Foreign Ownership of Land in Japan: New Rule

From July 1, foreigners buying large plots of land in Japan must report their nationality to local governments. This applies to deals over 2,000 m² in urban areas, 5,000 m² in rural planning zones, and 10,000 m² in forests.

The government will build a national system by 2026 to collect this data and prevent inappropriate land use, especially around water resources and forests.

Concerns have grown after foreign companies purchased large areas of land for development without proper permission. Some prefectures already have local rules, and separate laws restrict land use near military bases or nuclear sites.