The turn of the millennium saw the birth of a new undertaking by Sumitomo Realty and Development Ltd., which recognized a gap in the market for luxury real estate: the La Tour collection was born.
With the arrival of the 2000s, Tokyo was still lacking rental properties designed for and aimed at foreigners. It was here that Sumitomo identified its next market and opened its first La Tour property, La Tour Shiba-Koen. There are now 30 La Tour locations in Tokyo (and four more in Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, and, starting in 2027, Yokohama), making them some of the most exclusive properties in Japan. Business executives, celebrities, and other VIPs all call these buildings home, but why?
The La Tour series is founded on four pillars: Exclusivity, Luxury, Privacy, and Security. Each property was built and established with these principles in mind. From the design of the buildings to the fixtures and the standard of service provided, La Tour properties leave no detail overlooked.
The Fundamentals: Floor Plans and Pricing
La Tour properties have anything from one bedroom units up to five bedrooms and above. Current availability is limited to a maximum of three bedrooms at the moment in the Shinjuku and Izumi garden properties. There are plenty of one and two bedroom properties available in various buildings around the city for interested parties.
Here we have a breakdown of what you might expect to get and pay a month for each room type (the high-end and low-end of the room dimensions are usually – although not always correlated):
- 1R/1K (485ft²~600ft²)/(45m²~55m²) ¥200,000~¥440,000 ($1300~$2900USD)
- 1LDK (645ft²~860ft²)/(60m²~80m²) ¥410,000~¥560,000 ($2700~$3700USD)
- 2LDK (800ft²~1500ft²)/(75m²~140m²) ¥480,000~¥990,000 ($3200~$6500USD)
- 3LDK (1900ft²~)/(180m²~) ¥1,800,000~ ($12,000USD~)
Penthouses have been known to go for as much as ¥5,310,000 ($35,000USD) a month.
(exchange rate as of 7/11/2024)
Luxury
(Shown above: La Tour Shinjuku First)
La Tour was created to provide hotel-quality service in a residential setting. Sumitomo’s 2027 Yokohama project, in collaboration with Hilton’s Conrad brand, is a natural extension of this principle. The first 16 floors will house 272 new guest rooms at the Yokohama Conrad Hotel, while the 18th to 40th floors will be occupied by 224 residential La Tour units. La Tour properties often come with shared facilities like fitness and party rooms, sky lounges, and bilingual concierges. Besides the Conrad’s wedding chapel, very few of the luxury hotel’s amenities would feel out of place in a La Tour residence. La Tour prides itself on the services provided by their concierges, who arrange taxis, locate English-speaking medical appointments, confirm irregular operational hours during typhoons, among myriad other responsibilities. In a decidedly non-traditional move by Japanese standards, concierges and managers are empowered to use their best judgment in most situations, hired for their ability to respond with agility. For larger decisions, they have permission to reach out to directors directly to ensure solutions or resolutions are reached within 48 hours.
Luxury permeates the DNA of the La Tour series, not only in terms of service but also in the very structure of the buildings. The most significant example of this is the scale of the apartments. In a city where space is at a premium and where apartments average just 270 square feet, La Tour units boast an average of 1,076 square feet—a rarity in a city of 14 million people. Sumitomo’s focus on attracting foreign residents is evident in their emphasis on size. Many foreigners moving to Tokyo come with heightened expectations of what their money can buy, and relocating to the heart of Tokyo usually means downsizing. However, La Tour offers a great option for those unwilling to compromise on space, providing sizes that feel more familiar to those coming from abroad. This insistence on size is not only in reference to square footage but also ceiling heights. While the average ceiling height in Tokyo is about 7.5 to 7.8 feet (2.3~2.4m), La Tour properties offer ceiling heights of approximately 9.8 feet (3m).
Not only are these properties spacious, but they are also located in the most sought-after, stylish, and central neighborhoods in Japan. Their locations, all of which are listed below, include areas such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, Minami-Azabu, and Yoyogi Uehara, to name a few.
Perhaps one of the most infamous La Tour properties is La Tour Daikanyama which is some of the most expensive rental apartments in Japan, with some units commanding a rent of more than ¥5,000,000 (about $32,000 at time of writing) a month.
Many of the properties come with in-unit amenities that are not standard in most other buildings. For example, many units include a dishwasher, garbage disposal, underfloor heating, ovens, and internet access, among other amenities (though this varies by property and unit). La Tour properties are also incredibly pet-friendly, welcoming residents who wish to bring their pets or who are looking to adopt in Tokyo.
Privacy
What privacy means varies for everyone, but La Tour properties offer privacy in numerous ways. Many of the lower-rise buildings, such as La Tour Daikanyama, feature balconies that face an inner courtyard. Of course, high-rises, or "tower mansions" (タワーマンション) as they’re known in Japan, are afforded privacy by virtue of their height. The private gyms, party rooms, viewing lounges, and shared offices provide additional opportunities for La Tour residents to maintain their privacy, knowing that fellow users of these spaces have been vetted by Sumitomo.
Security
On the other side of the privacy coin is security, which Sumitomo takes very seriously given the caliber of its clientele. There are multiple levels of security that guests must pass through. The first is the concierge, who asks the resident if they would like to allow the guest in (the concierge can also discreetly turn away guests on the resident’s behalf). The security card only allows the elevator to stop at predetermined floors.
Each unit has an intercom system, allowing residents to know who is at the door and respond as necessary. All buildings feature auto-lock doors controlled by the resident. With the advent of services like UberEats, La Tour buildings have been adapting to ensure the comfort of residents.
Exclusivity
La Tour Central Park Tower Shinjuku is one of the very few properties that allow SOHO (Small Office, Home Office). SOHO refers to an apartment that allows both residential and office use, meaning business activities are permitted. It’s often possible to lease under a company name, and you can list the address on business cards or your website. These apartments are made with office functionality in mind; they often have high-speed internet, multiple power outlets, and telephone lines, making them more suitable for business use. Some also have soundproofing and dedicated meeting spaces, providing an environment conducive to work. If you're hoping to establish a business in the heart of the city, this La Tour is one to consider - saving you the trouble of renting an apartment and an office separately.
As mentioned above, La Tour properties are selective, none more so than La Tour Minami-Azabu, which only allows residents who have previously lived at another La Tour property.
However, most properties are only as strict as other buildings in Tokyo. For more information on what to prepare and keep in mind regarding Tokyo properties, you can read this article by CEO Matsuno Yasuharu. If you’d like to move into a La Tour property, please reach out to us at Tokyo Portfolio for more information.
La Tour Locations:
Shinjuku, Mejiro, Ichigaya, Yoyogi, Aobadai, Kagurazaka, Roppongi, Minami-Azabu, Shibakoen, Daikanyama, Shibuya, Mita, Shiodome, Chiyoda, Hanzomon, Iidabashi
