Japan to launch probe into large-scale land acquisitions by foreigners

Japan's land ministry will launch a probe into large-scale land acquisitions by foreign nationals, examining data reported in the past few years to gain a clearer picture of the situation, sources close to the matter said Monday.

The sources said the survey is set to begin by March and will cover purchases of 2,000 square meters or more in urbanization promotion areas and 10,000 square meters or more outside designated city planning zones.

The move is part of the policy agenda of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration to toughen rules governing foreign nationals' land acquisitions.

A survey released in November by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism found that overseas buyers accounted for only a small percentage of purchasers of newly built condominiums, with no confirmed impact on prices.

According to the ministry, buyers of large plots of land must report their intended use and the transaction amount to local governments within two weeks of purchase, among other details. In 2024, about 19,000 such notifications were filed nationwide.

Since July 2025, individuals acquiring land have also been required to report their nationality. For transactions conducted before that date, the ministry will use the buyer's name and address to determine whether the buyer is of foreign origin.

The ministry announced Monday that a revised ministerial ordinance to take effect in April will require corporations making land purchases to also report the nationality of their representative to local governments. To protect privacy, the information will not be disclosed to third parties.