Fire insurance matters more in Japan than most buyers realise: a law from 1899 means a neighbour who burns down your house generally owes you nothing. Cover extends well beyond fire to typhoon, hail, and water damage, but excludes earthquake entirely. With premiums up over 40% since 2019 and contract terms now capped at five years, reviewing your policy at renewal is no longer optional.
Every renovation budget we see from overseas buyers has one line missing. Asbestos rarely stops a project outright — but it reliably adds weeks, sometimes months, and occasionally rewrites the numbers entirely. This guide sets out what the law requires, what it costs, and when to plan for it.
