A Rare Opportunity: A Tokyo Home for 1 Million Yen
This property presents a unique chance to own a home in Tokyo's 23 wards for just 1 million yen, with the price being negotiable. Located in the Koto Ward, the building is a 60-year-old, two-story wooden structure with a semi-second floor, offering a total floor area of 75.24 square meters. The layout is a 4K configuration, featuring a 6-tatami Western-style room and a 10-tatami Japanese-style room on the first floor, along with the kitchen, toilet, and bath. The second floor contains another 6-tatami Western-style room and a 6-tatami Japanese-style room.
Critical agent notes reveal the property's condition and key details. The house requires significant renovation: the roof is peeling off, rain leaks in, and there are damaged areas. While the plumbing fixtures are currently usable, the sewer pipes are prone to clogging and should ideally be replaced with proper piping. There are also leftover items inside. The land is leasehold, requiring a monthly ground rent of 23,200 yen and approximately 1.3 million yen in expenses for transferring the leasehold rights. Most importantly, the property is designated as "non-rebuildable" (再建築不可), meaning a new structure cannot be built on the land if the existing one is destroyed, due to factors like the frontage to the road being less than 2 meters.
Despite the challenges, the location is highly convenient. It is situated very close to the popular Sunamachi Ginza Shopping Street. Access to public transport is excellent, with JR Sobu Line, Toei Shinjuku Line, and Tokyo Metro Tozai Line stations all reachable within 10 to 15 minutes by Toei bus. The owner notes the area is surprisingly quiet. For those willing to undertake a full renovation—including essential checks for earthquake and fire resistance—this property offers the incredible potential to create a custom home in a vibrant Tokyo neighborhood at a base cost rarely seen in the city center.
The surrounding Koto Ward area is a fascinating mix of old and new Tokyo, known for its canals and reclaimed land. A major landmark nearby is the Tokyo Skytree in Sumida Ward, just across the Arakawa River. As the tallest tower in the world, it offers breathtaking panoramic views of the metropolis and houses a large shopping and entertainment complex at its base, making it a premier tourist destination.
