Japan is known for its exorbitant cost of living, particularly in Tokyo, which is consistently ranked among the globe’s best 10 most pricey cities.
You might be thinking that is it expensive to buy a house in Japan? Yes, of course, it’s expensive to buy a house in some of Japan’s neighborhoods, especially in Tokyo.

Foreigners can own a piece of land or buy a house in the country with no limitations, and no nationality or residential passport is needed – the answer to the frequently asked question “Can a foreigner buy a house in Japan?”
And don’t forget to ask yourself before relocating to Japan, is living in Japan cheaper than in America? The answer is that the cost of living in Japan is almost three times that of America.
Let’s take a look at how much does a house cost in Japan and what to consider before choosing one.
[elementor-template id=”13242″]
How Much Does A House Cost In Japan Tokyo
Here we’ll answer the question: how much does an apartment cost in Japan or how much does a house in japan cost? Houses can be significantly more costly or much lesser as a result of rising property values.

The availability of residential apartments in central Tokyo areas is quite low, and there may only be a few accessible at any given moment. Let’s consider the cost of a house in various Tokyo neighborhoods.
1. DENENCHOFU
High-profile personalities, politicians, prominent pro-baseball stars, ex Tokyo governor Shintaro Ishihara, incumbent Prime Minister Hatoyama, President and creator of Doutor Coffee, and the President of the Imperial Hotel are among the notable Denenchofu inhabitants.
The average house price in the neighborhood is 60 million – 1.25 billion Yen.
2. SHOTO / KAMIYAMACHO
The president of Rakuten, present Prime Minister, and previous Prime Minister Taro Aso, whose residence is reported to cost over about 6.2 billion Yen, considers Shoto / Kamiyamacho residence. Furthermore at Shoto 1 Chome is the previous administrative mansion of Tokyo’s Governor.
A real estate investor bought it for 3.2 billion yen after it was offered for sale. The Shoto Museum of Art, as much as other embassies, are all located in this area. The average price of a house here is 180 million to 3 billion Yen plus land prices 2 million to 3 million Yen/sqm.
3. AZABU
For ex-pats and families, this is a particularly famous residential location. International institutions, international stores, restaurants, eateries, parks, and embassies can all be found here.
It covers the Minamiazabu, Motoazabu, and Nishiazabu addresses, as well as the area across Hiroo Terminal. The average price of a house here is 70 million to 1 billion Yen plus land prices 1.5 million to 3 million Yen/sqm.
4. TAKANAWA
This neighborhood has both basic and premium residences. The Grand Prince Hotel, Sheraton Miyako Hotel, Meiji Gakuin University, Nature Study Park, and “Platinum Dori,” a garden promenade dotted with cafés and shops, are all located in the neighborhood.
The historical building and property of Seiko’s owner were sold in 2014 for around 31 billion yen approximately $280 million. The average price of a house here is 60 to 400 million Yen plus land price 1,000,100 to 2,000,010 Yen/sqm.
Is Japan a good place to live?
Yes, Japan is a highly safe country. Whether you think it’s pricey or not depends on where you are in the country and what country you’re comparing it to. Find out the best places to live in Japan in 2022, if you’re planning to move there.
[elementor-template id=”13252″]
House Pricing in Tokyo
If you search at the cost of a building and land in central Tokyo, the house will typically account for about 30percent of the total cost, while the land will account for the remaining 70percent.

Owing to lower land values in the suburbs and rural districts, this statistic could be inverted.
Because it will require money to remove the current building if the building is old and outdated, the property can be valued at land worth solely, or even considerably lower than land worth The buyer is expected to demolish the house and construct a new one.
Typical wood-framed houses rate about 210,000 Yen per square meter to construct, while conventional reinforced-concrete structures might rate up to 460,000 Yen per square meter.
Rates will vary based on the design and finish, with some premium custom-builds amounting to up to 1.0 million Yen per square meter or more. House prices may rise as a result of the following factors:
- Because of its location on a wide thoroughfare.
- Terrace on a south-facing roadway
- A residence situated on a corner plot of land.
- Possessing a broader highway main entrance will contribute to the price of the house.
Buying New House
How much does it cost to buy a house in Japan? You may purchase a new house directly from the contractor, which must include a 10-year flaw guarantee. You can still make an insurance assertion if the contractor liquidates before the ten-year period expires.
Payment must be kept with an authorized deposit-taking system by the contractor. If the creator liquidates, the money is kept for ten years, or until all warranty coverage has expired.
Is it hard to buy a house in Japan?
Absolutely. Foreigners have no legal limits when it comes to purchasing property in Japan. To buy a house in Japan, you don’t need citizenship or even a residency visa.
Buying old House
By purchasing an older property, you can avoid some of the rapid devaluations that come with a brand new building. For tax amortization reasons, a house older than 30 years is regarded to be nearing the expiration of its functional life and based on its status, it may be sold for equivalent to land prices.
Some of these older homes have been well-kept by their owners, while others have not, resulting in a wide range of conditions. Of course, not every old house can be lived in.
Buying a house on leasehold land
Just a tiny proportion of Tokyo homes are on leasehold ground. Purchasing the license to lease a house in Tokyo might cost anywhere from sixty percent to ninety percent of the price of purchasing the land outright.
The entitlement to lease in Minato-ku and Shibuya-ku is normally 71-90 percent of the sale price, whereas it is 60-85 percent in Meguro-Ku and Ota-ku.
How affordable is housing in Tokyo?
Affordable housing types in Tokyo are those having rents that are lower than the city’s average. The rent could be as cheap as 40,000 yen, (how much is a house in japan in USD? Approximately $400) each month.
Typical Japanese House
Throughout Tokyo’s 23 wards, the median new house shape is around 100 square meters equivalent to 1075 sq. ft.

A standard residence in Tokyo is a narrow, three-story building with a vehicle spot, bedroom, and toilet on the floor level, living/dining/kitchen on the second floor, two more dormitories on the third floor, and maybe a tiny roof terrace for dry washing.
They very seldom have room for a garden because of the high property values and small block sizes.
[elementor-template id=”13247″]
Basement
Basements are relatively costly to build because trenches, reinforced concrete, and extra design are required. They usually cost 1.5 times as much as an above-ground floor.
However, because only a fraction of the basement’s dimension is allowed to be incorporated in the overall construction floor area for zoning purposes, a basement is a cunning approach to gain more floor space.
Important Things To Look Out For Before Buying A House
Before thinking about how much does a house cost in Japan, take note of these important things:
- Terms of the sale
- Buildable size
- Building height
- Street access
Conclusion
After examining Tokyo’s level of life, it’s now simple to answer the question “how much does a house cost in Japan” for anyone considering relocating to Tokyo. It is recommended that you take a vacation before opting to buy a house in Tokyo.
[elementor-template id=”13257″]