Buying a Home in Tokyo

What can you buy in the Tokyo suburbs for $160,000 or Much Less?

If you have been renting in or near Tokyo for a while and are thinking of putting down roots, you would not be alone.

In August, which is a traditionally slow month for home sales, we saw a surge of interest from people looking to buy residential property in the greater Tokyo area, which includes western cities like Machida, Tachikawa, Musashino, as well as Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa prefectures.

Average Price of a House in Greater Tokyo

Our theme for this post is, “What you can in the Tokyo suburbs for $160,000 or much less,” which may sound like a unrealistic price point, considering that the average price of a single-family re-sale house for sale in the greater Tokyo metro area is about ¥31 million ($278,000).

In fact, it’s possible to find houses in this price range if you are willing to look at locations about an hour outside the city center, further away from the station, and at older properties. But you don’t have to compromise too much on the age of the property. Four of the houses we feature below were built in the 2000’s.

Below, we give a few examples of what’s available. FAQs about buying a home in Japan follow below the listings.

4-Bedroom House in Hachioji

Where: Hachioji City, western surburb of  Tokyo, about an hour fifteen minute direct ride to Shinjuku station on the JR Chuo line.

4BR 93-sqm house for sale in Hachioji-shi, about 1-hr 15-min train ride to Shinjuku Station. Please click on the photo for the full listing and to inquire directly to the agent.

Price: ¥17.9 million (160,000 USD)

Size and Layout: 93.9-sqm, 4BR (4LDK = 4 Rooms + Living/Dining Room)

Floors:  Two

Land rights: Freehold

Year Built: 2005

Structure: Wood

Parking: Two parking spaces

4BR House for Sale Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture

Where: Funabashi City, located in northwestern Chiba prefecture, has a population of over 620,000 people, many of whom commute to work or school in Tokyo. This property is about a 6-min bus ride from Funabashi Hōten Station on the JR Musashino line, so you would be looking at about a 45-min commute into town.

4BR 93-sqm house for sale in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, about a 45-min commute to Tokyo Station. Please click on the photo for the full listing and to inquire directly to the agent.

Price:  ¥17.98 million (161,000 USD)

Size and Layout: 93-sqm 4BR (4LDK = 4 Rooms + Living/Dining Room)

Floors:  Two

Land Area: 105-sqm

Land rights: Freehold

Year Built: 2008

Structure: Wood

Parking: None

5BR House for Sale Iruma City, Saitama

Where: Iruma, is small city of about 148,500 people in Saitama prefecture. From Iruma it is about an hour train ride to Shinjuku Station. The property is about a 20-min walk from the station, so total commute time to Shinjuku would be about an hour and a half.

 

71-sqm 5BR house for sale in the city of Iruma, Saitama prefecture. Please click on the photo for the full listing, more photos, and to inquire directly to the agent.

Price:  ¥12.8 million (115,000 USD)

Size and Layout: 71-sqm 5BR (5LDK = 5 Rooms + Living/Dining Room)

Floors:  Two

Land rights: Freehold

Year Built: 1980

Structure: Wood

Parking: One parking space

2BR House for Sale Minami Ashigara City, Kanagawa

Where: Minami Ashigara City is a small city of about 43,000 people in southwestern Kanagawa prefecture. From here it’s about an hour and a half train ride to Tokyo Station.

81-sqm 2BR house for sale in Minami Ashigara, Kanagawa prefecture. Please click on the photo for the full listing, more photos, and to inquire directly to the agent.

Price:  ¥15.5 million (139,000 USD)

Size and Layout: 81-sqm 2BR (2LDK = 2 Rooms + Living/Dining Room)

Floors:  Two

Land rights: Freehold

Year Built: 2002

Structure: Wood

Parking: One parking space

4BR+ House for sale Asahi City, Chiba

Where: Asahi-shi is a seaside city in Chiba prefecture. From here it’s about an hour 40-minute train ride to Tokyo Station.

¥13,500,000 ($121,000) 113-sqm 4BR+ house for sale in Asahi-shi, Chiba prefecture. Please click on the photos for the full listing, more photos, and to inquire directly to the agent.
¥13,500,000 ($121,000) 113-sqm 4BR+ house for sale in Asahi-shi, Chiba prefecture. Please click on the photos for the full listing, more photos, and to inquire directly to the agent.

 

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

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

For information about real estate taxes: Guide to Japanese real estate taxes


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