Frequently asked questions

Whether to walk away before you buy. We check seven gates on paper—zoning, roads, frontage, documents and egress—and answer with one of three marks. If the result is open, we list what stage 2 must confirm and with whom.

It means there is enough material to proceed to an architect's survey. Whether a licence is granted is decided by the authorities when you apply, so no stage of this service guarantees it.

Yes. Our checklist was written mainly for converting Tokyo buildings into hotels or ryokan, so for other cases we adjust the items. Stage 1 is a desk review, so there are no travel costs wherever the property is. For the stage-2 site visit and pre-consultations, there are no travel costs within Tokyo (excluding the islands) and out to Yokohama, Kawasaki, Saitama and Chiba. Beyond that, we charge the actual travel costs for the two people who attend (our staff member and the architect), plus accommodation at cost if a day trip is not possible. We quote this before you order stage 2.

Yes. For vacant land, or land where you plan to demolish and rebuild, we judge whether a new hotel, ryokan or minpaku could open there. We focus on the site—zoning, district rules, roads and frontage—and flag building-related points based on the size you have in mind. When you apply, write "land only (new build)" in the notes.

A listing sheet and the address are enough to start. The confirmation and completion certificates matter a lot, so attach them if the seller can provide them.

If you have several candidates, apply for a stage-1 check on each. It is JPY 9,800 (excl. tax) per property.

Under Japan's Architect Act, surveys and drawings by an architect must be contracted directly between you and a registered architect's office. We arrange and interpret, handle the health-centre consultation, and write the report. The architect's office uses our system and pays us a usage fee.

By credit card (Stripe) or bank transfer. Card payment happens right after you apply; for bank transfer we email an invoice. Both are paid in advance, and delivery is counted from the later of payment and receipt of documents.

Yes. The Japanese report is the authoritative version; you can choose an English, Simplified Chinese or Traditional Chinese reference translation. Figures and areas are checked against the original before sending.

Free of charge before we start work, that is, before both payment is confirmed and documents are received. After work starts, no refund is given.

Yes. You can pay with major international cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB and others), and the report is available as an English or Chinese reference translation.

Yes. Enter your company name in the application form and it will appear as the addressee. For card payments we send an invoice and receipt as PDFs showing our registration number (T5010503006810).

Yes. Attach the other firm's report with your documents. We make our own judgment independently, using our own checklist.

Yes. When a licensed real estate broker applies, the report may be shown to prospective buyers of that property as material for their review. Please tell them it reflects the date of the check and does not guarantee a licence or opening.

We take enquiries by email (admin@ziyou-fudosan.com). Keeping everything in writing lets us check the property and documents accurately and pass the details straight to the architect or the authorities. We usually reply within one to two business days.

We never publish the address, building name, your name or company, or anything else that identifies the property or you. We may use the findings in a form that cannot be traced back—for our track record, articles or statistics (Terms, Article 9).