A Tokyo multifamily real estate investment partnership created by Real Estate, Japanese asset manager Kenedix and Dutch real estate investor , has acquired seven additional properties worth $224m in total.

Announcing the deal, Nuveen Real Estate said following the acquisition of the 428 units, the Tokyo Multifamily Partnership’s (TMP) portfolio now includes 22 properties with a gross asset value of $642m.

Nuveen Real Estate also said, the partnership – which raised $200m at first close in May 2018 β€“ has now completed its second close, taking the total to $284m from Bouwinvest, another institutional investor and Nuveen Real Estate’s parent company – TIAA.

The venture intends to invest up to $1bn into multifamily assets in Japan’s capital city.

Shu Wantanabe, director of capital transactions, Asia at Nuveen Real Estate, said: β€œWe first identified the investment opportunities in the Tokyo multifamily sector in 2017 and formed our partnership with Bouwinvest and Kenedix.

β€œThe sector has provided our investors the opportunity to tap into strong secular fundamentals and growth, adding resilience to their portfolios in a late-cycle market.”

Soushi Ikeda, managing director, head of strategic investment department at Kenedix, said: β€œThere is strong demand among investors in Japan and other countries for long-term core investments.

β€œOur core fund business, which focuses on assembling strategic investment portfolios by meeting this demand, has posted steady growth.”

Tjarko Edzes, director Asia-Pacific investments at Bouwinvest, said: β€œDemand for residential properties in Tokyo has been very strong for several years.

”By maintaining the proper balance between properties for single people and families, TMP is able to produce a consistent return due to a high occupancy rate.”