It is not always safe. Every time a major earthquake occurs, the standards are revised and made stricter, but it is impossible to say what will happen if a major earthquake occurs that is larger than the current scale of earthquakes predicted.
On the other hand, Horyuji Temple in Nara Prefecture, which is said to be the oldest wooden building in the world, has not collapsed even after several major earthquakes. The building technology of Horyuji Temple has also been applied to the construction of Tokyo Sky Tree, one of Tokyo's famous tourist attractions, which was completed in 2012.
As an investor (or buyer) of real estate, it is important to consider buildings built according to the new earthquake-resistance standards, rather than the old ones, as a priority. In addition, it is very important to consider in advance the risk of not being able to earn rental income in the event of a major earthquake, even if the building is built according to the new earthquake-resistance standard, especially when purchasing with a large loan.