Photo/Illutration The Harumi Flag complex in Tokyo's Chuo Ward, which was converted from the Athletes’ Village for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics held in 2021. In the central area, construction of new high-rise condominiums is under way in June. (Tatsuya Shimada)

High-rise condominiums are looming large in Japan’s urban skylines, with more than 1,500 already towering over cities across the country.

While Tokyo has the highest concentration, these imposing structures are now spreading beyond the major metropolitan areas.

In fact, only nine prefectures―Aomori, Ishikawa, Nara, Mie, Tottori, Shimane, Tokushima, Miyazaki and Oita―are among those without any, according to the Tokyo Kantei Co. research firm.

High-rise condominiums, usually 20 stories or more, are often called “tower mansions.”

According to Tokyo Kantei, there were 1,515 tower mansions standing nationwide as of December 2023.

More than half, or 792, are located in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which includes Kanagawa, Saitama and Chiba prefectures.

In the capital alone, 479 tower over the skyline, making up 60 percent of the total in the metropolitan area.

The Kinki metropolitan area has 389 high-rise condominiums, while the Chubu metropolitan area contains 98. Most are concentrated in center areas, with 273 in Osaka Prefecture and 67 in Aichi Prefecture.

Many recent tower mansions are nearly 50 stories tall and have almost 1,000 residential units.

For example, Park Tower Kachidoki South in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward, which was completed in 2023, stands 58 stories tall and comprises 1,665 units.

Its adjacent building, Park Tower Kachidoki Mid, rises 45 stories with 1,121 units.

The Kachidoki, Tsukishima, and Harumi areas in Chuo Ward, where these two buildings are located, are planned for even more high-rise constructions, earning the area the nickname “Tower Mansion Ginza.”

Tower mansions, which are built as high-rises on limited land, are often constructed as part of urban redevelopment projects in recent years.

With the redevelopment of major train stations, high-rise condominiums directly connected to the stations are being built. These have become iconic properties and sometimes drive up local real estate prices.

The trend is no longer limited to Japan’s three major metropolitan areas―Tokyo, Kinki and Chubu.

High-rise condominiums are now emerging in other regions as well, with Fukuoka Prefecture having 50, Miyagi Prefecture 40, Hokkaido 34, and Hiroshima Prefecture 29.

The demand for these properties is strong, even as prices soar.

According to the Real Estate Economic Institute Co., the average price of newly built condominiums hitting the market in Tokyo’s 23 wards in 2023 exceeded 100 million yen ($685,000) for the first time.

Prices in the Tokyo metropolitan area are steadily rising.

Despite their high costs, high-rise condominiums are in high demand, particularly those in good locations with stunning views and excellent facilities.

As Japan’s population declines, people seeking convenience are gravitating toward urban centers. In rural areas, this means moving to prefectural capitals and areas near major train stations.

Nationwide, large metropolitan areas such as Tokyo are getting much of this migration.

Tower mansions are often accommodating these new residents, helping to meet their housing needs.

Even in the nine prefectures where there aren't any high-rise condominiums, with Shinkansen terminal stations now in Aomori and Ishikawa prefectures, that could change in the future.

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