Start Here

New to Japanese property? Read these, in order.

We have 100+ articles, but you don't need all of them yet. This is the path we'd hand a friend who just asked "could I actually buy a place in Tokyo?" — the opportunity first, the how-to next, the numbers last.

Get the free buyer's guide

The guided path

  1. Start with why Japan is mispriced

    INSIDER TAKE

    Why the World Keeps Underestimating Tokyo

    The global narrative says Japan is in decline. The on-the-ground reality in Tokyo says otherwise — and the gap between the two is where the opportunity sits.

    Mei Nakamura · 7 min read

  2. Can a foreigner even buy here?

    BUYING & FINANCE

    Can Foreigners Buy Property in Japan? The Honest 2026 Answer From a Tokyo Insider

    Yes, foreigners can buy property in Japan with zero restrictions. A Tokyo-based insider explains what's actually true, what the catch is, and what…

    Aya Sato · 5 min read

  3. The whole process, start to finish

    BUYING & FINANCE

    The Complete Beginner's Roadmap to Buying Property in Japan (Start Here)

    A Tokyo-based insider walks you through every step of buying Japanese property as a foreigner — from first search to title deed.

    Aya Sato · 7 min read

  4. What it actually costs

    BUYING & FINANCE

    The True All-In Cost of Buying a Tokyo Apartment: Every Fee, Tax and Line Item

    A complete, itemized breakdown of what it actually costs to buy a Tokyo apartment — agent commission, registration tax, acquisition tax, stamp duty, scrivener fees — with a worked example on a real price.

    Aya Sato · 7 min read

  5. How financing works for foreigners

    BUYING & FINANCE

    How Foreigners Actually Get a Mortgage in Japan: Work Visa, PR, or Non-Resident

    A Tokyo-based insider breaks down Japanese mortgage approval into three borrower tracks — permanent resident, work visa, and non-resident abroad — with the lenders, down payments, and documents each one actually needs.

    Kenji Tanaka · 5 min read

  6. Where the value is, ward by ward

    WARDS & MARKETS

    The Central Five Wards Ranked: Price/sqm, Yield, and Liquidity Side by Side

    A Tokyo-based insider ranks Minato, Chiyoda, Chuo, Shibuya & Shinjuku wards on price per sqm, gross yield, and exit liquidity for foreign…

    Mei Nakamura · 6 min read

  7. Read the yield honestly

    STRATEGY & YIELD

    Gross vs Net Yield in Japan: Why That 8% Becomes 4.1% After You Pay for Everything

    That 8% gross yield on Japanese listing sites hides costs that cut returns in half. Here's every deduction, line by line, from gross to net yield in Japan.

    Kenji Tanaka · 6 min read

  8. The mistakes that cost foreigners most

    BUYING & FINANCE

    The Mistakes Foreign Buyers Make in Tokyo (and the Disclosure Lines That Catch Them)

    The expensive errors foreign buyers make in Tokyo property deals, mapped to the exact disclosure and contract lines that catch them — and how to read each one before you sign.

    Aya Sato · 7 min read