By popular request, in this installment of the “what can you buy” series, we take a tour around Japan’s smaller cities to see what is available at the $150,000 (17 million yen) price point, or less.
In 2017, the average listing price for a 70-sqm re-sale condominium in the Tokyo 23 Wards was ¥53,230,000. This year (2018), the average listing price for a single-family home in the Tokyo 23 Wards was about ¥64,870,000 ( a year-on-year increase of 8.5%). So a budget of $150,000 would be about 27% of the average listing price for a single-family home in the 23 Wards.
After the examples, we give answers to FAQs about buying property in Japan as a foreigner.
Let’s take a look at some listings!
New (2017) 4BR House in Tochigi-Shi
Location: Tochigi is a city of about 159,00 people located 110-km north of Tokyo (about a 1.5 hour train ride to Tokyo Station). It’s well known for the Kuranomachi district of centuries-old warehouses (pictured in lead phooto).
Price: ¥15,900,000 ($143,000)
Size and Layout: 108.74 m² (1,162-sqft), 4LDK (4BR)
Floors: Two-stories
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 2017
Structure: Wood
Notes: Car port and small yard. Excellent natural light, quiet residential neighborhood.
New (2017) 3BR House for Sale in Komatsu-shi Ishikawa
Location: Komatsu is a city of about 109,00 people located in Ishikawa prefecture on the Japan Sea coast. It is about an hour drive from Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa and is known for its mild summers and cold winters with heavy snowfall.
Price: ¥15,900,000 ($143,000)
Size and Layout: 82.08 m² (883-sqft), 3LDK (3BR)
Floors: Two-stories
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 2017
Structure: Wood
Notes: All western-style rooms. Second-floor sun room.
New (2017) 3BR House for Sale Miyako-machi, Fukuoka
Location: Miyako is a town of about 20,300 located in Fukuoka prefecture. Fukuoka is in southern Japan, on the island of Kyushu and is known for its hot and humid summers and mild winters.
The main cities in Fukuoka prefecture are Fukuoka City and Kita Kyushu, which have been gaining in popularity in recent years with overseas buyers, especially from China. There are four flights daily between Fukuoka and Shanghai, with a flight time of just 1-hour and 50-minutes, while the Tokyo-Fukuoka air route is one of the busiest routes in the world with dozens of daily flights.
Price: ¥15,900,000 ($143,000)
Size and Layout: 95.22 m² (1,022-sqft), 3LDK (3BR)
Floors: Two-stories
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 2017
Notes: All western-style rooms. One parking space.
Modern-style 1BR+ House for sale in Matsuyama-shi, Ehime
Location: Matsuyama (with a population of about 515,000) is the capital city of Ehime prefecture on the island of Shikoku.
It’s known for its central Dogo Onsen Honkan bath house, dating from the Meiji Period, with ornate, tiered wooden buildings.
Price: ¥12,800,000 ($113,000)
Size and Layout: 72 m² (775-sqft), 1LDK+ (1BR+ bonus room)
Floors: Two-stories
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 2016
Notes: All western-style rooms, corner lot, high ceilings with recessed lighting.
2BR House for Sale in Tateyama, Chiba – List Price $88,000
Location: Tateyama is a city with a population of 47,300 located on the southern tip of Chiba prefecture. It is about 100-km south of Tokyo, across Tokyo Bay.
Price: ¥10,00,000 ($88,000)
Size and Layout: 57.96m² (624-sqft), 2LDK (2BR)
Floors: One story
Land rights: Freehold
Year Built: 2009
Notes: Japanese and western-style rooms.
FAQs About Buying a Home in Japan
Can a foreigner buy property in Japan?
Yes. You can buy property in Japan regardless of your nationality or country of origin. There are also no residency requirements for buying real estate in Japan. Securing financing as a resident foreigner is more complicated. For info on financing, please see “Basic Requirements for Getting a Mortgage as a Foreigner in Japan“
How do I get a home loan as a foreigner in Japan?
Please see this article for information on: Getting a home loan as a foreigner in Japan
Which Japanese banks lend to foreigners?
How to get a property loan in Japan an overseas investor
What is the process for buying a home in Japan?
Please see our step-by-step guide: Guide to Buying a Home in Japan
See how much you can borrow and your monthly payments in yen: Yen Mortgage Loan Calculator
For information about purchase and brokerage fees: Breakdown of real estate purchase fees and taxes in Japan
Need to know: Earthquake building codes and technology in Japan
Good to know! Best places to live in greater Tokyo: 2018 Survey
What you should know before you buy a vacant house in Japan
Top Image: The famous centuries-old Kuranomachi (warehouse district) of Tochigi-shi (Wikimedia)