Buying a House in Japan? 6 Foreigner-Friendly Real Estate Companies

6 Real Estate Companies in Japan to Consult When Buying a House or Property

If you are a non-Japanese resident looking for a house or property in Japan, it is essential to find a trustworthy real estate agent. Find an agency that can offer English support, too, since you typically have to review and sign documents in Japanese, following Japan standards every step of the way.

This article introduces six real estate companies in Japan that will assist you in making this transformative life decision with multilingual support, including English. Below is a brief overview of each company.

1. Blackship Realty

Picture courtesy of Blackship Realty
Located in the heart of Tokyo’s Hiroo neighborhood, Blackship Realty is the premier real estate agency for high-end properties for rent, purchase, and investment in the city. The agency scours the market for properties from all property management companies, both on the market and private listings, making sure that clients will receive the best options available.

All the agents at Blackship Realty are bilingual native English speakers and have years of experience serving every kind of client, from diplomats to self-employed artists. You can rest assured that they will help you find the perfect house or apartment in the city.

Picture courtesy of Blackship Realty

Blackship Realty strives to be at the forefront of tech-driven agencies in Japan by making full use of personal live virtual showings, filming YouTube tours of special properties, and accepting cryptocurrencies as a method of payment.

2. Mitsui Fudosan Realty Co., Ltd.

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Mitsui Fudosan is behind the large commercial complexes in Tokyo Midtown in Roppongi, DiverCity in Odaiba, and Mitsui Outlet Park, with locations throughout the country.

Owned by Mitsui Fudosan, Mitsui Fudosan Realty Co., Ltd. is an agency for individual clients. For 34 consecutive years, they have boasted the highest number of brokerages. Their property listings are centered around the Tokyo wards of Minato, Chiyoda, Chuo, Shinjuku, and Shibuya.

On their website, you can check home layouts, appearances, and brokerage costs, among other details. The website is also available in English, Chinese, and simplified Chinese.

The office locations do not normally have employees who can speak foreign languages. If you require multi-language assistance, we recommend contacting an overseas office.

3. Real Estate Japan

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Real Estate Japan specializes in properties listed in six locations: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Hokkaido, Fukuoka, and Okinawa.

Unlike other foreigner-friendly real estate agencies, Real Estate Japan specifically assists overseas nationals living in Japan. Their website is accessible in English, Chinese, and simplified Chinese.

The company periodically hold seminars for foreign nationals in Tokyo. The main topics covered are how to purchase a home in Japan and to apply for permanent residency.

4. Sumitomo Real Estate Sales

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Sumitomo Real Estate Sales negotiates properties for both individual customers and businesses and is part of the Sumitomo Group conglomerate.

They primarily offer their services to customers from the Greater Chinese region—namely, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China. Additionally, there is a consultation office for international customers in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo.

You can search for listings based on property type (i.e. condominiums, houses, or land) and purpose (i.e. residential or investment property). If you purchase for investment purposes, the real estate agency will also take care of the maintenance, so you won't have to worry about managing rental property yourself.

5. Shingi Fusaya Real Estate

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Shingi Fusaya Real Estate is the Japanese branch for the Taiwan-based real estate company, Sinyi. In addition to finding property information on their website, the staff are very knowledgeable, and English support is available.

You can also read their article that covers the process of buying a home in Japan. Most of their listings are located in Tokyo, followed by Osaka, Kanagawa, and Kyoto. Additionally, they offer special seminars in Chinese in Taiwan, Tokyo, and Osaka.

We recommend Shingi Fusaya to both residents of Japan and Taiwan who are interested in Japanese real estate.

6. Tokyu Livable

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Tokyu Livable is a real estate agency owned by the Tokyu Group, which operates a major railway in Tokyo and its surroundings. They specialize in investment properties and buildings located along the Tokyu train lines.

In addition to offices in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, and Fukuoka, they have overseas branches in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. The website is also available in English, Chinese, and simplified Chinese. Some store locations, however, may not have staff that can speak these languages.

If you need multi-language assistance, we recommend contacting one of their overseas branches.

Find the Right Place in Japan

Purchasing a house in Japan or any country in the world is a major life decision. The real estate companies introduced in this article offer different property types and specialize in varying services. Compare listings from these five real estate agencies to find the right home for you and support that makes you feel ready for making Japan more of your home.