Jul 03 (Nikkei) - Demand for new offices pulled up land values in Japan's largest cities, but the country is witnessing polarizing demand as rural areas that lack tourist attractions are left behind.
Japan's average land prices rose for the third straight year, up 0.7% in the year ended December, the National Tax Agency said on Monday, with 18 of the country's 47 prefectures seeing growth, compared with just 13 last year. The most expensive sites increased in 33 prefectural capitals, while 13 remained flat.
Strong earnings and work-style reforms have driven demand for more pleasant offices, especially in the Tokyo area -- a trend that encouraged Japanese and foreign investors alike to invest.
Asking rents for offices in the Tokyo wards of Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku and Shibuya in May averaged 20,019 yen ($180) per 3.3 sq. meters, said real estate brokerage Miki Shoji, reaching 20,000 yen for the first time since July 2009 after climbing for 53 straight months.
The vacancy rate was 2.68%, far below the equilibrium rate of 5%. Existing tenants are expanding within their buildings when other companies move, allowing landlords to quickly fill vacancies.
Redeveloped offices are also filling up fast. The 31-story msb Tamachi Station Tower S developed by Mitsui Fudosan and Mitsubishi Estate opened in May and is already fully occupied, with companies like Mitsubishi Motors and FamilyMart UNY Holdings moving their headquarters to the building.
Land prices as of Jan. 1 surged in major cities like Kobe, whose Sannomiya Center Gai shopping street soared 22.5%. Property along Kyoto's bustling Shijo-dori jumped 21.2%, while real estate on Nagoya's Meieki-dori retail strip climbed 13.6%.
