Nachisan pagoda, Nachikatsuura, Wakayama
Photo: Nachisan pagoda, Nachikatsuura, Wakayama · Susann Schuster / Unsplash

Wakayama City Housing Market Report 2026

Data updated 2026-11-11 · Source: MLIT transaction price survey, 2005 Q3–2026 Q2 · Transactions in 2025: 757

In short

  1. 1
    Price growth is speeding up

    Condo values per m² have risen about 5.8% a year over the past five years, faster than the 2.7% a year of the five years before.

  2. 2
    Moving with Wakayama

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

  3. 3
    Being near a station is worth a lot

    Condos within a 5-minute walk of a station sell for about 32% more per m² than those 11–15 minutes away.

  4. 4
    A family market

    57% of recent condo sales have three or more bedrooms.

The answers, compared

What does a home cost?

¥18.0M

median used condo · ¥267k/m²

0% above the Wakayama median

Are prices rising?

+58.7%

over 5 years

In line with Wakayama (+58.7%)

3 of 12 areas in Wakayama, highest first

Can local earners afford it?

4.8× income

median price ÷ average taxable income

Easier than Wakayama (5.3×)

2 of 10 areas in Wakayama, highest first

Rent or buy?

32years of rent

median price ÷ a year of median rent

Shorter than Wakayama (34)

1 of 9 areas in Wakayama, highest first

Are people moving in?

-4.1%

population, 2020–25

Shrinking slower than Wakayama (-6.3%)

3 of 14 areas in Wakayama, highest first

How risky is it?

71%

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

Higher than Wakayama (59%)

7 of 14 areas in Wakayama, highest first

Rent in Wakayama City

The average private rental costs ¥52k a month (2023), +0.8% since 2018. Wakayama: ¥49k

Floor areaAverage rent / month
under 30 m²
studio / 1K
¥37k
vs 2018 -5.3% · Wakayama: ¥37k
30–49 m²
1LDK / 2DK
¥47k
vs 2018 -6.5% · Wakayama: ¥45k
50–69 m²
2LDK / 3DK
¥61k
vs 2018 +2.5% · Wakayama: ¥55k
70–99 m²
3LDK / family
¥76k
vs 2018 +9.7% · Wakayama: ¥64k
100–149 m²
mostly houses
¥57k
vs 2018 -4.5% · Wakayama: ¥52k
150 m² +
mostly houses
¥60k
vs 2018 +4.0% · Wakayama: ¥53k
Rent per m²
¥1,215
median, per month · Wakayama: ¥1,131
The median used condo (¥18.0M, 65 m²) costs about 25 years of average rent for a similar-sized home (¥61k 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. 36,070 rented homes.

What the data says

Price growth is speeding up

Condo values per m² have risen about 5.8% a year over the past five years, faster than the 2.7% 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 Wakayama

Per m², condos here are priced close to the Wakayama average. That position has barely changed in ten years, so it moves with the wider market.

Being near a station is worth a lot

Condos within a 5-minute walk of a station sell for about 32% more per m² than those 11–15 minutes away. If budget is tight, a longer walk is the quickest way to cut the price.

A family market

57% 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 15% 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 ¥6.5M and ¥24.0M. Listings outside that range are either unusual properties or worth a closer look.

A shrinking population

The population fell 4.1% between 2020 and 2025 (−6.3% for the wider area). Moves in and out roughly balanced in 2025.

Many abandoned homes

19.9% of homes were empty in 2023 (21.3% for the wider area), and 9% 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.

Buying vs renting

A median used condo costs about 31.8 years of the area's median rent (¥47k a month), compared with 34.3 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.

High earthquake risk

The government's seismic model gives a 71% chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or stronger in the next 30 years (59% for the wider area). Check the building's earthquake standard (post-1981, ideally post-2000 for wooden houses) and consider earthquake insurance.

A typical condo costs 4.8 years of local income

Taxpayers here reported an average taxable income of ¥3.7m in 2023 (¥3.4m for the wider area). That is +16% since 2014. The median resale condo sold for about 4.8 times that, against 5.3 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 still falling

On the government's fixed benchmark sites, which are valued the same way every year, residential land prices changed 0% in the year to January 2026 and -2% over five years. They are still 69% 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, 74% are inside the worst-case flood zone, 29% 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.

Living in Wakayama City: people, homes and risks

Population 2025
341,947
-4.1% since 2020
Wakayama: -6.3%
Net moves in 2025
-577
-1.69 per 1,000 residents
Wakayama: -3.25
Vacant homes (2023)
19.9%
9.0% empty and not for rent or sale
Wakayama: 21.3%
Median rent (2023)
¥47k
per month, all rented homes
Wakayama: ¥44k
Strong earthquake risk
70.8%
chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or more within 30 years
Wakayama: 58.6%
Average income per taxpayer
¥3.7M
taxable income in 2023
Wakayama: ¥3.4M
Daytime population
104
people here by day per 100 residents (2020 census)
Foreign residents
1.3%
4,571 registered residents in 2024
Wakayama: 1.1%
Clinics
12.5
per 10,000 residents; 37 hospitals, 228 dental clinics (2020)
Wakayama: 11.9
Official land price 2026
¥49k/m²
-0.1% in a year · -1.6% in 5 years
Wakayama: ¥32k/m²
Flood exposure
74.3%
of 70 benchmark sites in a worst-case flood zone (0.0% 3 m or deeper)
Wakayama: 54.7%
Tsunami exposure
28.6%
of 70 benchmark sites in a tsunami inundation zone
Wakayama: 33.7%
Landslide exposure
1.4%
of 70 benchmark sites in a landslide warning area
Wakayama: 11.6%

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 Wakayama 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

¥77k/m²

  • Minatogoten
  • Wakayamako · 19 min walk
  • 3LDK · 65 m²
  • Built 1990 (35 yrs) · RC
Typical2026 Q2

¥11.0M

¥183k/m²

  • Minatohommachi
  • Wakayamashi · 6 min walk
  • 3LDK · 60 m²
  • Built 1985 (41 yrs) · SRC
Higher-priced2026 Q1

¥25.0M

¥417k/m²

  • Mikimachi
  • Wakayama · 19 min walk
  • 2LDK · 60 m²
  • Built 2020 (6 yrs) · RC

House

Lower-priced2026 Q2

¥3.0M

¥32k/m²

  • Musota
  • Musota · 21 min walk
  • Land 155 m² · floor 95 m²
  • Built 1990 (36 yrs) · Wood
Typical2025 Q3

¥9.3M

¥64k/m²

  • Kinomoto
  • Hachimammae(Wakayama) · 29 min walk
  • Land 410 m² · floor 145 m²
  • Built 1986 (39 yrs) · Steel
Higher-priced2026 Q2

¥31.0M

¥310k/m²

  • Kitsunejima
  • Higashi Matsue(Wakayama) · 18 min walk
  • Land 145 m² · floor 100 m²
  • Built 2026 (0 yrs) · Wood
Median transaction price by yearCondos now cost more than houses — Since 2024, the median used condo has sold for more than the median house with its land, reversing the earlier pattern. Since then condo prices have moved +50% while house prices moved -23%. Condo demand is concentrated in central, well-connected locations, while many houses sold are older homes in outlying areas where prices are flat or falling. Buyers are paying for convenience over space.A jump driven by what sold — The median condo price rose 50% between 2023 and 2025. Per m², prices rose only 33%, so most of the jump comes from larger or higher-end properties changing hands, not from the same homes getting that much more expensive. With only 73 condo sales in 2025, a handful of expensive deals can move the median a lot.
¥0¥10.0M¥20.0M¥30.0M2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouse
2007¥8.5M¥21.0M
2008¥10.5M¥20.0M
2009¥14.0M¥18.0M
2010¥13.0M¥20.0M
2011¥14.0M¥20.0M
2012¥8.9M¥20.0M
2013¥8.4M¥18.0M
2014¥9.0M¥18.0M
2015¥8.8M¥15.0M
2016¥7.0M¥16.0M
2017¥13.0M¥16.0M
2018¥14.0M¥18.0M
2019¥11.0M¥18.0M
2020¥8.8M¥18.0M
2021¥13.0M¥16.0M
2022¥10.0M¥14.0M
2023¥12.0M¥13.0M
2024¥12.0M¥10.0M
2025¥18.0M¥10.0M
2026 (partial)–¥10.0M
Median price per m² by yearHouses are the better deal on space — A m² of house floor space costs about 69% 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¥149k/m²¥181k/m²¥60k/m²
2008¥167k/m²¥152k/m²¥60k/m²
2009¥213k/m²¥140k/m²¥57k/m²
2010¥200k/m²¥164k/m²¥60k/m²
2011¥200k/m²¥168k/m²¥50k/m²
2012¥137k/m²¥155k/m²¥51k/m²
2013¥153k/m²¥154k/m²¥53k/m²
2014¥155k/m²¥133k/m²¥51k/m²
2015¥153k/m²¥127k/m²¥50k/m²
2016¥126k/m²¥122k/m²¥47k/m²
2017¥200k/m²¥130k/m²¥42k/m²
2018¥236k/m²¥144k/m²¥50k/m²
2019¥183k/m²¥136k/m²¥53k/m²
2020¥168k/m²¥132k/m²¥55k/m²
2021¥209k/m²¥116k/m²¥50k/m²
2022¥168k/m²¥102k/m²¥47k/m²
2023¥200k/m²¥94k/m²¥46k/m²
2024¥200k/m²¥76k/m²¥51k/m²
2025¥267k/m²¥71k/m²¥53k/m²
2026 (partial)–¥71k/m²¥56k/m²
Price per m² by building age (2021–2025 sales)
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k¥400k05101520253035404550
Show data table
Building age (years)CondoHouse
0–¥277k/m²
1–¥263k/m²
4–¥257k/m²
5–¥221k/m²
7–¥224k/m²
9–¥168k/m²
14¥289k/m²¥167k/m²
15–¥150k/m²
16¥300k/m²¥156k/m²
17¥344k/m²¥152k/m²
18–¥146k/m²
19¥294k/m²¥117k/m²
20¥251k/m²¥107k/m²
21¥255k/m²¥137k/m²
22¥200k/m²¥145k/m²
23¥213k/m²¥123k/m²
24–¥92k/m²
25–¥71k/m²
26–¥96k/m²
27–¥81k/m²
28–¥65k/m²
29–¥80k/m²
30¥83k/m²¥101k/m²
31¥103k/m²¥81k/m²
32¥118k/m²¥90k/m²
33¥104k/m²¥75k/m²
34¥104k/m²¥70k/m²
35¥108k/m²¥75k/m²
36–¥49k/m²
37–¥53k/m²
38–¥58k/m²
39–¥50k/m²
40–¥54k/m²
41–¥47k/m²
42–¥42k/m²
43–¥42k/m²
44–¥40k/m²
45–¥43k/m²
46–¥41k/m²
47–¥44k/m²
48–¥41k/m²
49–¥36k/m²
50–¥42k/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
Year1981-20002001-2010
2007¥142k/m²–
2008¥141k/m²–
2009¥138k/m²¥264k/m²
2010¥133k/m²¥274k/m²
2011¥107k/m²–
2012¥123k/m²–
2013¥128k/m²–
2014¥109k/m²¥300k/m²
2015¥130k/m²¥267k/m²
2016¥108k/m²–
2017¥128k/m²¥311k/m²
2018¥102k/m²¥277k/m²
2019¥134k/m²¥308k/m²
2020¥110k/m²–
2021¥122k/m²¥278k/m²
2022¥118k/m²¥255k/m²
2023¥115k/m²¥265k/m²
2024¥108k/m²¥308k/m²
2025¥103k/m²¥317k/m²
House price per m² by construction period
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025

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¥97k/m²¥121k/m²¥229k/m²–
2008¥73k/m²¥99k/m²¥236k/m²–
2009¥84k/m²¥97k/m²¥231k/m²–
2010¥65k/m²¥100k/m²¥229k/m²¥246k/m²
2011¥75k/m²¥81k/m²¥181k/m²¥238k/m²
2012¥57k/m²¥94k/m²¥170k/m²¥240k/m²
2013¥63k/m²¥96k/m²¥165k/m²¥235k/m²
2014¥60k/m²¥89k/m²¥158k/m²¥239k/m²
2015¥51k/m²¥76k/m²–¥240k/m²
2016¥69k/m²¥80k/m²–¥252k/m²
2017¥53k/m²¥77k/m²¥166k/m²¥242k/m²
2018¥62k/m²¥76k/m²–¥232k/m²
2019¥47k/m²¥71k/m²¥139k/m²¥241k/m²
2020¥52k/m²¥74k/m²¥142k/m²¥240k/m²
2021¥43k/m²¥72k/m²¥137k/m²¥235k/m²
2022¥45k/m²¥84k/m²¥146k/m²–
2023¥41k/m²¥68k/m²¥154k/m²–
2024¥39k/m²¥66k/m²¥145k/m²–
2025¥38k/m²¥62k/m²¥139k/m²–
2026 (partial)¥48k/m²¥52k/m²––

Prices near train stations in Wakayama 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)
Miyamae (宮前)¥17.5M¥244k/m²¥13.0M181263,190-4% vs 2019
Wakayamashi (和歌山市)¥19.5M¥264k/m²¥13.0M1612419,710-5% vs 2019
Wakayama (和歌山)¥19.0M¥280k/m²¥20.0M1112134,845-15% vs 2019
Kimiidera (紀三井寺)––¥9.7M181053,690-13% vs 2019
Kinokawa (紀ノ川)¥5.2M¥97k/m²¥9.0M15992,548-9% vs 2019
Musota (六十谷)––¥5.0M21636,340-8% vs 2019
Kii Nakanoshima (紀伊中ノ島)––¥11.0M13601,022+10% vs 2019
Wakayamako (和歌山港)––¥9.0M2055445-7% vs 2019
Higashi Matsue(Wakayama) (東松江(和歌山))––¥7.8M1552858-9% vs 2019
Nichizengu (日前宮)––¥12.0M1251490-27% vs 2019
Hachimammae(Wakayama) (八幡前(和歌山))––¥8.9M11461,293-13% vs 2019
Wakayamadaigakumae (和歌山大学前)––¥35.0M24439,174-5% vs 2019
Kii (紀伊)––¥14.5M14376,720-13% vs 2019
Tanakaguchi (田中口)––¥9.8M636156-2% vs 2019
Nishinosho (西ノ庄)––¥6.4M833639-4% vs 2019

Used condo prices by layout in Wakayama City

Sales from 2023–2025.

LayoutMedian used condo priceTypical sizeSales
3LDK¥16.0M70 m²93
2LDK¥16.5M65 m²54
4LDK¥23.0M82.5 m²14
1LDK¥13.0M50 m²13

How much does an apartment cost in Wakayama City?

The median used condo (mansion) in Wakayama City sold for ¥18.0M in 2025, about ¥267k/m², based on 73 recorded sales.

How much does a house cost in Wakayama City?

The median house sale, including the land, was ¥10.0M in 2025 across 379 sales.

Are property prices in Wakayama City going up?

Over the five years to 2025, condo prices per m² changed +58.7% and residential land prices changed -3.6%.

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.