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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.