Provider, rate, term, amount, LTV, fees, PR requirements, English support, and verified date.
Compare lenders on the same execution date, LTV, term, insurance, and holding period — provider, advertised rate, amount and term limits, fees, PR/residence rules, and English support — then verify the actual offer with a dated written quotation.
A fair lender comparison holds the variables constant — the same execution date, LTV band, term, insurance, and expected holding period — and compares provider, advertised rate, minimum and maximum amount and term, LTV surcharges, the fee schedule (origination, guarantee, appraisal, registration, early repayment), PR/residence rules, English support, and the verified date. Online banks (au Jibun Bank, Sumishin SBI, PayPay) tend to lead on rate for standard salaried files; megabanks (MUFG, Mizuho, Resona) add branch service and exception handling; and PRESTIA, Tokyo Star Bank, and Suruga serve foreign-resident and non-PR cases.
A nationwide "best lender" ranking is less useful than a screened shortlist based on your residence status, income type, and the property, because regional institutions have geographic and membership rules and each lender’s pricing depends on the borrower and property. Cover a major bank, an online bank, a relationship or regional bank, and any specialist route (Flat 35 or a foreign-resident lender), then obtain dated quotations and compare the all-in internal cost over your holding period — a 2.20% fee on ¥50 million is ¥1.10 million, which can outweigh a small rate difference for a short hold.
Key points to carry away: Compare provider, rate, term, amount, LTV, fees, PR rules, and English support; Hold the execution date, LTV, term, insurance, and holding period constant; Online banks lead on rate; branch and specialist lenders serve complex or non-PR cases; Verify the actual offer with a dated written quotation over your holding period. Use the linked guides and calculators for the full decision, and confirm anything material with the lender, a licensed broker, a judicial scrivener, or a tax accountant before you act.
Fixed-rate mortgage · Japan Housing Finance Agency
A long-term fixed-rate mortgage program backed by the Japan Housing Finance Agency, offered via partner lenders and often accessible without permanent residency.
Fees: Rate and fees vary by lender and loan-to-value — verify current terms.
Use the same execution date, LTV, term, insurance, fees, and holding period for every quote.
Enough to cover a major bank, an online bank, a relationship bank, and any specialist route — without excessive simultaneous inquiries.
Compare the all-in cost — execution rate, fees, insurance, and early-repayment costs — over your holding period, not the headline rate.