Renting or buying a shop, tenant space or warehouse in Chitose | A market where commercial land tripled in five years, and zoning restrictions
Commercial real estate in Chitose is the sector that has moved the most in the last five years. Official land prices for commercial land rose by up to +44.1%, 3.4 times higher than five years ago. Industrial land is also rising. This article explains what you can build in each zoning type, prices by district, and what to check when renting or buying.
How much has business land in Chitose risen?
| Location | Zoning | Current use | 2026 ¥/m² | Change | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiyodacho 5-chome | Neighborhood commercial | Office | 245,000 | +44.1% | 72,000 |
| Saiwaicho 3-chome | Commercial | Housing and shop | 172,000 | +34.4% | 48,500 |
| Nishikicho 2-chome | Neighborhood commercial | Inn | 144,000 | +38.5% | 42,200 |
| Shinano 1-chome | Quasi-industrial | Shop and factory | 80,000 | +14.3% | — |
| Ryutsu 1-chome | Industrial | Office and warehouse | 20,000 | +11.1% | 12,600 |
| Kami-Osatsu | Exclusively industrial | Office and factory | 13,800 | +20.0% | 7,500 |
Source: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) official land prices (2026). Chiyodacho 5-chome is 3.4 times higher than five years ago. This is the result of semiconductor-related companies, and the accommodation, food and service demand that came with them, concentrating on the limited land around the station.
For reference, in Tomakomai, commercial land in Omotemachi 5-chome is ¥42,600 (−1.8%) and industrial land in Ipponmatsucho is ¥14,000 (+6.1%). Land in front of Chitose Station is now 5.7 times the price of land in front of Tomakomai Station.
Zoning decides what you can build
Shops
| Shop floor area | Zoning types where it can be built |
|---|---|
| 150 m² or less | Category 1 and 2 medium-to-high-rise residential, Category 1 and 2 residential, quasi-residential, neighborhood commercial, commercial, quasi-industrial, industrial |
| Over 150 m² to 500 m² | Category 1 and 2 medium-to-high-rise residential, Category 1 and 2 residential, quasi-residential, neighborhood commercial, commercial, quasi-industrial, industrial |
| Over 500 m² to 3,000 m² | Category 1 and 2 residential, quasi-residential, neighborhood commercial, commercial, quasi-industrial, industrial |
| Over 3,000 m² to 10,000 m² | Category 2 residential, quasi-residential, neighborhood commercial, commercial, quasi-industrial, industrial |
| Over 10,000 m² | Neighborhood commercial, commercial, quasi-industrial, industrial |
As a rule, you cannot build a shop in a Category 1 low-rise residential zone (there are exceptions, such as a combined home and shop with a shop area of 50 m² or less). You also cannot build one in an exclusively industrial zone.
Warehouses
| Type | Zoning types where it can be built |
|---|---|
| Private warehouse (for your own company’s goods) | Category 2 residential, quasi-residential, neighborhood commercial, commercial, quasi-industrial, industrial, exclusively industrial (3,000 m² or less in Category 1 residential) |
| Commercial warehouse (warehousing business, other people’s goods) | Quasi-industrial, industrial and exclusively industrial only |
If you handle other companies’ goods in transport or logistics, this counts as a commercial warehouse, and you can only use a site in a quasi-industrial zone or a more industrial zone. There have been cases where someone signed a contract after hearing “it can be used as a warehouse,” and then could not register as a warehousing business. Sort out your intended use first.
Which district for which use
Around the station (Chiyodacho, Saiwaicho, Nishikicho, Sakaemachi)
This is the center for food, retail, services and accommodation. There is demand from customers on foot and from business travelers and construction workers. Rents and land prices have both risen, so you must estimate how much sales you can make relative to the rent.
Along National Routes 36 and 337
These are locations for businesses that need parking (roadside restaurants, retail, services). Chitose is a car-based city, so the number of parking spaces affects how many customers you attract.
Shinano and Toko (quasi-industrial zones)
This area has a mix of shops and factories. Shinano 1-chome is ¥80,000 per m², up +14.3%. It suits businesses with a small factory or workshop.
Ryutsu and Kami-Osatsu (industrial and exclusively industrial zones)
These are bases for warehouses and logistics. Ryutsu 1-chome is ¥20,000 (+11.1%) and Kami-Osatsu ¥13,800 (+20.0%). They are close to New Chitose Airport and the Do-O Expressway and are valued as distribution bases for all of Hokkaido. However, they are more expensive than industrial land in Tomakomai (Ipponmatsucho ¥14,000; industrial park lots ¥9,000 to ¥16,900 per m²), so for businesses that use the port, Tomakomai has the advantage.
What to check when renting
- Zoning and type of business: Whether the business you want to open is allowed at that location
- Facilities: For restaurants, ventilation, grease traps and gas capacity. For warehouses, ceiling height, floor load capacity, access and turning space for large trucks, and electrical capacity
- Security deposit and deduction: Contracts usually have a security deposit of 3 to 6 months’ rent with a deduction (a part that is not returned)
- Scope of restoration: Whether you must return the space as a bare shell, or whether you may return it with fixtures in place
- Number of parking spaces: Work out the number needed separately for customers and staff
- Snow clearing: Whether the landlord or the tenant pays for clearing the grounds and parking area. Chitose gets snow, so this affects your yearly costs
- Type of lease: Fixed-term lease or ordinary lease. Conditions for renewal and early termination
Looking at it as an investment or income property
Rental demand in Chitose is strong, but purchase prices have risen, so yields are lower than before. The key points for deciding are as follows.
- Do not decide on gross yield: Calculate the net yield after vacancy, repairs, management fees, property tax and snow clearing costs
- Check whether demand will last: Distinguish where current demand comes from (temporary demand related to construction, or permanent employment)
- Condition of the building: In Hokkaido, freezing and thawing make exteriors deteriorate faster, so repair costs are higher than on Honshu
- Exit: Whether the location will have buyers when you sell. Areas within walking distance of the station and along main roads are easier to sell
When selling a commercial property
- Valuation. If tenants are in place, the property is also valued by an income approach based on rental income
- Investigation. Asbestos (buildings from 2006 or earlier), soil contamination (former sites of factories, gas stations and dry cleaners), and boundaries
- Brokerage agreement and marketing. Many buyers are companies and investors from outside the city, so we use both the network shared between real estate companies and portal sites for commercial property
- Sales contract and handover. If tenants are in place, the lease agreements are passed on to the buyer
Banana House has its head office in Honkocho, Tomakomai, and also handles commercial real estate in the Chitose and Eniwa area. We accept consultations from an early stage, such as “Can I run this type of business here?” or “How much is this land worth?”
Related articles: Buying land in Chitose / Renting, buying or selling a warehouse in Tomakomai / Real estate information for Chitose
This page was machine-translated. The Japanese original prevails.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to open a shop in Chitose?
It depends on the type of business. For food or retail aimed at customers on foot, the station area (Chiyodacho, Saiwaicho, Nishikicho) is best. For businesses that need parking, National Route 36 or main roads in the suburbs are best. Around the station, rents and land prices have risen sharply, so checking whether the numbers work is more important than before.
Where can a commercial warehouse be built?
Warehouses for a warehousing business that stores other people's goods are limited to quasi-industrial, industrial and exclusively industrial zones. A private warehouse for your own company's goods can also be built in Category 2 residential or quasi-residential zones. Sort out your intended use first, then look for a property.
Does real estate investment work in Chitose?
Rental demand is strong, but purchase prices have risen, so yields are lower than before. Do not use gross yield; calculate the net yield after vacancy, repairs, management fees and property tax. We also value income properties.
What are typical rents for tenant spaces?
They vary widely by location, size and facilities, so we cannot give a single figure. Rents around the station have risen. Tell us your specific needs (type of business, size, budget, number of parking spaces), and we will search for suitable properties.
Business land, warehouses and shops
We sometimes have information on industrial land and income properties before it is published. Tell us what you are looking for.
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.