The Japan Real Estate Summit – Autumn 2026

Proudly presented by: RealEstate.jp, Nippon Tradings International, Tokyo Family Stays, and Ark Reform.

Join us in Tokyo for two intensive days of insight into buying, owning, and investing in real estate in Japan. The Japan Real Estate Summit brings together leading professionals, investors, and industry experts to share practical knowledge, real-world strategies, and on-the-ground experience.

Whether you’re exploring your first property in Japan, expanding an investment portfolio, or navigating renovation, financing, short-term rentals, or long-term living, this summit is designed to give you clarity and confidence.

What to Expect
    •    Expert talks and panel discussions from top voices in Japanese real estate
    •    Actionable guidance on purchasing, renovating, financing, and managing property
    •    Insights into akiya (vacant homes), family stays, rentals, and retirement planning
    •    Opportunities to connect with trusted service providers and fellow investors
    •    Networking in an international, English-friendly environment

Who Should Attend
    •    Foreign buyers and investors interested in Japan
    •    Current property owners seeking better returns or smoother operations
    •    Entrepreneurs, expats, and future residents planning a move to Japan
    •    Anyone curious about how Japan’s real estate market really works

With speakers from RealEstate.jp, Ark Reform, Nippon Tradings International, Tokyo Family Stays and more, this is your chance to learn directly from people doing the work every day.

🌸 Autumn 2026 in Tokyo is the perfect time to level up your Japan real estate journey.

 

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
• Matt Ketchum — Akiyaz.io
• 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
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?

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

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?

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

Matt Ketchum
You’ve Bought the Property. Now Build the Business: Getting Your Digital Toolkit Right

You’ve bought a place in Japan to launch a consultancy, open a studio, sell products or provide a service. How do you get the digital foundations right? A practical guide to websites, ecommerce, payments, appointment scheduling and marketing channels: what you need, how the tools fit together and which setup mistakes to avoid.

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

Matt Ketchum
Cybersecurity

How to tool yourself, your business and your investment activities more safely.

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 – 14:15 | 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.

14:15 – 15:00 | Main Room

Tracey Northcott | Tokyo Family Stays
The 30-Minute AI Makover

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

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)