For that same type of apartment in Tokyo however that price will go up. Find foreigner friendly rentals in Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe and Yokohama Japan. If you’re on a tourist visa, you’ll only be able to rent short-term contracts that specifically don’t require a guarantor. In this case you could be dealing with a number of different agents but you should only have to pay the agent who deals with your final contract. 4 min read. For Tokyo, an average one-room studio along the Yamanote Line is around 80,000 yen/month due to its convenient transportation route. has a large list of agencies that offers a no-key money service for foreigners if you sign up through us. Make sure that you get a VISA with a residence card (在留カード, zairyuu card) to prove your residency in Japan. If you don’t have somebody you can ask, you can use a guarantor company which the agent will recommend to you. Gaijin Houses, or Guest Houses, are companies that provide furnished accommodation to foreigners in Japan. Some Japanese people who need a guarantor will ask their parents, some companies might also cover their employees. May 17, 2019 Outside of a city centre, rates tend to vary from 50000-150000 ¥ per month, depending on the size and amount of rooms in the apartment. To apply for an apartment or housing contract in Japan you need to provide two forms of official identification: 1. your passport and 2. a visa, residence card or student ID. An English Teacher, for example, will usually get off the plane and be met by a representative of their new company, who will take them to their new apartment, which has been rented and furnished for the new employee’s use. Although it’s possible to minimize the damage, let’s just say that moving in Japan isn’t cheap and you’ll need to budget accordingly. It is easy to break an apartment contract as long as two month’s notice is given in advance. Our English speaking Leasing Consultants will find apartments that fit your criteria, and arrange for a private viewing tour. Looking for an apartment in Japan? Sure, relocation is never cheap, regardless of where you are, but the typical move-in cost in Japan (especially Tokyo) is quite exponential. The size for that price will be anywhere from 20 to 30 m². Hypothetically speaking, let’s say you find an apartment for JPY 60,000. A unique system of perplexing rules and a load of specific fees can make it difficult to smoothly secure the keys to your dream apartment. By Lynda Deaver Find the housing solutions that fits your needs here on Tokyo Apartments. English-speaking agents, foreigner friendly. Your best bet is to nominate your employer if you can; culturally they view you as their responsibility and as an organization they are better prepared to deal with any problems that might arise. Japanese agents will set the rent at around 30% of your income so you need to prove that you consistently make or will make more than 3 times the rent. @ basspig, first and foremost ensure you have a spouse visa as the bare minimum. Bear in mind that there are certain conditions unique to Japan that will affect the price of a property, as well as regulations about pets and musical instruments. In the unpredictable world of real estate you’ll need to be reachable at a moment’s notice and the use of newfangled technology like email is still pretty uncommon among Japanese agents. Find an Apartment or property in Japan. If you’re currently living in Japan, generally the first step of Japanese apartment rental is to look for a real estate agency, or fudosan-ya (不動産屋) in Japanese. In fact, it’s becoming more and more common for Japanese people to use a guarantor company either at the specific request of the agent or by choice (to avoid burdening someone with the responsibility of being a guarantor). Do some thorough research of the market and then make a prioritized list of what you want before you take it to the agent along with all the necessary paperwork. It can be easy. A deposit is almost always required (1-2 months), like anywhere in the world; but be careful, sometimes landlords will do everything they can to keep it while you move out, trying to charge you for any possible repairs or ref… Those renting with UR security do not have to pay deposits and commission fees, and there is no need for a guarantor. Apartment Japan aims to provide the easiest way for … If you know you’re only going to be staying here temporarily, then a short-term monthly apartment rental with a specialist provider could be your best bet. A real estate agency acts as an intermediary between you and the property owner when looking for a rental. Tokyo apartments and houses for rent. However, depending on your status you may have one or another set of accommodation options. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK", Tokyo at Night| © We will make the process less stressful for you. The guarantor must be a Japanese national with stable employment and a good financial history. The GaijinPot Bilingual Brokerage Assistance service provides completely free support both during the search and after move-in, as well as a recently launched moving concierge service to help you shift your stuff and also to ensure that none of the important details get lost in translation or shameless marketing plugs. It makes it easier as your partner can do most of the talking to realitors, but being married to a foreigner can pose its troubles because many wont rent to them as they think they will make noise and damages. The guarantor basically acts as a security measure, co-signing the rental contract along with the tenant and agreeing to pay for unpaid rent or damage to the apartment if the tenant fails to pay. Outdated as in constructed 10+ years ago. Often your letter of employment will show your salary information but you should also prepare number 7 below…. Basic fees to consider are the deposit, the real estate agency commission fee, plus the first months rent, as well as a small fee for property insurance, an annual maintenance fee and a key exchange fee. Japan is one of the most urbanized societies in the world, but even locals in the know can find it a challenge to rent an apartment in the country. Smartphones in Japan: How To Buy, Unlock and Change Plans. put the wrong garbage out on the wrong day. We also guided through the whole process with English support and more. If applying from overseas, an international number is fine. wondering what the requirements are for buying real estate? They will tell you about available properties that meet your budget and needs, and serves as the contact point when entering into a rental contract. Cash payment is rare, though possible at some places. Does being married to a Japanese citizen make any of these steps easier? You should start to look for apartments around 1 month before you intend to move and processing the contract should take about two weeks. Foreigner-friendly, they have a wide-ranging selection of stylish apartments that can be easily leased through different packages. The upfront costs of moving into an apartment in Japan can be much higher than you may be used to at home. English-speaking agents, foreigner friendly. Start your search to find your new home in Japan. In case you suddenly abandon ship and leave the country, the emergency contact deals with the hot mess you left behind so it’s sometimes difficult to find a Japanese person who is willing. Renting an apartment in Tokyo (or Japan in general) is typically expensive, with the initial set-up fees costing 5 or 6 times that of the rent. In Japan, studio apartments are called one-room apartments and abbreviated as 1R. yeah don’t rent an outdated apartment in Japan. if you want to make a loan, it depends on your income, Visa status, how long you’ve been in Japan, how secure is your job (type of contract)….pretty much the same as anywhere ! Share with us your requirements, and what is important to you. If you’re willing to try life outside of the major cities in Japan’s beautiful suburbs and countryside, you’ll find your rent is much more manageable, and you’ll love the quiet way of life outside of the bustling business hubs. Also bear in mind that if you are going to buy a new place then truly try and buy direct from the House building company. Most apartments in Japan are usually rented through a real estate agent who typically have offices located near train stations. Though you don’t need to have a Japanese bank account when you start to look at apartments you’ll need one eventually to pay the rent via bank transfer. Now, you won’t just be paying that first month’s rent and a security deposit. This is true whether you are Japanese or not. 1 – Get a Visa This seems like an obvious one, but you will only be able to rent an apartment if you are living in Japan, not only visiting. Some landlords will tell agents they don’t want a Gaijin in their property and yet some others will only accept certain races or ethinicities. By Rebecca Quin To add to the above, out of 10 properties, 8 will be forbidden to strangers. I am married to a Japanese citizen and we are planning to move to Japan after I finish my college. Apartment contracts are usually for a minimum of two years in Japan. Here are 10 steps that you will need to rent a flat in Japan! Pretty much the same as in Melbourne, it seems. Another way is to check out online listings and inquire about places that you like. The central wards lead the rankings for these, too. Real estate agents usually have the layout of the apartment for rent and the costs to rent this apartment. 3 min read. Finally, make sure to have several copies of all of the documents and keep everything in one place as you’ll need it all again if you renew your contract or move elsewhere. If you can find someone to be your guarantor they’ll need to prepare several documents including proof of residence and an income statement which they will have to get from the local government office. We don’t just do our best to find you the right selection. Money ! the average rent for a one bedroom apartment in Osaka will be around ¥50,000 or $500 a month. Rental Apartments in Tokyo. Apartments vary in size from 2 DK to 4 LDK with the abbreviations L, D, K standing for Living Room, Dining Room and Kitchen, and the number representing how many bedrooms or other rooms the apartment contains. In Japan, traditionally, in order to rent an apartment you needed a guarantor, a person who officially agrees to be liable for your rent in case you cannot pay. So for a standard apartment for 80,000 yen a month, you can expect to pay around 400,000 yen in upfront costs before any moving services and the initial costs for setting up your utilities. It’s best to check with the agent which method they prefer. Also keep in mind that you can do all of these things and still be rejected by the House agent because you are Gaijin, or worse unacceptable Gaijin. Not a real estate agent. It's time this outdated practice is stopped. English speaking agents, foreigner friendly. Rent is paid on a monthly basis and varies depending on the location and size of the apartment. Before you start your apartment search, be sure to have these 10 things ready to make your experience at least less painful than foot surgery. … Average cost is 1-2 months' rent. You will need to provide color copies of the photo page of your passport and the visa page, or both the front and back sides of your resident or student cards. Many people come to Japan through a company. GaijinPot Apartments has a full listing of English friendly properties. Here is a comprehensive guide to renting an apartment in Japan. All your housing needs made easy. Tokyo apartments for rent are some of the most expensive in Asia due to the high demand and limited space inside the city center. Tokyo Apartments. Apartment hunting in Japan can be a headache. You’ll need to prove that you can pay the rent each month so agents will ask for a copy of the past few months’ pay slips (usually 3 months), your yearly income slip or a copy of your latest bank statement or bank book if you’re unemployed. Been there, done that! In a city centre, rates will vary from 100000-200000 ¥ per month. Japan has a variety of visas that allow people to reside in the country. They will also have to prove that the rent is around 30% of what they earn or else they cannot be your guarantor. Mastering the functions of your a/c remote is key to surviving in Japan. Even if you can show that you are employed and earning enough salary, you will still need a guarantor who will be liable for the rent if you can’t make the payments. You need to make a effort in understanding the culture, what is acceptable/not acceptable and language. Some agents may consider only the income you earn from within the country so you won’t be allowed to rent a place that’s more than a third of your Japan income, even if you plan to subsidize that with earnings from back home. By Rebecca Quin In countries like Japan, … Knowing how to rent a house or apartment in Japan is not difficult as long as you are prepared. There is a few agency for foreigners (borderless house, sakura..) who help to make it easy and where you do not need any paper except your passport and just a deposit. Some spouses when they find out how rampant racism is in Japanese business dealings get angry and take it personal, maybe even start an argument with the agent. Students and  interns  might be lucky to get dormitory rooms; some companies might provide apartments for their  full-time employees. We and our partners use cookies to better understand your needs, improve performance and provide you with personalised content and advertisements. To apply for an apartment or housing contract in Japan you need to provide two forms of official identification: 1. your passport and 2. a visa, residence card or student ID. Search thousands of apartments and other types of real estate for sale and to rent. and started discussing the details for the property on there. It seems legit though, but want to make sure somehow. For an apartment with an advertised monthly rent of ¥50,000 ($449), you should budget approximately the following as an upfront payment: In this case, you should have about six months’ rent ready to move into the apartment. haha. The mega city hold so many people yet is not a massive city by area, thus developers decided to build upwards to house the city’s population. The guarantor basically acts as a security measure, co-signing the rental contract along with the tenant and agreeing to pay for unpaid rent or damage to the apartment if the tenant fails to pay. Urban Renaissance Agency (UR) leases rental properties to approximately 720,000 households in Japan. Some nationwide agencies include Able and eheya.net. Moving into a new property in Japan involves a number of costs, and can represent several months' worth of rent up-front. Minato Ward tops with an average monthly rent of ¥132,300, Chiyoda Ward is second at ¥130,600, followed by … UR's properties are mainly quiet housing complexes in the suburbs and high-rise condominiums near train stations. Japanese agents usually work within a local radius; so many people first decide on the area they want to live in before going to a local agent. Expats … Offering a wide selection of accommodations, ranging from short stay serviced apartments to long term rental apartments. Expect to pay quite a hefty amount in upfront costs which includes a lot of little fees and services only to be found in Japan. 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