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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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