Mitsui Fudosan Investment Advisors (MFIA) Q3 Quarterly Report

Japan’s economy passed over the business peak around the fall of 2018, entering a clear recession due to the consumption tax rate hike in the October 2019 and exacerbated by the impact of the spread of COVID-19 since February 2020. However, with May 2020 as the bottom, Japan’s economy is now headed toward recovery.

Amid the impacts of the spread of COVID-19, the for-sale/transaction market for real estate in Japan has already peaked. However, the balance of power between sellers and buyers in transactions has not shifted notably as of present, and the functions of a sound real estate transaction market have been maintained.

Looking at Japan’s real estate rental market, with June 2020 as the bottom, the market conditions of hotels and retail properties are heading toward recovery after an abrupt setback due to countermeasures against the spread of COVID-19.