Japan recorded 61,409 total housing starts in July 2025, marking a 9.7% decrease compared to the same month in 2024. Wooden housing starts dropped by 8.4% year-over-year to 37,024 units, making up 60% of all housing starts. However, on a month-to-month basis, total housing starts rose by 9.7% and wooden starts increased by 9.6%, according to the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism.
From January to July 2025, total housing starts declined by 7.8%, while wooden housing starts fell by 4.9%. The annualized housing start rate stood at 730,374 units, down 7.8% from 792,195 in 2024 and 17% below the 10-year average of 883,184 units. Image: New Housing Starts in Japan / Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism of Japan
