Japan

Why Singapore investors look at Japan

Japan is the market that surprises most Singapore investors. Foreigners can own both the building and the land outright — true freehold, with no nationality restriction and no special approval needed — which is unusual in Asia. Add a yen that has weakened sharply against the Singapore dollar, and the effective entry price for a central Tokyo apartment has rarely looked more attractive.

We concentrate on compact, well-located apartments — what the Japanese call a "mansion" unit — in the central wards of Tokyo and in Osaka, where single professionals and small households keep occupancy high and tenancies stable. Yields are steady rather than spectacular, but Japanese tenants are famously reliable, and a well-run building holds its condition for decades.

The honest complications are language, distance and the local way of doing things: management fees, the sinking-fund (shuzenseki) every block collects, the registration tax and the need for a Japanese tax agent. We bridge all of it through a bilingual partner in-country, so you get the freehold and the income without needing to read a single line of Japanese paperwork yourself.

What makes it work

• True freehold — own the land and building, no restriction
• Weak yen has lowered the SGD entry price markedly
• Reliable tenants and stable urban occupancy
• No foreign-ownership approval process to clear