Hey @Chris Magistrado - I'm local in Tokyo, Japan - been here about 10 years. 

I guess a good location could help and it's likely that some buildings in downtown Tokyo maintain their value better.

Outside of Tokyo it is a cash flow market, rather than for capital growth.

I'd love to pick your brain on this topic.Also, we started looking into REI in the Greater Tokyo area and are meeting with an agent next week.

I know there are many that live in Tokyo - let me know if you are in the Yokohama area!

Here in the USA we're facing 5% rates recently, so over 30 years, your $250K house will actually cost $375 including interest and that does not include property taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance etc.She said the catch is (at least in areas outside of Tokyo which is booming up to the Olympics), is that used real estate is very cheap so after you buy a home it's guarantee to drop over the years.

If you're ever up in Tokyo and would like to talk real estate, please feel free to drop me a line.  

We have a regular meeting in Tokyo, but I haven’t heard of anything elsewhere in Japan.

I moved to Tokyo after high school.

I'm an American currently living abroad in Tokyo, Japan, and a couple years back I decided to buy my first rental property in Bakersfield, CA.