Japan's Abandoned Homes Crisis: 1.58 Million Properties Left to Decay

Every five years, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications releases the "Housing and Land Survey." The latest data exposes the escalating problem of abandoned homes across Japan. Here's a closer look.

Empty House Rate Soars to 13.8% with Tokushima Leading at 21.24%

According to the 2023 survey, Japan has a staggering 6.5 million homes, out of which nearly 900,000 are vacant, resulting in an empty house rate of 13.8%. These empty homes include secondary residences, rental properties, homes for sale, and long-term unoccupied houses. The largest category is rental properties, with 4.4 million empty units, followed by neglected homes at 3.85 million, secondary residences at 383,000, and homes for sale at 327,000.

Tokushima Tops the List with Highest Vacancy Rate

Among the prefectures, Tokushima has the highest vacancy rate at 21.24%, with one in every five homes empty. In contrast, Okinawa has the lowest rate at 9.3%, with 65,100 empty homes out of 699,800.

Top 10 Prefectures with the Highest Vacancy Rates:

1. Tokushima - 21.24%

2. Wakayama - 21.17%

3. Yamanashi - 20.47%

4. Kagoshima - 20.44%

5. Kochi - 20.31%

6. Nagano - 19.97%

7. Ehime - 19.76%

8. Yamaguchi - 19.39%

9. Oita - 19.13%

10. Kagawa - 18.52%

The Growing Menace of Dilapidated Homes

The most alarming aspect is the rise in homes that are not maintained, leading to decay and damage, posing safety risks, and the threat of collapse. There are 1.58 million such dilapidated homes across Japan, making up 2.44% of all homes and 17.63% of empty homes. In the category of neglected empty homes, 23.27% are in poor condition, meaning nearly one in four is deteriorating rapidly.