Expat Housing in Japan

This guide will assume you will be renting property. Choosing the right apartment in a vast and overwhelming city like Tokyo can seem daunting to the inexperienced expat but it vital to get it right. You should certainly allocate time to view at least 5 or 10 properties so you can get a feel for what sort of apartments are available to help you choose wisely. Don't worry though; there will certainly be something to fit your needs.

In most cases, real estate agents are used rather than directly renting from landlords. They are easy to spot with listings of apartments in their windows and on boards. Check the local press also. Problems are caused by the fact that many foreigners stay in Japan less than two years but the minimum rental period is usually for this length of time. Added to that, landlords may be unwilling to rent to foreigners because of the language barrier. You may find the whole process frustrating and expensive. Often, information about your financial background will be requested and you may even have to get the contract co-signed by a Japanese national.

Typical expatriate apartments tend to be over 350,000 Yen/month (naturally, this varies widely depending on what area you choose) and will likely include appliances like a washing machine, tumble dryer, telephone already installed, fridge/freezer etc and will likely require you to pay at least 4 months deposit, sometimes more.

A typical Japanese style apartment (often below 350,000 Yen/month) will probably not come with any appliances, require a smaller deposit but will also require key money (Reikin). This is an up front payment to the landlord, charged for letting you rent the apartment and is often negotiable but typically 2 months rent and non-refundable. With more expensive apartments, you may find key money is not asked for. Don't forget, expat properties will not request key money.

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Japanese style properties may charge you a maintenance fee for the building but will almost certainly not be charged in expat buildings and will be included in the rent. You should also be aware that a renewal fee may be charged for Japanese style apartments at the end of the contract and will likely be equivalent to 1 month rent.

You should certainly familiarise yourself with regulations governing rental in Japan and the relevant customs. Understanding these things is vital for good planning and will guard you against obvious slip ups. You should definitely finalise contractual arrangements before moving in to your new apartment.

An important fact you should know is that if you want to own a car in Japan, you must already have a parking space. Nearly all apartments will offer you a parking space but you should certainly check this before renting. In cases where the cost for parking is not included in the rent, it could cost you anywhere between 30,000 Yen and 70,000 Yen, according to the area and the apartment complex in which you live.

Utility bills - As a rough guide, you should budget 10 percent equivalent of your monthly rent for utility bills, which will include water, gas and electricity. A standing charge is made even if you don't use those utilities.

Your most expensive bill will be for electricity during the summer (air conditioners use a lot of power) and winter. For example, Tokyo has extremes of hot and cold during the summer and winter months, typically as low as -5 degrees C in the winter and 35 degrees C with high humidity in the summer. It is a good idea to look for an apartment that has individual A/C and heating units in each room for more economical control.

Now for a word on rubbish - Normally, you will be expected to separate garbage into 3 types and place them in the correct bin. These include burnable trash (paper, organic materials), non-burnable trash (metal, glass, plastics etc) and recyclables (cans, plastic bottles etc).