SORABYCO | Life in Japan

When I first moved to Japan, buying a home felt like something I might be able to do one day. I spent nearly ten years living in Tokyo before moving to Narita in Chiba Prefecture. During that time, I didn't pay much attention to housing prices. Like many people, I simply assumed that if I worked hard and saved enough money, buying a home would eventually be possible. Recently, though, I've started to notice how much things have changed. New homes around Narita seem far more expensive than they were just a few years ago, and news reports about record-breaking property prices in Tokyo have become almost routine. Every time I see another headline, I find myself wondering how first-time buyers are managing in today's market. Of course, Japan isn't one single housing market. The price of a home in central Tokyo can be several times higher than a similar property in another part of the country. That makes location one of the biggest factors when planning to buy a home. So I d...

When I first moved to Japan, I assumed Tokyo was the obvious place to build a life. It was where I found work, learned how everyday life in Japan worked, and spent nearly ten years. Tokyo was exciting, convenient, and full of opportunities. At the time, I rarely imagined living anywhere else. Later, after moving to Narita in Chiba, my view began to change. Life outside central Tokyo felt very different. Housing costs, commuting time, neighborhood atmosphere, access to shops, and even the pace of daily life all changed depending on where I lived. That experience made me pay much more attention to regional differences in Japan. Around the same time, I kept seeing news about rising land prices, large redevelopment projects, semiconductor investment, and growing interest from overseas buyers. Some areas appeared to be booming, while others were still losing population. That made me curious. Where are housing prices rising the fastest in Japan? And for foreigners moving to Japan, which citi...