Torii gate in Lake Biwa, Shiga
Photo: Torii gate in Lake Biwa, Shiga · alina ozerova / Unsplash

Kusatsu City Housing Market Report 2026

Data updated 2026-11-11 · Source: MLIT transaction price survey, 2005 Q3–2026 Q2 · Transactions in 2025: 331

In short

  1. 1
    Prices are still rising, but more slowly

    Growth has cooled to about 1.2% a year, down from 6.3% a year in the previous five years.

  2. 2
    Moving with Shiga

    Per m², condos here are 31% above the Shiga average.

  3. 3
    A modest station premium

    Condos within a 5-minute walk of a station sell for about 1% more per m² than those 11–15 minutes away.

  4. 4
    A family market

    81% of recent condo sales have three or more bedrooms.

The answers, compared

What does a home cost?

¥30.0M

median used condo · ¥413k/m²

20% above the Shiga median

Are prices rising?

-12.5%

over 5 years

Slower than Shiga (+8.3%)

11 of 14 areas in Shiga, highest first

Can local earners afford it?

7.0× income

median price ÷ average taxable income

Harder than Shiga (6.5×)

4 of 12 areas in Shiga, highest first

Rent or buy?

49years of rent

median price ÷ a year of median rent

Longer than Shiga (39)

2 of 12 areas in Shiga, highest first

Are people moving in?

+3.3%

population, 2020–25

Growing while Shiga shrinks (-1.5%)

1 of 14 areas in Shiga, highest first

How risky is it?

17%

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

Lower than Shiga (21%)

8 of 14 areas in Shiga, highest first

Rent in Kusatsu City

The average private rental costs ¥56k a month (2023), +7.3% since 2018. Shiga: ¥56k

Floor areaAverage rent / month
under 30 m²
studio / 1K
¥46k
vs 2018 +5.4% · Shiga: ¥45k
30–49 m²
1LDK / 2DK
¥58k
vs 2018 +5.3% · Shiga: ¥55k
50–69 m²
2LDK / 3DK
¥77k
vs 2018 +16.3% · Shiga: ¥65k
70–99 m²
3LDK / family
¥94k
vs 2018 +23.4% · Shiga: ¥73k
100–149 m²
mostly houses
¥64k
vs 2018 -24.8% · Shiga: ¥63k
Rent per m²
¥1,646
median, per month · Shiga: ¥1,393
The median used condo (¥30.0M, 75 m²) costs about 27 years of average rent for a similar-sized home (¥94k 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. 25,300 rented homes.

What the data says

Prices are still rising, but more slowly

Growth has cooled to about 1.2% a year, down from 6.3% 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 Shiga

Per m², condos here are 31% above the Shiga average. That position has barely changed in ten years, so it moves with the wider market.

A modest station premium

Condos within a 5-minute walk of a station sell for about 1% more per m² than those 11–15 minutes away. The penalty for a longer walk is mild, so it is worth widening your search radius.

A family market

81% 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 picking up

There were about 13% more transactions in the last three years than the three before, so the market is liquid and selling later should be easier.

What a typical purchase costs

Half of all condo sales last year were between ¥22.0M and ¥40.0M. Listings outside that range are either unusual properties or worth a closer look.

A growing population

The population grew 3.3% between 2020 and 2025 (−1.5% for the wider area). More people moved in than out in 2025, a net gain of about 4.8 per 1,000 residents, so demand for homes is being topped up by newcomers.

Few abandoned homes

6.7% of homes were empty in 2023 (12.3% for the wider area), and 2.8% 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 49.1 years of the area's median rent (¥51k a month), compared with 38.5 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 17% chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or stronger in the next 30 years (21% for the wider area). This is low by Japanese standards, although no part of Japan is free of earthquake risk.

A typical condo costs 7.0 years of local income

Taxpayers here reported an average taxable income of ¥4.3m in 2023 (¥3.7m for the wider area). That is +22% since 2014. The median resale condo sold for about 7.0 times that, against 6.5 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 +4% in the year to January 2026 and +15% over five years. They are still 44% below their 1991 bubble-era level. 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, 44% 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 Kusatsu City: people, homes and risks

Population 2025
148,731
+3.3% since 2020
Shiga: -1.5%
Net moves in 2025
+715
+4.81 per 1,000 residents
Shiga: +0.25
Vacant homes (2023)
6.7%
2.8% empty and not for rent or sale
Shiga: 12.3%
Median rent (2023)
¥51k
per month, all rented homes
Shiga: ¥52k
Strong earthquake risk
16.6%
chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or more within 30 years
Shiga: 20.6%
Average income per taxpayer
¥4.3M
taxable income in 2023
Shiga: ¥3.7M
Daytime population
107
people here by day per 100 residents (2020 census)
Foreign residents
2.5%
3,552 registered residents in 2024
Shiga: 3.0%
Clinics
8.5
per 10,000 residents; 7 hospitals, 60 dental clinics (2020)
Shiga: 7.8
Official land price 2026
¥121k/m²
+4.1% in a year · +14.5% in 5 years
Shiga: ¥41k/m²
Flood exposure
43.5%
of 23 benchmark sites in a worst-case flood zone (0.0% 3 m or deeper)
Shiga: 50.0%
Landslide exposure
0.0%
of 23 benchmark sites in a landslide warning area
Shiga: 1.6%

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 Kusatsu 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

¥25.0M

¥385k/m²

  • Noji
  • Minami Kusatsu · 4 min walk
  • 2LDK · 65 m²
  • Built 2000 (25 yrs) · SRC
Typical2026 Q1

¥34.0M

¥453k/m²

  • Shibukawa
  • Kusatsu(Shiga) · 3 min walk
  • 3LDK · 75 m²
  • Built 1997 (29 yrs) · SRC
Higher-priced2026 Q1

¥42.0M

¥646k/m²

  • Minamikusatsu
  • Minami Kusatsu · 8 min walk
  • 3LDK · 65 m²
  • Built 2018 (8 yrs) · RC

House

Lower-priced2025 Q3

¥18.0M

¥90k/m²

  • Kamigasa
  • Kusatsu(Shiga) · 25 min walk
  • Land 210 m² · floor 200 m²
  • Built 1996 (29 yrs) · Wood
Typical2026 Q2

¥33.0M

¥143k/m²

  • Yamadacho
  • Kusatsu(Shiga)
  • Land 800 m² · floor 230 m²
  • Built 1993 (33 yrs) · Wood
Higher-priced2026 Q1

¥53.0M

¥530k/m²

  • Oiwake
  • Minami Kusatsu · 28 min walk
  • Land 155 m² · floor 100 m²
  • Built 2025 (1 yrs) · Light steel
Median transaction price by year
¥0¥20.0M¥40.0M¥60.0M2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouse
2007¥18.0M¥27.0M
2008¥17.0M¥28.0M
2009¥24.0M¥30.0M
2010¥17.0M¥30.0M
2011¥18.0M¥28.0M
2012¥19.0M¥28.0M
2013¥21.0M¥28.0M
2014¥21.0M¥29.0M
2015¥23.0M¥29.0M
2016¥23.0M¥28.0M
2017¥24.0M¥29.0M
2018¥25.0M¥29.5M
2019¥27.0M¥32.0M
2020¥36.0M¥28.5M
2021¥28.0M¥29.0M
2022¥29.0M¥29.0M
2023¥28.0M¥35.0M
2024¥32.0M¥36.0M
2025¥30.0M¥35.0M
2026 (partial)¥35.0M¥41.0M
Median price per m² by yearHouses are the better deal on space — A m² of house floor space costs about 32% 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.
¥0¥200k¥400k¥600k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouseLand
2007¥259k/m²¥220k/m²¥45k/m²
2008¥255k/m²¥227k/m²¥87k/m²
2009¥324k/m²¥243k/m²¥80k/m²
2010¥231k/m²¥264k/m²¥89k/m²
2011¥269k/m²¥258k/m²¥88k/m²
2012¥267k/m²¥221k/m²¥84k/m²
2013¥277k/m²¥242k/m²¥98k/m²
2014¥302k/m²¥227k/m²¥74k/m²
2015¥313k/m²¥240k/m²¥79k/m²
2016¥329k/m²¥250k/m²¥83k/m²
2017¥341k/m²¥255k/m²¥83k/m²
2018¥346k/m²¥270k/m²¥77k/m²
2019¥365k/m²¥265k/m²¥87k/m²
2020¥471k/m²¥233k/m²¥98k/m²
2021¥373k/m²¥244k/m²¥92k/m²
2022¥400k/m²¥229k/m²¥89k/m²
2023¥400k/m²¥309k/m²¥100k/m²
2024¥477k/m²¥294k/m²¥120k/m²
2025¥413k/m²¥309k/m²¥120k/m²
2026 (partial)¥494k/m²¥304k/m²¥130k/m²
Price per m² by building age (2021–2025 sales)
¥0¥200k¥400k¥600k05101520253035404550
Show data table
Building age (years)CondoHouse
0–¥411k/m²
1–¥371k/m²
9¥538k/m²–
12–¥293k/m²
17¥413k/m²–
18¥447k/m²–
19¥413k/m²–
20¥471k/m²–
21¥425k/m²–
23¥336k/m²–
24¥317k/m²–
25¥378k/m²–
27¥250k/m²–
28¥246k/m²¥200k/m²
33¥240k/m²–
35–¥184k/m²
37–¥167k/m²
38–¥189k/m²
39–¥224k/m²
40–¥172k/m²
42–¥175k/m²
43–¥114k/m²
47–¥170k/m²
50–¥180k/m²
Condo price per m² by construction period
¥0¥200k¥400k¥600k¥800k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025

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
2007¥255k/m²––
2008¥227k/m²––
2009¥240k/m²¥422k/m²–
2010¥206k/m²¥309k/m²–
2011¥231k/m²¥313k/m²–
2012¥228k/m²––
2013–¥338k/m²–
2014¥267k/m²¥345k/m²–
2015¥267k/m²¥339k/m²–
2016¥293k/m²¥355k/m²–
2017¥248k/m²––
2018¥284k/m²¥400k/m²¥681k/m²
2019¥300k/m²¥413k/m²¥600k/m²
2020¥320k/m²¥418k/m²¥671k/m²
2021¥286k/m²––
2022¥289k/m²¥419k/m²–
2023¥286k/m²––
2024¥230k/m²¥503k/m²¥565k/m²
2025¥358k/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–¥191k/m²¥267k/m²–
2008–¥155k/m²¥292k/m²–
2009–¥156k/m²¥308k/m²–
2010¥99k/m²¥146k/m²¥287k/m²¥300k/m²
2011–¥160k/m²–¥287k/m²
2012–¥158k/m²–¥296k/m²
2013–¥165k/m²–¥285k/m²
2014–¥167k/m²–¥291k/m²
2015¥139k/m²¥154k/m²–¥337k/m²
2016–¥156k/m²–¥300k/m²
2017–¥160k/m²–¥290k/m²
2018–¥155k/m²–¥314k/m²
2019–¥192k/m²–¥333k/m²
2020–¥149k/m²–¥310k/m²
2021–¥175k/m²–¥307k/m²
2022–¥160k/m²––
2023¥170k/m²¥195k/m²––
2024¥160k/m²¥189k/m²––
2025–¥173k/m²––

Prices near train stations in Kusatsu 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)
Kusatsu(Shiga) (草津(滋賀))¥29.0M¥413k/m²¥35.0M1236158,114-2% vs 2019
Minami Kusatsu (南草津)¥35.0M¥475k/m²¥35.0M1629353,720-12% vs 2019
Seta(Shiga) (瀬田(滋賀))–––211834,294-6% vs 2019
Ritto (栗東)––¥42.0M191618,148-24% vs 2019

Used condo prices by layout in Kusatsu City

Sales from 2023–2025.

LayoutMedian used condo priceTypical sizeSales
3LDK¥30.0M70 m²141
2LDK¥32.0M65 m²34
4LDK¥38.0M85 m²28

How much does an apartment cost in Kusatsu City?

The median used condo (mansion) in Kusatsu City sold for ¥30.0M in 2025, about ¥413k/m², based on 77 recorded sales.

How much does a house cost in Kusatsu City?

The median house sale, including the land, was ¥35.0M in 2025 across 153 sales.

Are property prices in Kusatsu City going up?

Over the five years to 2025, condo prices per m² changed -12.5% and residential land prices changed +22.4%.

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.