Construction companies are busy these days in cities nationwide converting old office buildings with high vacancy rates into housing complexes.
In April, Osaka-based Takenaka Corp. converted a 38-year-old, eight-story office building in Tokyo's Minami Aoyama district into luxury rental apartments. The complex has 44 apartments and shops on the first floor.
Market research has found that spacious apartments with high-ceilings and large windows are popular with people in creative jobs, including musicians and fashion designers, according to the developer.