Not a salesperson, your agent
Your real estate agent in Japan
Under Japan’s Real Estate Brokerage Law and industry practices, there is no formal role for a buyer’s agent who works exclusively for the buyer’s interest. As a result, many agents operate more like property sales representatives, even when assisting buyers.
I work as a buyer’s agent who receives a formal engagement from each of my overseas clients.
While all brokerage duties in real estate transactions are carried out by the licensed real estate broker I work with, I continue to support my clients throughout the process as their dedicated buyer’s agent — ensuring that every step remains clear, transparent, and well-coordinated.
Each engagement begins with mutual understanding and agreement, ensuring that every step is handled with clarity and purpose.
Please take a moment to read through this page before contacting me, as it explains the key points about my role and approach as a buyer’s agent in Japan.
At the end of this page, you’ll find a brief outline of the process for starting an engagement.
Need more in-depth support?
For buyers who require more than standard brokerage assistance, my partner and I also provide a comprehensive consulting and advisory service called The YUI.
This service offers strategic guidance throughout the entire process — from initial research and property selection to post-closing coordination — covering matters that go beyond the legal scope of brokerage duties.
It is designed for those who wish to approach their real estate goals in Japan with clarity, planning, and professional insight.
Learn more about The YUI.
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Divided into categories, this Q&A guides you from the first property search through to becoming an owner.
What Do You Expect from an English-Speaking Agent?
For overseas buyers, having an agent who can communicate in English makes a huge difference in how smoothly the transaction goes.
In recent years, more real estate companies in Japan have started offering English support, and at first glance, it may seem that buyers now have more options.
However, I believe that being able to communicate in English and helping overseas buyers truly understand the process and make informed decisions are two very different things.
Many overseas buyers become confused because the common sense and values they are used to in their own country are often very different from those in Japan.
These cultural and procedural gaps can actually be a greater barrier than the language barrier itself.
For example, when it comes to zoning or land-use regulations, a Japanese buyer usually needs only a brief explanation.
Many aspects—geography, cultural norms, social expectations, and even how neighborhoods function—are simply understood as “common knowledge.”
Because of this, Japanese brokers have no legal duty or practical need to explain these details to domestic buyers.
Their role is mainly to handle the procedural side of the transaction—arranging viewings, managing offers, preparing contracts, and facilitating closing.
For buyers who do not share these “common assumptions,” however, there is no framework within Japan’s Real Estate Brokerage Act or standard industry practice that provides such guidance.
This is because those cultural and contextual explanations are not considered part of the legally defined brokerage duties.
Today, translation tools and AI-powered language systems can easily convert documents into English.
In fact, turning information into English is no longer the problem.
Buying property in Japan is not legally difficult, either.
Even as a non-resident or foreign national, you can purchase and own real estate without restriction, as long as you prepare the required documents, sign where instructed, and pay the necessary fees.
The transaction will be completed as long as you follow the steps as instructed—even if you do not fully understand the system or the cultural context behind it.
If that is enough for you—if all you need is to conduct the process in English—then my service is probably not necessary.
In such cases, hiring a professional interpreter or translator may be more suitable, as their role is simply to convert Japanese into English.
My Agent Services
My agent service is not about translating documents or explaining procedures in English.
It is about building trust, understanding each client’s goals, and supporting them as a long-term partner.
My role is to help overseas buyers navigate Japan’s real estate process, which often feels opaque and difficult to grasp, and to make it as clear and transparent as possible.
In Japan’s often opaque real estate market, I serve as a filter, helping my clients navigate transactions with greater transparency, understanding, and confidence.
According to JLL’s Global Real Estate Transparency Index 2024, Japan ranks 31st worldwide—a surprisingly low level of transparency for a developed country.
Japan’s Real Estate Brokerage Law is outdated, and the industry still operates with a traditional, analog mindset, heavily influenced by a seller-centric and new-construction–focused culture.
In this environment, some brokers remain reluctant to deal with overseas buyers, which makes the early stages of inquiry and negotiation particularly sensitive.
My goal as a buyer’s agent is not to sell properties or simply complete transactions.
It is to help every client gain understanding, reduce uncertainty, and make confident, informed decisions about ownership.
Sometimes, that may even mean deciding not to purchase right now—and that, too, can be the right outcome.
My business philosophy is to ensure that every client can make choices they will not regret.
In an age when digital tools allow almost everything to be done online—and human relationships are often reduced to data—I place the greatest importance on mutual understanding and trust between myself and my clients.
That is why I always begin with an initial online consultation, which also serves as a preliminary advisory session.
We only proceed once both sides have a clear understanding and mutual agreement.
Depending on your needs, I can also provide additional consulting and advisory services, such as detailed research, market analysis, communication with local authorities, or initial post-purchase support.
Please feel free to inquire for details.
About Fees
Brokerage Fees
Under Japan’s Real Estate Brokerage Law, brokerage duties can only be performed by a licensed real estate broker.
Individual agents like myself operate under the license of an affiliated brokerage.
At the time of sale and purchase, a Brokerage Agreement must be signed with the licensed broker.
This agreement is completely separate from the Buyer’s Agent Engagement Form that you sign with me.
Brokerage commissions in Japan are strictly success-based, and their maximum amount is set by law:
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3% of the property price + JPY 60,000 + 10% consumption tax
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For properties priced at JPY 8,000,000 or below: JPY 300,000 + 10% consumption tax
Property introductions and referrals are regarded as part of brokerage duties once a sale is concluded, and therefore cannot be charged separately.
Because of this legal structure, brokers in Japan are often limited in the kind of proactive support they can offer buyers before a deal is finalized.
In addition, except for high-value properties, it is common for buyers themselves to search for listings, contact the listing broker directly, and arrange viewings on their own.
Culturally and structurally, Japan’s real estate system is not designed for brokers to accompany buyers from the very beginning of their search.
My Service Fees
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English Support and Buyer Guidance Fee: JPY 100,000 (tax included)
Includes up to 10 English property summaries, English explanations of procedures, and basic research and commentary.
Valid for three months. -
Viewing Support: JPY 40,000 per day + actual travel expenses (highway tolls, fuel, train fare, and accommodation if necessary)
As mentioned above, property searches and introductions are considered brokerage duties once a transaction is concluded.
Therefore, I do not charge any additional fees for those aspects.
However, preparing English summaries, reviewing property information, providing contextual explanations, and offering guidance to help overseas buyers understand Japan’s unique process all require substantial time and expertise—and they fall outside the scope of statutory brokerage duties.
For this reason, the above fees are charged for my professional support.
How to Start an Engagement
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Contact me via the inquiry form or by email.
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We’ll start with an initial email exchange, followed by an online consultation to discuss your goals and the level of support you need.
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Once we’ve reached mutual understanding, a formal engagement will be made through a signed document and payment.
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I will then begin working on your behalf.
During the online consultation, we’ll review your objectives, conditions, and initial plans as part of the first advisory session.