Himeji Castle, Hyogo
Photo: Himeji Castle, Hyogo · Svetlana Gumerova / Unsplash

Yabu City Housing Market Report 2026

Data updated 2026-11-11 · Source: MLIT transaction price survey, 2005 Q3–2026 Q2 · Transactions in 2025: 35

In short

  1. 1
    What a typical purchase costs

    Half of all house sales last year were between ¥500k and ¥2.0M.

  2. 2
    A shrinking population

    The population fell 10.7% between 2020 and 2025 (−2.6% for the wider area).

  3. 3
    Many abandoned homes

    25.8% of homes were empty in 2023 (13.8% for the wider area), and 21% were empty without being for rent, for sale or used as second homes.

  4. 4
    Lower earthquake risk

    The government's seismic model gives a 2% chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or stronger in the next 30 years (33% for the wider area).

The answers, compared

What does a home cost?

¥1.5M

median house · ¥9k/m²

95% below the Hyogo median

22 of 22 areas in Hyogo, highest first

Can local earners afford it?

0.5× income

median price ÷ average taxable income

Easier than Hyogo (5.5×)

41 of 41 areas in Hyogo, highest first

Rent or buy?

4years of rent

median price ÷ a year of median rent

Shorter than Hyogo (32)

40 of 40 areas in Hyogo, highest first

Are people moving in?

-10.7%

population, 2020–25

Shrinking faster than Hyogo (-2.6%)

41 of 41 areas in Hyogo, highest first

How risky is it?

2%

chance of strong shaking (6-lower+) in 30 years

Lower than Hyogo (33%)

38 of 41 areas in Hyogo, highest first

Rent in Yabu City

The average private rental costs ¥43k a month (2023), -11.2% since 2018. Hyogo: ¥65k

Rent per m²
¥1,057
median, per month · Hyogo: ¥1,586

Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan, Housing and Land Survey 2023. Privately owned rentals (excluding rent-free homes), monthly rent without management fees. These averages include older homes, so they run below asking rents for newly listed units. 430 rented homes.

What the data says

What a typical purchase costs

Half of all house sales last year were between ¥500k and ¥2.0M. Listings outside that range are either unusual properties or worth a closer look.

A shrinking population

The population fell 10.7% between 2020 and 2025 (−2.6% for the wider area). More people moved out than in during 2025 (about 8.8 per 1,000 residents), which weakens long-term housing demand.

Many abandoned homes

25.8% of homes were empty in 2023 (13.8% for the wider area), and 21% were empty without being for rent, for sale or used as second homes. That is a high share of truly abandoned homes (akiya), a sign of weak demand. Cheap houses are easy to find, but resale can be slow.

Lower earthquake risk

The government's seismic model gives a 2% chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or stronger in the next 30 years (33% for the wider area). This is low by Japanese standards, although no part of Japan is free of earthquake risk.

Local incomes are below average

Taxpayers here reported an average taxable income of ¥3.0m in 2023 (¥4.0m for the wider area). That is +15% since 2014. Averages are pulled up by a few very high earners, so a typical household earns less than this.

Living in Yabu City: people, homes and risks

Population 2025
19,757
-10.7% since 2020
Hyogo: -2.6%
Net moves in 2025
-174
-8.81 per 1,000 residents
Hyogo: -0.39
Vacant homes (2023)
25.8%
21.0% empty and not for rent or sale
Hyogo: 13.8%
Median rent (2023)
¥29k
per month, all rented homes
Hyogo: ¥57k
Strong earthquake risk
2.3%
chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or more within 30 years
Hyogo: 33.0%
Average income per taxpayer
¥3.0M
taxable income in 2023
Hyogo: ¥4.0M
Daytime population
101
people here by day per 100 residents (2020 census)
Foreign residents
0.7%
146 registered residents in 2024
Hyogo: 2.6%
Clinics
8.1
per 10,000 residents; 2 hospitals, 9 dental clinics (2020)
Hyogo: 10.1
Official land price 2026
¥17k/m²
-0.9% in a year · – in 5 years
Hyogo: ¥102k/m²
Flood exposure
66.7%
of 3 benchmark sites in a worst-case flood zone (33.3% 3 m or deeper)
Hyogo: 46.1%
Landslide exposure
0.0%
of 3 benchmark sites in a landslide warning area
Hyogo: 4.3%

Check flood, landslide and tsunami zones for a specific address on the government hazard map ↗

Sources: 2025 Census (preliminary), 2025 Internal Migration Report, 2023 Housing and Land Survey (Statistics Bureau of Japan); J-SHIS seismic hazard model (NIED, 2024); Land Price Publication (MLIT); recorded crime: Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (Tokyo only); incomes: Ministry of Internal Affairs taxation survey via the Statistics Bureau's municipal indicators; foreign residents: Basic Resident Register; medical facilities and station passengers: MLIT National Land Numerical Information. Earthquake probability is measured at the municipal center.

Example sales in Yabu City

Real transactions from the last four quarters, picked near the lower (20th percentile), middle and upper (80th percentile) price points. Locations are shown at district level, as published by MLIT.

House

Lower-priced2025 Q4

¥1.0M

¥6k/m²

  • Nagano
  • Yabu
  • Land 380 m² · floor 160 m²
  • Built 1975 (50 yrs) · Wood
Typical2025 Q4

¥3.0M

¥11k/m²

  • Oyachokabo
  • Yoka
  • Land 620 m² · floor 270 m²
  • Built 1978 (47 yrs) · Wood
Higher-priced2026 Q2

¥20.0M

¥42k/m²

  • Oyachonaka
  • Yoka
  • Land 910 m² · floor 480 m²
  • Built 1987 (39 yrs) · Steel
Median transaction price by year
¥0¥1.0M¥2.0M¥3.0M¥4.0M2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearHouse
2007–
2009–
2010–
2011–
2012–
2013–
2015–
2017–
2018–
2020–
2021–
2022¥4.0M
2023–
2024¥2.1M
2025¥1.5M
Median price per m² by year
¥0¥10k¥20k¥30k¥40k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearHouseLand
2007–¥30k/m²
2009–¥9k/m²
2010–¥38k/m²
2011–¥12k/m²
2012–¥12k/m²
2013–¥15k/m²
2015–¥9k/m²
2017–¥3k/m²
2018–¥10k/m²
2020–¥8k/m²
2021–¥10k/m²
2022¥22k/m²¥19k/m²
2023–¥16k/m²
2024¥13k/m²–
2025¥9k/m²–

Prices near train stations in Yabu City

Sales from 2023–2025, grouped by nearest station.

StationMedian used condo priceCondo price per m²Median house price (land + building)Walk (min)SalesDaily passengers (2023)
Yoka (八鹿)––¥2.0M1634800-17% vs 2019
Yabu (養父)––¥2.0M192592-37% vs 2019

How much does a house cost in Yabu City?

The median house sale, including the land, was ¥1.5M in 2025 across 21 sales.

About this data

Figures are medians of real transactions reported to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) through its quarterly price survey. House prices per m² divide the total price (land and building) by the floor area. Medians based on fewer than 20 sales are not shown. The latest quarters are preliminary and are revised as more survey responses arrive.

Information only, not investment advice.