Japan Property Characteristics
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It's no secret that Japanese people like new things, especially for cars, electronics, and homes. Thus, brand new condominiums are priced at a premium, and the better valued properties are usually more than five years old, which is when the prices tend to drop considerably. The average lifespan for concrete structured condominium buildings is approximately 60 years. But for single family homes, there is a tendency to rebuild after 25-30 years, especially for wooden houses.
Japan, especially Tokyo, has many strict building regulations that you will need to be aware of when purchasing land or planning to rebuild/renovate an existing property. Some common regulations are:
- Kitagawa Shasen - a restriction put in place to prevent buildings from blocking out the sun for smaller buildings, which is the reason why you see some homes with a diagonal roof in concentrated areas.
- Kenpei Ritsu (Building Coverage Ratio) and Youseki Ritsu (Floor Area Ratio) - the former is a percentage that is put in place, where you are only allowed to build something which covers that percentage of your land. This ensures that there is open space between buildings which is very important for crowded cities such as Tokyo. Youseki Ritsu is a percentage that is put in place, where you are only allowed to build something up equaling that percentage of your land.
Japan has a very strict "Building Standard Act" that requires all buildings to have an earthquake resistant structure in order to get approval for building. Thus, it is well known that in Japan despite the number of earthquakes, the collapse ratio is extremely low compared to any other country. The three main earthquake resistant structures that are used in buildings are:
- Taishin – which is the basic resistance required by law, which uses thicker beams, pillars, and walls for strength against earthquakes, suitable for low-rise buildings.
- Seishin – recommended for high-rise buildings, uses dampers to absorb the energy of the earthquake and reduces the shaking.
- Menshin – recommended for skyscrapers, isolates the structure from underground reducing the force of the shaking resulting in a slower and gentler movement.
