CANADIANS MOVE TO TOKYO 

A decade ago only 113,200 foreigners lived in Tokyo. That number has since doubled -- and Canadians are leading the pack with an increase of 152 percent. Germans are up 36 percent; Americans 76 percent; French 110 percent and the British by 123 percent, according to a report just issued by TOKYO Business Today.

Foreigners quickly learn that Tokyo is expensive. Really expensive. For a nice one-to-two-bedroom apartment in the three "A" (Azabu, Aoyama and Akasaka) district be prepared to pay from 630,000 to 880,000 yen. In weaker currencies that works out to US $4,700 to US $6,500 a month. These apartments aren't large, just 99 to 115.5 square metres. Three bedroom spots cost US $7,000 to US $9,300 ... per MONTH! Residential space is measured by the size of a Tatami mat that you sleep on. It is about 1.65 square metres in area.

A foreign company wanting to enter the Japanese market must have deep pockets. Office space isn't a give-away like residential space. For 3.3 square metres, rental runs from US $156 to US $185 a month.

Among Asians, the Chinese are the fastest growing segment of foreigners: up 4.2 times in the last decade. Philippine nationals are close behind with 12,788 citizens now in Tokyo. That puts them ahead of the British and just slightly behind the Americans in numbers.

Lower rents are available in some sections of Tokyo but due to strong demand for lower rents, cost per square metre per month isn't that much different per square metre than larger space in a classier neighborhood. Prices per square metre range from a low of US $26.9 dollars in Seijo to US$52.7 dollars in Aoyama. Little wonder that the Japanese are masters of miniaturization. Even physically big people have a disadvantage.

Monthly moorage for my houseboat/office in downtown Vancouver is C$800. The Tokyo tab for an equivalent spot would probably be C$8,000 a month. Count your blessings.

* * *

< previous | chapter index | next >
back to Main Chapter Listing
back to Home Page