Rents surge in Northern Okinawa as new theme park spurs housing demand
- Adam German
- 14 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Residential real estate property portal AtHome released the findings of its latest “Okinawa Prefecture Rent Trend Survey” on June 26th, highlighting sharp rent increases across the island - especially in the north - amid growing housing demand ahead of the opening of a major new theme park.
Junglia Okinawa homepage hero image screen grab.
Okinawa remains a popular destination for relocation. In July, “Junglila Okinawa,” a large-scale theme park, is set to open in the northern part of the island. The expected influx of workers has heightened demand for rental housing in the area.
Related content: New northern Okinawa theme park will be named JUNGLIA (published December 2nd, 2023)
In response, AtHome analyzed listings posted on its real estate platform, comparing average rents in 2022 and 2024 for residential rental properties - both reinforced concrete condominiums (mansion) and wood-frame apartments (apato) - across three regions of the main island: north (e.g., Nago), central (e.g., Okinawa City), and south (e.g., Naha).
Reinforced Concrete Condos See Steep Rent Hikes, Especially for Singles in the North
Rents for reinforced concrete rental condominiums rose across all unit sizes and areas, with the most dramatic increase seen in single-occupant units (≤30㎡) in northern Okinawa, where average rents jumped over 40%.
Rent Growth for Reinforced Concrete Rental Condominiums (2022–2024)
Single-occupant units (≤30㎡):
North: +43.1% to ¥58,477 (up ¥17,622)
Central: +6.8% to ¥52,665 (up ¥3,373)
South: +6.0% to ¥57,063 (up ¥3,220)
Overall: +8.3% to ¥51,361
Couple-size units (30–50㎡):
North: +19.1% to ¥62,496
Central: +8.9% to ¥62,090
South: +12.0% to ¥78,700
Overall: +15.1% to ¥74,124
Family-size units (50–70㎡):
North: +18.8% to ¥77,923
Central: +21.1% to ¥103,279
South: +1.1% to ¥107,568
Overall: +7.5% to ¥102,891
Wood-Frame Apartments Also Climb, Led by Gains in the Central Region
Wood-frame apartment rents increased across the board, with notable jumps for both single and family-sized units in central Okinawa.
Rent Growth for Wood-Frame Rental Apartments (2022–2024)
Single-occupant units:
North: +19.0% to ¥47,752
Central: +20.1% to ¥51,430
South: +14.6% to ¥51,793
Overall: +15.8% to ¥51,446
Couple-size units:
North: +11.4% to ¥50,874
Central: +14.7% to ¥54,850
South: +7.8% to ¥60,460
Overall: +11.1% to ¥58,658
Family-size units:
North: +11.4% to ¥66,294
Central: +22.7% to ¥79,527
South: +5.8% to ¥82,081
Overall: +8.9% to ¥78,534
Housing Demand Shifts Regional Balance
The data shows consistent rent increases across all segments and regions. However, the most notable surge was in northern Okinawa, where rents for single-occupant condominiums soared by 43.1% - the highest growth rate in any category.
AtHome Lab, which conducted the analysis, commented:
“With the opening of Junglia Okinawa approaching, demand for employee housing in the northern region has become more pronounced, leading to significant rent increases - especially for single-occupant condos. In the central region, already popular among people relocating to Okinawa, we’re also seeing a striking rise in apartment rents. While the southern area still commands the highest average rents, the faster pace of increases in the north and central regions is beginning to shift the balance across the island.”
The report also noted that local real estate agencies are voicing concerns about a shortage of available rental housing to meet this growing demand; a trend that will continue to benefit owners if left as is.
Further Reading:
AtHome Okinawa Rent Trends Report (Japanese only)
Source:
R.E. Port News (Japanese Only)
