不動産用語集

A reinforced concrete or steel-frame apartment building in Japan. Typically higher quality and more expensive than Apato.

Monthly building management fee paid by all residents. Covers common area maintenance, elevator, cleaning.

Monthly long-term repair reserve fund. Critical for condos — low reserves = special assessment risk.

Exclusively owned floor area. Japanese listings use wall-center measurement (壁芯), not inner wall, so actual usable space is ~5% less.

Condominium owners association. All unit owners are mandatory members. Manages building maintenance, common areas, and the shuzen-tsumitate fund. Meeting minutes (議事録) reveal repair history and disputes.

Common areas of a building: lobby, corridors, elevators, parking, rooftop. Owned collectively by all unit owners. Maintenance funded by kanri-hi and shuzen-tsumitate.

Balcony area is NOT included in the senyu menseki (exclusive floor area). It is a kyotan bubu (common area). Large balconies appear to add space but are not legally yours to enclose or modify.

Sunlight exposure. Southern-facing properties are most prized in Japan. Winter solstice sunlight hours (冬至日照時間) is the critical metric — if sunlight reaches in December, it reaches year-round. Sumika reports include sunlight calculations.

Real estate taxes in Japan: (1) Fudousan Shutoku-zei 不動産取得税 — one-time acquisition tax (3–4%), (2) Kotei Shisan-zei 固定資産税 — annual property tax (~1.4% of assessed value), (3) Toshi Keikaku-zei 都市計画税 — urban planning tax (0.3%).

Real estate agent commission. Legally capped at 1 month rent + tax for rentals. For purchases, capped at 3% of sale price + ¥60,000 + tax. Paid by both buyer and seller (split). Some discount agents charge less.

Long-term repair plan for condominiums. Shows projected major repairs over 30 years: exterior painting, roof waterproofing, elevator replacement. Underfunded plans = risk of special assessments. Ask the kanri kumiai for the latest version.

Year of construction. The critical threshold is 1981 (new seismic standard) and 2000 (updated seismic standard). Buildings before 1981 are kyu-taishin; 1981-2000 are shin-taishin but pre-2000-update. Post-2000 are the safest.

Seller/Buyer. In Japan, real estate agents often represent both sides (双方代理), which can create conflicts of interest. Buyer-side-only agents (買主専任エージェント) are rare but exist. The same agent representing both parties must still disclose material defects.

Land area. Measured in square meters or tsubo (1 tsubo ≈ 3.31 m²). Actual land area may differ from registry records for old properties — resurveying (地積測量) may be needed. For condos, each unit has a proportional share of the land (敷地権).

Official land price published annually by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. Used as reference for tax assessment and legal disputes. Typically 70-90% of actual market value. Sumika reports include 5-year land price trend charts.

A lower-rise wood or light-steel apartment building. Generally cheaper rent than Manshon but less soundproofing.

Security deposit, typically 1–2 months rent. Returned at lease end minus deductions for damage. Not the same as Reikin.

Non-refundable "key money" paid to the landlord. Historically a gift; today typically 0–2 months rent. Often negotiable.

Floor plan layout code. Numbers = bedrooms, L=living room, D=dining, K=kitchen, S=service room (no window). E.g. 2LDK = 2 beds + living/dining/kitchen.

Walking minutes from the nearest station. In Japan, 1 minute = 80 meters. The official calculation often ignores hills and traffic lights.

Rental guarantee company that substitutes for a personal guarantor. Required by most landlords. Typically 0.5–1x monthly rent upfront + annual fee.

Walking 3 minutes from a train station. In Japan, 1 minute = 80 meters (official calculation). "Ekimae" properties (under 5 min) command a 10-30% price premium. The official calculation ignores uphill slopes, traffic lights, and stairs.

Fixed-term tenancy. Unlike regular contracts (普通借家), there is no renewal right — the lease ends on the specified date. Good for landlords returning to use the property. Rent is often negotiable downward because tenants accept lower security.

Mandatory land setback where a property fronts a road under 4m wide. The setback portion cannot be built on; effectively reduces usable land.

Cannot-rebuild designation. Property does not meet road-frontage requirements so no new building permit possible. Dramatically lowers value.

Stigmatized property where an unnatural death (suicide, homicide) occurred. Must be disclosed to first tenant/buyer. Price discount varies 0–30%.

Land use zone designation (13 types). Determines what can be built: residential, commercial, industrial. Critical for investment properties.

Building coverage ratio — what % of land can be covered by the building footprint. Typically 40–80%.

Floor area ratio — total floor space as % of land area. Controls building height/density. Typically 80–500%.

Disclosure obligation. Sellers/landlords must disclose material facts: deaths, flooding history, defects. Failure = contract cancellation + damages.

Property registration certificate from the Legal Affairs Bureau (法務局). Shows ownership history, mortgages, liens, and easements. Any buyer should obtain this before signing. Available online via J-LIS or at any Legal Affairs Bureau for ~¥600.

Defective property. Broad term for properties with hidden defects: water damage, mold, illegal construction, noise issues, boundary disputes. The kaisu gimu (告知義務) requires disclosure of material defects.

Building Standards Act. Governs construction standards: floor area ratio, coverage ratio, height limits, fire safety, structure. Non-compliant buildings (違反建築物) cannot obtain certificates and are difficult to mortgage or sell.

Priority/lien status on a property. First mortgage (第一抵当権) has highest priority in case of foreclosure. Check the touki jiko shomeisho for all registered mortgages and their priority order before purchasing.

Pre-1981 seismic standard. Buildings designed before June 1981 use old standards and may not withstand a M7 earthquake. Major value discount.

New seismic standard from June 1981. Buildings must withstand M6-strong without collapse. Further upgraded in 2000.

Buildings constructed before 2006 may contain asbestos in insulation materials. Buildings before 1975 may have spray asbestos. Survey required before renovation.

Flood risk rating from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism hazard maps (ハザードマップ). Rated 0–5 based on potential flood depth. Properties in flood zones face insurance surcharges and lower resale values.

Ground investigation / soil survey. Critical for standalone houses (一戸建て). Determines liquefaction risk and foundation requirements. For condos, ask the kanri kumiai for the original building survey report.

Disaster risk maps published by municipal governments. Covers: flood, landslide, tsunami, volcano. Required disclosure for real estate transactions since 2020. Available free at the national Disaster Risk Information Portal.