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

Otsu City Housing Market Report 2025

Data updated 2026-11-10 · Source: MLIT transaction price survey, 2005 Q3–2026 Q2

Key figures for 2025

Median used condo price
¥22.0M
¥331k/m²
Median house price (land + building)
¥20.0M
+7.1% vs 2024
Residential land per m² (sales)
¥80k/m²
+23.1% over 5 years
Transactions in 2025
899
#2 of 12 areas in Shiga by price per m²

What the data says

Price growth is speeding up

Condo values per m² have risen about 6.8% a year over the past five years, faster than the 2.1% 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 Shiga

Per m², condos here are 6% below the Shiga 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

75% 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 12% 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 ¥13.3M and ¥32.0M. Listings outside that range are either unusual properties or worth a closer look.

A shrinking population

The population fell 0.6% between 2020 and 2025 (−1.5% for the wider area). More people moved in than out in 2025, a net gain of about 3.1 per 1,000 residents, so demand for homes is being topped up by newcomers. Households still grew 3% as people live in smaller households, which supports demand for smaller homes even as the population shrinks.

Typical vacancy

10.9% of homes were empty in 2023 (12.3% for the wider area), and 6.5% 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 34.7 years of the area's median rent (¥53k 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 13% 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.

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 +3% over five years. They are still 66% 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, 16% 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 Otsu City: people, homes and risks

Population 2025
343,051
-0.6% since 2020
Shiga: -1.5%
Net moves in 2025
+1,052
+3.07 per 1,000 residents
Shiga: +0.25
Vacant homes (2023)
10.9%
6.5% empty and not for rent or sale
Shiga: 12.3%
Median rent (2023)
¥53k
per month, all rented homes
Shiga: ¥52k
Strong earthquake risk
13.1%
chance of shaking of intensity 6-lower or more within 30 years
Shiga: 20.6%
Official land price 2026
¥81k/m²
+1.9% in a year · +2.9% in 5 years
Shiga: ¥41k/m²
Flood exposure
16.3%
of 80 benchmark sites in a worst-case flood zone (0.0% 3 m or deeper)
Shiga: 50.0%
Landslide exposure
2.5%
of 80 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). Earthquake probability is measured at the municipal center.

Example sales in Otsu 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-priced2026 Q1

¥13.0M

¥163k/m²

  • Ogaya
  • Seta(Shiga) · 8 min walk
  • 4LDK · 80 m²
  • Built 1985 (41 yrs) · RC
Typical2026 Q1

¥24.0M

¥436k/m²

  • Ogaya
  • Seta(Shiga) · 2 min walk
  • 2LDK · 55 m²
  • Built 2007 (19 yrs) · RC
Higher-priced2026 Q1

¥37.0M

¥673k/m²

  • Chuo
  • Otsu · 8 min walk
  • 1LDK · 55 m²
  • Built 2022 (4 yrs) · RC

House

Lower-priced2025 Q4

¥6.2M

¥65k/m²

  • Konookacho
  • Hieizan Sakamoto · 19 min walk
  • Land 125 m² · floor 95 m²
  • Built 1985 (40 yrs) · Wood
Typical2026 Q2

¥19.0M

¥158k/m²

  • Ohira
  • Ishiyama
  • Land 200 m² · floor 120 m²
  • Built 2001 (25 yrs) · Wood
Higher-priced2026 Q2

¥36.0M

¥313k/m²

  • Hieitsuji
  • Hieizan Sakamoto · 16 min walk
  • Land 130 m² · floor 115 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 +16% while house prices moved 0%. 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.
¥0¥10.0M¥20.0M¥30.0M2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouse
2007¥12.0M¥21.0M
2008¥12.0M¥23.0M
2009¥13.0M¥23.0M
2010¥12.0M¥23.0M
2011¥14.0M¥20.0M
2012¥12.0M¥23.0M
2013¥16.0M¥22.0M
2014¥15.0M¥19.0M
2015¥14.0M¥19.0M
2016¥18.0M¥19.0M
2017¥16.0M¥19.0M
2018¥15.0M¥22.0M
2019¥16.0M¥23.0M
2020¥16.0M¥21.0M
2021¥19.0M¥23.0M
2022¥17.0M¥24.0M
2023¥19.0M¥20.0M
2024¥22.0M¥20.0M
2025¥22.0M¥20.0M
2026 (partial)¥24.5M¥19.0M
Median price per m² by yearHouses are the better deal on space — A m² of house floor space costs about 48% 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¥300k¥400k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025
Show data table
YearCondoHouseLand
2007¥169k/m²¥181k/m²¥73k/m²
2008¥183k/m²¥200k/m²¥79k/m²
2009¥183k/m²¥189k/m²¥77k/m²
2010¥173k/m²¥178k/m²¥72k/m²
2011¥212k/m²¥155k/m²¥77k/m²
2012¥185k/m²¥188k/m²¥72k/m²
2013¥230k/m²¥178k/m²¥62k/m²
2014¥217k/m²¥153k/m²¥54k/m²
2015¥200k/m²¥169k/m²¥63k/m²
2016¥243k/m²¥158k/m²¥72k/m²
2017¥246k/m²¥147k/m²¥71k/m²
2018¥217k/m²¥179k/m²¥77k/m²
2019¥232k/m²¥185k/m²¥69k/m²
2020¥231k/m²¥169k/m²¥65k/m²
2021¥288k/m²¥186k/m²¥73k/m²
2022¥260k/m²¥187k/m²¥75k/m²
2023¥284k/m²¥168k/m²¥77k/m²
2024¥313k/m²¥160k/m²¥74k/m²
2025¥331k/m²¥171k/m²¥80k/m²
2026 (partial)¥343k/m²¥146k/m²¥89k/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 18 years old and half by around 24. After about 25 years the decline nearly stops, so a well-maintained older condo holds its price. That makes 25–35-year-old buildings with sound repair funds a value sweet spot.
¥0¥200k¥400k¥600k05101520253035404550
Show data table
Building age (years)CondoHouse
0–¥316k/m²
1–¥298k/m²
2¥483k/m²¥365k/m²
3¥534k/m²–
4¥520k/m²¥271k/m²
5¥480k/m²¥263k/m²
6¥455k/m²¥256k/m²
7–¥255k/m²
10–¥258k/m²
11¥475k/m²¥274k/m²
12¥443k/m²–
13¥400k/m²¥235k/m²
14¥400k/m²¥242k/m²
15¥414k/m²¥194k/m²
16¥438k/m²¥211k/m²
17¥414k/m²¥179k/m²
18¥373k/m²¥184k/m²
19¥360k/m²¥190k/m²
20¥343k/m²¥193k/m²
21¥325k/m²¥168k/m²
22¥316k/m²¥200k/m²
23¥371k/m²¥180k/m²
24¥236k/m²¥160k/m²
25¥200k/m²¥170k/m²
26¥163k/m²¥188k/m²
27¥186k/m²¥154k/m²
28¥175k/m²¥157k/m²
29¥151k/m²¥152k/m²
30¥160k/m²¥135k/m²
31¥163k/m²¥96k/m²
32¥187k/m²¥107k/m²
33¥174k/m²¥127k/m²
34¥148k/m²¥99k/m²
35¥200k/m²¥133k/m²
36¥210k/m²¥96k/m²
37–¥127k/m²
38–¥102k/m²
39–¥92k/m²
40–¥102k/m²
41–¥84k/m²
42¥180k/m²¥92k/m²
43–¥92k/m²
44–¥100k/m²
45¥215k/m²¥92k/m²
46–¥90k/m²
47–¥81k/m²
48–¥54k/m²
49–¥82k/m²
50–¥88k/m²
Condo price per m² by construction period
¥0¥200k¥400k¥600k2007200920112013201520172019202120232025

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¥157k/m²––
2008¥161k/m²¥338k/m²–
2009¥147k/m²¥300k/m²–
2010¥140k/m²¥350k/m²–
2011¥147k/m²¥295k/m²–
2012¥140k/m²¥322k/m²–
2013¥136k/m²¥297k/m²¥480k/m²
2014¥148k/m²¥311k/m²–
2015¥157k/m²¥320k/m²–
2016¥163k/m²¥348k/m²–
2017¥171k/m²¥331k/m²–
2018¥171k/m²¥320k/m²–
2019¥176k/m²¥343k/m²–
2020¥185k/m²¥341k/m²¥520k/m²
2021¥167k/m²¥376k/m²¥493k/m²
2022¥184k/m²¥387k/m²–
2023¥171k/m²¥348k/m²¥476k/m²
2024¥187k/m²¥385k/m²¥494k/m²
2025¥200k/m²¥414k/m²¥514k/m²
2026 (partial)¥225k/m²¥385k/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¥126k/m²¥133k/m²¥283k/m²–
2008¥136k/m²¥159k/m²¥282k/m²–
2009¥117k/m²¥141k/m²¥286k/m²–
2010¥100k/m²¥133k/m²¥262k/m²–
2011¥97k/m²¥117k/m²¥225k/m²¥280k/m²
2012¥93k/m²¥128k/m²¥200k/m²¥281k/m²
2013¥103k/m²¥118k/m²¥175k/m²¥276k/m²
2014¥88k/m²¥117k/m²¥176k/m²¥268k/m²
2015¥95k/m²¥122k/m²¥219k/m²¥276k/m²
2016¥98k/m²¥105k/m²¥187k/m²¥273k/m²
2017¥69k/m²¥118k/m²¥183k/m²¥291k/m²
2018¥78k/m²¥119k/m²¥211k/m²¥282k/m²
2019¥87k/m²¥123k/m²¥179k/m²¥294k/m²
2020¥75k/m²¥122k/m²¥175k/m²¥273k/m²
2021¥87k/m²¥122k/m²¥191k/m²¥271k/m²
2022¥77k/m²¥120k/m²¥200k/m²¥299k/m²
2023¥85k/m²¥142k/m²¥217k/m²–
2024¥88k/m²¥132k/m²¥196k/m²¥261k/m²
2025¥66k/m²¥127k/m²¥209k/m²¥250k/m²
2026 (partial)–¥130k/m²––

Prices near train stations in Otsu City

Sales from 2023–2025, grouped by nearest station.

StationMedian used condo priceCondo price per m²Median house price (land + building)Walk (min)Sales
Ishiyama (石山)¥16.0M¥246k/m²¥14.0M16391
Seta(Shiga) (瀬田(滋賀))¥16.0M¥215k/m²¥33.5M19219
Otsukyo (大津京)¥28.0M¥385k/m²¥23.0M10194
Otsu (大津)¥28.0M¥457k/m²¥22.5M11187
Zeze (膳所)¥23.0M¥338k/m²¥23.0M11178
Katata (堅田)¥16.0M¥235k/m²¥26.0M13129
Karasaki (唐崎)¥12.0M¥177k/m²¥26.5M12116
Hieizan Sakamoto (比叡山坂本)––¥25.0M13114
Ogotoonsen (おごと温泉)––¥24.0M1687
Ono(Shiga) (小野(滋賀))––¥14.0M1462
Wani (和邇)––¥6.9M1038
Yamashina (山科)––¥9.9M2127
Shiga (志賀)¥4.3M¥83k/m²¥5.0M1425
Omi Maiko (近江舞子)––¥8.4M1519
Minami Kusatsu (南草津)––¥27.0M2819

Used condo prices by layout in Otsu City

Sales from 2023–2025.

LayoutMedian used condo priceTypical sizeSales
3LDK¥22.0M70 m²336
2LDK¥24.5M65 m²88
4LDK¥21.0M82.5 m²64
1LDK¥12.0M45 m²17
2DK¥24.5M52.5 m²12

How much does an apartment cost in Otsu City?

The median used condo (mansion) in Otsu City sold for ¥22.0M in 2025, about ¥331k/m², based on 194 recorded sales.

How much does a house cost in Otsu City?

The median house sale, including the land, was ¥20.0M in 2025 across 436 sales.

Are property prices in Otsu City going up?

Over the five years to 2025, condo prices per m² changed +43.4% and residential land prices changed +23.1%.

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.