This article provides an in-depth look at the factors that affect house prices and how much it costs to buy or rent a home in Japan. The average price of a single-family detached home was ¥41 million ($380k) in 2019, but this does not include taxes or fees related to purchasing a property. There are various government subsidies available which could help reduce overall housing costs, and looking outside major cities such as Tokyo or Osaka can be significantly cheaper. Negotiating with landlords and considering shared accommodation options may also help reduce rental costs.