Hongkongers join bespoke Japan property tours to scout for investment opportunities amid yen’s slump

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With Japan reopening its borders to tourists, specialist Hong Kong property agencies are organising tours for investors looking to take advantage of the yen’s decline

One six-day package includes a helicopter tour of Tokyo, dining at three-star Michelin omakase restaurants, five-star hotel stays in Japan and Hong Kong on return for quarantine

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People walk along a pedestrian crossing in Asakusa, near the landmark Tokyo Skytree tower in Tokyo. Japan reopened its borders to foreign tourists for the first time in about two years from June 10, 2022. Photo: AP Photo

Sandy Li

Published: 8:30am, 27 Jun 2022

Japan’s reopening of its borders to international tourists is attracting investors from Hong Kong looking to seize real estate opportunities with the yen at a near 25-year low.

With Japan allowing guided tours to the country in the first phase of reopening from June 10, some Hong Kong property agencies are arranging trips catering exclusively for well-to-do clients, one of which is charging HK$128,000 (US$16,300) for six days.

“It is a tailor-made pleasure-cum-investment tour for our clients who either need to complete a property transaction for an earlier investment or plan to look for new investment opportunities there,” said Kelvin Chung Yik-shum, a director at JP Invest, a property agent focused on Japan.

It has teamed up with Japanese travel agencies to organise a trip in August. The company had organised its first tour, taking Hongkongers on a “business trip” in May when the country only allowed people visiting for business purposes.

Kelvin Chung, a director at JP Invest, said there was rising interest among Hongkongers for Japanese real estate. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The tour includes a night helicopter tour of Tokyo city, dining at three-star Michelin omakase restaurants and luxury hotel stays. The price also covers the compulsory seven-day quarantine in a five-star hotel upon return to Hong Kong.

“The tour will also include visits to some luxury residential projects, retail properties and whole blocks of buildings that are on sale,” Chung said.