#Japan #Niigata #LIFULL #Niigata City #Kenbiya

Niigata City Maintains Top Rank in Real Estate Yield

In the first half of 2026, Niigata City has asserted its dominance in the real estate market by maintaining the number one spot across all three categories of residential investment properties—condominium units, entire buildings, and apartment complexes. This achievement continues from the previous survey conducted in the latter half of 2025, showcasing the city's consistent performance.

Overview of the Ranking

A recent report by Kenbiya, a real estate investment and revenue property information site operated by Kenbiya Co., Ltd., revealed that during the six-month period from January to June 2026, registered residential properties were analyzed to establish the rankings based on yield for designated cities. Niigata City ranked first with yields of 17.58% for condominiums, 13.10% for full apartments, and 13.59% for entire buildings. Notably, many cities experienced a decline in yield compared to the previous year, highlighting a fluctuating market landscape.

Condominium Units

The ranking for condominium units saw no changes in positions from the previous survey. The first 13 cities remained exactly the same, with Niigata City leading the pack at 17.58%. The top six cities, which include Hamamatsu, Kitakyushu, Shizuoka, Kumamoto, and Okayama, all have average prices below 10 million yen. This pricing strategy makes these areas more accessible to investors. In stark contrast, Osaka emerged as the city with the lowest yield at 5.70% paired with an average property price soaring to 21.79 million yen, creating a significant price gap compared to the leading Niigata City.

Full Apartments

In the category of full apartments, both Niigata and Kitakyushu retained their first and second positions, respectively. Other major cities like Osaka, Saitama, and Kawasaki saw their average prices crossing the 100 million yen mark for the first time. The analysis indicated that Sakai City experienced the most significant drop in yield with a decrease of 3.55 points compared to the previous year. This downward trend was echoed across other areas, while cities like Hiroshima and Kitakyushu saw notable gains in their yields, raising concern for investors in declining markets.

Entire Buildings

The summary for entire buildings indicated that Saitama City achieved a remarkable milestone by being the only city to surpass the 300 million yen mark, with its property now sitting at 342.76 million yen. Remarkably, there were no changes in rankings among the lower tiers, signifying stability in the market for lower-yielding properties.

Survey Methodology

The analysis incorporated data registered on Kenbiya between January 1 to June 30, 2026, focusing on key metrics such as investment yield, property price, and age of the building. The full details of the report can be accessed through Kenbiya’s official platform.

About Kenbiya Co., Ltd.

Kenbiya Co., Ltd. operates as part of the LIFULL Group, dedicated to providing valuable insights into real estate investment. The platform boasts numerous resources, including property listings, expert columns, and up-to-date news on real estate investment trends, affirming its stance as a premier information source in the industry. Furthermore, Kenbiya has recently claimed the title for the highest number of listed properties in February 2026, according to research conducted by Tokyo Shoko Research.

Conclusion

This ongoing analysis sheds light on regional disparities in real estate yields across Japan's designated cities. The findings encourage potential investors to approach opportunities in manageable environments while drawing attention to the fluctuating yields in powerhouses like Osaka and Saitama. As the market continues to evolve, insights from platforms like Kenbiya will remain crucial for informed investment decisions in real estate.

For more details on the latest research, please visit Kenbiya's site.