How to Rent Apartments in Japan - Ep 1. The Basics 日本での賃貸の基本

This is the first video in a series on renting apartments in Japan. Many thanks to Sachiko-sensei for teaching us!
http://www.youtube.com/landhousing
http://www.facebook.com/landhousing
http://www.landhousing.co.jp/english/

The Basics

The 3 key costs of renting an apartment in Japan are:
1) 礼金 Reikin - Key Money (0-1 months' worth of rent)
2) 敷金 Shikikin - Deposit (1-3 months' worth of rent)
3) 仲介手数料 Chukai Tesuryo - Agent Fee (approximately 1 month worth of rent)

You also require a personal financial guarantor (保証人 Hoshonin) in Japan to be responsible for any failure to pay rent or damage caused by you.

Alternatives to normal renting of accommodation are:
- Gaijin Houses
- Dormitories
- Shared Accommodation

Issues Gaijins often Run Into Are
- Improper separation/disposal of garbage
- Loud parties
- Other "manners" related issues

These issues and challenges will be the main topics of the second video in the series.

Enjoy!

Links:

Gaijin Friendly Accommodation
http://www.youtube.com/user/landhousing
http://www.landhousing.co.jp/english/
http://www.gaijinpot.com/apartments/
http://metropolis.co.jp/classifieds/biz.asp?action=home&pid=20
http://www.tokyocityapartments.net
http://www.tokyoapartment.com/
http://www.oakhouse.jp/eng/

Gaijin Houses
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2032.html
http://www.sakura-house.com/
http://gaijinhousejapan.com/
http://www.geocities.com/gaijin_house/

Search for a NORMAL Apartment (in Japanese)
http://www.chintai.net/

Government Housing (no key money, and foreigners can apply - in Japanese)
http://sumai.ur-net.go.jp/Sumai/10/Index.html
http://www.ur-net.go.jp/

General Rules for living in an Apartment in Japan (translation of 生活ルールマナー集)
http://worldinfo.okwave.jp/english/EokpControl?&lang=ja&tid=10297&...

Basics for renting an apartment in Japan
http://www.transborders.co.jp/realestate/english/basics/

Some case studies of foreigners looking for apartments in Tokyo
http://www.transborders.co.jp/realestate/english/lifeinjapan/

English blog on renting in Tokyo
http://www.gadling.com/2007/12/29/big-in-japan-how-to-rent-an-apartment-in-tokyo

A guide with the basics, but conveniently leaves out the biggest
barrier - that most places will not rent to foreigners
http://www.tokyoessentials.com/apartments.html

外国人はゴミの分別ができないと思われているが、実際はどうか？
http://ameblo.jp/transborders/entry-10137152207.html

生活ルールマナー集
http://worldinfo.okwave.jp/japanese/EokpControl?&site=defalut&lang=en...

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• apartments
• leasing
• deposit
• guarantor
• foreigners
• gaijin
• Tokyo
• landhousing
• 賃貸
• 礼金
• 敷金
• 仲介手数料
• マナー
• ゴミ分別
• 保証人
• 外国人

[CyberSetan]

This video would have been better without that background music.

[Hikosaemon]

@CyberSetan Yep, the comment was made earlier as well and I agree. You'll note that I left music out of the remaining vids in the series.

Still, I appreciate the feedback - sometimes BGM works, sometimes not, but here, with all the background noise as it is, it is definitely better without.

Peace

[lilangel8932]

Thanks for these series Hiko; Major awesomeness!

[Hikosaemon]

@lilangel8932 LOL, I believe that is the name of Colonel Sanders' most trusted deputy...

[ElevenColors]

There are companies who will act as guarantor for you, but it costs an extra month of rent when you first move in plus 10,000 yen a year renewal. Or at least that's how it's worked out in my case.

[Hikosaemon]

@ElevenColors Thanks for the input, man - I talked with one of those companies once, but ended up being able to get my company to do it. I think the deal was similar to that. I certainly don't recall needing a guarantor for the guarantor, or it even being too expeinsive. The main problem was my friends warning me to be careful - those kind of small scale lending and guarantee companies have a bit of a bad rep in Japan, but I've never heard of issues with guarantor companies from gaijin...

[qwbullethole]

I'm assuming many foreigners don't know anybody in Japan, or at least not anybody that trusts them enough, to be a hoshonin for them. So, how would one go about solving that problem?

Also, I seem to remember that if you wanted to stay in Japan for a longer time/become a resident you would also need someone to vouch for your good behaviour in general, i.e. not just financially?

[lensenification]

日本にいる欧米人なのに冷静な議論ができるなんて珍しいね。

こういうタイプの人が増えればいいのに。

なんか日本にいる欧米の人ってキチガイかカルト宗教しかいないイ­メージ。

[xzotictoyz]

man, the background music in your vids are really distracting and unnecessary. what's the point of adding it?

[max2082]

I'm not saying that his friend in ugly but she looks SO TIRED. I mean those bags under her eye make her look like she got in a fight. Get some sleep Sensei.

[Chisaineko44]

what do you have to pay if you have multiple cats? i have 3 and i would like to go there and possibly live.

[ElevenColors]

@Hikosaemon Tricky thing is with getting your employer to do it, sometimes they won't do it. I believe it also means that even if they do, and you change jobs, you also have to move. The first guarantor company the real estate agency set me up with went bankrupt a few years back, so I can see how their reputation is not so great, but the real estate agency was able to set me up with another one.