees and restoration costs change your real take-home, with a worked example and the key lease rules.
- Market & Areas
How Many Minutes From the Station Is Safe? Reading Station Distance Within the Same Area
Even in the same ward and on the same line, a 5-minute and a 15-minute walk tend to differ in rent and ease of resale. Here is how walking times are listed, why distance matters, and what buyers often miss.
- Tax & Legal
Taxed on Japanese Rent While Living Abroad? A Non-Resident Owner's Guide
If you move abroad but keep a property in Japan, the rental income is generally still taxed in Japan. Here is how withholding, tax returns and the tax representative usually work.
- Visa & Immigration
Moved or Changed Jobs? The 14-Day Rule for Residence Card Notifications
Foreign residents with a residence card must notify authorities within a set period after moving, changing jobs or divorcing. Here is what to report, where, and the risks of being late.
- Visa & Immigration
Moved House? Updating Your Residence Card Address Within 14 Days and the Risks of Waiting
How to update the address on your Japanese residence card after moving: moving-out, moving-in and within-city notifications, the 14-day deadline, the risks of failing to report, the ideas behind Immigration Act Articles 19-9 and 22-4 and Basic Resident Registration Act Articles 22 to 24, and how it fits with renting or buying.
- Renting & Living
Bothered by Noise from Next Door? What Tenants in Japan Can Do and Who to Contact
How to handle noise from neighbors in a Japanese rental: keeping records, approaching the property manager or landlord, when to call the police or local office, the legal ideas behind Civil Code Articles 616, 415, 709 and 541, and what to do if you receive a complaint.
- Buying Guide
What Does It Cost Beyond the Price? Closing Costs and Budgeting for a Home in Japan
Buying property in Japan involves more than the price: brokerage fees, taxes, registration costs and loan-related charges. Learn the typical breakdown and the costs that are easy to miss.
- Property Investment
Buying Investment Property in a Busy Typhoon Year? Flood Risk and Insurance Checks
Three typhoons were active at once in early October. Before buying a rental property in Japan, learn how to read hazard maps, the pre-contract explanation and the flood coverage in fire insurance.
- Market & Areas
Can You Run a Minpaku in the Property You Buy? How the 180-Day Cap and Local Rules Shape Returns
Whether a minpaku earns money depends less on location than on which law you operate under, how many days you may operate, and whether building rules or local ordinances stop you. Here is how the 180-day cap affects returns.
- Buying Guide
What Should You Check in the Important Matters Explanation? Documents to Read Before You Sign
Before buying property in Japan you receive an 'important matters explanation'. This guide covers what Article 35 of the Real Estate Brokerage Act requires, how it differs from the contract, and tips for online explanations from overseas.
- Visa & Immigration
Starting a Company in Japan? New Business Manager Visa Rules and How to Prepare
The October 16, 2025 ministerial revision tightened the Business Manager status. Here is what the ¥30 million capital rule, full-time staff and Japanese-language criteria mean in practice.
- Renting & Living
Need to Move Out Early? How Mid-Term Termination and Penalty Fees Work in Japan
A guide to ending a Japanese rental lease before the term ends: notice periods, early-termination penalties, and the special rule for fixed-term leases, based on the Civil Code, the Land and Building Lease Act and the Consumer Contract Act.
- Buying Guide
Found a Defect After Handover? Notice Deadlines and Remedies Under Japan's Contract Non-Conformity Rules
If leaks or termite damage turn up after you take over a used home in Japan, what can you claim from the seller? This guide explains the non-conformity liability rules, notice deadlines, and how corporate and individual sellers differ.
- Property Investment
Will Reserve Fund Fees Spike? The Fixed Costs That Cut Into Yields on Older Condos
How management fees and repair reserve fees work for condo investors in Japan, why reserve fees tend to rise, and a worked example of how an increase lowers net yield — plus the documents and Condominium Act provisions to check before buying.
- Market & Areas
9 Million Vacant Homes, So Why Aren't Central Tokyo Prices Falling?
What Japan's housing survey says about vacant homes, why central prices hold up even as vacancies grow, and what the amended Vacant House Act means for buyers — with a practical view on choosing a property.
- Tax & Legal
How Much Is Property Tax in Japan? A Fixed Asset Tax Guide
A practical guide to Japan's annual fixed asset tax and city planning tax after buying property — how the taxable value and rates are set, key reductions, and a common settlement-day misunderstanding.
- Visa & Immigration
Married a Japanese Citizen? Spouse Visa Rules Explained
A practical guide to the 'Spouse or Child of Japanese National' status of residence: who qualifies, required documents, typical validity periods, the path toward permanent residency, and the 14-day notification duty if the marriage ends.
- Renting & Living
Will You Get Your Deposit Back? Who Pays for Move-Out Repairs in Japan
A practical guide to Japan's security deposit (shikikin) refund rules, explaining how normal wear and tear differs from tenant-caused damage under Civil Code Article 621, and what to check before signing your move-out settlement.
- Buying Guide
Can You Cancel After Paying a Deposit? Japan's 'Tetsuke' Earnest-Money Rules
In Japanese property purchases, buyers typically pay an earnest-money deposit (tetsuke-kin) at contract signing. Here's when you can cancel using that deposit, what caps apply to a business seller's deposit, and how it differs from a breach-of-contract penalty.
- Property Investment
Why Did the Pension Fund Gain ¥41 Trillion? What GPIF Teaches About Diversifying Into Real Estate
Reports say Japan's GPIF pension fund posted about ¥41 trillion in investment returns for fiscal 2025. Using that as a starting point, this article looks at how individual investors might think about diversification, including real estate, within their own portfolios.
- Market & Areas
Why Are Scaffolding Firms Going Bankrupt? What It Means for New-Build Prices
Tokyo Shoko Research reports 110 bankruptcies among Japan's scaffolding and steel-erection contractors in the first eight months of 2026, up 26.4% year on year. Here's how that connects to new-build pricing and condo renovation reserve funds.
- Tax & Legal
Will Japan's Food Tax Really Drop to 1%? What the 2027 Cut Covers, and What It Doesn't
In September 2026, Japan's government approved a tax reform outline that would cut consumption tax on food from 8% to 1% for two years starting April 2027. Here's what's covered, what isn't, and why it's a temporary measure.
- Visa & Immigration
Can a Short-Term Visa Bring Your Parents to Japan? Options for Family Reunification as Society Ages
As Japan's elderly population reaches a record high, more people living in Japan wonder how to bring aging parents over — even temporarily. Here's how short-term and dependent visas differ, and what each does and doesn't allow.
- Renting & Living
No Guarantor, No Problem? How Rent Guarantee Companies Work in Japan
Japanese rental contracts often require a joint guarantor, but renters without one can typically use a rent guarantee company instead. Here's how these companies work, what they typically cost, and what to check before signing.
- Buying Guide
Fixed or Variable? How to Pick a Mortgage Rate as the Gap Hits a Record High
In September 2026, the gap between fixed and variable mortgage rates in Japan reportedly widened to a record level, driven by the Bank of Japan's gradual rate hikes. Here's what buyers of Japanese property generally need to compare and confirm in this environment.
- Property Investment
How Will the BOJ Rate Hike Change Your Repayments? A Property Investor's Guide to the 1.25% Era
The Bank of Japan raised its policy rate by 0.25 points to 1.25% at its September 17-18, 2026 meeting, the highest level in roughly 31 years. Here's how this decision could generally relate to mortgage costs, financing, and overseas investors' asset allocation.
- Market & Areas
Will the BOJ Hike to 1.25% Today? What It Could Mean for Japan's Property Market
The Bank of Japan holds its policy meeting on September 17-18, 2026, with markets pricing in a 0.25-point hike to 1.25%, a level not seen in about 31.5 years. Here's how to think about the property market angle before the decision lands.
- Tax & Legal
US Long-Term Rates Hit a 19-Year High — How Should You Think About Your Japan Mortgage and Investments?
In New York bond trading on September 15, 2026, the US 10-year Treasury yield briefly rose to 5.04%, its highest in about 19 years. No specific spillover figures for Japan have been reported yet, but here's how to think about mortgages and asset allocation in this environment.
- Visa & Immigration
How Does China's New Exit-Entry Rules Affect Chinese Nationals in Japan? 4 Points on the Rules That Took Effect September 15
China's State Council issued the Regulations on Exit-Entry Administration (State Council Order No. 841), which took effect on September 15, 2026. Here are the four pillars and what they may mean for Chinese nationals living in Japan or visiting family back home.
- Renting & Living
Will a BOJ Rate Hike Change Your Rent or Mortgage? Numbers to Check Before Choosing Renting or Buying
The Bank of Japan is widely expected to raise its policy rate to around 1.25% at its September 17-18 meeting. Based on Mizuho Research Institute estimates, here's how the impact differs between renting households and mortgage-holding households, and what to check before deciding whether to keep renting or buy.
- Buying Guide
Is a Home Inspection Required When Buying a Used House in Japan?
Buying a used home in Japan often raises the question of whether an inspection (インスペクション) is mandatory. Here's what's actually required under real estate law, and what to check before you sign.
- Property Investment
Is a Pre-Completion Condo Still Worth Buying? Reading Yield as Tokyo Tops ¥145 Million
MFS's latest price-trend report puts the AI-estimated price of a pre-completion condo in Tokyo's 23 wards at ¥145.72 million, up 13.3% year on year. With prices still climbing, here is how to read surface versus real yield and what to check before signing.
- Market & Areas
Is Your Utility Bill Really Correct? A Living-Cost Blind Spot in Choosing a Japanese Area
A major Chubu-area utility disclosed a two-year billing error affecting about 5 million contracts. Here's what it reveals about the hidden utility and management costs buyers and renters often overlook when comparing areas in Japan.
- Tax & Legal
Will Japan's Food Consumption Tax Really Drop to 1%? What the Tax Reform Outline Means for Your Cost of Living
Japan's ruling party is speeding up coordination on a plan to cut the consumption tax on food from 8% to 1%. Here's where the September tax reform outline stands, and what it does — and doesn't — change for your tax filings.
- Visa & Immigration
Will Permanent Residency Get Harder to Obtain? Japan's Proposed Income, Pension, and Spousal Rule Changes
Since July 2026, reports have described tighter income and pension requirements for Japan's permanent residency. Here is what is — and isn't — official yet, and what to prepare now.
- Renting & Living
Storm Damage Left a Leak — Who Pays? A Renter's Guide to Repair Duties in Japan
On September 8, 2026, evacuation alerts were lifted for Oshima and Toshima in the Izu Islands while Niijima Village stayed at the highest warning level, and the JMA issued a half-day-ahead linear rain band forecast for the Tokai region. When a typhoon or heavy rain damages a rental unit, here's how repair responsibility and insurance generally work.
- Buying Guide
Variable or Fixed? How to Choose a Mortgage as Banks Diverge on Rates
In September 2026, some megabanks raised variable mortgage rates while Mizuho and Resona held theirs steady, and Flat 35 and 10-year fixed rates both rose. With banks now split on direction, here is how to work out whether variable or fixed suits you.
- Property Investment
How Long Will Short-Term Rental Income Last? Reading Regulatory Risk from Osaka
After Osaka closed new applications for its special-zone minpaku scheme, operators shifted to hotel-business licences, and the city now plans to add building structure to the approval conditions. Here is how to build regulatory change into your numbers before you buy.
- Market & Areas
Can You Buy in a Flood Zone? Reading Hazard Maps Before You Choose
Seeing a property shaded on a flood hazard map is often enough for overseas buyers to rule it out. Here is how Japan's hazard-map disclosure rules work, how to read the color coding, and what actually matters for a purchase decision.
- Tax & Legal
Does Sending Money From Abroad to Japan Trigger Gift Tax? What Cross-Border Family Transfers Mean for Your Filing
Receiving help from family overseas to buy property or cover living costs in Japan is common — but transfers above a certain amount can trigger Japan's gift tax. Here's who is generally liable, how the tax office finds out, and roughly what the numbers look like.
- Visa & Immigration
What Happens to Technical Intern Training? Preparing Now for Japan's 2027 'Ikusei Shuro' Switch
Applications for the new visa framework replacing Technical Intern Training — 'Ikusei Shuro' (Employment for Skill Development) — opened on 1 September 2026, ahead of its full launch on 1 April 2027. Here's what current interns and hiring companies can check now.
- Renting & Living
How Much Are the Upfront Costs? Understanding Japan's Rental Move-In Fees
Renting in Japan often means paying a deposit, key money, agent's fee, guarantor fee, and fire insurance all at once — commonly four to six months' rent in total. Here's what each item actually is, and what to check as a foreign resident.
- Buying Guide
Did Your Variable Mortgage Rate Just Rise? What September's Hike Means for You
MUFG Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation both raised their benchmark variable mortgage rates by 0.25% in September 2026, the first such increase in six months. Here is what that means for your repayment amount, whether the 5-year and 125% rules apply to your loan, and when switching to fixed makes sense.
- Property Investment
Does a Guaranteed Rent Last Forever? What to Check in a Sublease Contract
A master-lease (sublease) contract advertised as "rent guaranteed" does not mean the rent stays fixed forever. Here is how the rent review clause works, why cancellation is asymmetric, and which disclosure documents to check before signing.
- Market & Areas
Is the Yen Weakening Again? Reading the US-Japan Rate Gap to Time a Purchase
One Fed chair's speech sent the odds of a September rate hike surging overnight, and the yen slipped back past 160 to the dollar. Here is how to separate a one-day FX headline from the timeline that actually matters for buying property in Japan.
- Tax & Legal
Is Japan's Food Consumption Tax Really Dropping to 1%? What's Changing (and What Isn't) Explained
Food and beverage price hikes are set to hit a 2026 high of 4,531 items in September, even as PM Takaichi has proposed cutting the consumption tax on food from 8% to 1% for two years starting April 2027 (not yet law). Here's how Japan's reduced tax rate works and what the proposal actually says.
- Visa & Immigration
How Much Will Your Residence Status Renewal Cost? Japan's October 2026 Fee Changes Explained
On August 25, 2026, Japan's government finalized the revised fee schedule for residence procedures. Starting with applications from October 1, permanent residence fees are set to rise from ¥10,000 to ¥200,000, and status change/renewal fees to a maximum of ¥75,000. Here's what's changing, when, and by how much.
- Renting & Living
Can You Check Flood Risk Before You Rent? Hazard Maps and Disclosure in Japan
On 27 August 2026, emergency heavy rain warnings were issued for Ishikawa and Toyama. This guide covers how far you can check flood risk before signing a lease, through three entry points: hazard maps, the statutory disclosure, and water damage cover in your insurance.
- Market & Areas
Where Did the Polka Dots Come From? Yayoi Kusama's 97 Years, and Where to See Her Work
The avant-garde artist Yayoi Kusama died on 14 August 2026 at the age of 97. Where the dots and nets came from, what happened across sixteen years in New York and half a century after her return, and where her work can be seen in Japan today.
- Buying Guide
Can You Still Buy a Home as Rates Rise? Rethinking Japanese Mortgages
Japan's FY2027 budget request raised the assumed interest rate for debt servicing to 3.8%. Starting from that shift in assumptions, we look at variable versus fixed rates, the gap between what you can borrow and what you can repay, and what foreign buyers should confirm first.
- Property Investment
Should You Buy on Yield Alone? Working Backward from the Exit in Japan
Choosing an investment property on headline yield alone can leave you with less than expected once exit taxes and buyer financing enter the picture. Here is how holding period, rollover relief, and non-resident withholding work.
- Market & Areas
Is Tokyo Really Too Expensive? Reading Japan's Property Market by Area
Stopping your search after reading that "Tokyo is expensive" or that metro-area averages hit a record high misses the point. Central wards, outer Tokyo, the three neighboring prefectures and regional core cities all move differently. Here is where to check the official statistics for each.
- Tax & Legal
Can You Deduct Earthquake Insurance Premiums? Coverage and Limits Explained
An earthquake centered in southern Ibaraki shook much of the Tokyo metropolitan area early on August 23, 2026. Here is how earthquake insurance premiums are treated for income and resident tax, which homes qualify, and the exclusions that overseas owners and landlords most often miss.
- Visa & Immigration
Can You Keep Working in Japan After Graduation? Switching from a Student to a Work Visa
For international students graduating from a Japanese university or vocational school, here's what the change-of-status application for a work visa actually checks, and how to prepare.
- Renting & Living
Will Rising Prices Push Up Your Rent in Japan? Reading a Rent Increase Notice
With Japan's July CPI released on August 21 still pointing to ongoing inflation, here's how to read a landlord's rent increase notice and what your options are under Japanese law.
- Buying Guide
New Build or Resale? How to Check Earthquake Standards and Reserves Before Buying in Japan
Choosing between a new build and a resale property in Japan isn't just a price decision. Here are the earthquake-standard, non-conformity liability, and repair-reserve checks overseas buyers often miss.
- Property Investment
Why Did Tokyo-Area Condo Prices Cross ¥100 Million? Reading the Surge as an Overseas Investor
The Real Estate Economic Institute reports that average new condo prices across greater Tokyo topped ¥100 million for the first half of 2026 for the first time. Here's how to read that headline number without overpaying.
- Market & Areas
Is a Rising Nikkei a Buy Signal? Reading Japan's Markets as Stocks Rise and the Yen Weakens
On August 17, 2026 the Nikkei rose for a fifth straight session to close at 69,220, while the yen weakened further the next morning. We look at how to read a Japan market where stocks and a weaker yen are moving together.
- Tax & Legal
Can Foreigners Use Japan's Mortgage Tax Credit? The 2026 Reform and Non-Resident Rules
Japan's fiscal 2026 tax reform outline extends the mortgage tax credit's deadline by five years, to the end of 2030. For overseas readers considering buying property in Japan, here's how to tell whether you qualify and what the non-resident rules mean in practice.
- Visa & Immigration
Can You Get a Business Manager Visa Just by Buying Property in Japan? Capital and Business Plan Essentials
With foreign visitor numbers to Japan falling year on year for the first time in five years in the first half of 2026, interest in relocating through property investment and a business manager visa hasn't slowed. Here's what actually gets checked around capital, office space, and the business plan.
- Renting & Living
Do You Owe a Month's Rent at Renewal? How Japan's Lease 'Renewal Fee' Works
We break down how Japan's lease renewal fee works, its legal basis, how it varies by region, and what to check when your lease comes up for renewal.
- Buying Guide
Is the Yen's Move a Buy Signal? What Really Matters When Buying Property in Japan
On the morning of August 14, 2026, the yen traded between roughly 157.70 and 158 to the dollar as expectations for an early Fed rate hike eased. Is a currency move really a buy signal? Here's what actually matters — costs, procedures, and pitfalls — when buying property in Japan.
- Property Investment
Is Now the Time to Buy Japanese Property? Reading Yields as the Yen Weakens and Nikkei Climbs
On August 12, 2026, Japan's Nikkei average rose to 67,524 points while the yen slipped past 158 to the dollar. As stocks rise and the yen weakens together, here's how overseas investors should think about yields and risks before buying Japanese investment property.
- Market & Areas
Is the Yen's Slide to 159 a Buying Signal? How Exchange Rates Reshape Japan Property Costs
On August 10, 2026 the yen briefly slid past 159 to the dollar, with markets questioning how much further coordinated intervention can hold. We look at how currency swings actually change the real cost of buying property in Japan from overseas.
- Tax & Legal
How Much Inheritance Tax Applies to Japanese Real Estate? Filing and Tax Agents for Overseas Heirs
What overseas-based heirs need to know about Japanese inheritance tax on real estate: the basic exemption, filing deadline, the small-lot exemption, and appointing a tax agent.
- Visa & Immigration
Can Buying Property in Japan Get You a Long-Term Visa? What the Business Manager Visa Actually Requires
Owning real estate in Japan doesn't grant residency status. Here's what the Business Manager visa actually requires — investment thresholds, office requirements, and what gets checked at renewal.
- Renting & Living
Is Your Rental Ready for a Typhoon? Disaster-Prep Checkpoints Before You Sign a Lease in Japan
With Typhoon No.13 causing widespread disruption in Okinawa, we look at what to check before renting in Japan — earthquake standards, hazard maps, and what your lease should tell you.
- Buying Guide
Do You Need Permanent Residency to Buy a Home in Japan? Purchase and Loan Realities by Visa Status
With Japan's immigration authority proposing stricter permanent residency requirements, we look at what actually matters for buying property here — and how loan terms differ by visa status.
- Property Investment
What Do Rising Rates Mean for Property Investment in Japan? Yields, Loans and Picking Assets
With Tokyo stocks swinging day after day, interest in rental income keeps growing. Here is how rising interest rates change yields, financing and property selection in Japan.
- Market & Areas
When Stocks Swing Wildly, What Happens to Japanese Property? Markets vs. Real Estate
The Nikkei surged one day and tumbled the next. What do such swings mean for Japanese property prices? We unpack how stocks, interest rates and currency actually affect real estate.
- Tax & Legal
What Tax Do You Pay When Selling Property in Japan? Gains and Withholding
How capital gains are calculated, how the rate turns on your holding period, and what withholding and exemptions mean for non-resident sellers.
- Visa & Immigration
How Many Years to Permanent Residence in Japan? Terms and Fast Tracks
The core requirements for permanent residence, how the Highly Skilled Professional points system shortens the residence term, and the tax and pension records to get in order first.
- Renting & Living
Will You Get Your Deposit Back? Restoration Rules in Japanese Rentals
Where normal wear ends and tenant liability begins, how the move-out inspection works, and the records that keep deposit settlements from becoming disputes.
- Buying Guide
What Does a Japanese Home Cost Beyond the Price? A Breakdown
Agency fees, registration tax, acquisition tax, judicial scrivener fees and more — the costs to budget for before you sign, with typical levels.
- Property Investment
Is an 8% Gross Yield Actually Profitable? Reading Net Yield Instead
Advertised gross yields say nothing about what holding the asset costs. How to work in running costs and vacancy to get to a net figure.
- Market & Areas
Where Is Tokyo's Resale Condo Market Moving in Late 2026?
Price trends across the central three wards, the Jonan area and the waterfront, and what the districts favoured by Chinese-speaking buyers have in common.
- Tax & Legal
What Tax Do Non-Resident Owners Pay? Property Tax, Income Tax, Withholding
The practical points overseas property owners need to cover: fixed asset tax, income tax on rent, and withholding at source.
- Visa & Immigration
What Does the Business Manager Visa Require After the October 2025 Reform?
The October 2025 amendment raised the capital threshold to ¥30 million and added new conditions. Here is the current picture, and how real estate can qualify as a genuine business.
- Renting & Living
Can Foreign Residents Rent in Tokyo? Guarantors and Friendly Listings
For newcomers and overseas applicants: what a guarantor company does, how to find listings open to foreign tenants, and the fees to check before signing.
- Buying Guide
Can You Buy a Home in Japan From Abroad? Title, Financing and Status
For overseas buyers looking at Japanese property for the first time: the registration, financing and residence-status basics worth settling before you sign.