What costs should be budgeted when buying property in Japan?

Last verified: August 31, 2026

Answer

Official tax items that can arise in a Japanese property purchase include registration and license tax, real estate acquisition tax and stamp tax on taxable written contracts. Registration tax depends on the type of registration and assessed value, and qualifying residential property may receive reduced rates.

Separate taxes from private transaction fees

Brokerage, judicial scrivener, loan, insurance and management-related charges are not one uniform government tax schedule. Obtain transaction-specific quotations before closing.

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