How to Rent an Apartment in Japan
How to Find an Apartment
Senior students use the following methods to find an apartment.
Rent an apartment by yourself
- Search on rental listing websites
- Visit a real estate agency *Some real estate agencies are run by foreigners.
Recently, the number of real estate agencies run by foreigners for people from their home countries has increased. You can find them by searching in your native language using keywords such as “housing Tokyo” or “foreigner apartment search”. You can be assisted in your native language.
Living in a room share
There are many foreigners who share a room with friends or seniors. However, this may not be allowed depending on the apartment contract, so be sure to check carefully to avoid any problems.
How to Choose an Apartment
Sample floor plan of a studio apartment① Select a property
- Search by the rent, location, floor plan, etc. on rental listing websites, and pick several properties you are interested in. Then, contact and visit a real estate agency. You can also visit a real estate agency first and have them introduce you to properties.
- After reading the materials and speaking to the personnel at the agency, you can narrow down your choices.
② Go see the property
Once you have narrowed down your choices, the real estate agent will take you to the location by car or other means and may show you four or five properties in one day. Do not hesitate to look around and compare.
③ Contract
Once you have decided on a property, you can proceed to the contract procedure.
What are the Initial Costs?
When you rent an apartment in Japan, you will have to pay the following initial costs. It is usually three to five times the monthly rent.
| Key money | This is a non-refundable fee paid to the landlord when you move in. Usually equivalent to one month’s rent. |
| Deposit | A deposit to cover the cost of repairing the room when you move out. Usually equivalent to one month’s rent. |
| Rent Guarantee Company | When renting a house in Japan, you may need a joint guarantor. If there is no guarantor, the tenant pays a fee to a rent guarantee company who will guarantee the rent on your behalf. |
| Cleaning | The cost of cleaning the room. You may be charged when you move out. |
| Fire Insurance | About 15,000 – 22,000 JPY for a two-year contract. |
| Lock Replacement | Replace the lock on the front door to prevent crime. |
| Commission | Commission charged by the real estate agency. In most cases, it is equivalent to one month’s rent. |
*Depending on the real estate agency and the property, you may not have to pay or you may be able to negotiate the amount for some of the above items.
Contract Procedure
The following documents and information are required for contracting.
| Identification Documents | Passport, residence card, student ID, work ID, Individual Number card, etc. |
| Proof of Income | In some cases, proof of income is required. Pay slips, tax withholding slips, etc. |
| Emergency Contact /Guarantor | You may be asked to provide information on a Japanese person or friend who can be contacted in an emergency. You may also be asked to provide a joint guarantor depending on the property. |
The contract period is usually two years.
- Fill out an application form for an apartment management company or a rent guarantee company at a real estate agency.
- Screening on each application
- Sign the contract for the apartment and make payment, etc.
House Location and Rent
The average rent varies depending on the area. In order to find the best deal, you need to think about the location.
If you want to know more about the relationship between location and rent, initial costs, and contract procedures, please read the following article.
House Hunting in Japan / KOKORO
If you want to know more, check here!
Apartment Search Guidebook｜Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
