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Mount Fuji rising above Lake Ashi in Hakone, Japan

Cities, prefectures, and buyer resources

Where to Buy a House in Japan. Start with the place and the plan.

Compare city prices, home types, local checks, and buyer resources. Then use the free Snapshot to see where your full budget has the strongest fit.

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4.8Google rating50,000+in the AkiyaHub community300+vetted partners47prefecturesRead verified reviews

Eight places to start

Compare eight popular places to buy

See what each market offers, which home types your budget can reach, where to focus, and what to check before you make an offer.

The Shinjuku skyline of central Tokyo at sunset

Tokyo

Tokyo

2026 Q1 median · ¥45.8M · about US$294K

Compare central wards, family neighborhoods, outer cities, modern condos, and detached homes across the capital.

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Minato Mirai waterfront and skyline in Yokohama

Kanagawa

Yokohama

2026 Q3 median · ¥38M · about US$244K

Yokohama gives buyers a large city market with waterfront towers, established rail suburbs, and detached homes toward the western wards.

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Osaka Castle above the trees in central Osaka

Osaka

Osaka City

2026 Q3 median · ¥36M · about US$231K

Osaka City is a dense, rail-rich market where compact condos, row houses, and family homes can sit within a few stops of major business districts.

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Kyoto city roofs and mountains viewed from above

Kyoto

Kyoto City

2026 Q3 median · ¥25M · about US$161K

Kyoto City rewards a ward-by-ward search. Historic streets, university districts, mountain edges, and modern rail corridors create very different price and renovation profiles.

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Nagoya Station skyline viewed across the city

Aichi

Nagoya

2026 Q3 median · ¥25M · about US$161K

Nagoya offers a major-city economy with a broad residential footprint. Central condos, eastern family districts, and outer wards with detached homes create clear budget choices.

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Sapporo skyline with mountains beyond the city

Hokkaido

Sapporo

2026 Q3 median · ¥25M · about US$161K

Sapporo combines a gridded urban core, subway suburbs, large family homes, and a winter climate that makes insulation, heating, snow access, and management quality central purchase issues.

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Seaside Momochi skyline in Fukuoka City

Fukuoka

Fukuoka City

2026 Q3 median · ¥34M · about US$219K

Fukuoka City puts an international airport, a compact business center, beaches, and family suburbs within one municipal market. Central condo prices and outer-ward house prices tell different stories.

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Kobe harbor and waterfront skyline

Hyogo

Kobe

2026 Q3 median · ¥25M · about US$161K

Kobe stretches from a dense harbor core to hillside neighborhoods, suburban rail corridors, and northern districts with more land. Terrain and station access drive the comparison.

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See which of these markets fit my budget

USD amounts are estimates using the cached September 18, 2026 reference rate of ¥155.52 per US$1.

Popular cities across Japan

Explore popular cities across Japan

Start with a city that fits the way you want to live, visit, or invest. Then compare local homes, prices, and neighborhoods.

Filter city guides by region

USD amounts are estimates using the cached September 18, 2026 reference rate of ¥155.52 per US$1.

16 published location guides

Go deeper before you choose an area

Compare wards, nearby cities, rail access, housing, daily life, and the tradeoffs that can change where you buy.

Compare the wider market

Compare all 47 prefectures before you choose a city.

Compare every prefecture by region, access, climate, home type, and budget. Open 16 full guides for local prices, areas, and purchase checks.

Prefecture Buying Guide

Build the full buying plan

Use the right guide for your next decision

Move from location and budget to purchase steps, rental rules, renovation, and care after closing.

Houses for Sale in Japan

Browse homes on the market now by price band and type across Japan, with current asking prices.

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How Much Does a House Cost in Japan?

Active asking prices by prefecture and city, purchase costs above the price, and what your budget can buy.

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How Buying Works

Follow the purchase path from first budget check to local due diligence and closing.

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Can Your Budget Buy a Home?

See how the full budget changes the property type and location you can reach.

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Airbnb in Japan

Understand the rules, management needs, and demand limits before you buy for short stays.

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Vacation Homes

Plan a Japan home around how often you will visit, who will use it, and how it will be cared for while you are away.

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Home Stewardship

Arrange local care, checks, and coordination while you are away from your Japan home.

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Interior Design

See how your rooms can work before you commit to furniture, finishes, and renovation choices.

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Articles and Buyer Guides

Read practical explanations for ownership, taxes, locations, homes, and daily life.

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Buyer Stories

See how real AkiyaHub members moved from an idea to a home in Japan.

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Three decisions before you browse

Turn a broad Japan search into a useful shortlist

01

Which place fits the life I want in Japan?

Choose the daily life first: city access, family use, coast, mountains, work, or regular holidays. Then compare places that support that plan.

02

What can I spend on the home itself?

Start with the full budget. Allow for taxes, legal work, registration, inspections, insurance, repairs, and furnishing before you set the home-price target.

03

Which compromise could give me more choice?

A nearby area, different home type, smaller size, or more renovation flexibility can change the result. The free Snapshot shows which change matters most.

Frequently asked questions

Buying a house in Japan, answered plainly

Can foreigners buy a house in Japan?

Foreign buyers can generally own land, houses, and condominiums in Japan. Residency and a visa are not standard purchase requirements, but ownership does not grant immigration status.

How much money do I need to buy a house in Japan?

The answer depends on the city, property type, condition, and access. Keep part of the full budget for taxes, legal work, registration, inspections, insurance, repairs, and furnishing.

Where should I start my Japan property search?

Start with how you will use the home, then compare cities and prefectures against the full budget. AkiyaHub’s free Snapshot can show where your plan has strong, possible, or limited options.

Can I buy a condominium as well as a detached house?

Yes. AkiyaHub members buy modern condominiums, new and older houses, suburban family homes, resort apartments, and traditional properties across Japan.

Does buying a house in Japan give me a visa?

No. Property ownership and immigration status are separate. Buy only after you have a realistic plan for visits, residence, management, financing, and ongoing costs.

Start with your best-fit markets

See where your full budget fits in Japan.

Get your strongest areas, realistic home-price range, and useful alternatives. It is free, and no sales call is required.

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Photo credits

9 photographs from Wikimedia Commons, used under their respective licences.