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Kichijoji was named the Greater Tokyo Area’s most desirable place to live for the eighth consecutive year, according to Daito Trust Construction’s 2026 “Ii Heya Net” ranking. The survey asked residents of Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba and Saitama which stations and municipalities they would most like to live in. The results again point to the enduring appeal of neighborhoods that combine transport access, retail convenience, greenery and a strong local identity. Key Points Kichijoji

Greater Tokyo homeowners are still completing sales at a rising rate, but Recruit’s latest SUUMO survey suggests the seller market is becoming more selective. Recruit’s SUUMO Research Center announced the results of its 2025 “Home Sale Considerers and Sellers” survey on June 18th. Fewer owners considered selling than last year. Those who did enter the market, however, were more likely to complete a sale. Photo by Steven Diaz on Unsplash The survey covers people in the Greater

Nomura Research Institute, or NRI, said on June 18th that Japan’s shrinking new-build housing market means improving the energy performance of brand-new homes alone will not be enough to meet the country’s long-term decarbonization targets. Photo by Joseph Chan on Unsplash In its report, Forecast of New Housing Starts for Fiscal 2026 to Fiscal 2040: New-Build ZEH Is the Starting Point, With Further Efforts Needed to Raise Existing Housing Stock Performance, NRI forecasts that

Mitsui Fudosan Residential will introduce full facial-recognition access at Park Homes Funabashi, marking the company’s first for-sale condominium where residents can enter the building, unlock their units, and collect deliveries without keys or smartphones. Park Homes Funabashi CG exterior rendering courtesy of the developer. The project will use FreeiD, a facial-recognition ID platform developed by DXYZ, a Tokyo-based group company of real estate developer Migalo Holdings.

Orders for building renovation and renewal projects in Japan climbed 18.7% year-on-year to JPY 16.4 trillion in FY2025, according to MLIT. The increase was driven by strong demand for repairs, refurbishments, and energy-efficiency upgrades. Photo by Renovations Certified on Unsplash Residential renovation orders increased 18.7% to JPY 4.9 trillion, while non-residential projects rose 18.6% to JPY 11.5 trillion, highlighting broad-based growth across the sector. FY2025 Renovat