Get all the data you need about the real estate market in Japan
This article is updated regularly to make sure you always get the most accurate and current picture of the Japan housing market.
House prices in Japan vary enormously depending on where you look, from ultra-expensive Tokyo wards to surprisingly affordable regional cities.
Whether you are eyeing a property in central Tokyo or exploring options in Osaka or Fukuoka, this guide will help you understand what houses actually cost in Japan in 2026.
And if you're planning to buy a property in Japan, you may want to download our real estate pack about Japan.
A quick summary table
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Most expensive neighborhood for houses in Japan | Minato (Tokyo) |
| Most affordable neighborhood for houses in Japan | Sapporo Toyohira |
| Average price per square meter across Japan neighborhoods | Around 820,000 yen |
| Median house price across Japan | Around 96 million yen |
| Lowest realistic starting budget to buy a house in Japan | 35 million yen (Sapporo Toyohira) |
| Most expensive house type in Japan by bedroom count | Four-bedroom houses |
| Most affordable house type in Japan by bedroom count | Two-bedroom houses |
| Average price for a two-bedroom house in Japan | Around 74 million yen |
| Average price for a three-bedroom house in Japan | Around 96 million yen |
| Average price for a four-bedroom house in Japan | Around 130 million yen |
| Price gap between the most and least expensive Japan neighborhood | 170 million yen (Minato vs. Sapporo Toyohira) |
| Price spread across Japan neighborhoods covered | From 35 million yen to 220 million yen (median) |
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Japan neighborhoods in 2026 ranked by house purchase price
This table ranks the top neighborhoods in the Japan housing market by house purchase price, from the most expensive to the most affordable.
For each neighborhood, the table includes the average price per square meter, the median property price, the starting budget, the average price for a two-bedroom house, a three-bedroom house, and a four-bedroom house, the typical buyer profile, the key advantages, the key drawbacks, and the market segment.
Finally, please note you will find much more detailed data in our real estate pack about Japan.
| Rank | Neighborhood | Average Price per Square Meter | Median Property Price | Starting Budget | Average Price for a Two-Bedroom House | Average Price for a Three-Bedroom House | Average Price for a Four-Bedroom House | Typical Buyers | Key Pros | Key Cons | Market Segment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minato (Tokyo) | 1,600,000 yen | 220 million yen | 150 million yen | 160 million yen | 220 million yen | 300 million yen | Ultra-wealthy families and international buyers looking for central Tokyo prestige | Japan's most prestigious address, excellent proximity to embassies and international schools, and strong long-term land value stability | Prices are extremely high, standalone houses are rare to find, and land plots tend to be small for the price paid | Luxury |
| 2 | Shibuya (Tokyo) | 1,500,000 yen | 200 million yen | 140 million yen | 150 million yen | 200 million yen | 280 million yen | Global executives and high-income professionals wanting a central Tokyo lifestyle | One of Tokyo's most connected and desirable locations, with strong resale demand and excellent transport links | Traffic noise and congestion are common, and detached house inventory is very limited and competitive | Luxury |
| 3 | Meguro (Tokyo) | 1,250,000 yen | 160 million yen | 110 million yen | 130 million yen | 160 million yen | 220 million yen | Affluent Tokyo professionals seeking a quieter upscale residential area | A calm and prestigious neighborhood close to Shibuya, with strong buyer demand and a genuinely upscale residential feel | Available land is very limited, and rising prices over recent years have reduced accessibility for many buyers | Premium |
| 4 | Setagaya (Tokyo) | 1,200,000 yen | 150 million yen | 100 million yen | 120 million yen | 150 million yen | 200 million yen | Family buyers upgrading to more space within the greater Tokyo area | Spacious and green residential environment with good schools, parks, and strong family-oriented demand | Still expensive by any standard, and commuting into central Tokyo can take longer than from more central wards | Premium |
| 5 | Kichijoji (Tokyo) | 950,000 yen | 110 million yen | 80 million yen | 90 million yen | 110 million yen | 150 million yen | Lifestyle-focused families who want a vibrant neighborhood with great amenities | Consistently ranked among Japan's most liveable areas, with parks, great shops, and a strong community feel | Supply is limited and prices have been rising fast, making it a very competitive market for buyers | Premium |
| 6 | Yokohama (Kanagawa) | 800,000 yen | 90 million yen | 60 million yen | 70 million yen | 90 million yen | 120 million yen | Commuter families looking for larger houses at a lower cost than central Tokyo | More space for your money, a seaside lifestyle, and solid train connections into Tokyo | Commute times into central Tokyo are longer, and some pockets have older housing stock that may need updating | Mid-Market |
| 7 | Osaka Kita Ward | 750,000 yen | 85 million yen | 60 million yen | 70 million yen | 85 million yen | 115 million yen | Urban professionals who want to live close to Osaka's main business and commercial hub | Strong economic activity, excellent public transport connections, and genuine urban convenience | Land plots tend to be smaller, and detached house availability is more limited than in suburban Osaka | Mid-Market |
| 8 | Kawasaki (Kanagawa) | 700,000 yen | 80 million yen | 55 million yen | 65 million yen | 80 million yen | 110 million yen | Value-focused commuters who want Tokyo access without paying Tokyo prices | Good access to central Tokyo, improving infrastructure, and relatively affordable house prices compared to Tokyo wards | Industrial zones in some areas and mixed neighborhood quality depending on the specific district | Mid-Market |
| 9 | Osaka Suita | 600,000 yen | 70 million yen | 50 million yen | 55 million yen | 70 million yen | 95 million yen | Suburban Osaka families who prioritize schools, space, and a quieter residential environment | Calm suburban atmosphere, good school options, and family-friendly urban planning | Less urban energy than Osaka's central wards, and most daily needs require commuting by train or car | Mid-Market |
| 10 | Nagoya Chikusa | 550,000 yen | 65 million yen | 45 million yen | 50 million yen | 65 million yen | 90 million yen | Local Nagoya families looking for a stable and reasonably priced residential area | Balanced pricing, good education zones, and stable house demand driven by local buyers | Limited international buyer appeal and slower capital growth compared to Tokyo or Osaka | Affordable |
| 11 | Fukuoka Chuo Ward | 500,000 yen | 60 million yen | 40 million yen | 45 million yen | 60 million yen | 85 million yen | Young professionals and growing families attracted by Fukuoka's expanding economy | One of Japan's fastest-growing cities, with strong population growth, good affordability, and an improving job market | Land plots in central zones are becoming smaller, and competition among buyers has increased noticeably in recent years | Affordable |
| 12 | Sapporo Toyohira | 400,000 yen | 50 million yen | 35 million yen | 40 million yen | 50 million yen | 70 million yen | First-time buyers and budget-conscious families looking for large houses at the lowest realistic cost in Japan | Japan's most affordable major city house market, with generous land plots and a genuinely good quality of life | Cold winters, slower long-term price growth, and a thinner resale market than more populated cities | Budget |
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Key insights about house purchase prices in Japan
Insights
- Tokyo's Minato ward costs more than four times as much per square meter as Osaka Suita, which shows just how extreme the gap is between Japan's top addresses and its suburban markets.
- Japan house prices drop by roughly 40 to 50 percent the moment you move from central Tokyo wards into commuter suburbs like Yokohama or Kawasaki, without losing much in terms of train access.
- Even Japan's most affordable premium suburb, Setagaya, still has a median house price of 150 million yen, which shows how deep Tokyo's premium goes beyond just the central wards.
- Fukuoka's house market stands out among Japan's regional cities because strong population growth is pushing prices up, yet entry budgets are still around 40 million yen.
- In Japan, a four-bedroom house typically costs close to double what a two-bedroom house costs in the same neighborhood, making bedroom count one of the biggest price drivers after location.
- Land value is the main driver of Japan house pricing, especially in Tokyo, where the land itself often represents the majority of the total purchase price.
- Sapporo offers Japan's most affordable house market by a clear margin, but buyers should factor in slower price growth and a colder climate before committing.
- Kichijoji is a notable outlier in Tokyo's market: it consistently ranks among Japan's most desirable places to live, and its prices have been rising faster than many comparable Tokyo areas.
- Osaka house prices remain significantly lower than equivalent Tokyo areas, meaning Osaka Kita Ward at 85 million yen median compares to Setagaya at 150 million yen for a broadly similar urban experience.
- Japan's entry-level house market starts at around 35 million yen in Sapporo and climbs to 150 million yen just for the starting budget in Minato, a range that spans four times over across the same country.
- International buyers interested in Japan real estate concentrate almost entirely in a handful of central Tokyo wards, meaning demand pressure in Minato and Shibuya comes partly from outside Japan's domestic buyer pool.
- Japan's mid-market segment, covering cities like Yokohama, Kawasaki, and Osaka Suita, consistently delivers the best balance between house size, commute time, and total price paid.
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About our methodology
Our goal is to give you accurate, up-to-date Japan house price data that you can actually use when making a buying decision. We focus on residential houses only, not apartments or condominiums, and we cover a broad range of neighborhoods from central Tokyo to regional cities.
We also believe it is important to show our reasoning. It is one of the ways we make our work solid, transparent, and rigorous, just as you will see in our real estate pack about Japan.
First, please note that this data is updated regularly, so what you see here reflects the current values as of today.
In order to get reliable data, we applied a strict source filter. We only used authoritative, verifiable sources, not random listings or unsupported figures. More on that point below.
For each Japan neighborhood, we aggregated the freshest house purchase price data available. When possible, we cross-checked multiple sources to confirm the same price range.
This allowed us to estimate the average price per square meter and the median property price for each neighborhood in Japan.
We also calculated the starting budget, which represents the lowest realistic entry point to buy a house in that neighborhood. This is not the cheapest possible listing, but a real, achievable floor for a standard house purchase in Japan.
For each house category, we estimated an average purchase price based on local Japan market conventions. The typical size and layout of a two-bedroom, a three-bedroom, and a four-bedroom house can vary across Japan neighborhoods, so we adapted our estimates accordingly.
These estimates were not applied as one flat number across Japan. They were adjusted by neighborhood and house type to better reflect local ownership conditions and price levels.
This table should therefore be read as a structured market estimate, not as an exact guarantee of transaction prices. Honesty, quality, and rigor are at the core of our work, and they are also what you will find in our real estate pack about Japan.
What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it is in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our real estate pack about Japan, we rely on verifiable sources and a transparent methodology.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we have listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it is reliable | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) | Japan's official government body that publishes national land price surveys and residential transaction data. | We used MLIT land price surveys and housing transaction records to anchor our price-per-square-meter estimates. We then used these benchmarks to compare prices across neighborhoods and cities. |
| Real Estate Information Network System (REINS) | Japan's official real estate transaction registry, used by licensed professionals nationwide. | We used REINS resale transaction data to estimate median house prices and price distribution across neighborhoods. We cross-checked these figures against other sources to confirm consistency. |
| Japan Real Estate Institute (JREI) | A major Japanese research institute that has tracked residential property indices for decades. | We used JREI's residential price indices to validate our trend estimates and regional comparisons. We relied on their data particularly to confirm price gaps between Tokyo and regional cities. |
| SUUMO (Recruit Housing Data) | One of Japan's largest housing platforms, with extensive data covering listings and transactions across the country. | We used SUUMO pricing distributions to estimate bedroom-based average prices for each neighborhood. We also used their market reports to calibrate our starting budget estimates. |
| Nomura Real Estate Urban Net | A leading Japanese real estate brokerage that publishes detailed neighborhood-level market reports. | We used Nomura's housing market reports to refine our neighborhood-level pricing estimates, particularly for Tokyo's premium areas. We then used their buyer profile data to inform our typical buyer descriptions. |
| Tokyo Kantei | A well-established Japanese real estate analytics firm known for its valuation and price trend research. | We used Tokyo Kantei's valuation trend reports to validate our price-per-square-meter ranges across neighborhoods. We cross-referenced their data against MLIT and REINS to confirm accuracy. |
| CBRE Japan Residential Reports | The Japanese arm of a global real estate consultancy with dedicated residential and luxury market coverage. | We used CBRE's Japan residential research to position luxury and premium neighborhood segments. We relied on their analysis to confirm price levels at the top end of the Japan house market. |
| Bank of Japan (BOJ) Reports | Japan's central bank, which publishes macroeconomic and financial stability reports that include housing market analysis. | We used BOJ reports to understand the broader demand drivers shaping Japan's house market in 2026. We also used them to contextualize affordability conditions and the role of low interest rates. |
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