RPT-Orix to triple Japan property investment to $2.8 bln

TOKYO, June 30 (Reuters) - Orix Corp (8591.T), Japan's top general leasing company, said on Monday it plans to invest 300 billion yen ($2.8 billion) in office buildings, condominiums and hotels in major Japanese cities this year.

That would represent a tripling of its usual annual investment in real estate, said spokeswoman Nobuko Miyaki, confirming an earlier report in the Nikkei business daily.

Orix decided to boost investment in Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya as domestic property prices have fallen in the wake of the global credit crisis, which has limited investment from overseas funds. ($1=106.12 yen) (Reporting by Edwina Gibbs; Editing by Chris Gallagher)