{
  "id": 9668186,
  "title": "Office vacancy rate in central Tokyo falls to post-COVID low",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/office-vacancy-rate-in-central-tokyo-falls-to-post-covid-low",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-25T01:00:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260924/p2g/00m/0na/048000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The vacancy rate for offices in central Tokyo has dropped to its lowest level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent survey conducted by office brokerage firm Miki Shoji Co. The rate currently stands at just 1.87 percent in the central five wards of Tokyo - Chiyoda, Chuo, Minato, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. This is a significant decline from 6.49 percent in August 2022, when remote work became more widespread.\n\nThe drop in vacancy rates is due to companies reversing their trend of remote work and emphasizing face-to-face interaction. Companies like LY Corp. and GMO Internet Group Inc. are returning to in-person work, requiring staff to be present more frequently. GMO Internet Group Inc., for instance, aims to open a new office directly connected to Shibuya Station to accommodate the growing number of group companies.\n\nDespite rising construction costs, the supply squeeze is expected to persist, limiting the number of new offices available. As a result, the decline in vacancy rates is likely to continue through 2027, according to Ryota Takemoto, a senior researcher at Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corp. The demand for offices in urban areas remains strong due to the importance of physical presence for everyday conversations, chance interactions, and building relationships across departments.",
  "summary": "TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The vacancy rate of offices in central Tokyo has fallen to the 1 percent range, the lowest since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemi",
  "key_points": [
    "Office vacancy rate in central Tokyo falls to 1.87% post-COVID low",
    "Companies like LY Corp. and GMO Internet Group returning to in-person work",
    "Supply squeeze expected to continue through 2027 limiting new office availability"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The decline in Tokyo's office vacancy rate signals a shift towards prioritizing face-to-face interaction, as companies reverse remote work trends, boosting demand for urban offices and likely sustaining low vacancy rates.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}