The Japan Real Estate Summit - Autumn 2026

Two days of insight on buying, owning and investing in Japan Real Estate

Event date

Oct 17 (Sat) 10:00 – Oct 18 (Sun) 18:00JST

Doors Open:

Oct 17 (Sat) 10:00

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Emil Gorgees — RealEstate.jp
Blanka Kobayashi — Ark Reform
Ziv Nakajima-Magen — Nippon Tradings International
Tracey Northcott — Tokyo Family Stays
Brett Lee — Akiya Hub
Alicia Qin Wang — Axolotl Capital
Chai Kanda — Shiki Properties
Wyatt Beck - YEN LOANS
Sana Bhandari — SympleHost
Dave Singh — SympleHost
Max Delvita — SympleHost

SCHEDULE

Saturday, 17 October 2026

10:00 – 10:30
Registration & Kick-off

10:30 – 10:45
Agenda Review & Orientation

10:45 – 11:30 | Main Room

Emil Gorgees
50-Year Mortgages and 1% Interest Rates

Japan’s home loan market is constantly changing as rates and terms shift and new products become available. What do the numbers look like today, and is the new 50-year mortgage right for you and your family?

11:30 – 12:15 | Main Room

Brett Lee
Western Expectations vs Japanese Mentality: Who Wins?

Foreign buyers arrive in Japan with expectations shaped by Western real estate markets, while Japanese professionals operate within systems, norms and risk profiles developed for a domestic market. Brett examines what happens when these two worlds collide, where expectations clash, where they align and what really breaks down when foreigners buy and own homes in Japan.

11:30 – 12:15 | Breakout Room

Emil Gorgees
What Makes a Good House in Tokyo?

The features that make a good family home in Tokyo, and the value they bring, can be surprisingly difficult to assess. How do you judge a property and its suitability beyond what you see in the listing?

12:15 – 13:15
Lunch & Free Time

13:15 – 14:00 | Main Room

Blanka Kobayashi
The Struggles of Renovating Older Japanese Homes

Japan has a huge selection of beautiful older traditional homes, often available surprisingly cheaply. But restoring them requires a clear understanding of what is possible, what isn’t and how to budget realistically for the project.

13:15 – 14:00 | Breakout Room

Emily Kuno
Step Zero: Before the Hunt

Most people looking for a home in Japan start with listings. That’s usually too early. Emily leads attendees through Step Zero, deciding why you want a home in Japan, how you’ll use it, which regions suit that lifestyle, what to budget and what ownership requires when you’re away.

14:00 – 14:45 | Main Room

Alicia Qin Wang
Why You Shouldn’t Put Your Multi-Unit Investment Under Your Own Name

Personal ownership can mean higher tax costs and greater exposure of your personal wealth to liabilities. Learn how an appropriate holding structure can help protect your wealth and improve your investment strategy.

14:00 – 14:45 | Breakout Room

Blanka Kobayashi
Which Materials Should I Use for My Renovation?

Older and newer homes require different approaches and materials. Blanka examines how material costs, imports, domestic supply and labour have changed, and how to choose cost-effective materials for different renovation needs.

14:45 – 15:15
Free Time

15:15 – 16:00 | Main Room

Chai Kanda & Ben Howard
Japan’s Boutique Hospitality Market: A Regional Snapshot

An update on Japan’s tourism and boutique hotel investment market, including a hotel case study, new financing options and leverage available to non-resident investors. Plus, a practical look at Nagano’s ski property market, destinations gaining momentum and opportunities beyond Japan’s best-known alpine investment markets.

15:15 – 16:00 | Breakout Room

Alicia Qin Wang
How to Leverage Bank Loans for Your Investment Properties

Case studies, deal analysis and market updates covering the financing options currently available to non-resident buyers and how they work in practice.

16:00 – 16:45

Experts Q&A Panel

18:00 – 20:00

Gala Dinner

Sunday, 18 October 2026

10:00 – 10:15
Registration & Orientation

10:15 – 11:00 | Main Room

Ziv Nakajima-Magen
Entering the Market with Exit in Mind

Most buyers spend far more time thinking about entering the Japanese property market than eventually leaving it. Ziv examines how location, building age, financing, buyer demand and asset type affect liquidity, and how to ask the critical question before buying: when it’s time to exit, who will want this property and what options will I have?

10:15 – 11:00 | Breakout Room

Yi Zhang
Boutique Hotel Investment Case Studies: Using Leverage to Enhance Returns

Real-world boutique hotel case studies examining investment costs, operating performance and returns, including how appropriately structured financing can reduce equity requirements and generate attractive leveraged yields.

11:00 – 11:45 | Main Room

Tracey Northcott
Booked in a Crowded Market

Japan remains one of the world’s most popular tourism markets, but the number of hospitality properties is growing too. Learn how current AI tools can help your property stand out in an increasingly crowded market.

11:00 – 11:45 | Breakout Room

Ziv Nakajima-Magen & Jerome Marley
JRE Deal Analysis Studio: Product Updates & Demo

The JRE Deal Analysis AI platform returns with new features. See how it can generate a market feasibility report for virtually any property listed for sale, including rent projections for vacant properties, comparable market analysis and its investment grade ranking.

11:45 – 12:30 | Main Room

Sana Bhandari
What AI Operations Actually Do to the Bottom Line

AI is already changing how short-term rentals are managed, but does it actually improve profit? Sana examines real examples from Japan and across Asia-Pacific to show where AI creates measurable financial impact, where it doesn’t and how operators can apply those numbers to their own businesses.

11:45 – 12:30 | Breakout Room

Tracey Northcott
The 30-Minute AI Makeover

Live listing analysis, review and amendment designed to improve occupancy and profitability.

12:30 – 13:30
Lunch & Free Time

13:30 – 14:15 | Main Room

Wyatt Beck
Any Purpose. Any Residency Status. Any Major City. Financing Your Japan Condo

Yen Loans provides a market update and explains financing options for condo purchases across Japan’s major cities, covering personal use, investment and hybrid use for residents and non-residents alike. Wyatt will also explain equity release loans using an existing property as collateral.

13:30 – 15:00 | Breakout Room

Max Delvita & Dave Singh
Introduction to GoMinpaku

GoMinpaku is a free compliance reporting tool for hosts that automates guest information collection, passport processing, 180-day tracking and government reporting. The workshop includes a live demo and discussion of real-world reporting cases brought by attendees.

15:00 – 15:30
Free Time

15:30 – 16:15 | Main Room

Hiroto Senda
Beyond the Business Manager Visa: Entrepreneur Solutions

Updates, practical solutions and alternative approaches from an immigration lawyer for foreign entrepreneurs looking to establish businesses in Japan while navigating changing residency requirements.

15:30 – 16:15 | Breakout Room

Wyatt Beck
Your Individual Borrowing Scenario

An interactive session where Wyatt helps attendees evaluate their individual borrowing capacity and map out potential purchases or equity withdrawals from existing properties.

16:15 – 17:00

Experts Q&A Panel

17:00 – 17:45

Tearful Goodbyes & Photo Ops

18:00 – 20:00

The Afterparty!

Venue:
Tokyo International Forum, Hall D5

Google Map: Tokyo International Forum, Hall D5 (5F)

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY:

RealEstate.jp
Helping families buy homes in Tokyo, from financing and property searches through to purchase and settlement.

ARK Reform
A bilingual renovation and construction partner delivering thoughtful design, quality craftsmanship and clear project management throughout Japan’s Kanto region.

Tokyo Family Stays
A family-run accommodation and property-management company helping visitors experience Tokyo’s neighborhoods and everyday life like locals.

Nippon Tradings International
A Japan-based buyer’s agent, proxy and portfolio manager supporting international clients with property acquisition, management and investment strategy.

Japan Real Estate Summit Terms of Attendance

By purchasing a ticket to and attending the Japan Real Estate Summit, you agree to the following terms.

Speakers and Program Changes

Speakers, schedules, sessions, and other event details are subject to change without notice. Speaker cancellations, substitutions, or schedule changes do not entitle ticket holders to a refund or compensation.

Speakers, Sponsors and Third Parties

Speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, and participating companies are independent third parties. Their statements, opinions, information, products, and services are their own. The organizers do not guarantee their accuracy and are not responsible for any loss or decisions resulting from reliance on them.

Photography and Media

Photography and video recording will take place throughout the event. By purchasing a ticket and attending, you consent to being photographed or filmed and to the use of this content for website, social media, marketing, and promotional purposes.

Conduct

Attendees are expected to behave respectfully and professionally. Disruptive, abusive, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. We reserve the right to remove any attendee whose behavior interferes with the event or the experience of other attendees. Anyone removed for misconduct will not be entitled to a refund.

The organizers reserve the right to refuse entry or remove an attendee where reasonably necessary for the safety, security, or proper operation of the event.

Private Event and Recording

The Japan Real Estate Summit is a private event. Unauthorized audio recording, video recording, filming, live streaming, or recording of presentations is not permitted without prior approval from the organizers.

No Soliciting

The Summit is intended as a place for attendees to learn, meet people, exchange ideas, and build genuine professional relationships.

Unsolicited promotion or active solicitation of attendees is not permitted. This includes actively pitching products, properties, investments, financial services, or other commercial services, as well as distributing promotional materials or systematically approaching attendees for the purpose of acquiring clients.

Normal networking, exchanging business cards, discussing your work, and making professional connections are absolutely welcome. The distinction is simple. Come to participate and build relationships, not to use the event as an opportunity to actively solicit attendees.

Attendees who disregard this policy may be asked to stop the activity or leave the event without a refund.