Bank lending to Japan¡¯s real estate sector remains at a record high, driven by rising property prices, especially in urban areas, prompting?not only major banks but also regional lenders to expand their loan portfolios.
According to the Bank of Japan, new lending to the sector in 2025 climbed 15.1% from the previous year to ?17.8 trillion ($112.6 billion). The annual total is about 70% higher than the peak recorded during the bubble economy in 1989, when such lending totaled ?10.4 trillion.
Amid concerns that a sharp decline in real estate prices could leave banks saddled with bad loans, financial authorities are closely monitoring market developments.
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