"I was distressed both physically and mentally" in the former apartment, which had floor space of 25 sq. meters, she said, explaining why she has relocated to the new apartment, which is roughly twice as big. In the studio, she had no space for a desk despite having to work more from home, and her work and rest time became increasingly difficult to separate. One of her friends became ill due to continuously working from a small apartment, she said. Although the monthly rent for the new apartment is about 20,000 yen ($182) higher, she said, "I feel relaxed here."

A practical guide for foreign investors buying vacant land in Japan — rules, zoning, taxes, financing, development options, and common risks.

A recent tally by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications shows that internal migration into Tokyo topped outflow by 5,433, the lowest figure on record. In particular, people leaving the capital's central 23 wards outnumbered those moving in by more than some 15,000. This is surely a sign that the concentration of the population in Tokyo is beginning to reverse,

Japan's national net worth hit a record 3.999 quadrillion yen ($27 trillion) at the end of 2022, marking a 3.3% increase, the seventh consecutive year of growth. Produced assets, including housing and equipment, led the surge, reaching 2.17 quadrillion yen. Household wealth rose 0.5%, while nonfinancial companies' share increased by nearly a quarter to 756.1 trillion yen.