Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs recently released a report revealing a striking 9 million empty houses as of October 1 last year. This number surged by 510,000 since the last survey in 2018 and doubled since 1993. Now, these vacant properties make up 13.8% of all homes in Japan, hitting a record high and showing a concerning trend in the country’s housing situation.
The increase in empty homes, especially those without any specific use like renting or selling, is due to various reasons. These include older people living alone passing away or moving into care facilities. This trend reflects broader changes in Japan’s population and society, which affect housing and urban development.
This situation poses challenges for policymakers and others working to solve housing shortages and urban planning problems in Japan.