The area in front of the historic Kyukyodo store in Ginza is Japan's most expensive land according to route-price data released July 1 [1].
This valuation serves as a critical benchmark for the National Tax Agency, as it determines the basis for calculating inheritance and gift taxes on properties facing public roads. The consistent dominance of this specific Ginza location reflects the enduring demand and premium status of the district's central corridor.
According to the latest data, the route price for the Kyukyodo area increased by approximately 5.3 million yen compared to the previous year [1]. This marks the 41st consecutive year that the location has held the title of the nation's most expensive land [1]. While some reports suggest the streak is 40 years, the primary source identifies the duration as 41 years [1].
Real-estate appraiser Ryoko Suzuki explained the function of these valuations. "Route price is used by the National Tax Agency to determine the land price that serves as the basis for calculating inheritances and gifts," Suzuki said [1]. "It becomes the value and price of the real estate facing the road" [1].
The valuation is driven by the unique location of the property along Ginza's central street, where high commercial demand and limited availability sustain extreme price points. The National Tax Agency updates these figures annually to ensure tax assessments remain aligned with current market conditions.
Despite the Kyukyodo area's stability in route-price rankings, other land-price indices occasionally identify different locations as the most expensive based on different valuation methodologies. However, for the purposes of official taxation, the Ginza site remains the peak of the Japanese market [1].
“The area in front of the historic Kyukyodo store in Ginza maintained its top ranking in route-price data for the 41st consecutive year.”
The continued ascent of the Kyukyodo area's value highlights the concentration of wealth and commercial prestige in Tokyo's Ginza district. Because route prices are the primary tool for inheritance and gift tax calculations, these increases directly impact the tax liabilities of high-net-worth landowners in Japan's most elite commercial zones.
