Purchase and sale costs
- Property price, where you are the buyer
- Taxes, registration and judicial scrivener fees
- Loan fees, insurance and bank or remittance charges
- Other professional services or property-specific expenses
OUR FEES · ENGLISH SUPPORT
Clear fees.
English included.
No separate viewing fees. No English-support surcharge. For ordinary brokerage, our service charge is the agreed success-based commission.
See what is includedBuying, selling or renting in Japan · Updated 24 October 2026
01 / ASIASCAPE’S SERVICE
What you pay us.
These terms cover ordinary brokerage services. We make the scope and the commission clear before you engage us.
| Service | Our charge | What this means |
|---|---|---|
| Consultation & property search | No separate fee | Discuss your plans and review suitable properties. |
| Ordinary property viewings | No viewing fee | No hourly charge for viewings arranged as part of our brokerage service. |
| English communication & explanations | Included | No separate English-support surcharge. |
| Brokerage commission | Agreed success-based fee | The amount, including tax, and payment terms are explained in writing before you engage us. |
When the commission applies
Our brokerage commission is a success-based fee for a sale or rental contract concluded through us. The commission amount, including tax, the payment schedule and the treatment of cancellation are explained in writing before you engage us. Contract conclusion, settlement and move-in are different stages; check your agreed payment dates.
Selling: success-based brokerage commission only
Our only service fee for selling your property is the agreed success-based brokerage commission. There are no separate charges for consultation, valuation, standard marketing, viewings or English support.
No brokerage commission is due if no sale contract is concluded through us. Payment dates and treatment of any later cancellation are agreed in writing before you engage us. Taxes, registration, lender charges and third-party work are separate from our remuneration.
See what your free selling valuation includes ↗This policy covers ordinary brokerage services. If you specifically request work outside that scope, any separate service or permitted special expense must be explained and agreed in writing before it is arranged.
02 / THE FULL PROPERTY BUDGET
Other costs still matter.
Our service fee is one part of your budget. The following costs are separate and depend on the property and your circumstances.
Initial and ongoing rental costs
- Rent and management or common-area charges
- Deposits, key money and advance rent
- Guarantee-company fees and insurance
- Lock changes and other property-specific charges
Ask for an itemised estimate showing what each charge covers, who receives it and when it must be paid. Some money may be collected together; that does not make every item an Asiascape service fee.
03 / BUYER AGREEMENTS & ADDITIONAL FEES
Before your first viewing, understand what you are signing.
Viewing charges combined with broad exclusivity deserve particular caution. You may face growing costs for viewings while the agreement restricts your ability to instruct another agent. Termination charges or breach provisions can make changing agents more costly. This is especially concerning if you have not been given a clear explanation in a language you understand.
Our advice is to avoid an agent who pressures you to sign or pay while these conditions remain unclear. Before committing, get the following in writing and take time to compare your options:
- Every fee, what it covers, when it is due and whether it is refundable.
- The properties or search covered, the duration and restrictions on using other agents.
- How you can end the agreement, and any costs or penalties that may follow.
- The service the agent promises in return, and whether a non-exclusive arrangement is available.
Understand the fee rules and the type of agreement
Ask for a written breakdown of any extra charge and whether it covers ordinary brokerage or a separate service. MLIT guidance prohibits separate viewing or application fees as additional brokerage remuneration, while allowing certain specially requested expenses. MLIT also distinguishes separately contracted consulting services from brokerage; a different fee label alone does not establish that distinction.
Japan’s standard agreements include both non-exclusive and exclusive forms for purchases. A sennin agreement restricts using other brokers for the agreed scope; the stricter senzoku sennin form also restricts direct transactions with a seller you find yourself. The choice needs an informed explanation and your agreement; an exclusive form is not automatically required before a viewing.
If you have already signed, check the actual terms and seek independent advice before appointing another agent or arranging a direct transaction.
Sources: MLIT’s guidance on brokerage fees, separately contracted consulting and standard agency agreements.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Understand the terms before deciding.
Do you charge extra for viewings or English support?
For our standard brokerage service, consultations, property searches, viewings and English support carry no separate service fee. Our service charge is the agreed success-based brokerage commission. Property costs and third-party charges remain separate.
How much will my brokerage commission be?
We confirm the commission for your transaction in writing before you engage us, including the amount with tax, payment schedule and cancellation terms. The agreed fee must be within the applicable legal limit. Ask for an itemised estimate for the property you are considering.
Does success-based mean I only pay on the day I move in?
No. A brokerage commission relates to a sale or rental contract concluded through us; the payment schedule is set out in your agreement. Do not assume that payment is due only at settlement or move-in. The effect of a later cancellation depends on the agreement and applicable rules, and should be explained before you commit.
Are taxes, registration and move-in charges included?
No. Our fee policy concerns Asiascape’s brokerage services. Property prices, rent, taxes, registration, financing, insurance and property-specific rental charges are separate. We provide an itemised estimate to distinguish these costs.
What do you charge for selling my property?
Our only service fee for selling your property is the agreed success-based brokerage commission. There are no separate charges for consultation, valuation, standard marketing, viewings or English support. No brokerage commission is due if no sale contract is concluded through us. We confirm the commission including tax, payment dates and treatment of any later cancellation in writing before you engage us. Taxes, registration, lender charges and third-party services are separate selling costs.
Do I have to sign an exclusive buyer agreement before viewing a home in Japan?
There is no blanket legal requirement to sign an exclusive buyer agency agreement simply to view a home. Asiascape regards requiring exclusivity before a first viewing in an ordinary residential purchase as an unusual arrangement, not a routine step. Ask why it is being requested, what service you receive and what alternatives are available. Be especially cautious if viewing charges are combined with restrictions on using other agents, and do not sign or pay under pressure before you understand the terms.
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR PLANS
Ask for a clear cost estimate.
Tell us whether you are buying, selling or renting, and share a property link if you have one. We can explain the expected costs in English.
Official sources
The legal explanations are summaries of Japanese-language guidance, checked on 24 October 2026. Asiascape’s practical perspective is identified separately.
MLIT — interpretation and operation of the Real Estate Brokerage Act: agency agreements and remuneration (PDF, effective 1 April 2026) ↗MLIT — standard agency agreements, including purchase and exclusivity provisions (PDF) ↗MLIT — services separate from brokerage and consulting remuneration (PDF, February 2025) ↗MLIT — consumer guidance on brokerage agreements and commission limits ↗