FAQ

FOREIGN OWNERSHIP

Can non-Japanese purchase and own property in Japan?: Yes, non-Japanese can legally purchase and own property in Japan. There are no special residency or visa status requirements.

Is finance available to purchase property in Niseko?: No, there are currently no financial organizations providing loans for the purchase of properties in Niseko.

What costs are there in addition to the purchase price?: The main costs are real estate agency commission of 3% of purchase price plus ¥60,000, and 10% consumption tax on this total and legal office fees. These include the legal office’s title conveyancing fee, sale & purchase agreement stamp duty, title registration stamp duty, title registration certificate charge and postal costs.

What is the usual sale and purchase process?: The buyer makes an offer on a property to the seller via Niseko Property. Once the price and conditions are agreed on, Niseko Property prepares draft sale & purchase agreement and Statement of Important Matters and emails these to the buyer and seller to review. Once both parties agree to the documents, they sign them. The buyer transfers the deposit to Niseko Property and this is remitted to the seller. During this process, the legal office chosen by the buyer collects from the buyer and seller various documents required for title transfer. The buyer transfers settlement funds to Niseko Property and these are remitted to the seller. The legal office arranges title transfer to the buyer.

How long does it take from a deal being agreed to title transfer?: The usual timeframe is around one and half months.

Does Niseko Property do property management?: Niseko Property manages primarily properties in Kutchan town that are rented out long term. Our specialties are apartment blocks and commercial spaces. Please discuss with us if you have such a property that you would like us to manage.

I am considering building in Niseko, can Niseko Property help?: Niseko Property can assist you in a liaison capacity with the architect and the building company that we work closely with. In Japan, architects act as project managers and we have found it unnecessary to be involved in that capacity. This helps keep the total cost down for the client. If this is of interest to you, we are very happy to discuss your particular needs.