Mansions in Japan: How To Find Luxurious Japanese Homes

When you say “mansions” in Japan, many Japanese people will think something completely different than most Westerners think. 

What if I say “mansion” in Japanese?

Mansions sound very similar to the Japanese word マンション (manshon). Both these buildings are completely different structures.

マンション (manshon) refers to mid- to high-rise apartment buildings. Also, the word アパート (apato) refers to wooden, light steel frame buildings that are low- to mid-rise. 

Do they have mansions in Japan?

Yes. Mansions exist in Japan. If you are looking for more Western mansions, here’s how to find them.

Search with 邸宅、豪邸、屋敷.

邸宅 (teitaku), 豪邸 (gōtei), and 屋敷 (yashiki) all relate to “luxury homes” in Japanese.

These houses are more aligned with Western-style mansions, which are much more spacious and have more modern Japanese features.

Be careful, though, as many of these houses are a little outside the city as there is more space to build out and up. 

Specify an architectural style.

One method to search for a specific architectural style that can result in more Western-style mansions with Japanese slate:

• ヴィラ (ヴィラ・スタイル): for a "villa" or “villa-style” style housing. 

• 輸入住宅: refers to imported or custom-built western-style homes that are often seen as luxurious. 

Use luxury real estate agencies.

There are many Japanese real estate agencies and websites that specialize in high-end real estate, such as Sotheby’s International Realty Japan, Ken Corporation, and Luxury Estates.

A general search with “高級不動産 豪華な家” can help you find a real estate agency that can further help you in your searches. 

You can also use the standard real estate company, such as Plaza Homes or SUUMO, but it can take some time to search for what you are looking for since they don’t specialize in luxurious housing.

Build your own luxurious mansion to live in.

If you bought land in Japan, it’s possible to build a custom house based on your preferences. Which includes getting a luxurious mansion feel to it.

You can search for “高級注文住宅でおすすめのハウスメーカー” to help you find options. 

In closing

Finding Western-style luxury homes or mansions in Japan may require knowing the local terms to search for what you want. Plenty of options exist whether you’re drawn to the traditional Japanese aesthetic or prefer a Western-style layout.

And with the right approach, you can find or even design a luxury home that fits your lifestyle needs in Japan.