A major real estate tokenisation effort is underway in Tokyo, with Japanese investment firm Gates Inc. announcing plans to digitise $75 million worth of central Tokyo properties.
The company has partnered with blockchain network Oasys to launch what is being called one of Japan’s largest real estate tokenisation initiatives to date.
The project targets income-generating properties in central Tokyo, converting ownership into digital tokens stored on the Oasys blockchain.
The aim is to simplify cross-border property investment, particularly for foreign buyers who face complex regulations, high costs and language barriers when accessing Japanese real estate.
Ownership records will be issued through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) set up overseas, allowing compliance with Japan’s strict financial rules.
Investors will be able to buy and sell these tokens more easily through decentralised platforms.
While the first phase involves $75 million in assets, Gates has set its sights on a much larger scale.
The company plans to eventually tokenize more than $200 billion worth of properties — roughly 1% of Japan’s total real estate market, which is valued at ¥20.5 trillion (about $130 trillion yen).
CEO Yuji Sekino confirmed the company’s broader ambition to transform real estate access using blockchain technology.
“By uniting our deep experience in the Japanese real estate market and fractional ownership model with Oasys’ blockchain expertise, we aim to drive innovation and expand access to investment opportunities in Japanese real estate. As we continue to explore a Nasdaq listing, we look forward to leveraging the expansion of our real estate operations into the RWA market as a catalyst for future growth.”
Beyond Japan, the Gates-Oasys partnership intends to replicate the tokenisation model in several global markets.
The United States, Europe, the Philippines, and parts of Asia have already been listed as expansion targets.
The collaboration is also preparing to tokenize Japanese cultural exports, such as gaming and anime IP, converting them into tradable digital assets.
Oasys’ founder Ryo Matsubara explained,
“Japanese content, whether game IP or other cultural assets, commands high global value. Providing such Japanese assets as RWAs is an area where Oasys, with its Japanese roots, can fully leverage its strengths.”
Oasys, originally designed as a layer-1 blockchain for gaming, has begun shifting focus towards real-world asset tokenisation.
The network's pivot reflects a broader industry trend of applying blockchain to traditional sectors like finance and property.
Matsubara said,
“We are building a token economy that automatically reinvests returns to maximise compounding effects,”
Gates’ tokenisation initiative comes amid growing momentum worldwide.
Dubai’s tokenised property market has already topped $18 billion, and New Jersey is currently digitising $240 billion worth of property deeds.
A report from Deloitte in April 2025 projected the global tokenised real estate market would surpass \$4 trillion by 2035 — up from less than $300 billion in 2024 — growing at a compound annual rate above 27%.
Gates, founded in 2012, reported $145 million in revenue last year and has secured key business and financial licenses in Japan to support its new venture.
The company was also featured in the Financial Times’ “High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific 2023” list and has filed paperwork for a potential Nasdaq listing as it continues its overseas roadshow.
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