By SHUN NIEKAWA/ Staff Writer
October 6, 2025 at 17:40 JST
A building that houses the land ministry in Tokyo’s Kasumigaseki district (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
The land ministry has revised regulations and now requires individuals and entities acquiring large plots of land to report their nationality—a move aimed at strengthening oversight of property transactions by foreigners.
The ministry recently announced that the amendment to the National Land Use Planning Law took effect on July 1. The change comes after concerns that foreign purchases of vast forested areas could threaten water sources.
While the new rule doesn't prohibit non-Japanese from acquiring property, governors and mayors can now recommend changes to land use if a transaction is deemed harmful to public welfare. They may also publicly disclose the buyer's identity if they refuse to comply.
The law requires buyers of plots that exceed certain thresholds to file a report within two weeks of acquiring it. These thresholds include 2,000 square meters in urbanized zones, 5,000 square meters in agricultural areas and 10,000 square meters in forested regions.
Under the new rule, the report must now include the buyer's nationality alongside existing requirements such as purchase price, intended use and the owner's address.
About 19,000 filings were made nationwide in 2024, yet authorities lacked a system to document non-Japanese buyers.
The ministry also plans to upgrade its land registration system to better track and analyze ownership trends across the country.
This new requirement complements similar existing laws. One governs land transactions near Self-Defense Forces bases as well as other sensitive national security sites, while another regulates farmland acquisitions.
Additionally, some local governments have enacted their own rules requiring prior notification for land deals near water sources.
The latest revision comes amid growing concerns over property acquisitions by overseas buyers, which has become a political issue.
In the Upper House election in July, parties such as Sanseito and the Democratic Party for the People gained seats after advocating stricter regulations on land purchases by foreign individuals and entities.
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