Tunnel of Light, Tokamachi, Niigata
Photo: Tunnel of Light, Tokamachi, Niigata · Susann Schuster / Unsplash

Chuo Ward, Niigata City Housing Market Report 2026

Data updated 2026-11-11 · Source: MLIT transaction price survey, 2005 Q3–2026 Q2 · Transactions in 2025: 632

In short

  1. 1
    Price growth is speeding up

    Condo values per m² have risen about 4.2% a year over the past five years, faster than the 1% a year of the five years before.

  2. 2
    Moving with Niigata

    Per m², condos here are priced close to the Niigata average.

  3. 3
    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.

  4. 4
    A family market

    45% of recent condo sales have three or more bedrooms.

The answers, compared

What does a home cost?

¥16.0M

median used condo · ¥254k/m²

7% above the Niigata median

Are prices rising?

+27.1%

over 5 years

In line with Niigata (+27.2%)

6 of 26 areas in Niigata, highest first

Can local earners afford it?

4.7× income

median price ÷ average taxable income

Easier than Niigata (5.0×)

3 of 25 areas in Niigata, highest first

Rent or buy?

25years of rent

median price ÷ a year of median rent

Shorter than Niigata (27)

4 of 25 areas in Niigata, highest first

Are people moving in?

-1.6%

population, 2020–25

Shrinking slower than Niigata (-6.0%)

1 of 26 areas in Niigata, highest first

How risky is it?

15%

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

Higher than Niigata (12%)

7 of 26 areas in Niigata, highest first

Rent in Chuo Ward, Niigata City

The average private rental costs ¥56k a month (2023), +0.9% since 2018. Niigata: ¥51k

Floor areaAverage rent / month
under 30 m²
studio / 1K
¥43k
vs 2018 -1.0% · Niigata: ¥40k
30–49 m²
1LDK / 2DK
¥55k
vs 2018 +5.2% · Niigata: ¥51k
50–69 m²
2LDK / 3DK
¥70k
vs 2018 +2.3% · Niigata: ¥60k
70–99 m²
3LDK / family
¥79k
vs 2018 -1.9% · Niigata: ¥64k
100–149 m²
mostly houses
¥66k
vs 2018 +2.5% · Niigata: ¥55k
150 m² +
mostly houses
¥58k
vs 2018 -21.3% · Niigata: ¥56k
Rent per m²
¥1,453
median, per month · Niigata: ¥1,293
The median used condo (¥16.0M, 65 m²) costs about 19 years of average rent for a similar-sized home (¥70k 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. 34,590 rented homes.

What the data says

Price growth is speeding up

Condo values per m² have risen about 4.2% a year over the past five years, faster than the 1% a year of the five years before. Buyers waiting for a dip have so far been paying more each year, and that has not yet changed.

Moving with Niigata

Per m², condos here are priced close to the Niigata 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

45% 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.

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 condo sales last year were between ¥7.3M and ¥28.0M. Listings outside that range are either unusual properties or worth a closer look.

A shrinking population

The population fell 1.6% between 2020 and 2025 (−6% 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 2.2% as people live in smaller households, which supports demand for smaller homes even as the population shrinks.

Typical vacancy

16.4% of homes were empty in 2023 (15.3% for the wider area), and 5.6% were empty without being for rent, for sale or used as second homes. The level of abandoned homes is around the national norm.

Buying vs renting

A median used condo costs about 25.4 years of the area's median rent (¥52k a month), compared with 27.4 years for the wider area. That is a middle-of-the-road ratio for Japan. Rents here cover all rented homes, so treat this as a rough guide.

Lower earthquake risk

The government's seismic model gives a 15% chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or stronger in the next 30 years (12% for the wider area). This is low by Japanese standards, although no part of Japan is free of earthquake risk.

A typical condo costs 4.7 years of local income

Taxpayers in the city as a whole reported an average taxable income of ¥3.4m in 2023 (¥3.2m for the wider area). That is +16% since 2014. The median resale condo sold for about 4.7 times that, against 5.0 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 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 +9% over five years. They are still 38% below their 1991 bubble-era level. Because these sites don't change, this is the cleanest measure of land value trends.

Significant flood risk

Of the official land-price benchmark sites here, which sit in typical neighbourhoods, 68% are inside the worst-case flood zone, 73% are in a tsunami inundation 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.

Government-backed redevelopment

This area includes national Urgent Urban Renewal Areas: Central Niigata. These allow larger, denser buildings and give big projects financial support, so expect new offices, shops and housing to keep reshaping the area.

Living in Chuo Ward, Niigata City: people, homes and risks

Population 2025
177,404
-1.6% since 2020
Niigata: -6.0%
Net moves in 2025
+414
+2.33 per 1,000 residents
Niigata: -3.08
Vacant homes (2023)
16.4%
5.6% empty and not for rent or sale
Niigata: 15.3%
Median rent (2023)
¥52k
per month, all rented homes
Niigata: ¥49k
Strong earthquake risk
15.4%
chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or more within 30 years
Niigata: 11.9%
Average income per taxpayer
¥3.4M
taxable income in 2023, citywide figure
Niigata: ¥3.2M
Daytime population
129
people here by day per 100 residents (2020 census)
Foreign residents
1.3%
2,253 registered residents in 2024
Niigata: 1.1%
Clinics
12.6
per 10,000 residents; 14 hospitals, 165 dental clinics (2020)
Niigata: 8.2
Official land price 2026
¥105k/m²
+1.8% in a year · +9.4% in 5 years
Niigata: ¥28k/m²
Flood exposure
68.3%
of 41 benchmark sites in a worst-case flood zone (0.0% 3 m or deeper)
Niigata: 64.2%
Tsunami exposure
73.2%
of 41 benchmark sites in a tsunami inundation zone
Niigata: 12.2%
Landslide exposure
0.0%
of 41 benchmark sites in a landslide warning area
Niigata: 2.7%

Urban renewal zones

Areas designated by the national government for priority redevelopment, with relaxed planning rules and financial support for large projects.

  • Central Niigata · 153 ha · designated 2021

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, Niigata 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

Lower-priced2025 Q4

¥5.0M

¥111k/m²

  • Benten
  • Niigata · 6 min walk
  • 1LDK · 45 m²
  • Built 1967 (58 yrs) · SRC
Typical2026 Q1

¥15.0M

¥231k/m²

  • Minamidekijima
  • Sekiya(Niigata) · 24 min walk
  • 2LDK · 65 m²
  • Built 2001 (25 yrs) · RC
Higher-priced2025 Q4

¥31.0M

¥326k/m²

  • Kawagishicho
  • Niigata
  • 3LDK · 95 m²
  • Built 2007 (18 yrs) · RC

House

Lower-priced2026 Q2

¥6.7M

¥74k/m²

  • Nuttarinishi
  • Niigata · 18 min walk
  • Land 65 m² · floor 90 m²
  • Built 1977 (49 yrs) · Wood
Typical2026 Q1

¥20.0M

¥114k/m²

  • Kubotamachi
  • Niigata
  • Land 170 m² · floor 175 m²
  • Built 1978 (48 yrs) · Wood
Higher-priced2025 Q4

¥36.0M

¥343k/m²

  • Wagocho
  • Kamitokoro · 15 min walk
  • Land 160 m² · floor 105 m²
  • Built 2025 (0 yrs) · Wood
Median transaction price by year
¥0¥10.0M¥20.0M¥30.0M2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouse
2007¥6.5M¥26.5M
2008¥9.6M¥23.0M
2009¥9.5M¥24.0M
2010¥12.0M¥21.5M
2011¥9.0M¥23.0M
2012¥9.9M¥21.0M
2013¥8.9M¥19.0M
2014¥9.3M¥22.0M
2015¥10.0M¥26.0M
2016¥9.8M¥24.0M
2017¥8.3M¥26.0M
2018¥13.0M¥28.0M
2019¥10.0M¥23.0M
2020¥11.0M¥25.0M
2021¥10.5M¥26.0M
2022¥13.0M¥27.0M
2023¥13.0M¥23.0M
2024¥13.0M¥23.0M
2025¥16.0M¥21.0M
2026 (partial)¥17.0M¥20.0M
Median price per m² by yearHouses are the better deal on space — A m² of house floor space costs about 38% less than a m² of condo, even though the house price includes land. If you need room more than convenience, a house buys considerably more space. That gap has widened over the decade as condo prices pulled ahead.
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouseLand
2007¥165k/m²¥200k/m²¥110k/m²
2008¥160k/m²¥157k/m²¥100k/m²
2009¥150k/m²¥140k/m²¥100k/m²
2010¥168k/m²¥133k/m²¥99k/m²
2011¥153k/m²¥135k/m²¥96k/m²
2012¥160k/m²¥108k/m²¥94k/m²
2013¥155k/m²¥120k/m²¥87k/m²
2014¥170k/m²¥137k/m²¥85k/m²
2015¥181k/m²¥157k/m²¥86k/m²
2016¥176k/m²¥137k/m²¥92k/m²
2017¥169k/m²¥160k/m²¥91k/m²
2018¥200k/m²¥151k/m²¥92k/m²
2019¥170k/m²¥160k/m²¥97k/m²
2020¥200k/m²¥173k/m²¥96k/m²
2021¥182k/m²¥186k/m²¥100k/m²
2022¥217k/m²¥157k/m²¥110k/m²
2023¥200k/m²¥145k/m²¥95k/m²
2024¥200k/m²¥145k/m²¥97k/m²
2025¥254k/m²¥138k/m²¥100k/m²
2026 (partial)¥263k/m²¥102k/m²¥96k/m²
Price per m² by building age (2021–2025 sales)How condos age here — In recent sales, condos lose about a quarter of their per-m² value by around 13 years old and half by around 20. Prices keep falling by roughly 4.7% a year even after 25 years, so older condos here are cheap for a reason. Check the repair fund and rebuild plans.Houses bottom out at around 21 years — House prices per m² drop about 56% from new by age 21, then flatten, because by then buyers are mostly paying for the land. A house older than that costs little more than its plot, a good option if you plan to renovate or rebuild.
¥0¥200k¥400k¥600k05101520253035404550
Show data table
Building age (years)CondoHouse
0–¥347k/m²
1–¥367k/m²
2–¥361k/m²
3¥580k/m²¥325k/m²
6–¥294k/m²
7–¥265k/m²
13¥369k/m²–
14¥387k/m²–
15¥393k/m²–
16¥379k/m²–
17¥368k/m²–
18¥333k/m²¥243k/m²
19¥317k/m²–
20¥283k/m²¥158k/m²
21¥286k/m²¥158k/m²
22¥271k/m²¥158k/m²
23¥255k/m²¥152k/m²
24¥255k/m²¥148k/m²
25–¥103k/m²
26¥240k/m²¥140k/m²
27¥233k/m²¥155k/m²
28¥286k/m²¥133k/m²
29¥200k/m²¥122k/m²
30¥156k/m²¥158k/m²
31¥143k/m²¥121k/m²
32¥131k/m²–
33¥148k/m²¥157k/m²
34¥157k/m²¥106k/m²
35¥178k/m²¥100k/m²
36¥133k/m²¥113k/m²
37¥161k/m²¥116k/m²
40¥135k/m²¥95k/m²
41¥123k/m²¥130k/m²
42¥118k/m²–
43¥102k/m²¥78k/m²
44¥129k/m²¥105k/m²
45–¥90k/m²
46¥60k/m²¥92k/m²
47¥75k/m²¥70k/m²
48–¥74k/m²
49–¥47k/m²
50¥37k/m²¥65k/m²
Condo price per m² by construction period
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k¥400k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025

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
Year1971-19801981-20002001-2010
2007–¥169k/m²–
2008–¥165k/m²–
2009–¥137k/m²¥343k/m²
2010–¥141k/m²¥342k/m²
2011¥60k/m²¥139k/m²¥294k/m²
2012¥58k/m²¥151k/m²¥308k/m²
2013¥60k/m²¥144k/m²¥283k/m²
2014¥81k/m²¥168k/m²¥287k/m²
2015¥81k/m²¥160k/m²¥326k/m²
2016¥80k/m²¥160k/m²¥323k/m²
2017¥80k/m²¥170k/m²¥354k/m²
2018¥86k/m²¥170k/m²¥357k/m²
2019¥100k/m²¥150k/m²¥354k/m²
2020¥104k/m²¥200k/m²¥343k/m²
2021¥78k/m²¥181k/m²¥317k/m²
2022¥86k/m²¥176k/m²¥350k/m²
2023–¥156k/m²¥357k/m²
2024–¥159k/m²¥350k/m²
2025–¥182k/m²¥343k/m²
2026 (partial)–¥199k/m²–
House price per m² by construction period
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k¥400k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025

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
Year1971-19801981-20002001-20102011-2020
2007¥119k/m²¥156k/m²¥268k/m²–
2008¥108k/m²¥135k/m²¥264k/m²–
2009¥111k/m²¥134k/m²¥275k/m²–
2010¥90k/m²¥131k/m²¥300k/m²–
2011¥101k/m²¥122k/m²–¥300k/m²
2012¥82k/m²¥114k/m²––
2013¥71k/m²¥114k/m²–¥261k/m²
2014¥95k/m²¥129k/m²–¥305k/m²
2015¥103k/m²¥138k/m²–¥304k/m²
2016¥114k/m²¥130k/m²–¥295k/m²
2017¥87k/m²¥134k/m²¥221k/m²¥296k/m²
2018¥92k/m²¥140k/m²¥206k/m²¥302k/m²
2019¥78k/m²¥145k/m²–¥304k/m²
2020¥72k/m²¥130k/m²–¥305k/m²
2021¥74k/m²¥138k/m²–¥285k/m²
2022¥69k/m²¥124k/m²–¥301k/m²
2023¥67k/m²¥116k/m²––
2024¥83k/m²¥126k/m²––
2025¥84k/m²¥121k/m²¥203k/m²–
2026 (partial)–¥100k/m²––

Prices near train stations in Chuo Ward, Niigata 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)
Niigata (新潟)¥15.0M¥238k/m²¥23.0M1895166,376-11% vs 2019
Hakusan(Niigata) (白山(新潟))¥9.1M¥165k/m²¥12.0M11899,390-12% vs 2019
Sekiya(Niigata) (関屋(新潟))¥17.0M¥234k/m²¥24.5M10743,558-5% vs 2019
Kamitokoro (上所)¥13.0M¥214k/m²¥26.0M1533–

Used condo prices by layout in Chuo Ward, Niigata City

Sales from 2023–2025.

LayoutMedian used condo priceTypical sizeSales
3LDK¥20.0M70 m²166
2LDK¥18.5M60 m²106
1K¥2.1M20 m²58
4LDK¥23.5M85 m²36
1DK¥3.5M30 m²34
1LDK¥11.0M45 m²31
2DK¥6.2M45 m²20

How much does an apartment cost in Chuo Ward, Niigata City?

The median used condo (mansion) in Chuo Ward, Niigata City sold for ¥16.0M in 2025, about ¥254k/m², based on 193 recorded sales.

How much does a house cost in Chuo Ward, Niigata City?

The median house sale, including the land, was ¥21.0M in 2025 across 223 sales.

Are property prices in Chuo Ward, Niigata City going up?

Over the five years to 2025, condo prices per m² changed +27.1% and residential land prices changed +4.2%.

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.