Japan real estate for sale, in English

Yes. Japanese real estate for foreigners works the same as it does for citizens — you get identical ownership rights, with no extra fees, no visa requirements, no renovation mandates, and no minimum stay rules.

Japan's property taxes are very low. Fixed Asset Tax and City Planning Tax together usually total around 1.7% of the assessed value. For affordable homes, annual taxes can be as low as $600 USD.

Not necessarily. While visiting is recommended, our bilingual partner realtors can handle much of the process remotely, including property viewings via video call and paperwork assistance.

Yes, but rules vary dramatically by city. Nationally, minpaku (short-term rentals) are capped at 180 days/year. On top of that, cities add their own restrictions — Osaka bans it in residential zones, Kyoto allows only ~60 days/year, and Sapporo limits it to weekends only. Owner-occupied properties often get exemptions. Use our Zoning / Airbnb eligibility layer on the Pro plan to check rules for any property.

No. Buying property does not grant residency, a visa, or citizenship. However, owning property can support certain visa applications.

Usually only if you live in Japan. Japanese banks mostly lend to permanent residents or long-term residents with steady local income. Non-residents rarely qualify, so most overseas buyers pay cash or borrow against assets in their home country.

Budget roughly 6–10% of the price. The main items are the agent's commission (capped by law at 3% + ¥60,000 plus consumption tax on most sales; low-priced vacant homes up to ¥8M can carry a flat fee of up to ¥330,000 including tax), registration and license tax, real estate acquisition tax, stamp duty on the contract, and a judicial scrivener's fee to register ownership. Fixed fees make the percentage higher on very cheap akiya.

Sometimes. Under Japan's Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, a non-resident who buys property for investment, rental, or other non-residential use must report it to the Minister of Finance through the Bank of Japan within 20 days, in Japanese. A Japan-based agent can file it. Homes bought as a residence for yourself, your relatives, or your employees are exempt. Since April 1, 2026, buying from another non-resident no longer counts as an exemption.