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The Japan Housing Finance Agency (JHF) announced on October 28 that applications for Flat 35 home loans rose sharply in the July–September quarter of 2025, reflecting continued strong demand for long-term, fixed-rate mortgages amid rising variable-rate uncertainty. According to the agency, total Flat 35 applications reached 14,223 units, up 50.7% from the same period last year. Completed loans climbed 27.7% to 8,463 units, while the total loan amount grew 35.8% to 277.6 bil

On October 27, real estate property portal At Home released their latest data on rental condo and wood-frame apartment listings across Japan’s major cities for September 2025. The report is based on listings advertised on AtHome’s property portal and defines “rent” as the total monthly payment by tenants, including base rent plus management and common area fees. The survey covers 13 areas: the Greater Tokyo Area (23 special wards, Tokyo non-23 wards, along with the prefecture

On October 23 rd , Marriott International unveiled its newest luxury property, the JW Marriott Hotel Tokyo to members of the press. Located in Tokyo’s Minato Ward, the 200-room hotel marks the second JW Marriott in Japan, following the brand’s debut in Nara. The JW Marriott brand is positioned at the top of Marriott International’s portfolio of more than 30 brands worldwide. THE LINKPILLAR 1 SOUTH exterior image courtesy of Artellion . The hotel occupies the 23rd to 30th flo

On October 23 rd , Patience Capital Group announced the signing of two new properties in Japan - Madarao Kogen Hotel and Lime Resort Myoko - which will join Accor’s MGallery Collection, the group’s boutique brand of storied hotels. These signings mark a major step in Patience Capital Group’s vision to elevate Japan’s mountain regions into world-class four-season destinations. Signing ceremony in Singapore on October 23rd. From left to right: Maryanne Soo, Managing Director, G

On October 20 th , the Nikkei Shimbun reported that Nagano-based Shinano Railway will operate a special rapid train between Karuizawa Station and Myoko Kogen Station on November 3 rd , 2025. Sample Shinano Railway train photo courtesy of the train company website. The train will make only one stop at Nagano Station, completing the journey in as little as one hour and 38 minutes - among the fastest schedules ever operated by the company. The trial run aims to assess demand for