Taiwan Buyers Now 62 Percent of Foreign Purchases in Tokyo's 23 WardsA · FULL TRANSLATION
- Platform data shows 62% of overseas-resident buyers of new Tokyo condos are Taiwanese
- Tokyo topped New York in 2025 global real estate investment rankings
- Cross-border financing and tax services are formalizing the Taiwan-Japan property pipeline
One number defines the moment: 62% of overseas-resident buyers of new condominiums in Tokyo's 23 wards are Taiwanese, according to cross-border platform THE BRIDGE. Taiwanese capital is no longer a niche player in Japanese property — it is the dominant foreign bid.
Three forces drive this. The historically weak yen gives Taiwanese buyers an effective discount of 30% or more. Japan imposes essentially no restrictions on foreign buyers — freehold title, no quotas, transparent law — a stark contrast with Taiwan's own regulated, low-yield market. And a three-hour flight plus shared kanji culture makes hybrid own-use-plus-investment motives viable.
History offers caution: Japanese money topped the Hawaii and Manhattan markets in the late 1980s just before the crash, and Chinese inflows into Tokyo bay towers in the 2010s triggered local backlash. Canada's foreign-buyer ban and Australia's surcharges show how quickly politics can turn. Investors should model net yields honestly — management fees, repair reserves and taxes compress gross 4% to barely 2% — and remember future rents are yen-denominated. Watch for any Japanese political debate on foreign ownership; that is the variable that changes everything.
(Translated from THE BRIDGE Inc. press release) Japan's property market, underpinned by a stable legal framework and strong asset values, has drawn growing attention from overseas investors, particularly from Taiwan. In the 2025 global real estate investment rankings, Tokyo overtook New York to claim the top spot worldwide.
Against this backdrop, cross-border real estate firm THE BRIDGE Inc. disclosed internal data showing that 62% of overseas-resident buyers of new condominiums in Tokyo's 23 wards are Taiwanese — by far the largest group. The company notes Taiwanese investors favor newly built central-Tokyo units, citing asset preservation, the weak yen, and Japan's transparent freehold system.
To serve this demand, the company will exhibit at Taiwan's largest international real estate expo in 2026, offering consultations on the Tokyo market, property introductions, and guidance on cross-border financing and tax. It is also rolling out a one-stop platform covering purchase, lending, rental management and resale, aiming to build an integrated Taiwan-Japan investment channel.