Japan Chosen by the World — Its Growing Value as a “Safe Asset” for Tourism, Study, and Investment
- Japanese real estate expertise
In recent years, Japan has been attracting increasing attention from overseas. This trend extends beyond tourism to include studying abroad, residency, and even property acquisition. Various data also indicate that Japan is being chosen by people around the world as a “country where they can safely hold assets.”
◆ The Number of International Students Reaches a Record High
According to the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)’s “2025 Survey Results on the Status of International Students,” the number of international students in Japan as of May 1, 2025, reached 408,069 representing a significant increase of 71,361 students (21.1%) compared with the previous year.
*Source: the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) / “2025 Survey Results on the Status of International Students,”
Reasons why international students choose Japan:
• World-class science and technology, along with high educational standards
• Unique cultural appeal
• A safe and secure living environment with reliable infrastructure
• An educational system that welcomes students from more than 170 countries and regions
In short, Japan is highly regarded not only as a place to study, but also as a country where people can live with peace of mind.
This trend is also evident in the tourism sector. According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of foreign visitors to Japan in 2025 reached 42.68 million, a 15.8% increase compared with the previous year. Furthermore, from January to April 2026, 14.37 million people had already visited Japan. In addition, according to the Japan Tourism Agency’s “Inbound Consumption Trends Survey (2025),” estimated expenditure by foreign visitors to Japan reached JPY 9,454.9 billion, a 16.3% increase from the previous year.
*Source: the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) / "Statistics on Foreign Visitors to Japan"
*Source: the Japan Tourism Agency / “Inbound Consumption Trends Survey (2025)”
And now, that interest is increasingly shifting toward the Japanese real estate market, particularly properties in central Tokyo. This suggests a growing desire not only to visit Japan, but also to live there and own property there as a long-term asset, rather than viewing it merely as a temporary travel destination.
According to the “Survey Results on Transactions of Newly Built Apartments Based on Property Registration Information” published by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), the proportion of newly built apartments acquired by non-residents has been increasing, particularly in Tokyo. In Tokyo’s 23 wards, the figure is projected to reach 3.5% in the first half of 2025. Shinjuku-ku, in particular, recorded a notably high ratio of 14.6%.
By country and region of purchase, Taiwan accounted for approximately 62%, followed by China, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
*Source: Created based on the MLIT’s “Survey and Analysis of Transaction Status of Newly Built Apartments Based on Property Registration Information”
The following are some of the reasons why foreign investors are focusing on central Tokyo, Japan:
• Political and social stability, as well as safety
• Clear legal systems and strong protection of property rights
• Stable rental demand and asset value
• Acquisition advantages resulting from the weaker JPY
• A market environment suited to long-term holding
It appears that Japan is now highly regarded not only as a tourist destination, but also as a place to live, a destination for education, and a location for asset ownership.
Amid this trend, CLEARTH LIFE is receiving an increasing number of inquiries from overseas clients. Their needs are becoming more diverse, ranging from permanent residences and second homes to property investments.
CLEARTH LIFE has been developing its real estate business in central Tokyo for more than 40 years. Leveraging our expertise in apartment development, sales, and rental management, we have also established a local office in Taiwan to better serve overseas clients. We have extensive transaction experience across Asia, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Taiwan, and have built a system that ensures a smooth process from property viewing and purchase through to handover.
An Era in Which Japan Is Chosen by the World
The prominence of central Tokyo—the heart of Japan—will undoubtedly continue to grow.
Accurately recognizing this value and translating it into long-term asset growth will become increasingly important for property investors in the future.
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