Tokyo’s Apartments with Life Continuity Performance - Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s subsidy for purchase of emergency stockpiles and equipment

Poste date: Tuesday, June 20, 2023

For promotion of home evacuation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government has started to register the apartments which are prepared for disasters and to announce the list of such apartments as “Tokyo’s apartments to stay during a disaster (Apartments with Life Continuity Performance)”. For the management associations of the condominiums and the owners of the rental apartments which are registered in the list of the apartments, a subsidy program, for the purchase of emergency stockpiles and equipment, also has been launched.

Japan is a country with a very large number of natural disasters, so Japanese government specifies the following evacuation places:

Designated evacuation shelters: Facilities intended for residents who have evacuated due to the risk of disaster, and for their stay for the necessary period until the risk of disaster disappears, or for residents who are unable to return to their homes due to disasters, and for their temporary stay.

Designated emergency evacuation shelters: Facilities intended for residents to evacuate urgently for the purpose of securing the safety of the residents’ lives, in the situations where the danger of disasters such as tsunamis and floods is imminent.

But unfortunately, the number of such shelters is not enough, and furthermore, due to the influence of the coronavirus pandemic, more and more people have feelings of resistance towards the environment where closed spaces, crowded places, and close-contact settings exist.

What is “Tokyo’s apartments to stay during a disaster”?

An apartment that meets the following requirements is the one which makes it easy to continue living at home even in the event of a power outage due to a disaster.

Earthquake resistance

- The apartments which received building certification on or after June 1, 1981 (The new earthquake resistance standards)

- The apartments which meet the old earthquake resistance standards and have been confirmed to comply with the new earthquake resistance standards through seismic diagnosis or seismic retrofitting works based on Building Standards Act.

Countermeasures of tangible factors

Emergency power-supply equipment must be installed, so that it can operate water supply equipment and one or more elevators simultaneously or alternately even in the event of a power outage.

Countermeasures of intangible factors

<Essential> To have a disaster prevention manual.

<Optional> To work on one of the measures such as to conduct disaster drills at least once a year, to store drinking water and food for about 3 days, to secure emergency materials and equipment, and to establish a contact system in the event of a disaster.

*On the premise that the apartment has earthquake resistance, it can be registered only with the requirements on tangible factors or intangible factors.

Subsidy Details

For the management associations of the condominium apartments and the owners of the rental apartments which are registered in the list of Tokyo’s apartments to stay during a disaster, part of the purchase cost of emergency stockpiles and equipment will be subsidized under the following conditions.

Subsidy Rate

2/3

Maximum Amount

660,000JPY

Key Requirements

- To be registered in the list of Tokyo’s apartments to stay during a disaster

- To conduct disaster drills by using purchased emergency stockpiles and equipment and report the results along with participants feedbacks.

Subsidized Projects

Expenses related to the purchase of emergency stockpiles and equipment (drinking water and food are not covered)

Examples: emergency power generators, portable toilets, emergency supplies storage cabinets, water supply tanks, etc

Subsidy Recipients

The management associations of condominium apartments and the owners of rental apartments

Service desk for registration and application for subsidy

Service desk for applying for registration of “Tokyo’s apartments to stay during a disaster.”

Apartment Section, Private Housing Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Office for Housing Policy (In charge of policy coordination)
TEL: 03-5320-7532

Service desk for applying for the subsidy of “Tokyo’s apartments to stay during a disaster Promotion Program.”

Apartment Section, Private Housing Division, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Office for Housing Policy (In charge of improvement of residential quality)
TEL: 03-5320-5007

  • Furnished Apartments in Tokyo: A Guide to Short-Term Rentals

    Furnished apartments in Tokyo are becoming increasingly popular for short-term rentals. With the rise of flexible work styles and more foreign visitors, these fully furnished apartments cater to business travelers, digital nomads, and tourists. Many now offer English support, making them a convenient option for international guests. This guide covers their features and benefits.
  • Renting an Apartment in Japan: A Guide for Foreigners

    Planning on renting an apartment in Tokyo? This starter guide for foreigners will help you avoid common pitfalls, learn key customs, and know they key terms.
  • Tokyo Interior Design Services with English-friendly Agents

    Are you in need of an interior designer in Tokyo? Be it your home or office, these English speaking interior design firms can design your space to suit your preferences and needs without worrying about any language barriers.
  • Options for Newly built Houses

    If you want to live in a newly built house, you have the choice between a custom-built house that you build yourself from scratch or a ready-built house with a fixed plan and price. In addition to degrees of freedom in the design, there are major differences between custom-built and ready-built houses, such as financial planning and the schedule for moving in, so let's review the characteristics of each.
  • Timeshare and Vacation Ownership in Japan: What to Know Before Buying

    Vacation ownership, or timeshare, offers access to resort facilities nationwide at member prices with a single contract. It’s more convenient than owning a second home, with various types such as Ownership-Based, Usage Rights-Based, Points System, and Timeshare. Each type has its own pros and cons, and companies may offer unique systems. Learn more about each type’s features here.
  • Restoration and cleaning fee when moving out of rental housing in Japan

    How much of your deposit is refunded when vacating a rental apartment in Japan? Here we will explain the guidelines for restoration fees, cleaning fees, move out inspection, the procedure of settling the security deposit, and more.
Exterior of PREMIST TOWER SHIROKANETAKANAWA
Sale Property tag

Several redevelopment projects are underway in the vicinity of the property, including the redevelopment of the Shirokane-Takanawa-Sengakuji area with the construction of three buildings, including a 45-storey high-rise building, and a 145 m high high-rise building directly connected to Sengakuji Station The new Takanawa Gateway station on the JR Yamanote Line opened provisionally in March 2020. Office and commercial facilities will also be developed in the future for the main opening in 2024.

JPY 598,000,000

Exterior of Cosmopolis Shinagawa
Sale Property tag

Within walking distance of Shinagawa Station which gives easy access to various local cities. Located in Shinagawa Konan area, an expansive waterfront area surrounded by canals. It is a tower apartment with seismic control structure that is strong against earthquakes. It comes with the abundant shared facilities for the residents such as Sky Lounge, Fitness Gym, and Cafe Lounge.

JPY 180,000,000

Exterior of The Parkhouse Shirokane 2-chome Tower
Sale Property tag

Earthquake-proof tower apartment located on the other side of Sheraton Miyako Hotel across Megro-dori Street, in old high class Shirokane area with lush greenery. It is one of The Parkhouse branded luxury condominium apartment. It comes with the entrance hall having beautiful open ceiling and the dwelling units filled with refined interior design. The room equipment is well-arranged for comfortable life.

JPY 498,000,000

Exterior of Pias Yotsuya
Sale Property tag

JPY 167,800,000

Exterior of Terrace Shibuya Mitake
Sale Property tag

A hotel-like residence that is only one min. walk away from Shibuya Station. It is built in the reliable seismic isolation structure. It is a big plus to have a sky terrace, light slit rooms, etc. as common facilities.

JPY 349,900,000