FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from foreign buyers researching Tokyo real estate.
Can foreigners buy property in Japan?
Yes. Japan places no restrictions on foreign property ownership. You do not need residency, a visa, or Japanese citizenship to purchase real estate. Non-residents can buy freehold property outright. Financing from Japanese banks is more limited without residency, but several lenders and international banks offer mortgage products to non-resident foreign buyers.
What is freehold property in Japan?
Freehold (所有権, shoyūken) means you own both the building and the land outright with no time limit. This is the strongest form of ownership and what most foreign buyers should target. The alternative — leasehold (借地権) — means you own the building but rent the land, with ongoing fees and a fixed-term contract. TokyoInvestor flags all leasehold listings clearly.
What is a rebuild restriction (再建築不可)?
Some Tokyo properties sit on land that cannot be demolished and rebuilt under current building codes — typically because the road frontage is narrower than the 2-metre minimum required by law. These properties often appear attractively priced but cannot be financed by most Japanese banks, cannot be demolished if structurally compromised, and have significantly limited resale markets. TokyoInvestor flags all rebuild-restricted listings.
How does the Pulse investment score work?
The Pulse score rates each listing from 0 to 100 across five signals: price per m² vs ward median (25 points), station walk time (20 points), building age and seismic era (20 points), ownership type — freehold vs leasehold (20 points), and rebuild permission (15 points). Scores of 70+ are Strong, 50–69 are Consider, under 50 are Caution. The full methodology is published at /pulse-methodology.
What are the short-term rental rules in Tokyo?
Japan's national Minpaku law (民泊新法) allows short-term rentals for up to 180 days per year. Individual wards impose varying additional restrictions — some limit STR to specific calendar periods, others have area-specific rules. TokyoInvestor displays ward-level STR guidance on every listing. Always verify with building management and local authorities before purchasing for rental purposes.
Where does TokyoInvestor's data come from?
TokyoInvestor aggregates public property listing data from multiple Japanese portals and enriches it with investment intelligence. Our database updates regularly and covers all 23 Tokyo wards. Ward benchmark data is sourced from market estimates and government transaction records. All estimates are clearly labelled.
How accurate is the data?
All listing data is sourced from public Japanese property portals. Investment scores, ward benchmarks and STR guidance are clearly labelled as estimates where applicable. We never present estimated data as verified fact. For any purchase decision, all data should be independently verified with a licensed real estate agent (宅建士) and a judicial scrivener (司法書士).
What is the difference between Free and Investor?
Free lets you browse the full map and see listing previews — enough to understand what exists in each ward and at what price level. The Investor tier ($290/year or $35/month) unlocks full listing detail, Pulse investment scores and breakdowns, price history charts, unlimited watchlist, and ward market intelligence. A 3-day full-access trial is available with the annual plan.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes, at any time. Cancel before your annual renewal and you won't be charged again. Monthly plans can be cancelled before the next billing date.
Do you work with real estate agents?
TokyoInvestor is an independent research tool with no commission relationship with any agent or portal. We are not a brokerage and do not participate in transaction fees. We plan to introduce connections to vetted, licensed Tokyo agents who specialise in foreign buyers — details to follow.