Full registration information costs ¥330
According to Japan's Ministry of Justice, fees for the online Registration Information Service changed on April 1, 2026. Access to the full registration record for a real estate asset costs ¥330, consisting of a ¥320 registration fee and a ¥10 service-provider fee. Owner-information records cost ¥140, while access to registered map and drawing files costs ¥360. The amounts are small relative to a property transaction but form part of the basic cost of verifying information before acquiring Japanese real estate.
Registry information serves a different purpose from marketing material
Sales brochures and property portals generally provide location, size, age and asking price, but registry information is used to verify registered legal interests. Checking ownership and registered mortgages is a basic component of acquisition due diligence. Registry information alone does not reveal every property risk, however. Condominium buyers may also need management rules, reserve-fund information and long-term repair plans, while land transactions require separate checks of planning restrictions, road access and permitted use.
Primary documents are particularly valuable for overseas buyers
Foreign buyers often rely on translated sales material, but the cost of obtaining primary registry information is negligible compared with a transaction worth tens or hundreds of millions of yen. Comparing the registered owner, ownership shares, registered security interests and property description with brokerage documents is a fundamental verification step. Information obtained through the online service also serves a different legal purpose from an official registration certificate, so buyers should obtain the appropriate document where formal submission or certification is required.