Land value comes in several indices: published land price (MLIT, Jan 1), prefectural standard price (Jul 1), inheritance-tax rosenka (NTA, Jan 1; roughly 80% of the published price), and the fixed-asset value (municipal, every 3 years) — each with a different use. The rosenka is the basis of inheritance / gift-tax valuation and can be looked up on the NTA's rosenka map, which covers all of Japan (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo included). Prime districts like Ashiya, Tezukayama and Shimogamo run high, but confirm the actual number on the published-price system.

How do you check land prices and rosenka in Kansai? Land value has several indices — published price, standard price, rosenka and actual sale price — each used differently. The rosenka is the basis of inheritance / gift-tax valuation. In Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo alike you can check it on the National Tax Agency's rosenka map and MLIT's published-price system.

The main land-value indices

Bar chart: the same land valued differently by index — actual sale price, published price (100%), inheritance rosenka (~80%), fixed-asset value (~70%).
One plot, four prices (guide)

"Land price" is not one number — several indices exist, with different issuers and uses.

IndexIssuer / dateMain use
Published land priceMLIT · Jan 1 each yearBenchmark for ordinary land deals
Standard land pricePrefecture · Jul 1 each yearComplements the published price
Inheritance-tax rosenkaNTA · Jan 1 each yearInheritance / gift-tax valuation (~80% of published price)
Fixed-asset valueMunicipality · every 3 yearsBasis of fixed-asset & city-planning tax
Actual sale price— (real transactions)What it actually sold for (can diverge from indices)

The rosenka — basis of inheritance & gift tax

The rosenka is the per-㎡ value of standard land fronting a road, and it is the basis of inheritance / gift-tax valuation. The NTA's "rosenka and valuation-multiplier" map covers the whole country (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo too); the valuation guide is "rosenka × area" (with adjustments). If an heir lives abroad, see also selling & inheritance tax.

Worked example: a 100㎡ plot with a rosenka of ¥300,000/㎡ has an inheritance-tax valuation of about ¥300,000 × 100㎡ = ¥30 million (with shape adjustments). The tax is computed on that value — so checking the rosenka before you buy gives a rough read on the future inheritance tax.

Looking it up in Kansai (Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo)

Kansai's main luxury residential districts (confirm prices on the published-price system)

Kansai's luxury districts span several prefectures. Confirm the actual price via the published-price / rosenka systems.

AreaPrefectureCharacter
Tezukayama, Uemachi Plateau, KitabatakeOsakaOsaka's top mansion districts (Osaka luxury districts)
Ashiya (Rokurokuso etc.)HyogoOne of Kansai's most prestigious areas
Nishinomiya (Shukugawa, Kurakuen)HyogoHanshin-kan modernism, sought-after
Kobe (Okamoto, Mikage)HyogoViews and quiet
Shimogamo, KitayamaKyotoAcademic, scenic, historic value
Around HigashiyamaKyotoLandscape rules, scarcity

How overseas owners use land price & rosenka

Common misconceptions

Common mythThe correct view
"Land price is one number"Published, standard, rosenka and actual prices all differ
"Rosenka = the sale price"Rosenka is the inheritance-tax basis, ~80% of the published price
"Kansai = Osaka only"Ashiya/Nishinomiya (Hyogo) and Shimogamo/Kitayama (Kyoto) are key too
"Living abroad means no inheritance tax"Japan-situs property is rosenka-valued and taxed
Land price and rosenka are the starting point for "what the land costs, and what you can build on it." From our Osaka base across Kansai, we read price, use district and FAR together and assess your buildable size and rough cost — free. Confirm valuation and tax with a tax accountant.

Find out how many m² you can build on a plot — free check.

Ask about buildability

Sources & references