In depth · Property
Buying property in Tokyo: how foreign buyers buy
The rules for buying a home in Tokyo as a foreigner. It is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Updated October 2026
What a foreigner may own
Land and buildings, freehold, on the same terms as Japanese buyers in general. Your lawyer can confirm whether any special rule applies to a particular plot.
Licensed agents
Agents are licensed under the Real Estate Brokerage Act, administered by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and must give you a written explanation of the important matters of the property before you sign.
Registration
Ownership is registered at the Legal Affairs Bureau; a judicial scrivener (shihō shoshi) usually handles the filing.
The non-resident report
Buyers who are not resident in Japan file a report after the purchase under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act. Ask your lawyer about the deadline and the form.
Where people live
See our property guide for Azabu, Hiroo and Roppongi, Aoyama and Daikanyama, Banchō, Akasaka and Toranomon, and the bay. We don’t publish prices or yields.
Questions and answers
Can foreigners buy property in Tokyo?
Yes: Japan places no general nationality restriction on buying land or homes, which are owned freehold.
Do I need to live in Japan to buy?
No, but non-residents file a post-purchase report under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act.
General information only, not legal or tax advice. Confirm every step with a Japanese lawyer or judicial scrivener.