Renting an Apartment in Japan: Terms, Steps and Phrases
Finding a flat in Japan usually means working with a real estate agent, reading listings full of abbreviations, and paying several kinds of upfront costs you may not have met before. Knowing the vocabulary and the usual steps makes it far easier to follow.
How renting usually works
Most people find a place through a real estate agent (不動産屋, fudōsan-ya). You can browse listings online, then contact an agency in the area you like. The agent arranges viewings (内見, naiken), passes your application to the landlord or management company, and handles the contract.
A typical sequence:
- Search and view. Tell the agent your budget, area and move-in date, then view a few places.
- Apply. You fill in an application (入居申込書, nyūkyo mōshikomisho) with details such as your job, income and status of residence.
- Screening (入居審査, nyūkyo shinsa). The landlord, and often a guarantor company, check your application, which can take several days.
- Contract and payment. You sign, pay the initial costs and receive the keys on the agreed date.
Not every landlord accepts foreign tenants, and some agencies specialise in helping people from overseas. Listings marked 外国人可 (gaikokujin ka, foreigners accepted) or 外国人相談可 (gaikokujin sōdan ka, foreigners may enquire) are a good place to start.
Terms you will see in listings
Amounts and conditions vary widely by region, building and landlord, so always check the figures on the specific listing and ask the agent what each one covers.
| Term | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| 家賃 (yachin) | Monthly rent. Rent is often paid in advance for the following month. |
| 管理費・共益費 (kanrihi, kyōekihi) | A monthly fee for upkeep of shared areas, paid on top of the rent. Some listings include it in the rent. |
| 敷金 (shikikin) | A security deposit, often stated as a number of months’ rent. Part of it is usually returned when you move out, after cleaning and repair costs are deducted. |
| 礼金 (reikin) | “Key money”: a one-off payment to the landlord that is not returned. Many listings have none. |
| 仲介手数料 (chūkai tesūryō) | The agent’s fee for arranging the contract, paid once. |
| 保証会社 (hoshō gaisha) | A guarantor company that covers the landlord if rent goes unpaid. You usually pay it a fee when signing, and sometimes a renewal fee. |
| 更新料 (kōshinryō) | A fee for renewing the contract, common in some areas and not in others. |
| 火災保険 (kasai hoken) | Tenant’s insurance, often a condition of the contract. |
| 初期費用 (shoki hiyō) | The total you pay upfront: deposit, key money, fees, insurance and advance rent together. |
Reading the floor plan
The layout (間取り, madori) is written as a number plus letters. The number is how many rooms besides the kitchen area; K is kitchen, D is dining and L is living.
- 1R (one room): the kitchen is in the same space as the room.
- 1K: one room with a separate small kitchen, often along a corridor.
- 1DK / 1LDK: one room plus a larger kitchen with dining, or dining and living, space.
- 2LDK and up: two or more rooms plus a living-dining-kitchen area.
Room sizes are often given in 畳 (jō), the size of a tatami mat, and distance as 駅徒歩10分 (eki toho juppun, ten minutes’ walk from the station).
Guarantors
Landlords usually want someone who will pay if you can’t. Traditionally this was a joint guarantor (連帯保証人, rentai hoshōnin), typically a relative or employer in Japan. Today many contracts require, or allow you to use, a guarantor company instead. Some employers and schools also help with housing or act as guarantor, so ask yours early.
The contract and moving in
Before you sign, the agent will normally go through an explanation of important points about the property and contract (重要事項説明, jūyō jikō setsumei). It is detailed and fast, so bring someone who can help if you need it. Points worth checking:
- Contract length and how renewal works.
- Notice period for moving out (解約予告, kaiyaku yokoku).
- What is deducted from your deposit when you leave, such as cleaning.
- Rules about pets, musical instruments, guests and rubbish sorting.
On move-in day, photograph any existing damage so it isn’t charged to you later. You will usually need to set up electricity, gas and water yourself; gas often needs someone present to open it. Then register your new address at the city office, as covered in our moving to Japan checklist.
Useful phrases at the agency
| Japanese | Say it | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 部屋を探しています | heya o sagashite imasu | I’m looking for a flat |
| 駅から近い部屋がいいです | eki kara chikai heya ga ii desu | I’d like somewhere close to the station |
| 内見できますか？ | naiken dekimasu ka? | Can I view it? |
| 初期費用は全部でいくらですか？ | shoki hiyō wa zenbu de ikura desu ka? | How much are the initial costs in total? |
| 外国人でも大丈夫ですか？ | gaikokujin demo daijōbu desu ka? | Is it OK for a foreign tenant? |
| もう一度ゆっくりお願いします | mō ichido yukkuri onegai shimasu | Once more, slowly, please |
Preparing with a tutor
House-hunting packs a lot of new words into a short, important conversation. A Hanabuddies tutor can walk through real listings with you, explain the terms, and role-play the visit to the agency so you can ask the questions that matter to you, in Japanese, with confidence.