Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto
Photo: Kumamoto Castle, Kumamoto · Mohammed Kertiou / Unsplash

Minami Ward, Kumamoto City Housing Market Report 2026

Data updated 2026-11-11 · Source: MLIT transaction price survey, 2005 Q3–2026 Q2 · Transactions in 2025: 202

In short

  1. 1
    The trend has turned down

    After rising earlier, house prices per m² have slipped by about 1.6% a year over the last five years.

  2. 2
    Lagging Kumamoto

    Per m², houses here are 38% above the Kumamoto average.

  3. 3
    Sales are thinning out

    Transactions are down about 14% on the previous three years.

  4. 4
    What a typical purchase costs

    Half of all house sales last year were between ¥15.0M and ¥40.0M.

The answers, compared

What does a home cost?

¥25.0M

median house · ¥176k/m²

22% above the Kumamoto median

4 of 17 areas in Kumamoto, highest first

Are prices rising?

+23.1%

over 5 years

Slower than Kumamoto (+29.5%)

6 of 19 areas in Kumamoto, highest first

Can local earners afford it?

6.9× income

median price ÷ average taxable income

Harder than Kumamoto (5.7×)

5 of 19 areas in Kumamoto, highest first

Rent or buy?

41years of rent

median price ÷ a year of median rent

Longer than Kumamoto (34)

6 of 19 areas in Kumamoto, highest first

Are people moving in?

+0.7%

population, 2020–25

Growing while Kumamoto shrinks (-3.5%)

6 of 21 areas in Kumamoto, highest first

How risky is it?

38%

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

Higher than Kumamoto (15%)

1 of 21 areas in Kumamoto, highest first

Rent in Minami Ward, Kumamoto City

The average private rental costs ¥55k a month (2023), +3.3% since 2018. Kumamoto: ¥51k

Floor areaAverage rent / month
under 30 m²
studio / 1K
¥47k
vs 2018 +12.2% · Kumamoto: ¥40k
30–49 m²
1LDK / 2DK
¥50k
vs 2018 -2.0% · Kumamoto: ¥48k
50–69 m²
2LDK / 3DK
¥59k
vs 2018 -1.3% · Kumamoto: ¥56k
70–99 m²
3LDK / family
¥71k
vs 2018 +13.9% · Kumamoto: ¥65k
100–149 m²
mostly houses
¥57k
vs 2018 -0.4% · Kumamoto: ¥58k
Rent per m²
¥1,206
median, per month · Kumamoto: ¥1,208

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. 14,170 rented homes.

What the data says

The trend has turned down

After rising earlier, house prices per m² have slipped by about 1.6% a year over the last five years. That often reflects weaker local demand, so check vacancy and population trends before buying.

Lagging Kumamoto

Per m², houses here are 38% above the Kumamoto average. The premium was 80% ten years ago, so the rest of Kumamoto has been catching up.

Sales are thinning out

Transactions are down about 14% on the previous three years. Fewer sales mean less choice and slower resale, so allow more time to sell later.

What a typical purchase costs

Half of all house sales last year were between ¥15.0M and ¥40.0M. Listings outside that range are either unusual properties or worth a closer look.

A growing population

The population grew 0.7% between 2020 and 2025 (−3.5% for the wider area). Moves in and out roughly balanced in 2025.

Typical vacancy

11.7% of homes were empty in 2023 (14.9% for the wider area), and 5.2% were empty without being for rent, for sale or used as second homes. The level of abandoned homes is around the national norm.

Moderate earthquake risk

The government's seismic model gives a 38% chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or stronger in the next 30 years (15% for the wider area). Post-1981 buildings are designed for this level of shaking, but check ground conditions and insurance.

Local incomes are close to average

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. Averages are pulled up by a few very high earners, so a typical household earns less than this.

Official land prices are edging up

On the government's fixed benchmark sites, which are valued the same way every year, residential land prices changed +2% in the year to January 2026 and +8% 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, 95% are inside the worst-case flood zone (5% with expected depths of 3 m or more). 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 Minami Ward, Kumamoto City: people, homes and risks

Population 2025
131,743
+0.7% since 2020
Kumamoto: -3.5%
Net moves in 2025
+236
+1.79 per 1,000 residents
Kumamoto: -1.39
Vacant homes (2023)
11.7%
5.2% empty and not for rent or sale
Kumamoto: 14.9%
Median rent (2023)
¥51k
per month, all rented homes
Kumamoto: ¥47k
Strong earthquake risk
37.9%
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
95
people here by day per 100 residents (2020 census)
Foreign residents
1.0%
1,338 registered residents in 2024
Kumamoto: 1.7%
Clinics
6.8
per 10,000 residents; 16 hospitals, 59 dental clinics (2020)
Kumamoto: 8.9
Official land price 2026
¥57k/m²
+2.3% in a year · +8.4% in 5 years
Kumamoto: ¥54k/m²
Flood exposure
94.7%
of 19 benchmark sites in a worst-case flood zone (5.3% 3 m or deeper)
Kumamoto: 51.3%
Landslide exposure
0.0%
of 19 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 Minami 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.

House

Lower-priced2025 Q3

¥11.0M

¥122k/m²

  • Miyukifueda
  • Minami Kumamoto
  • Land 380 m² · floor 90 m²
  • Built 1961 (64 yrs) · 木造、ブロック造
Typical2025 Q4

¥25.0M

¥263k/m²

  • Jonammachimiyaji
  • Tomiai
  • Land 240 m² · floor 95 m²
  • Built 2025 (0 yrs) · Wood
Higher-priced2026 Q2

¥48.0M

¥505k/m²

  • Tomiaimachishakado
  • Kawashiri
  • Land 650 m² · floor 95 m²
  • Built 2026 (0 yrs)
Median transaction price by year
¥0¥10.0M¥20.0M¥30.0M2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearHouse
2007¥20.0M
2008¥24.0M
2009¥15.0M
2010¥21.0M
2011¥19.0M
2012¥23.0M
2013¥19.0M
2014¥24.0M
2015¥26.0M
2016¥24.0M
2017¥25.5M
2018¥24.0M
2019¥25.0M
2020¥25.0M
2021¥28.0M
2022¥25.0M
2023¥27.5M
2024¥25.0M
2025¥25.0M
2026 (partial)¥23.5M
Median price per m² by year
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearHouseLand
2007¥141k/m²¥34k/m²
2008¥152k/m²¥51k/m²
2009¥115k/m²¥41k/m²
2010¥157k/m²¥50k/m²
2011¥146k/m²¥33k/m²
2012¥152k/m²¥30k/m²
2013¥159k/m²¥33k/m²
2014¥222k/m²¥31k/m²
2015¥208k/m²¥33k/m²
2016¥228k/m²¥33k/m²
2017¥216k/m²¥35k/m²
2018¥211k/m²¥32k/m²
2019¥224k/m²¥34k/m²
2020¥208k/m²¥39k/m²
2021¥229k/m²¥36k/m²
2022¥200k/m²¥38k/m²
2023¥214k/m²¥46k/m²
2024¥222k/m²¥51k/m²
2025¥176k/m²¥48k/m²
2026 (partial)¥220k/m²¥43k/m²
Price per m² by building age (2021–2025 sales)
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k¥400k05101520253035404550
Show data table
Building age (years)House
0¥289k/m²
1¥284k/m²
2¥307k/m²
22¥147k/m²
40¥120k/m²
50¥103k/m²
House price per m² by construction period
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k200820102012201420162018202020222024

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
Year1981-20002001-20102011-2020
2008¥112k/m²¥257k/m²–
2009¥92k/m²¥248k/m²–
2010¥121k/m²¥258k/m²–
2011¥108k/m²–¥247k/m²
2012¥115k/m²–¥238k/m²
2013¥124k/m²–¥270k/m²
2014––¥286k/m²
2015––¥267k/m²
2016––¥247k/m²
2017––¥253k/m²
2018¥133k/m²–¥295k/m²
2019¥123k/m²–¥275k/m²
2020¥127k/m²–¥275k/m²
2021––¥255k/m²
2022¥129k/m²––
2023¥124k/m²––
2024¥113k/m²––
2025¥137k/m²––

Prices near train stations in Minami Ward, Kumamoto 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)
Nishi Kumamoto (西熊本)¥27.5M¥368k/m²¥29.0M161362,824+13% vs 2019
Kawashiri (川尻)––¥21.5M15691,820-4% vs 2019
Minami Kumamoto (南熊本)––¥30.0M25572,304+7% vs 2019
Uto(Kumamoto) (宇土)––¥20.0M17533,638-6% vs 2019
Tomiai (富合)––¥25.0M14501,484+21% vs 2019
Heisei (平成)––¥47.0M16302,452+2% vs 2019

How much does a house cost in Minami Ward, Kumamoto City?

The median house sale, including the land, was ¥25.0M in 2025 across 119 sales.

Are property prices in Minami Ward, Kumamoto City going up?

Over the five years to 2025, residential land prices changed +23.1%.

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.