Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City Housing Market Report 2026
Data updated 2026-11-11 · Source: MLIT transaction price survey, 2005 Q3–2026 Q2 · Transactions in 2025: 370
In short
- 1Prices are still rising, but more slowly
Growth has cooled to about 1.6% a year, down from 3.4% a year in the previous five years.
- 2Moving with Kumamoto
Per m², condos here are 6% below the Kumamoto average.
- 3Station distance barely matters
Condos 11–15 minutes from a station sell for similar or higher prices than those near one, which usually means buyers here drive or value quiet residential streets.
- 4A family market
55% of recent condo sales have three or more bedrooms.
The answers, compared
What does a home cost?
¥18.0M
median used condo · ¥262k/m²
6% below the Kumamoto median
Are prices rising?
+17.0%
over 5 years
Slower than Kumamoto (+29.5%)
8 of 19 areas in Kumamoto, highest first
Can local earners afford it?
5.0× income
median price ÷ average taxable income
Easier than Kumamoto (5.7×)
8 of 19 areas in Kumamoto, highest first
Rent or buy?
31years of rent
median price ÷ a year of median rent
Shorter than Kumamoto (34)
8 of 19 areas in Kumamoto, highest first
Are people moving in?
-1.1%
population, 2020–25
Shrinking slower than Kumamoto (-3.5%)
8 of 21 areas in Kumamoto, highest first
How risky is it?
11%
chance of strong shaking (6-lower+) in 30 years
Lower than Kumamoto (15%)
11 of 21 areas in Kumamoto, highest first
Rent in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City
The average private rental costs ¥53k a month (2023), +1.3% since 2018. Kumamoto: ¥51k
| Floor area | Typical layout | Average rent / month | Chuo Ward, Kumamoto CityKumamoto |
|---|---|---|---|
| under 30 m² studio / 1K | studio / 1K | ¥41k vs 2018 +8.2% · Kumamoto: ¥40k | |
| 30–49 m² 1LDK / 2DK | 1LDK / 2DK | ¥51k vs 2018 +0.3% · Kumamoto: ¥48k | |
| 50–69 m² 2LDK / 3DK | 2LDK / 3DK | ¥63k vs 2018 -2.0% · Kumamoto: ¥56k | |
| 70–99 m² 3LDK / family | 3LDK / family | ¥90k vs 2018 +19.3% · Kumamoto: ¥65k | |
| 100–149 m² mostly houses | mostly houses | ¥77k vs 2018 +12.0% · Kumamoto: ¥58k | |
| 150 m² + mostly houses | mostly houses | ¥102k vs 2018 +13.5% · Kumamoto: ¥70k |
- Rent per m²
- ¥1,446
- median, per month · Kumamoto: ¥1,208
- The median used condo (¥18.0M, 65 m²) costs about 24 years of average rent for a similar-sized home (¥63k a month).
- Excludes management fees, repair reserve, property tax and mortgage interest.
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. 50,030 rented homes.
What the data says
Prices are still rising, but more slowly
Growth has cooled to about 1.6% a year, down from 3.4% a year in the previous five years. This looks more like a maturing market than a turning point, and it gives buyers a bit more room to negotiate.
Moving with Kumamoto
Per m², condos here are 6% below the Kumamoto average. That position has barely changed in ten years, so it moves with the wider market.
Station distance barely matters
Condos 11–15 minutes from a station sell for similar or higher prices than those near one, which usually means buyers here drive or value quiet residential streets.
A family market
55% of recent condo sales have three or more bedrooms. Demand comes mainly from owner-occupier families, which tends to make prices steadier but rental yields lower.
What a typical purchase costs
Half of all condo sales last year were between ¥7.0M and ¥29.0M. Listings outside that range are either unusual properties or worth a closer look.
A shrinking population
The population fell 1.1% between 2020 and 2025 (−3.5% for the wider area). More people moved in than out in 2025, a net gain of about 2.3 per 1,000 residents, so demand for homes is being topped up by newcomers. Households still grew 3% as people live in smaller households, which supports demand for smaller homes even as the population shrinks.
Few abandoned homes
15.4% of homes were empty in 2023 (14.9% for the wider area), and 3% were empty without being for rent, for sale or used as second homes. Most empty homes here are rentals between tenants, not abandoned houses, a sign of a healthy market.
Buying vs renting
A median used condo costs about 30.6 years of the area's median rent (¥49k a month), compared with 34 years for the wider area. Prices are high relative to rents, so rental yields are thin and buyers are paying for expected growth. Rents here cover all rented homes, so treat this as a rough guide.
Lower earthquake risk
The government's seismic model gives a 11% chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or stronger in the next 30 years (15% for the wider area). This is low by Japanese standards, although no part of Japan is free of earthquake risk.
A typical condo costs 5.0 years of local income
Taxpayers in the city as a whole reported an average taxable income of ¥3.6m in 2023 (¥3.3m for the wider area). That is +19% since 2014. The median resale condo sold for about 5.0 times that, against 5.7 times for the wider area. A higher multiple means prices lean more on buyers from outside the area or on two incomes. Averages are pulled up by a few very high earners, so a typical household earns less than this.
Official land prices are rising fast
On the government's fixed benchmark sites, which are valued the same way every year, residential land prices changed +6% in the year to January 2026 and +23% over five years. Because these sites don't change, this is the cleanest measure of land value trends.
Some flood or landslide exposure
Of the official land-price benchmark sites here, which sit in typical neighbourhoods, 68% are inside the worst-case flood zone. Most worst-case flood zones are shallow (under 0.5 m) at the edges, so depth matters as much as the share. Check the hazard map for any specific address before buying.
Living in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City: people, homes and risks
- Population 2025
- 185,413
- -1.1% since 2020
- Kumamoto: -3.5%
- Net moves in 2025
- +434
- +2.34 per 1,000 residents
- Kumamoto: -1.39
- Vacant homes (2023)
- 15.4%
- 3.0% empty and not for rent or sale
- Kumamoto: 14.9%
- Median rent (2023)
- ¥49k
- per month, all rented homes
- Kumamoto: ¥47k
- Strong earthquake risk
- 11.3%
- chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or more within 30 years
- Kumamoto: 14.9%
- Average income per taxpayer
- ¥3.6M
- taxable income in 2023, citywide figure
- Kumamoto: ¥3.3M
- Daytime population
- 125
- people here by day per 100 residents (2020 census)
- Foreign residents
- 2.2%
- 3,940 registered residents in 2024
- Kumamoto: 1.7%
- Clinics
- 12.4
- per 10,000 residents; 39 hospitals, 150 dental clinics (2020)
- Kumamoto: 8.9
- Official land price 2026
- ¥129k/m²
- +5.9% in a year · +22.6% in 5 years
- Kumamoto: ¥54k/m²
- Flood exposure
- 68.1%
- of 47 benchmark sites in a worst-case flood zone (2.1% 3 m or deeper)
- Kumamoto: 51.3%
- Landslide exposure
- 0.0%
- of 47 benchmark sites in a landslide warning area
- Kumamoto: 0.8%
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 Chuo Ward, Kumamoto 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.
Condo
¥6.0M
¥150k/m²
- Kuhonji
- Shin Suizenji · 19 min walk
- 2DK · 40 m²
- Built 1985 (40 yrs)
¥19.0M
¥238k/m²
- Kokubu
- Shin Suizenji · 6 min walk
- 4LDK · 80 m²
- Built 1995 (31 yrs) · RC
¥33.0M
¥508k/m²
- Kyomachihoncho
- Kami Kumamoto(JR/KumamotoDentetsu) · 13 min walk
- 2LDK · 65 m²
- Built 2014 (12 yrs)
House
¥17.0M
¥131k/m²
- Izumi
- Shin Suizenji · 19 min walk
- Land 230 m² · floor 130 m²
- Built 1979 (47 yrs) · Wood
¥42.0M
¥336k/m²
- Suizenji
- Suizenji · 15 min walk
- Land 200 m² · floor 125 m²
- Built 2004 (22 yrs) · Wood
¥110M
¥159k/m²
- Kokubu
- Shin Suizenji · 9 min walk
- Land 1100 m² · floor 690 m²
- Built 1998 (27 yrs) · RC
Show data table
| Year | Condo | House |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | ¥8.0M | ¥33.5M |
| 2008 | ¥12.0M | ¥33.0M |
| 2009 | ¥14.5M | ¥30.0M |
| 2010 | ¥9.7M | ¥28.0M |
| 2011 | ¥9.0M | ¥31.0M |
| 2012 | ¥8.8M | ¥28.0M |
| 2013 | ¥9.0M | ¥32.0M |
| 2014 | ¥12.5M | ¥31.0M |
| 2015 | ¥11.0M | ¥30.0M |
| 2016 | ¥15.0M | ¥33.0M |
| 2017 | ¥12.0M | ¥31.0M |
| 2018 | ¥15.0M | ¥30.0M |
| 2019 | ¥16.0M | ¥32.0M |
| 2020 | ¥16.0M | ¥31.0M |
| 2021 | ¥16.0M | ¥35.0M |
| 2022 | ¥18.0M | ¥41.0M |
| 2023 | ¥14.0M | ¥36.0M |
| 2024 | ¥14.0M | ¥39.0M |
| 2025 | ¥18.0M | ¥39.5M |
| 2026 (partial) | ¥19.0M | ¥47.0M |
Show data table
| Year | Condo | House | Land |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | ¥154k/m² | ¥200k/m² | ¥100k/m² |
| 2008 | ¥176k/m² | ¥188k/m² | ¥100k/m² |
| 2009 | ¥194k/m² | ¥187k/m² | ¥84k/m² |
| 2010 | ¥146k/m² | ¥185k/m² | ¥82k/m² |
| 2011 | ¥150k/m² | ¥202k/m² | ¥84k/m² |
| 2012 | ¥156k/m² | ¥150k/m² | ¥83k/m² |
| 2013 | ¥147k/m² | ¥178k/m² | ¥83k/m² |
| 2014 | ¥186k/m² | ¥164k/m² | ¥91k/m² |
| 2015 | ¥185k/m² | ¥152k/m² | ¥99k/m² |
| 2016 | ¥200k/m² | ¥162k/m² | ¥91k/m² |
| 2017 | ¥180k/m² | ¥200k/m² | ¥90k/m² |
| 2018 | ¥200k/m² | ¥187k/m² | ¥98k/m² |
| 2019 | ¥215k/m² | ¥206k/m² | ¥96k/m² |
| 2020 | ¥224k/m² | ¥208k/m² | ¥94k/m² |
| 2021 | ¥218k/m² | ¥200k/m² | ¥100k/m² |
| 2022 | ¥240k/m² | ¥214k/m² | ¥120k/m² |
| 2023 | ¥214k/m² | ¥222k/m² | ¥120k/m² |
| 2024 | ¥213k/m² | ¥256k/m² | ¥120k/m² |
| 2025 | ¥262k/m² | ¥241k/m² | ¥150k/m² |
| 2026 (partial) | ¥279k/m² | ¥217k/m² | ¥130k/m² |
Show data table
| Building age (years) | Condo | House |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | – | ¥347k/m² |
| 1 | – | ¥343k/m² |
| 2 | – | ¥332k/m² |
| 3 | ¥450k/m² | ¥348k/m² |
| 5 | ¥450k/m² | – |
| 6 | ¥430k/m² | ¥342k/m² |
| 7 | ¥440k/m² | – |
| 8 | ¥378k/m² | ¥338k/m² |
| 9 | ¥434k/m² | – |
| 13 | ¥338k/m² | – |
| 15 | ¥329k/m² | – |
| 17 | ¥373k/m² | – |
| 18 | ¥330k/m² | – |
| 22 | ¥267k/m² | – |
| 23 | ¥250k/m² | – |
| 24 | ¥264k/m² | – |
| 25 | ¥235k/m² | – |
| 26 | ¥183k/m² | – |
| 27 | – | ¥286k/m² |
| 28 | – | ¥176k/m² |
| 30 | ¥141k/m² | ¥219k/m² |
| 31 | ¥147k/m² | ¥171k/m² |
| 32 | ¥133k/m² | – |
| 33 | ¥125k/m² | ¥170k/m² |
| 34 | ¥147k/m² | ¥158k/m² |
| 35 | ¥181k/m² | ¥143k/m² |
| 36 | ¥155k/m² | ¥153k/m² |
| 37 | ¥144k/m² | ¥116k/m² |
| 39 | – | ¥120k/m² |
| 40 | – | ¥127k/m² |
| 41 | – | ¥108k/m² |
| 42 | – | ¥147k/m² |
| 45 | – | ¥210k/m² |
| 47 | – | ¥164k/m² |
| 48 | – | ¥135k/m² |
| 49 | – | ¥158k/m² |
| 50 | – | ¥178k/m² |
Each line follows buildings from one construction period over time. 1981 is when Japan's current earthquake-resistance standard (shin-taishin) took effect.
Show data table
| Year | 1981-2000 | 2001-2010 | 2011-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | ¥154k/m² | – | – |
| 2008 | ¥160k/m² | ¥325k/m² | – |
| 2009 | ¥141k/m² | ¥312k/m² | – |
| 2010 | ¥129k/m² | ¥313k/m² | – |
| 2011 | ¥143k/m² | ¥278k/m² | – |
| 2012 | ¥125k/m² | ¥288k/m² | – |
| 2013 | ¥140k/m² | ¥250k/m² | – |
| 2014 | ¥146k/m² | ¥314k/m² | – |
| 2015 | ¥164k/m² | ¥275k/m² | – |
| 2016 | ¥154k/m² | – | – |
| 2017 | ¥134k/m² | – | ¥422k/m² |
| 2018 | ¥155k/m² | ¥309k/m² | – |
| 2019 | ¥185k/m² | – | ¥538k/m² |
| 2020 | ¥187k/m² | ¥300k/m² | ¥394k/m² |
| 2021 | ¥177k/m² | ¥314k/m² | ¥432k/m² |
| 2022 | ¥176k/m² | – | ¥427k/m² |
| 2023 | ¥150k/m² | – | ¥450k/m² |
| 2024 | ¥154k/m² | – | – |
| 2025 | ¥163k/m² | – | ¥439k/m² |
Each line follows buildings from one construction period over time. 1981 is when Japan's current earthquake-resistance standard (shin-taishin) took effect.
Show data table
| Year | 1971-1980 | 1981-2000 | 2001-2010 | 2011-2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | – | ¥164k/m² | ¥279k/m² | – |
| 2008 | ¥131k/m² | ¥161k/m² | ¥296k/m² | – |
| 2009 | – | ¥173k/m² | ¥273k/m² | – |
| 2010 | ¥100k/m² | ¥143k/m² | ¥286k/m² | – |
| 2011 | – | ¥131k/m² | – | ¥294k/m² |
| 2012 | – | ¥136k/m² | – | ¥278k/m² |
| 2013 | ¥92k/m² | ¥118k/m² | – | ¥296k/m² |
| 2014 | ¥100k/m² | ¥152k/m² | – | ¥292k/m² |
| 2015 | ¥109k/m² | ¥129k/m² | – | – |
| 2016 | – | ¥127k/m² | – | – |
| 2017 | ¥108k/m² | ¥167k/m² | – | ¥320k/m² |
| 2018 | ¥168k/m² | ¥157k/m² | – | ¥303k/m² |
| 2019 | – | ¥144k/m² | – | ¥295k/m² |
| 2020 | ¥126k/m² | ¥133k/m² | – | ¥294k/m² |
| 2021 | ¥131k/m² | ¥154k/m² | – | – |
| 2022 | – | ¥160k/m² | – | – |
| 2023 | ¥150k/m² | ¥162k/m² | – | – |
| 2024 | – | ¥163k/m² | – | – |
| 2025 | – | ¥164k/m² | – | – |
Prices near train stations in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City
Sales from 2023–2025, grouped by nearest station.
| Station | Median used condo price | Condo price per m² | Median house price (land + building) | Walk (min) | Sales | Daily passengers (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumamoto (熊本) | ¥16.0M | ¥257k/m² | ¥90.5M | 19 | 195 | 32,584+6% vs 2019 |
| Suizenji (水前寺) | ¥13.5M | ¥204k/m² | ¥37.0M | 15 | 188 | 6,852-1% vs 2019 |
| Shin Suizenji (新水前寺) | ¥18.0M | ¥267k/m² | ¥45.0M | 13 | 146 | 10,200+8% vs 2019 |
| Kami Kumamoto(JR/KumamotoDentetsu) (上熊本(ＪＲ・熊本電鉄)) | ¥16.0M | ¥212k/m² | ¥30.0M | 20 | 108 | 8,320-2% vs 2019 |
| Minami Kumamoto (南熊本) | ¥12.0M | ¥215k/m² | ¥34.5M | 13 | 69 | 2,304+7% vs 2019 |
| Tokaigakuen Mae (東海学園前) | ¥12.0M | ¥225k/m² | ¥33.0M | 13 | 44 | 3,510+0% vs 2019 |
| Fujisakigumae (藤崎宮前) | ¥18.0M | ¥257k/m² | – | 6 | 22 | 2,676+33% vs 2019 |
| Kurokamimachi (黒髪町) | – | – | ¥39.0M | 6 | 15 | 463-26% vs 2019 |
| Tatsutaguchi (竜田口) | – | – | – | 14 | 13 | 1,490+2% vs 2019 |
| Heisei (平成) | – | – | ¥63.0M | 6 | 12 | 2,452+2% vs 2019 |
Used condo prices by layout in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City
Sales from 2023–2025.
| Layout | Median used condo price | Typical size | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3LDK | ¥22.0M | 70 m² | 132 |
| 1K | ¥2.3M | 20 m² | 56 |
| 4LDK | ¥25.0M | 85 m² | 54 |
| 2LDK | ¥19.0M | 60 m² | 54 |
| 1DK | ¥4.5M | 25 m² | 13 |
| 1LDK | ¥10.0M | 55 m² | 13 |
| 2DK | ¥7.5M | 45 m² | 12 |
How much does an apartment cost in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City?
The median used condo (mansion) in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City sold for ¥18.0M in 2025, about ¥262k/m², based on 109 recorded sales.
How much does a house cost in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City?
The median house sale, including the land, was ¥39.5M in 2025 across 144 sales.
Are property prices in Chuo Ward, Kumamoto City going up?
Over the five years to 2025, condo prices per m² changed +17.0% and residential land prices changed +59.6%.
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.