Is This the End for Minpaku? Neyagawa City Says “No More” to Special Zone Short-Term Rentals
Source: Sankei Shimbun, August 12, 2025
On August 12, Neyagawa City in Osaka Prefecture made a decisive move: it will withdraw from Japan’s “Special Zone Minpaku” program. This scheme, designed to boost tourism by allowing private homes and condos to operate as short-term rentals under relaxed rules, is now facing growing backlash.
Source: Based on Tokyo Kantei Report (Released July 24, 2025)
1. Greater Tokyo Area Sees 11th Straight Month of Price Increases
According to the latest market data from Tokyo Kantei, the average asking price for a 70 sq.m. used condominium in the Greater Tokyo Area rose to JPY 58.51 million in June 2025 — up +3.0% from May and continuing the strong upward trend seen over the past year.
Freedom, Fairness, and the Future of Japanese Real Estate
A Deep Dive into the PIVOT Debate between Norihiko Sasaki and Tomohiro Makino
As residential property prices in Tokyo and other major cities surge to historic highs, a fundamental question has entered public discourse: Should Japan begin to regulate foreign ownership of its real estate?
The Hidden Threat of Illegal Short-Term Rentals in Tokyo: A Growing Risk to Communities and Investors
Based on reporting by The Sankei Shimbun (June 24, 2025)
Tokyo is facing a serious and growing problem: illegal short-term rentals operating under the radar of authorities. According to a June 24 article by The Sankei Shimbun, violations of Japan’s lodging laws are rampant in the capital, with properties being used as “minpaku” (private lodgings) without proper registration, or exceeding the legal 180-day cap for annual use.
Before diving into market trends, it is important to understand the source of our data: REINS, or the Real Estate Information Network System.
REINS is Japan’s national multiple listing service, administered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Accessible only to licensed agents, it is the most authoritative database for tracking real estate listings, contract prices, and transaction volume across the country.
If you are familiar with the U.S. MLS or the UK Land Registry, REINS serves a similar role—offering professionals reliable, near-real-time insights into Japan’s property market. But our REINS totally sucks.
Tokyo Leads Global Real Estate Investment as Japan Posts Record-High Q1 Inflows
Japan’s real estate market achieved a historic milestone in the first quarter of 2025. According to Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), total real estate investment in Japan exceeded JPY 2 trillion for the first time ever in a single quarter, reaching JPY 2.095 trillion (USD 13.7 billion). This surge was largely driven by robust foreign capital inflows and a series of large-scale deals, with Tokyo ranking as the world’s most invested city, ahead of New York and Dallas–Fort Worth.
Tokyo’s office market is entering a new strategic phase, marked by a dual trend of concentrated supply and resilient demand. According to Mori Building’s latest report, more than 70–90% of all new office buildings supplied in Tokyo’s 23 wards through 2029 will be large-scale projects—defined as buildings with over 100,000 square meters of total floor space. This signals a sharp focus on premium-grade developments as construction costs continue to rise and tenants seek higher standards.
Tokyo Bay Area Condo Market: Listings Surge, Prices Rise – But How Long Can the Bubble Hold? (April 2025 Report)
The April 2025 data update for the Tokyo Bay Area condominium market reveals a striking contrast: a historic spike in listings, declining transaction volume, and yet record-high prices. This paradox highlights the fragile balance in what is now widely considered a bubble market in central Tokyo.
As Tokyo’s property market continues to evolve in 2025, a key question is emerging for both foreign investors and international residents:
“Should I focus on Tokyo’s central wards, or are the suburbs now a smarter bet?”
One of the central themes in the referenced video is the anticipated increase in vacant properties (akiya) over the next 10 to 20 years. To understand why, it helps to look at Japan’s demographics and family inheritance practices: