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Longer mortgage repayment periods are becoming increasingly common in Japan, with 50-year housing loan terms emerging as the most widely offered option among lenders, according to a new survey by the Japan Housing Finance Agency (JHF). The findings suggest financial institutions are expanding longer-term loan products to keep monthly payments manageable for borrowers amid rising housing costs and changing demographic conditions. Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash   The JH

When Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced its factory in Kumamoto, the impact on the local real estate market was immediate. Land prices surged rental housing tightened and an influx of engineers and contractors transformed the town of Kikuyo into one of Japan’s fastest growing property markets. A similar dynamic is now beginning to emerge nearly 2,000 kilometers north. In Chitose, Hokkaido the construction of Rapidus’ advanced semiconductor fabrication

On March 26th, Fukuoka City has unveiled plans for the Hakozaki Green Innovation Campus, a large-scale mixed-use redevelopment on the former site of Kyushu University. The project is scheduled to open in fiscal 2028, will deliver approximately 2,000 housing units, and includes plans for more than 10,000 trees across a district targeting 40 percent green coverage. Full completion is expected in the early-to-mid 2030s. Exterior CG rendering courtesy of the PR times press releas

On March 26th, the Nikkei Shimbun reported that Nagano Prefecture will channel revenue from its lodging tax, set to be introduced in June, into areas with a high concentration of accommodation facilities. The initiative is designed to support both local communities and lodging operators by strengthening regions as hubs for tourism circulation and longer stays. Officials aim to accelerate “accommodation reform” across the prefecture through targeted use of the tax. Under the s

Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) reported that 25.2 percent of Japan’s employed workers now use telework, according to the results of its fiscal 2025 “Telework Population Survey” released on March 24th. The survey, conducted online in October 2025, gathered valid responses from 40,000 workers across the country. Teleworkers were defined as employees whose primary occupation is as a full-time staff member, contract worker, or part-time emp

Japan’s land prices rose for a fifth consecutive year in 2026, with growth accelerating in major metropolitan areas and resort destinations, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). The ministry’s 2026 Official Land Price Survey, released on March 17, examined land values at approximately 26,000 locations nationwide as of January 1, 2026. On a nationwide average basis, land prices rose 2.8% across all land uses, up from 2.7% the previou

On March 17, the Nikkei Shimbun reported on newly released 2026 official land price data from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), showing that land values in Nagano Prefecture continued to rise, driven by strong demand in internationally recognized ski destinations such as Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen, alongside sustained migration-led demand in Karuizawa. Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Prefecture. Photo by Alexander Schimmeck on Unsplash The tre

On March 17th, local newspaper the Niigata-Nippo published that Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) released its 2026 official land price data, revealing a widening gap between Niigata prefecture’s broader market and its emerging resort hotspots. Photo by Hamish Duncan on Unsplash   Akakura in Myoko City recorded a 7.1% year-on-year increase in commercial land prices, the highest in the prefecture and the first time it has ranked number one

Premium existing condominiums in central Tokyo reached a record average price of ¥13.35 million per tsubo in the October–December 2025 quarter, according to a report released March 12th by Mitsui Fudosan Realty. The analysis is based on proprietary transactions and listing data compiled by the company’s private-client advisory service Mitsui no Real Plan, which provides real estate consulting to high-net-worth individuals. Photo by Takashi Miyazaki on Unsplash   What Counts

Mizuho Securities Chief Economist Kobayashi Shunsuke explains why the Bank of Japan is expected to hold off on another interest rate hike for now, as moderating inflation and rising global tensions complicate the economic outlook. A March 13th NHK World News Biz Picks segment outlines the coming week which brings several major policy events in Japan and the United States, with markets watching closely for signals on the direction of monetary policy. NHK World Japan doesn’t al

The Real Estate Companies Association of Japan announced on March 12th that 41 condominium developers plan to introduce measures to curb speculative short-term resales, based on guidelines the group compiled in November 2025. According to the Nikkei Shimbun on the same day, the initiative follows a surge in prices for central Tokyo condominiums, where some investors have sought quick resale profits. The association aims to encourage conditions that make it easier for owner-oc

On March 10th, the Nikkei Shimbun reported that Nagano City’s partnership with global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) forms part of a broader strategy to stimulate UIJ-turn migration, a Japan-specific policy framework describing how people relocate from large metropolitan areas to regional cities. For decades, the Greater Tokyo Area has attracted a disproportionate share of young workers and university graduates from regional prefectures. The resulting conc

The Real Estate Information Network for East Japan (REINS) on March 10 released its latest report on residential real estate market trends in the Greater Tokyo Area (GTA) for February 2026. The number of existing condominium transactions in the GTA totaled 4,241 units, up 2.1% year-on-year, marking the 16th consecutive month of increases. The average transaction price per square meter rose to ¥856,100, up 8.2% year-on-year, extending a 70-month streak of price increases. Grap

On March 8th, the Nikkei Shimbun reported that Japan’s government plans to launch a new program in fiscal 2026 aimed at encouraging urban residents to regularly visit and support rural communities. The initiative, called the “Furusato Resident Registration System,” will provide support for regional volunteer activities such as helping with farm work. Photo by Soichiro Ito on Unsplash Participants who take part in activities at least three times a year will be eligible for su

According to the Nikkei Shimbun on March 9th, Mori Building is moving closer to launching the next major redevelopment phase in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, advancing the Roppongi 5-chome West District Project together with Sumitomo Realty & Development. Finished tower exteriors CG renderings courtesy of the Cabinet Office proposal; pdf of which is linked at the bottom of this article. Urban planning approval for the project was secured in 2024, and the developers are now refining co

The Nikkei Shimbun reported on March 5th that f oreign-led development in the Myoko area of Niigata Prefecture is drawing renewed investment from Japanese companies, signaling a shift in momentum for the once-stagnant ski destination. New lodging facilities are opening while major domestic developers have begun conducting market research. After Japan’s ski boom faded, development by Japanese firms slowed for decades, but rising inbound tourism and foreign investment are begin

Originally held in October 2025 and delivered in Japanese, the below is an English summary of Ken Chan’s remarks at the RE Fund Review Forum 20th . The speech highlighted how resort hotel investments can extend beyond accommodation supply to actively shape tourism demand. Click here to read more about IHG and Patience Capital Group’s Six Senses Myoko project. By combining global branding, development activity, and operational scale, resort hotels can generate wider economic b

The Nikkei Shimbun reported on March 4 th that preliminary data released by the Japan Tourism Agency shows that the number of foreign overnight stays by prefecture in 2025 increased in both Niigata and Nagano, collectively known as the Shinetsu region. Niigata photo courtesy of Sy on Unsplash Niigata recorded 820,000 foreign overnight stays, a 55% jump from the previous year, while Nagano saw a more modest increase of 5% to 2.45 million stays. Both prefectures saw growth la

Tokyo Tatemono announced on March 2nd the completion of its first timber infused hybrid rental apartment building, Brillia ist Senzokuike no Mori. The five-story, 42 unit building in Tokyo’s Ota ward is a four-minute walk from Ishikawadai Station and a five-minute walk from Senzokuike Station on the Tokyu Ikegami Line. Exterior photo courtesy of Tokyo Tatemono press release . The site spans 1,117.94 square meters and was developed using Mitsui Home’s “Mokusion” hybrid timber

Mori Trust Co., Ltd. announced on February 26 that it will open 1 Homes Tokyo, a 36-unit branded serviced residence within the Akasaka Trust Tower at Tokyo World Gate Akasaka in Minato Ward. The project marks the first Asian launch of the residential brand of the U.S.-based sustainable luxury lifestyle hotel group 1 Hotels. CG renderings of 1 Homes Tokyo sample interiors with altered logo in the middle.  Courtesy of Mori Trust press release linked at the bottom of this articl