Ministry of Defense area in Ichigaya, Tokyo. (©Sankei)
The Cabinet Office announced on December 16 that the acquisition of land and buildings by foreign nationals and foreign corporations near defense facilities and on remote border islands totaled 3,498 cases in fiscal year 2024.
These transactions involved 1,744 land parcels and 1,754 buildings across 37 prefectures. By the buyer's country and region, China accounted for the largest share, with 1,674 cases.
The latest survey covered 583 of the 585 areas designated under the Act on the Review and Regulation of the Use of Real Estate Surrounding Important Facilities and on Remote Territorial Islands, offering the most comprehensive picture to date.
Purchases Concentrated in Tokyo
Since the aforementioned land-use regulation act took effect in 2022, this is the second survey.
According to the Cabinet Office, Tokyo recorded the highest number of transactions by a wide margin with 1,558 cases. It was followed by:
- Kanagawa (339)
- Chiba (235)
- Hokkaido (217)
- Fukuoka (211)
By district, four of the top five locations were concentrated in central Tokyo. Notable areas included the vicinity of the Ground Self-Defense Force Medical Service School, the Naval Systems Research Center, the New Sanno US Forces Center, and the Ichigaya Area, where the defense ministry is located.
Much of the land consists of apartments and condominiums, likely reflecting investment-driven purchases in the metropolitan area.
Security-Sensitive Acquisitions
Regarding foreign land acquisitions, concerns have been raised over South Korean capital purchases of land near Self-Defense Forces bases on the Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture.
Similar scrutiny has emerged over Chinese capital acquisitions of land near New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido, a joint military-civilian facility.
In particular, transactions within areas near government buildings accounted for 9.4% of the total transactions, with Chinese nationals representing roughly half.
One such location is the Ichigaya area in Shinjuku Ward. While it serves as the nerve center of the Self-Defense Forces, it has not been designated as a "special monitored area" requiring mandatory reporting of property transactions under the same land-use regulation act.
The government has designated areas within roughly one kilometer of defense facilities, Japan Coast Guard facilities, nuclear power plants, and border islands as "monitored areas."
Authorities may issue recommendations or orders to halt any inappropriate use deemed to undermine the functioning of these facilities.
Facilities and border islands considered particularly important are further classified as "special monitored areas," where notification is required at the time of property transactions.
Limits of the Current Framework
When the land-use regulation act was debated in 2021, a clause calling for "consideration from economic and social perspectives" was added as a concession to Komeito, which strongly opposed tighter regulations.
As a result, economic considerations were prioritized. Therefore, 12 locations, including those in the Ichigaya Area, were excluded from designation as special monitored areas.
The act includes a provision for review five years after its enforcement, including a reassessment of how areas are designated.
Speaking at a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Economic Security Minister Kimi Onoda said, "We will steadily assess the situation and take all possible measures to prevent actions that could impair functionality."
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Author: The Sankei Shimbun
