The number of Japanese homes built with post-and-beam construction is rising, but despite the growing share of wooden houses, the total number of new homes continues to fall. That is according to new data from Japan\u2019s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transportation, and Tourism, which revealed that housing starts fell a further 6.5% in 2025, extending a multi\u2011generational decline that has pushed new-builds to less than half the levels seen in the early to mid-1990s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It revealed that Japan built just 740,667 homes last year, a 16% drop on the 10\u2011year average of 883,184 units. And while the proportion of wooden homes has surged, with five of the past six months recording 60% or more timber\u2011frame construction, total volumes of wooden houses still slipped 4% across the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n