Shiraoi real estate guide | Land prices, district features, hot spring properties, vacant houses and where to get advice
Shiraoi has a population of about 14,400 (end of August 2026, Basic Resident Register). It is a town on the Pacific coast between Tomakomai and Noboribetsu. In 2020, Upopoy, a center for sharing Ainu culture, opened there, and the town is known for Kojohama Hot Springs and seafood. This article brings together land price data, district features and official programs in one place for people who want to sell or buy real estate in Shiraoi.
Land prices in Shiraoi keep falling
In the 2026 official land price survey, the average of 10 residential sites in Shiraoi was ¥4,675 per m², the median was ¥4,525, and the average change was −2.77%. Every site was flat or falling.
| Location | 2026 ¥/m² | Change | 2021 | Nearest station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omachi 3-chome | 8,200 | −3.5% | 9,900 | Shiraoi 350 m |
| Suehirocho 3-chome | 7,900 | −3.1% | 9,650 | Shiraoi 950 m |
| Takasagocho 2-chome | 6,050 | −4.0% | 7,300 | Shiraoi 1.4 km |
| Aza Hagino | 5,100 | −4.7% | 6,300 | Hagino 570 m |
| Aza Kita-Yoshiwara | 4,800 | −4.0% | 6,000 | Kita-Yoshiwara 400 m |
| Aza Takeura | 4,250 | −2.3% | 4,750 | Takeura 300 m |
| Aza Kojohama | 3,950 | −1.3% | 4,650 | Kojohama 800 m |
| Aza Shadai | 2,350 | −2.1% | 2,600 | Shadai 460 m |
| Aza Kita-Yoshiwara (Hagino side) | 2,350 | 0.0% | 2,400 | Hagino 3.1 km |
| Aza Takeura (inland) | 1,800 | −2.7% | 2,050 | Takeura 1.5 km |
For commercial land, Omachi 2-chome (shop, neighborhood commercial) was ¥14,700, down −4.5%, and 18% lower than ¥18,100 five years ago.
Source: MLIT official land prices (2026). What these figures mean is simple: real estate in Shiraoi “will not rise if you wait”. It is a market where sellers benefit from acting early and buyers do not need to hurry.
Price gap with Tomakomai and Chitose
| Shiraoi | Tomakomai | Chitose | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average residential land price (¥/m²) | 4,675 | 20,291 | 54,105 |
| Average change | −2.77% | +4.15% | +6.77% |
| Highest site (¥/m²) | 8,200 | 49,800 | 112,000 |
Shiraoi is less than a quarter of Tomakomai and less than one-twelfth of Chitose. By this calculation, a 200-tsubo (about 660 m²) plot of land costs in the ¥3 million range. This price gap is the biggest reason people choose Shiraoi.
Features of each district
Omachi, Suehirocho, Takasagocho (town center)
This is the town area around Shiraoi Station, with the town hall, a hospital, supermarkets and schools. It is the most expensive area in the town, at ¥6,000 to ¥8,200 per m². If daily convenience is your priority, choose this district. Upopoy and Lake Poroto are also within walking distance.
Kojohama, Takeura (west: hot springs and sea)
This is the Kojohama Hot Springs area. Some land comes with hot spring rights or rights to draw hot spring water, and it is the area most viewed by people searching for “Shiraoi land hot spring”. It is also a production area for seafood such as tarako (pollock roe). At ¥1,800 to ¥4,250 per m², it is cheap even for the town, and we get inquiries for second homes, living in two places and private lodging (minpaku). The details of hot spring rights differ for each property, so checking them before the contract is essential.
Kita-Yoshiwara, Hagino (east: former factory town)
This area developed around a former paper mill. Prices are ¥2,350 to ¥5,100 per m². There are JR stations, so commuting toward Tomakomai is easy. Large plots of land remain.
Shadai (Tomakomai side)
Close to the border with Tomakomai, at ¥2,350 per m², it is the cheapest level in the town. The area is known for racehorse farms. Few properties change hands as housing, but we get inquiries about large plots.
Selling real estate in Shiraoi
Because prices keep falling, deciding “when to sell” makes a big difference to the result. If you keep real estate you have no plan to use, you pay property tax, fire insurance and the cost of grass cutting and snow clearing every year, while the asset loses 2 to 4% of its value each year.
- If the building is old: You can use the town’s Vacant House Demolition Subsidy (50% of eligible costs, up to ¥500,000). Pre-applications are accepted every May, so prepare the consent of all heirs and a quote by spring
- Deals of ¥8 million or less: Under the July 2024 amendment, the maximum brokerage fee became ¥330,000 (including tax). Many deals in Shiraoi are in this price range, which affects how much you receive
- An old family home you inherited: If the building was built on or before May 31, 1981, the ¥30 million special deduction may bring the tax to zero. The deadline is the end of the third year after the inheritance
- Widen the range of buyers: Using normal brokerage together with the Hokkaido Vacant House Information Bank is effective
Buying real estate in Shiraoi
- Decide the use first: The district to choose and the checks needed depend on whether it is for moving, a second home, private lodging or business
- Water, sewer and roads: In the suburbs, some land is not connected to water and sewer. Connection costs can range from several hundred thousand yen to over ¥1 million
- With hot spring rights, check the rights: Is it joint ownership of the hot spring source or a contract to draw hot water, and what is the annual maintenance cost?
- For private lodging or accommodation, check the zoning district and laws: Procedures under the Hotel Business Act or the Private Lodging Business Act are required
- Check in winter: Some districts in Shiraoi get more snow than Tomakomai. Check how snow clearing is handled
Where to get advice in Shiraoi
| Topic | Contact | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Vacant house measures and demolition subsidy | Planning and Policy Division, Planning and Promotion Department, Shiraoi Town | 0144-82-8213 |
| Hokkaido Vacant House Information Bank | Hokkaido Real Estate Transaction Association | 011-642-4422 |
| Selling, buying, valuation | Banana House Inc. | +81-144-84-8958 (Japanese only) |
Articles about Shiraoi
We are headquartered in Honkocho, Tomakomai, and also handle sales brokerage in Shiraoi. Low prices are attractive in themselves, but they come with things to check: land boundaries, water and sewer, hot spring rights and the condition of the building. If you check these first, you can get property of a size out of reach in Tomakomai or Chitose on a realistic budget. We accept inquiries with three items: the property type, the location and your contact details.
This page was machine-translated. The Japanese original prevails.
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that land in Shiraoi is offered for ¥0?
We do receive real inquiries about transferring land free of charge. However, even if it is free, you take on the registration costs, real estate acquisition tax, annual property tax, and the burden of grass cutting and snow clearing. If there is a building, there is also the demolition cost. Do not decide based only on the ¥0 price; first decide what you will use the land for.
Does land with hot spring rights really get hot spring water?
In the Kojohama and Takeura districts, there is land with hot spring rights or rights to draw hot spring water. However, the content of the rights (joint ownership of the source or a contract to draw water), the maintenance cost of the supply pipes and the actual water volume differ for each property. You need to check the documents on the rights before the contract, so we will investigate.
Can I live in Shiraoi and commute to Tomakomai or Noboribetsu?
Yes. From Shiraoi to Tomakomai is about 20 min by JR and about 30 min by car on National Route 36. To Noboribetsu is about 20 min by car. Some people do choose Shiraoi as a commuter town and use the price difference to buy a larger house.
Does Shiraoi offer support for people moving there?
The town provides a vacant house guidebook and information on a home lease program (my home kariage seido). Subsidy programs change each fiscal year, so please check with the Planning and Policy Division, Planning and Promotion Department (0144-82-8213). Pre-applications for the demolition subsidy are accepted every May.
Talk to a local real estate company
Buying, selling, renting, investment properties and vacant houses: our office in Honkocho, Tomakomai handles every kind of inquiry.
Banana House Inc., 1-1-1 Honkocho, Tomakomai. We never use pushy sales. Please write in English or Japanese.
Sources and data
- Data retrieved: 2026-10-05. All prices are official public data and do not include our own estimates.
Yuki Nakazawa (President, Banana House Inc.) reviewed the Japanese original of this article. As a licensed real estate broker, we follow the Japanese rules for real estate advertising.