--- type: Marketing Page title: "The Japan Real Estate Summit, Autumn 2026: Programme and Speakers | AkiyaHub" description: The full programme, every speaker and the two AkiyaHub sessions from The Japan Real Estate Summit, Autumn 2026, at Tokyo International Forum on October 17 to 18, 2026. resource: https://akiyahub.com/summit/autumn-2026 tags: - akiyahub - japan-real-estate-summit - events - tokyo - japan-property status: stable stale_after: 2027-10-31 generated: by: process:akiyahub-public-markdown at: 2026-10-20T00:00:00Z sources: - resource: https://akiyahub.com/summit/autumn-2026 - resource: https://realestatejp.zaiko.io/en/e/japan-realestate-oct26 --- # Two days in Tokyo on buying property in Japan, and what actually works The Japan Real Estate Summit, Autumn 2026, Tokyo. On October 17 and 18, 2026, buyers, investors, operators and Japan-based professionals met at Tokyo International Forum for two days of practical talks and workshops on buying, owning, renovating and investing in property in Japan. Here is the full programme, every speaker, and the two AkiyaHub sessions. Thank you to everyone who joined us in the hall and on the livestream. Brett's talk will be posted on [akiyahub.com/summit](https://akiyahub.com/summit) when the recording is published. ## Table of Contents - [The summit at a glance](#the-summit-at-a-glance) - [Two sessions on the most expensive mistakes](#two-sessions-on-the-most-expensive-mistakes) - [Who was on stage](#who-was-on-stage) - [About The Japan Real Estate Summit](#about-the-japan-real-estate-summit) - [Full programme](#full-programme) - [Speakers](#speakers) - [Venue](#venue) - [Choose your next step](#choose-your-next-step) - [Related markdown](#related-markdown) - [Sources](#sources) - [Last verified](#last-verified) ## The summit at a glance - **Dates:** Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 October 2026, 10:00 to 18:00 JST. - **Venue:** Tokyo International Forum, Hall D (D5, 5th Floor), 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005. - **AkiyaHub sessions:** Brett Lee in the Main Room at 11:30 and Emily Kuno in the Breakout Room at 13:15, both on Saturday. - **Livestream:** Main Room talks on both days streamed live. Breakout Room workshops were in person only. - **Organised by:** RealEstate.jp, Nippon Tradings International, Tokyo Family Stays and Ark Reform. AkiyaHub was a speaking partner. ## Two sessions on the most expensive mistakes The costly errors in a Japan purchase happen early: expectations imported from another market, and a search that starts before the plan exists. Brett took the first on the main stage, and his talk was on the livestream. Emily took the second in the workshop room, in person. ### Western Expectations vs Japanese Mentality: Who Wins? **Brett Lee, CEO and Co-Founder, AkiyaHub.** Talk, Main Room, Saturday 17 October, 11:30 to 12:15 JST. On the livestream. Buying property in Japan is not just a search problem. It is a translation problem between expectations, systems, customs, risk, and reality. Foreign buyers arrive in Japan with expectations shaped by Western real estate markets. Japanese professionals operate inside systems, norms, and risk profiles that evolved for a domestic market. When those two forces meet, who actually wins, and at whose expense? Brett examines what happens at that collision point: where expectations clash, where they might align, and what really breaks down when foreigners try to buy and own homes in Japan. What the session covered: - Where Western buyer expectations and Japanese practice collide, and where they quietly agree - What actually breaks down when a foreigner buys and owns a home in Japan - How to walk into a Japanese transaction with expectations the other side can work with Brett Lee is an entrepreneur and technologist who builds companies and systems around complex problems. As CEO and Co-Founder of AkiyaHub, he leads the company's technology, product, and strategy. Originally from the United States and now based in Japan, Brett brings a systems-driven approach to making difficult, cross-border experiences simpler and more accessible for everyday people. ### Step Zero: Before the Hunt **Emily Kuno, Advisor, AkiyaHub.** Workshop, Breakout Room, Saturday 17 October, 13:15 to 14:00 JST. In person only. Most people looking for a home in Japan start with listings. That is usually too early. In this practical workshop, Emily Kuno leads attendees through Step Zero: deciding why you want a home in Japan, how you will actually use it, which regions fit that lifestyle, what to budget, and what ownership will require when you are away. What the session covered: - Why you want a home in Japan, written down before you open a single listing - How you will really use it, and which regions fit that life - What to budget, and what ownership asks of you while you are away Emily Kuno is an Advisor at AkiyaHub who has worked directly with hundreds of international buyers as they consider homes in Japan. She helps members turn broad ideas about living, spending time, or building a life in Japan into concrete criteria and a realistic plan, guiding them from their earliest "Should I do this?" questions through to a confident purchase decision. ## Who was on stage AkiyaHub is an English-first platform for finding, buying, and owning a home in Japan. It brings together education, property search and market tools, purchase support, and long-term ownership services in one place, supported by a nationwide network of 300+ Japanese professionals and service partners. AkiyaHub's mission is simple: make owning a home in Japan practical and accessible for people around the world. On stage, Brett and Emily brought what that network sees every week: where foreign buyers lose money, where they lose months, and what the people who did it well decided before they started looking. - **300+** Japanese professionals and service partners in the network behind every member. - **65,000+** members around the world, most of them outside Japan. - **1** place for education, search tools, purchase support and long-term ownership services. ## About The Japan Real Estate Summit Two days that replaced guesswork with people who do this work every day. Mortgages, renovation budgets, holding structures, exit strategy, hospitality returns, condo financing, compliance and visas: the summit put the practitioners for each of them in one hall, with time for questions from the floor. What the two days covered: - Expert talks and panel discussions from top voices in Japanese real estate - Actionable guidance on purchasing, renovating, financing and managing property - Insights into akiya, family stays, rentals and retirement planning - Opportunities to connect with trusted service providers and fellow investors - Networking in an international, English-friendly environment Who it was for: - Foreign buyers and investors interested in Japan - Current property owners seeking better returns or smoother operations - Entrepreneurs, expats and future residents planning a move to Japan - Anyone curious about how Japan's real estate market really works ## Full programme Main Room talks and Breakout Room workshops ran side by side, and the two AkiyaHub sessions are marked. Main Room talks on both days streamed live. Breakout Room workshops were in person only. Times are Japan Standard Time. ### Saturday, 17 October 2026 | Time | Room | Session | Speakers | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 10:00 to 10:30 | All | Registration and kick-off | | | 10:30 to 10:45 | All | Agenda review and orientation | | | 10:45 to 11:30 | Main Room | 50-Year Mortgages and 1% Interest Rates | Emil Gorgees, RealEstate.jp | | 11:30 to 12:15 | Main Room | **Western Expectations vs Japanese Mentality: Who Wins?** (AkiyaHub) | Brett Lee, AkiyaHub | | 11:30 to 12:15 | Breakout Room | What Makes a Good House in Tokyo? | Emil Gorgees, RealEstate.jp | | 12:15 to 13:15 | All | Lunch and free time | | | 13:15 to 14:00 | Main Room | The Struggles of Renovating Older Japanese Homes | Blanka Kobayashi, Ark Reform | | 13:15 to 14:00 | Breakout Room | **Step Zero: Before the Hunt** (AkiyaHub) | Emily Kuno, AkiyaHub | | 14:00 to 14:45 | Main Room | Why You Should Not Put Your Multi-Unit Investment Under Your Own Name | Alicia Qin Wang, Axolotl Capital | | 14:00 to 14:45 | Breakout Room | Which Materials Should I Use for My Renovation? | Blanka Kobayashi, Ark Reform | | 14:45 to 15:15 | All | Free time | | | 15:15 to 16:00 | Main Room | Japan's Boutique Hospitality Market: A Regional Snapshot | Chai Kanda and Ben Howard, Shiki Properties | | 15:15 to 16:00 | Breakout Room | How to Leverage Bank Loans for Your Investment Properties | Alicia Qin Wang, Axolotl Capital | | 16:00 to 16:45 | All | Experts Q&A panel | | | 18:00 to 20:00 | All | Gala dinner | | ### Sunday, 18 October 2026 | Time | Room | Session | Speakers | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 10:00 to 10:15 | All | Registration and orientation | | | 10:15 to 11:00 | Main Room | Entering the Market with Exit in Mind | Ziv Nakajima-Magen, Nippon Tradings International | | 10:15 to 11:00 | Breakout Room | Boutique Hotel Investment Case Studies: Using Leverage to Enhance Returns | Yi Zhang, Shiki Properties | | 11:00 to 11:45 | Main Room | Booked in a Crowded Market | Tracey Northcott, Tokyo Family Stays | | 11:00 to 11:45 | Breakout Room | JRE Deal Analysis Studio: Product Updates and Demo | Ziv Nakajima-Magen and Jerome Marley | | 11:45 to 12:30 | Main Room | What AI Operations Actually Do to the Bottom Line | Sana Bhandari, SympleHost | | 11:45 to 12:30 | Breakout Room | The 30-Minute AI Makeover | Tracey Northcott, Tokyo Family Stays | | 12:30 to 13:30 | All | Lunch and free time | | | 13:30 to 14:15 | Main Room | Any Purpose. Any Residency Status. Any Major City. Financing Your Japan Condo | Wyatt Beck, YEN LOANS | | 13:30 to 15:00 | Breakout Room | Introduction to GoMinpaku | Max Delvita and Dave Singh, SympleHost | | 15:00 to 15:30 | All | Free time | | | 15:30 to 16:15 | Main Room | Beyond the Business Manager Visa: Entrepreneur Solutions | Hiroto Senda, immigration lawyer | | 15:30 to 16:15 | Breakout Room | Your Individual Borrowing Scenario | Wyatt Beck, YEN LOANS | | 16:15 to 17:00 | All | Experts Q&A panel | | | 17:00 to 17:45 | All | Goodbyes and photo ops | | | 18:00 to 20:00 | All | The afterparty | | ## Speakers Agents, lenders, renovators, hosts, operators and platform builders who work with foreign buyers and owners in Japan every day, with AkiyaHub first. - **Brett Lee, CEO and Co-Founder, AkiyaHub.** Entrepreneur and technologist who builds companies and systems around complex problems. Leads AkiyaHub's technology, product, and strategy. Originally from the United States and now based in Japan. - **Emily Kuno, Advisor, AkiyaHub.** Has worked directly with hundreds of international buyers as they consider homes in Japan, turning broad ideas about living in Japan into concrete criteria and a realistic plan. - **Emil Gorgees, Founder and CEO, RealEstate.jp.** A Tokyo real estate agent who specializes in helping foreign and mixed families find their perfect family home. Australian, two decades in Japan, 11 years actively buying, selling and managing property in the city. Also acts as a mortgage broker for his clients. - **Blanka Kobayashi, CEO and Co-Founder, Ark Reform.** Leads ARK Reform, a bilingual renovation and remodeling company serving the Kanto region, helping homeowners and business owners navigate renovation projects with clarity, transparency, and confidence. - **Tracey Northcott, Founder, Tokyo Family Stays.** Serial entrepreneur based in Tokyo and one of the most successful Airbnb hosts in the city. Also runs the software company Enfour with her family and Tracey Northcott Consulting, helping other hosts maximise their short-term rental businesses. - **Ziv Nakajima-Magen, Co-founder, Nippon Tradings International.** Co-founded NTI in 2011 to help foreigners research, source, acquire and manage real estate anywhere in Japan, with a focus on investment properties and holiday homes. Also co-founder and COO of Nippon Bridge. - **Alicia Qin Wang, Managing Partner, Axolotl Capital.** Seasoned real estate investor in the US and Japan who helps foreign investors acquire cash-flowing properties and obtain loans from Japanese banks. Holds law degrees from Japan and the US, and is a licensed attorney, real estate agent and loan officer in the US. - **Chai Kanda, Founder and CEO, Shiki Properties.** Kyoto-based real estate expert and serial entrepreneur helping foreigners invest in and manage traditional Japanese properties. Founded Shiki Properties in 2014, now one of Kyoto's most internationally friendly real estate and property management firms. - **Wyatt Beck, Head of Sales, YEN LOANS.** Leads loan origination and execution for borrowers investing in Japanese real estate. Former broker in residential and hospitality investment sales, US Navy veteran and graduate of Temple University Japan. - **Sana Bhandari, Co-Founder, SympleHost.** Co-founder of SympleHost, an AI co-host for short-term rentals. UX leader with over a decade at foodpanda, DBS, and GovTech, now working directly with hosts across Japan and Southeast Asia. - **Max Delvita, CEO and Co-Founder, SympleHost.** Senior product leader with 15+ years across fintech, hospitality technology, and startups, including Chief Product Officer at MoneySmart and founder of AI startups. - **Dave Singh, Co-Founder and CTO, SympleHost.** Technology leader with fourteen years building complex software systems. Leads the engineering behind SympleHost's AI operations platform, including channel connections, automation, reporting and government-format compliance outputs. Also leading sessions: Ben Howard (Shiki Properties), Yi Zhang (Shiki Properties), Jerome Marley (JRE Deal Analysis Studio) and Hiroto Senda (immigration lawyer). ## Venue Tokyo International Forum, Hall D (D5, 5th Floor). 3-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005. Glass, steel and a five-minute walk from Tokyo Station, in the middle of Marunouchi. [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Tokyo+International+Forum+3-5-1+Marunouchi+Chiyoda+City+Tokyo) ## Choose your next step The summit is over. The expensive mistakes are the same. A wrong region, a budget built from listing prices, a renovation scoped from photographs, an ownership plan with nobody to open the door while you are away: most of them are decided before the search starts, and that is where AkiyaHub members start too. - [Create a free AkiyaHub account](https://akiyahub.com/jointhecommunity) - [Brett's talk recording](https://akiyahub.com/summit#recording), posted when it is published - [See how buying a house in Japan works](https://akiyahub.com/how-to-buy-a-house-in-japan) ## Related markdown - [Thank you from AkiyaHub: The Japan Real Estate Summit](/md/summit.md) - [How to Buy a House in Japan](/md/how-it-works.md) - [Reviews and customer stories](/md/proof.md) - [AkiyaHub overview](/md/home.md) ## Sources - Live page: [https://akiyahub.com/summit/autumn-2026](https://akiyahub.com/summit/autumn-2026) - Organisers' published programme and speaker profiles (resource listed in the front matter sources) ## Last verified 2026-10-20