Can foreigners buy property in Japan?

Foreigners can buy property in Japan. In fact, it’s been reported that the number of expats buying houses in Japan is on the rise thanks to the popularity of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics¹. If you’re already in Japan, or interested in exploring what it’s like living in Japan as a foreigner, buying Japanese real estate might be an astute move.

This guide walks through the key things you need to know about buying property in Japan as a foreigner.

📑 Table of Contents
Are there any requirements for foreigners to buy property in Japan? Cost of buying real estate in Japan How to pay for your house in Japan? Step by step for buying property in Japan as an expat Things to consider when buying a house in Japan

We’ll also touch on how Wise and the Wise international accountcan help cut the costs of sending money overseas when you live, work or retire internationally.

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Are there any requirements for foreigners to buy property in Japan?

Foreigners can buy property in Japan freely, much like a Japanese citizen would. This applies to both residents and non-residents.

Unlike in many countries there are no bars on foreigners buying both properties and land, which means you can get a freehold or choose to develop your own home if you want to.

It’s worth noting though, that because of increasing numbers of expats buying homes and land in certain areas, moves are being made to start to impose some restrictions on foreign purchase of real estate². At present this focuses on restricting or monitoring property around strategic assets.

You may also need to report your home purchase under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Act if you’re not a resident in Japan. This involves submitting a report showing your personal details and the details of the property you’ve bought, within 20 days of purchase.

What documents will you need to buy a house in Japan?

If you’re already a resident of Japan you’ll have various documents and tools to prove your right of residence — and you’ll need these to buy a property.

If you’re not a resident of Japan, the documents required are actually straightforward. At the most basic level you’ll just need to provide your identity to start the process.

If you are a resident of Japan	If you aren’t a resident of Japan
Proof of identity Certificate of residence Residence Card Personal seal/Hanko Certificate of seal impression	Proof of identity Affidavit confirming the proof of ID is legitimate

Cost of buying real estate in Japan

The average costs of homes in Japan can vary widely based on location and the type of property. Naturally properties in prime locations in the centre of major cities are going to come in with a much higher price tag than a rural retreat in the country.

You can start to build an idea of the average cost of homes in your preferred location by browsing real estate websites — and you can also use a site like Numbeo to find averages and ranges of costs by city. Here are a few examples to start your research.

Location	Average cost per square metre — city centre	Average cost per square metre — outside of city centre
Tokyo³	11,908.41 USD	7,291.27 USD
Kyoto⁴	5,832.10 USD	5,996.17 USD
Fukuoka⁵	6,334.12 USD	3,395.41 USD

Note: prices correct at time of research, 10 November 2021

Check how much you’ll have to pay in the local currency (JPY) with the handy calculator below

When you’re budgeting remember to include closing and legal costs and other expenses like moving fees.

While the costs can vary depending on how you arrange your purchase you can get some very helpful resources online — look for English speaking real estate agents which often publish examples and detailed guides to the range of costs which could be involved. This guide from a Tokyo realtor is a good example to start off with.

Property taxes in Japan

Property taxes — both the tax you’ll pay at the point of purchase, and the ongoing costs of owning and maintaining a property — are fairly complex in Japan. They are assessed based on a number of factors including the value of the property, whether it is new or pre-owned, and there may also be local taxes based on location.

When buying a property you’ll need to consider stamp duty, registration and license taxes, and in some cases local real estate acquisition taxes. On an ongoing basis you may also pay local or national fixed asset taxes, which vary based on the type and location of your property.

How to pay for your house in Japan?

As is common in many places, you’ll usually have to pay a deposit to the seller when you agree to the sale price. Then the remaining amount will be paid upon completion — usually using a bank transfer.

Deposit amounts can vary but are usually in the range of 10% — 20% of the sale price.

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Nobody wants to pay more than they need to when sending money overseas — but this is especially important with major purchases like buying a home abroad.

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Can foreigners use home loans in Japan?

Foreigners can apply for home loans from financial institutions in Japan. However, while there’s no legal barrier to getting a mortgage or loan as a foreigner, banks do tend to be reluctant to approve applications.

Shop around to find banks and mortgage providers which may be able to help. If you’re a resident of Japan, and have a high income, you’re likely to be considered a far better credit risk, and may have the best chances of getting approved.

Step by step for buying property in Japan as an expat

Let’s walk through the key steps you’ll need to take when buying a property in Japan.

Step 1: get to know the market

Starting your search online is the easiest option. There are plenty of real estate sites available — basically broken down into 3 key choices:

• Choose a Japanese language real estate site like Suumo or Homes — these sites have a broad range of options but you may need help from a local friend to navigate

• Choose a local specialist used to working with expats, like RealEstate.co.jp

• Look for global names which operate in Japan like Century 21 or Savills

Step 2: start visiting properties, with the help of a real estate agent

Once you’ve got an idea of where you want to buy, and the types of property available, you’ll need to start looking around in person. Having a trustworthy real estate agent at this stage is essential.

Step 3: negotiate a selling price

Once you’ve found the perfect place you’ll need to complete a purchase application form. On this you’ll confirm key details, like how and when you’ll pay, and the proposed closing date.

Once all the details have been agreed by both parties you can move on to paying your deposit and getting the formal contracts drawn up.

Step 4: pay a deposit and sign the sales contract

You’ll now need to work through all the details of the sales contract with the help of your Real Estate agent and attorney. It’s important to make sure you really understand all the clauses in the contract, so your realtor will help with any questions. You’ll also complete due diligence checks on the property via an agent or attorney.

Step 5: close, pay and move

Once all the closing processes are ready, you’re nearly there. The final step will be to pay the remaining costs, cover your taxes, and settle anything you owe to your realtor and attorney. Then you can start your big move to your new home in Japan.

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Things to consider when buying a house in Japan

Hopefully you’re excited about the prospect of getting involved in Japan real estate, But before you head out to buy a property in Japan, let’s look at a few tips to make sure the process goes smoothly for you.

Don’t expect the process to run in exactly the same way that buying a property at home would Get professional advice — you’ll pay a fee but can avoid many common pitfalls Learn to interpret the abbreviations commonly used on floor plans before you start to view properties Buying a property won’t grant permanent residency — make sure you’ve checked out all the immigration and visa details if you plan to move Expect to run into a language barrier from time to time if you’re not confident in Japanese yet Make sure you understand the ongoing costs of owning property in Japan, such as property taxes Be realistic about what it’ll take to maintain the property — especially if you won’t live there year round If you’re non-resident in Japan you may have obligations to report your purchase under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Control Act, within 20 days of the deal closing. This doesn’t always apply, so check out the details in full to make sure you don’t fall foul of the law

Types of property

Your options about the type of property will depend a lot on where you’re looking to buy. If you’re working with a local realtor in Japan you may come across mansions (マンション) and apātos (アパート) and well as houses.

As you might guess, the words mansion and apāto have originated in the English mansion and apartment. Both can probably fall into a broad category of condos — mansion type houses may be bigger developments with more amenities, while an apāto is more likely to be in a low level building. Houses are pretty standard in the countryside and smaller towns, but they’re also available in suburban areas and even in bustling parts of some cities.

Whichever type of property you’re looking to buy you’ll also need to check out whether it’s freehold or leasehold.

Apartments in Japan may be sold as freeholds, where each apartment owner also owns a proportion of the land the development is on. This type of arrangement is typically more expensive than buying a leasehold property, but does mean that no matter the ultimate value of the building, you’ll always own the land underneath it.

Leasehold properties — like in the US — will have a lease term which you’ll need to take into consideration. Depending on how long you intend to live in the property, or when you think you may choose to resell, the leasehold term can matter. Reselling a property with a very short remaining lease will always be tricky.

So there you have it — everything you need to know to get you started on the journey of living as a foreigner in Japan, and owning your own home.

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Buying a home in Japan is a big decision, and definitely not cheap. Make sure that when you finally take the leap you’ve found the perfect place — and don’t forget to use Wise and the Wise international accountto help cut the costs of paying for your property, and living as an expat.

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Sources:

1. Real Estate Tokyo - Can a foreigner buy property in Japan?
2. Nikkei - Japan restricts land deals near strategic assets
3. Numbeo - Cost of living in Tokyo
4. Numbeo - Cost of living in Kyoto
5. Numbeo - Cost of living in Fukuoka

Sources checked on 11.11.2021