1. Languages we support
We handle inquiries in English or Japanese, in writing: our contact form, email, WhatsApp, Telegram or social media messages.
Phone support is available in Japanese only. Our representative is not always at the office, so please write to us. We usually reply within one business day.
Contracts, legally required disclosures (the “explanation of important matters,” 重要事項説明) and official documents are in Japanese. We provide written explanations in English to help you understand them.
Pages of this website in other languages are provided to help you find us. If you write to us in another language, we will reply in English.
2. What we can do for you
- Renting: apartments and houses in Tomakomai and Chitose, including landlords open to international tenants. We explain screening by rent guarantee companies and the move-in costs in English.
- Buying: vacant houses (akiya), second-hand homes, land and investment properties.
- Selling: homes you own or inherited in Hokkaido, including homes with furniture and belongings left inside, also while you live abroad.
- Business land: land and warehouses near Tomakomai Port and in the Chitose area for logistics, factories and staff housing.
3. How buying works in Japan
- Inquiry: tell us your area, budget, purpose and timing. We search listings, including properties not shown on this site.
- Viewing: in person, or by video call if you are overseas.
- Purchase application: a written offer to the seller, with price and conditions.
- Explanation of important matters: a licensed real estate broker (takken-shi) must explain the legal and physical details of the property in Japanese before the contract. We give you an English summary in writing in advance.
- Sales contract and deposit: a deposit (often 5 to 10% of the price) is paid when the contract is signed.
- Settlement and handover: the balance is paid, ownership is registered by a judicial scrivener (shiho-shoshi), and you receive the keys.
4. How renting works in Japan
- Inquiry and viewing.
- Application: most landlords require a rent guarantee company and an emergency contact. Some also ask for a contact person who speaks Japanese.
- Screening by the landlord and the guarantee company, usually a few days to a week.
- Explanation of important matters (in Japanese, with our English summary) and the lease contract.
- Move-in costs: typically a security deposit, sometimes key money, the first month’s rent, the guarantee company fee, fire insurance and the brokerage fee.
- Keys and move-in.
5. Documents you will usually need
- Residence card (for residents of Japan) and passport
- Proof of income or employment (for renting and for loans)
- For buying: a seal registration certificate if you are registered in Japan. Non-residents usually provide a signature certificate and a sworn statement of address made at an embassy, consulate or notary instead.
- An emergency contact in Japan (for renting)
6. Notes for buyers who live outside Japan
- Under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, a non-resident who acquires real estate in Japan generally has to file a report with the Minister of Finance through the Bank of Japan within 20 days after the acquisition. There are exceptions, for example when the property is for your own residence.
- Owners of real estate pay fixed asset tax every year. If you live abroad you will normally need to appoint a tax agent in Japan to receive tax notices and file returns.
- Registration of ownership is handled by a judicial scrivener, whose fee and the registration tax are paid by the buyer.
- Mortgages from Japanese banks are very limited for non-residents, so purchases are often paid in cash.
- We can introduce judicial scriveners and tax accountants. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
7. Brokerage fees
Our fees never exceed the legal maximum under Japan’s Real Estate Brokerage Act (plus 10% consumption tax):
| Sales, price over JPY 4 million | 3% of the price + JPY 60,000 |
|---|---|
| Sales, price JPY 2 to 4 million | 4% of the price + JPY 20,000 |
| Sales, price up to JPY 2 million | 5% of the price |
| Low-cost vacant houses, price up to JPY 8 million | Up to JPY 300,000 (JPY 330,000 incl. tax), by prior agreement |
| Rentals | Up to one month’s rent in total |
Interpreters are not included. If you would like an interpreter for the explanation of important matters or the contract, please arrange one at your own cost; we are happy to coordinate.
8. The area we cover
- Tomakomai: an industrial and port city on the Pacific coast, about 30 to 40 minutes from New Chitose Airport by train or car.
- Chitose: home of New Chitose Airport and a growing semiconductor industry.
- Shiraoi: a quiet town by the sea and lakes, home of Upopoy, the National Ainu Museum.
- Higashi-Iburi (Atsuma, Abira, Mukawa) and other parts of Hokkaido on request.
9. Contact us
Please use our contact form or send a text message on WhatsApp. Write in English or Japanese.