The words the listings won't translate.

An akiya is a vacant or abandoned Japanese house, often rural and cheap but rarely the bargain headlines suggest.

Japan's binding property purchase contract, signed after the disclosure statement; its clauses fix your financial exposure.

Net operating income divided by property value: a financing-neutral measure of an asset's return that Japanese agents rarely quote.

Annual pre-tax cash flow divided by total cash invested: what your actual equity earns once a loan is in play.

Chukai-tesuryo is the agent's brokerage commission, legally capped at about one month's rent plus tax for rentals.

Listing shorthand for a property within a short walk of a train station — the single biggest driver of liquidity.

A company you pay to guarantee your rent, now required on most Tokyo leases and the standard route for foreign tenants.

Hyomen-rimawari is the gross yield on every Japanese listing — annual rent over price, with zero costs and 100% occupancy assumed.

The annualized total return that ties together purchase, every year's cash flow, and the sale, accounting for timing.

An exchange-listed Japanese real estate trust that lets you own Tokyo property exposure as a liquid security.

A property where a death or serious incident occurred, which the agent must disclose and which trades at a discount.

Jisshitsu-rimawari is net yield — rent after real operating costs and vacancy, divided by your all-in cost including purchase fees.

Your officially registered personal seal, used to sign binding documents like the purchase contract and registration papers.

The tax on profit when you sell property, with a much higher rate if you've owned it five years or less.

Your official proof-of-address record from city hall, required for registration, loans, and rental applications.

A Japanese residential mortgage for an owner-occupied home, with low rates but strict residency and income screening.

The juyo-jiko-setsumeisho is Japan's mandatory pre-contract disclosure, explained to you by a licensed agent before you sign.

The monthly fee every condo owner pays for shared building upkeep — cleaning, lighting, elevator, staff, insurance.

The legal cap on a building's footprint relative to lot size, controlling how much of a plot the structure can cover.

Japan's annual property tax, charged on the official assessed value, owed by whoever owns on January 1.

The loan amount as a percentage of the property's value; it sets how much cash you must put down.

A reinforced-concrete condominium building — not a luxury mansion, just the standard durable apartment type.

Japan's lightest legal route to run an Airbnb-style short-term rental, capped at 180 guest-nights a year.

Reikin is a non-refundable 'gift' to your landlord at lease signing, typically one to two months' rent, for which you get nothing back.

A human co-signer with joint-and-several liability for your lease — the landlord can demand the full amount from them first.

The full lodging license under Japan's hotel/ryokan law, with no day cap but heavy facility and zoning requirements.

The right to use leased land you don't own — you may own the building, but pay ground rent on the land.

A licensed legal specialist who files your ownership registration at settlement; ownership cannot transfer without one.

Shikikin is your refundable rental security deposit, usually one to two months' rent, minus cleaning and repair costs at move-out.

Full freehold title to land and building, held indefinitely — the strongest form of ownership in Japan.

A monthly contribution into the building's savings pot for big future repairs like exterior, roof, and plumbing.

A takken-shi is Japan's licensed real estate transaction specialist, legally required to deliver the Important Matters explanation.

A leasehold land right with a hard end date — typically 50+ years — after which the land returns to the owner.

The 5-10% deposit paid at contract signing; you forfeit it if you walk, the seller pays double if they do.

The annual ceiling under Japan's minpaku law: a registered short-term rental may host paying guests at most 180 nights per calendar year.

Japan's official property register recording ownership and mortgages — registering first is what secures your title.

A separate special-zone license that lets you run a short-term rental 365 days a year, with no 180-day cap.

A small extra annual tax bundled with property tax, charged on property inside designated urban zones.

The traditional Japanese area unit equal to about 3.3 square meters, still used to quote land and price-per-area.

The legal cap on total floor area relative to lot size, which sets how much building a plot of land can hold.

The ID card for foreign residents staying over three months; landlords, lenders, and city hall all check it.