Kintaikyo Bridge, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi
Photo: Kintaikyo Bridge, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi · Shino Nakamura / Unsplash

Shimonoseki City Housing Market Report 2026

Data updated 2026-11-11 · Source: MLIT transaction price survey, 2005 Q3–2026 Q2 · Transactions in 2025: 420

In short

  1. 1
    A long, slow decline

    Condo prices per m² have been falling for a decade, by about 1.8% a year recently.

  2. 2
    Lagging Yamaguchi

    Per m², condos here are 14% below the Yamaguchi average.

  3. 3
    Being near a station is worth a lot

    Condos within a 5-minute walk of a station sell for about 20% more per m² than those 11–15 minutes away.

  4. 4
    A family market

    83% of recent condo sales have three or more bedrooms.

The answers, compared

What does a home cost?

¥13.0M

median used condo · ¥173k/m²

14% below the Yamaguchi median

2 of 3 areas in Yamaguchi, highest first

Are prices rising?

-2.0%

over 5 years

Slower than Yamaguchi (+6.7%)

7 of 12 areas in Yamaguchi, highest first

Can local earners afford it?

4.0× income

median price ÷ average taxable income

Easier than Yamaguchi (4.4×)

5 of 13 areas in Yamaguchi, highest first

Rent or buy?

25years of rent

median price ÷ a year of median rent

Shorter than Yamaguchi (28)

5 of 12 areas in Yamaguchi, highest first

Are people moving in?

-6.7%

population, 2020–25

Shrinking faster than Yamaguchi (-5.8%)

7 of 13 areas in Yamaguchi, highest first

How risky is it?

6%

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

Lower than Yamaguchi (12%)

13 of 13 areas in Yamaguchi, highest first

Rent in Shimonoseki City

The average private rental costs ¥49k a month (2023), +8.3% since 2018. Yamaguchi: ¥48k

Floor areaAverage rent / month
under 30 m²
studio / 1K
¥36k
vs 2018 +6.4% · Yamaguchi: ¥37k
30–49 m²
1LDK / 2DK
¥48k
vs 2018 +7.1% · Yamaguchi: ¥48k
50–69 m²
2LDK / 3DK
¥57k
vs 2018 +7.5% · Yamaguchi: ¥55k
70–99 m²
3LDK / family
¥63k
vs 2018 +12.8% · Yamaguchi: ¥58k
100–149 m²
mostly houses
¥58k
vs 2018 +1.8% · Yamaguchi: ¥57k
150 m² +
mostly houses
¥63k
vs 2018 -16.7% · Yamaguchi: ¥53k
Rent per m²
¥1,163
median, per month · Yamaguchi: ¥1,193
The median used condo (¥13.0M, 75 m²) costs about 17 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. 27,870 rented homes.

What the data says

A long, slow decline

Condo prices per m² have been falling for a decade, by about 1.8% a year recently. Prices are low, but resale values are likely to keep easing, so buy here to live, not as an investment.

Lagging Yamaguchi

Per m², condos here are 14% below the Yamaguchi average. Ten years ago the gap was 5%, so Shimonoseki City has been falling behind the rest of Yamaguchi.

Being near a station is worth a lot

Condos within a 5-minute walk of a station sell for about 20% 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

83% 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 ¥9.8M and ¥22.5M. Listings outside that range are either unusual properties or worth a closer look.

A shrinking population

The population fell 6.7% between 2020 and 2025 (−5.8% for the wider area). More people moved out than in during 2025 (about 6.2 per 1,000 residents), which weakens long-term housing demand.

Many abandoned homes

19.1% of homes were empty in 2023 (19.4% for the wider area), and 10.9% 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 25.3 years of the area's median rent (¥43k a month), compared with 28.4 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 6% 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 4.0 years of local income

Taxpayers here reported an average taxable income of ¥3.3m in 2023 (¥3.4m for the wider area). That is +17% since 2014. The median resale condo sold for about 4.0 times that, against 4.4 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 +1% in the year to January 2026 and +4% over five years. They are still 34% 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, 8% are inside the worst-case flood zone, 10% are in a landslide warning area. 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 Shimonoseki City: people, homes and risks

Population 2025
237,892
-6.7% since 2020
Yamaguchi: -5.8%
Net moves in 2025
-1,479
-6.22 per 1,000 residents
Yamaguchi: -3.88
Vacant homes (2023)
19.1%
10.9% empty and not for rent or sale
Yamaguchi: 19.4%
Median rent (2023)
¥43k
per month, all rented homes
Yamaguchi: ¥44k
Strong earthquake risk
5.6%
chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or more within 30 years
Yamaguchi: 11.7%
Average income per taxpayer
¥3.3M
taxable income in 2023
Yamaguchi: ¥3.4M
Daytime population
99
people here by day per 100 residents (2020 census)
Foreign residents
2.1%
5,234 registered residents in 2024
Yamaguchi: 1.6%
Clinics
11.4
per 10,000 residents; 26 hospitals, 138 dental clinics (2020)
Yamaguchi: 10.0
Official land price 2026
¥39k/m²
+0.8% in a year · +3.9% in 5 years
Yamaguchi: ¥33k/m²
Flood exposure
8.2%
of 73 benchmark sites in a worst-case flood zone (0.0% 3 m or deeper)
Yamaguchi: 35.6%
Tsunami exposure
4.1%
of 73 benchmark sites in a tsunami inundation zone
Yamaguchi: 8.2%
Landslide exposure
9.6%
of 73 benchmark sites in a landslide warning area
Yamaguchi: 10.7%

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 Shimonoseki 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

¥9.5M

¥100k/m²

  • Oaza Katachiyama
  • Shin Shimonoseki · 19 min walk
  • 3LDK · 95 m²
  • Built 2001 (24 yrs) · RC
Typical2025 Q4

¥16.0M

¥200k/m²

  • Yamanotahigashimachi
  • Hatabu · 8 min walk
  • 3LDK · 80 m²
  • Built 2001 (24 yrs) · SRC
Higher-priced2025 Q3

¥24.0M

¥343k/m²

  • Shimmukuno
  • Hatabu · 25 min walk
  • 3LDK · 70 m²
  • Built 2017 (8 yrs) · RC

House

Lower-priced2025 Q4

¥5.0M

¥33k/m²

  • Kikugawacho Oaza Tabe
  • Ozuki
  • Land 650 m² · floor 150 m²
  • Built 1952 (73 yrs) · Wood
Typical2025 Q4

¥13.0M

¥153k/m²

  • Oaza Utsuikami
  • Shin Shimonoseki
  • Land 390 m² · floor 85 m²
  • Built 2018 (7 yrs) · Wood
Higher-priced2026 Q2

¥27.0M

¥245k/m²

  • Chofumatsuodahommachi
  • Chofu(Yamaguchi) · 5 min walk
  • Land 210 m² · floor 110 m²
  • Built 2019 (7 yrs) · Wood
Median transaction price by year2026 so far: treat with caution — The 2026 figure (shaded) is 50% above 2025, but it covers only part of the year and 20 condo sales so far. Early-year numbers are often revised and are easily skewed by a few large deals.
¥0¥5.0M¥10.0M¥15.0M¥20.0M2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouse
2007¥14.0M¥15.0M
2008¥8.4M¥14.0M
2009¥17.5M¥12.0M
2010¥10.5M¥12.0M
2011¥11.5M¥13.0M
2012¥12.0M¥13.0M
2013¥13.0M¥15.0M
2014¥14.5M¥13.0M
2015¥14.0M¥14.0M
2016¥14.5M¥16.0M
2017¥15.0M¥16.0M
2018¥15.0M¥16.0M
2019¥15.0M¥13.0M
2020¥13.0M¥11.0M
2021¥14.0M¥10.5M
2022¥13.5M¥14.0M
2023¥14.0M¥12.0M
2024¥13.0M¥15.0M
2025¥13.0M¥13.0M
2026 (partial)¥19.5M¥10.5M
Median price per m² by yearHouses are the better deal on space — A m² of house floor space costs about 44% 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¥100k¥200k¥300k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouseLand
2007¥200k/m²¥122k/m²¥39k/m²
2008¥132k/m²¥110k/m²¥30k/m²
2009¥205k/m²¥100k/m²¥26k/m²
2010¥146k/m²¥98k/m²¥34k/m²
2011¥159k/m²¥93k/m²¥29k/m²
2012¥153k/m²¥87k/m²¥28k/m²
2013¥173k/m²¥106k/m²¥31k/m²
2014¥186k/m²¥98k/m²¥27k/m²
2015¥188k/m²¥104k/m²¥25k/m²
2016¥187k/m²¥108k/m²¥22k/m²
2017¥187k/m²¥125k/m²¥24k/m²
2018¥180k/m²¥100k/m²¥25k/m²
2019¥188k/m²¥99k/m²¥27k/m²
2020¥176k/m²¥91k/m²¥30k/m²
2021¥176k/m²¥88k/m²¥32k/m²
2022¥186k/m²¥94k/m²¥24k/m²
2023¥200k/m²¥81k/m²¥38k/m²
2024¥160k/m²¥100k/m²¥33k/m²
2025¥173k/m²¥88k/m²¥32k/m²
2026 (partial)¥224k/m²¥79k/m²¥15k/m²
Price per m² by building age (2021–2025 sales)
¥0¥100k¥200k¥300k¥400k05101520253035404550
Show data table
Building age (years)CondoHouse
0–¥316k/m²
1–¥267k/m²
16–¥176k/m²
20¥216k/m²–
21–¥106k/m²
22–¥133k/m²
23–¥125k/m²
24¥185k/m²–
25–¥102k/m²
26¥188k/m²¥100k/m²
27¥178k/m²¥112k/m²
28–¥75k/m²
29–¥82k/m²
30¥128k/m²¥63k/m²
31–¥108k/m²
32¥138k/m²¥107k/m²
33–¥74k/m²
34¥98k/m²¥79k/m²
35–¥65k/m²
36–¥108k/m²
37¥79k/m²¥65k/m²
38–¥100k/m²
39–¥68k/m²
40–¥59k/m²
41–¥80k/m²
42–¥46k/m²
43–¥57k/m²
44–¥61k/m²
45–¥58k/m²
46–¥76k/m²
47–¥59k/m²
48–¥44k/m²
49–¥57k/m²
50–¥43k/m²
Condo 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
Year1981-20002001-2010
2008¥115k/m²–
2009–¥283k/m²
2010¥139k/m²–
2011¥123k/m²–
2012¥133k/m²–
2013¥145k/m²–
2014¥155k/m²–
2015¥157k/m²¥218k/m²
2016¥143k/m²–
2017¥158k/m²–
2018¥150k/m²–
2019¥154k/m²–
2020¥122k/m²–
2021¥148k/m²–
2022¥103k/m²–
2023¥143k/m²–
2024¥133k/m²–
2025¥148k/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¥68k/m²¥130k/m²¥245k/m²–
2008¥90k/m²¥100k/m²¥261k/m²–
2009¥79k/m²¥97k/m²¥242k/m²–
2010¥70k/m²¥100k/m²––
2011¥84k/m²¥109k/m²––
2012¥57k/m²¥89k/m²–¥232k/m²
2013¥56k/m²¥91k/m²–¥250k/m²
2014¥59k/m²¥122k/m²–¥248k/m²
2015¥58k/m²¥100k/m²–¥251k/m²
2016¥47k/m²¥117k/m²–¥248k/m²
2017¥61k/m²¥112k/m²–¥252k/m²
2018¥55k/m²¥106k/m²–¥257k/m²
2019¥65k/m²¥100k/m²–¥264k/m²
2020¥62k/m²¥96k/m²–¥261k/m²
2021¥45k/m²¥88k/m²––
2022¥69k/m²¥85k/m²––
2023¥45k/m²¥82k/m²––
2024¥61k/m²¥92k/m²––
2025¥52k/m²¥78k/m²¥147k/m²–
2026 (partial)–¥78k/m²––

Prices near train stations in Shimonoseki 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)
Shimonoseki (下関)¥13.0M¥163k/m²¥9.7M1419217,280-14% vs 2019
Hatabu (幡生)¥14.0M¥177k/m²¥20.0M161374,502-12% vs 2019
Shin Shimonoseki (新下関)¥14.5M¥200k/m²¥22.5M181349,246-6% vs 2019
Chofu(Yamaguchi) (長府)¥14.5M¥193k/m²¥13.0M181213,106-9% vs 2019
Ozuki (小月)––¥10.5M16953,402-10% vs 2019
Ayaragi (綾羅木)––¥22.0M11611,262-18% vs 2019
Yasuoka (安岡)––¥16.5M13361,414-9% vs 2019
Kawatanaonsen (川棚温泉)––¥8.0M1520698-11% vs 2019
Kuroimura (黒井村)––¥3.4M2320370-22% vs 2019
Kajikuri Godaichi (梶栗郷台地)––¥12.0M918618-9% vs 2019
Yoshimi (吉見)––¥3.5M814780-18% vs 2019
Kogushi (小串)––¥3.8M1010432-23% vs 2019

Used condo prices by layout in Shimonoseki City

Sales from 2023–2025.

LayoutMedian used condo priceTypical sizeSales
3LDK¥13.0M70 m²75
4LDK¥16.5M90 m²52
2LDK¥14.0M65 m²23

How much does an apartment cost in Shimonoseki City?

The median used condo (mansion) in Shimonoseki City sold for ¥13.0M in 2025, about ¥173k/m², based on 51 recorded sales.

How much does a house cost in Shimonoseki City?

The median house sale, including the land, was ¥13.0M in 2025 across 223 sales.

Are property prices in Shimonoseki City going up?

Over the five years to 2025, condo prices per m² changed -2.0% and residential land prices changed +6.7%.

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.