The gap in land prices between large and small cities continues to widen even though the average price in select areas has moved higher for the first time in 14 years.
The National Tax Agency said Tuesday that land prices in Tokyo and Nagoya rose more than 20 percent as of Jan. 1, while the pace of the drop in nine prefectures expanded.
In the Tokai region, where Toyota Motor Corp. and other car companies are based, the good performances at these firms has lifted real estate prices higher.