Metro City Osaka, a boutique bed and breakfast (B&B) property consisting of 60 units, has recently made its debut in Singapore. Developed, managed, and operated by Japanese company TY Properties Development, the property was launched over the weekend of July 12 and 13. Savills Singapore, the project’s marketing agency, reported that over 30 units allocated to Singapore buyers were already sold by 3pm on Sunday, July 13.
Located in the bustling Naniwa Ward of Osaka, Metro City Osaka is a nine-storey freehold development that includes 59 B&B-style residential units and one retail shop. The property is conveniently located just a two-minute walk from JR Imamiya Station, seven minutes from Daikokucho Station, and one stop from JR Namba. It is also in close proximity to popular tourist destinations such as Shinsaibashi, Kuromon Market, American Village, and several large department stores. Additionally, supermarkets and other daily conveniences are easily accessible from the property.
The residential units at Metro City Osaka consist of studio apartments ranging from 15 to 21 sq m (161.5 to 226 sq ft), as well as two-bedroom units of approximately 32 sq m (344 sq ft). The property was refurbished by TY Properties, which also manages the guesthouse, and is offered as a turnkey investment opportunity for buyers looking to invest in overseas properties. The property was previously showcased in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend of April 26 and 27 and in Hong Kong by TY Properties.
Singaporeans accounted for about 60% of buyers, Ruben Koh, senior director and head of international residential sales at Savills Singapore, reports. Buyers from Hong Kong made up 37% of the sales, while Malaysians accounted for 3%. A retail unit was also purchased by a Singaporean investor.
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The fully-furnished residential units were sold at prices ranging from $130,000 to $150,000, or approximately $700 psf. Currently, the property has an average occupancy rate of 70% to 80%. Koh estimates that investors can expect net yields of 8% to 12%, with payouts available on a quarterly, half-yearly, or annual basis.
Koh notes that the strong interest in Metro City Osaka is due to the city’s thriving tourism economy, with the ongoing World Expo 2025 and the unique appeal of a fully managed B&B model. Many buyers saw this as a timely and low-risk opportunity to enter Japan’s hospitality market.
The World Expo 2025, which began on April 13 and will continue until October 13, is expected to attract 28 million visitors from over 160 countries. In 2024, Osaka recorded 14.6 million visitors and the government is aiming for over 16 million arrivals in 2025. As a result, the demand for short-stay accommodations is at an all-time high, adds Koh.
According to Savills Research, Osaka’s central wards have seen strong rental growth with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.6% since 2019, alongside rising condominium prices, limited availability, and increasing foreign demand. These trends are further supported by long-term infrastructure projects, including the World Expo and the upcoming integrated resort development. Together, these factors make Metro City Osaka an attractive fully managed, investment-grade B&B asset in a prime tourist hub, according to Savills.