Shoyuken (freehold ownership)

Shoyuken is outright freehold ownership: you own the asset in perpetuity, with no expiry, no renewal, and no government permission needed to sell. It is the gold standard you want on a Japanese property, and it applies to foreign nationals on exactly the same legal footing as Japanese nationals. Your shoyuken is recorded in the Ownership Section of the property register, and registration is what protects you against rival claims. The key thing to verify before you offer: that you're getting shoyuken over both the building and the land beneath it — not the weaker shakuchiken (leasehold land right), which looks similar on a listing but is a very different deal.