The fact that Japan historically has a major earthquake every 10-20 years and that they have a devastating one every 100 years turns me off their property market.
They are now overdue for "The Big One". I have lived there (5 years in total) on and off for the last 15 years. Small tremors are a weekly event. I worked in an office in Yokohama and we all had our own helmets and survival packs supplied by the company for when a big quake next hits.
Their construction techniques are becoming quite resistent to large quakes, but there are plenty of dodgy buildings that will fall over quite easily.
If I was investing in a Japanese property trust, I would first find out the age of the buildings being bought, and whether insurance will fully cover repairs and loss of income...and I doubt that it will.
Great investment if Japan can stay major-quake free for 10 years, but this is a genuine risk that most wouldn't consider.
BJT
babcock & brown japan property trust
