Finding a place to live in Japan can feel like navigating a maze of unfamiliar terms, tiny spaces, and surprise costs — especially if it’s your first time living abroad. Whether you’re planning to stay for a few months on a working holiday visa or you’re setting up long-term life in Japan, your living situation will massively affect your overall experience.
Terms like key money, 1DK, and guarantor can leave you scratching your head. And then there’s the reality of just how tiny some of the spaces are 😅
But here’s the good news: it’s not as scary as it sounds once you understand how the system works. There are more options than ever for foreigners — especially in cities like Tokyo and Osaka — and if you’re prepared, you can find something clean, convenient, and even affordable.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about housing & apartments in Japan, from the different types of accommodation to how the rental process works. I’ll also share what I’ve learned while preparing for my own move, and highlight tips that’ll save you time, money, and stress.
🏘️ Types of Housing in Japan
Japan offers a surprising variety of housing options depending on your budget, location, and how long you plan to stay. Here are the most common types:
🏢 Regular Apartments in Japan
Most long-term residents in Japan live in private apartments — these are often described using codes like 1K, 1DK, or 2LDK, which refer to the layout:
- 1K: One room + Kitchen
- 1DK: One room + Dining + Kitchen
- 2LDK: Two rooms + Living + Dining + Kitchen
These apartments are usually unfurnished and relatively small compared to Western standards. You’ll often find tiny bathrooms, separate toilets, and limited kitchen space — but they’re efficient and clean.
🏠 Sharehouses (ゲストハウス)
If you’re coming alone and want to save money and make friends, sharehouses are an amazing option. You’ll have your own private room but share kitchens, bathrooms, and common areas with others.
Many of them cater specifically to international residents, making it easier to settle in. Companies like Sakura House and Oakhouse offer foreigner-friendly contracts, no key money, and furnished rooms.
It’s great for working holiday visa holders or students who want something simple and social.
🛏️ Weekly & Monthly Rentals
For short-term stays (from a few weeks to a few months), furnished apartments with flexible contracts are widely available. These are often called monthly mansions or monthly apartments.
They’re move-in ready and ideal if you’re doing a short-term language course, internship, or just exploring. Expect higher costs, but lower hassle.
💡 Pro Tip: Some agencies even offer no deposit, no key money, and no guarantor options for monthly rentals!
🧱 Leopalace & Chain Rentals
Companies like Leopalace21 offer chain-style rental apartments with standardised layouts. These are common for students and first-time renters.
They come semi-furnished, often include internet, and usually have online support in English. The downside? Rooms are compact and a bit cookie-cutter, but still a solid option if you’re looking for simplicity and structure.
📝 Understanding the Rental Process in Japan
Renting an apartment in Japan is a bit different than in many other countries, especially when it comes to costs, paperwork, and expectations. Here’s a breakdown of how it all works:
💴 The Initial Costs
When you first move into an apartment, you don’t just pay the first month’s rent — you often pay several extra fees upfront:
- Key Money (礼金): A non-refundable “gift” to the landlord, typically equal to 1–2 months’ rent. Yes, it’s as strange as it sounds 😅 but it’s slowly becoming less common.
- Security Deposit (敷金): Usually 1–2 months’ rent. This is refundable if the place is left in good condition.
- Agency Fee (仲介手数料): Often 1 month’s rent, paid to the real estate agency.
- First Month’s Rent: Sometimes even second month’s rent upfront, depending on the property.
Altogether, you’re sometimes looking at 4–6 months’ rent just to move in 😮 — so it’s important to budget well in advance.
👤 Guarantor Requirement
Most landlords will ask for a guarantor (保証人) — someone (usually a Japanese resident) who agrees to pay your rent if you can’t. If you don’t have one, you’ll usually need to pay for a guarantor company (保証会社), which adds another fee to the mix (typically 30–50% of one month’s rent).
Some foreigner-friendly options don’t require a guarantor, so be on the lookout for those.
🧾 The Paperwork
You’ll likely need:
- Residence Card (在留カード)
- Passport
- Proof of income or employment
- Emergency contact (in Japan)
- Sometimes a Japanese phone number or local bank account
Once you’re approved, you’ll sign a contract (usually in Japanese), pay your fees, and schedule a move-in date.
🔍 Where to Search for Housing (Including Foreign-Friendly Services)
Thankfully, finding an apartment in Japan as a foreigner is way easier now than it was a few years ago — especially with the rise of English-friendly services. Here’s where to start:
💻 Online Platforms
There are plenty of real estate websites, but only a few offer English language support and options for foreigners. Here are the best:
- GaijinPot Housing – Tailored for foreigners, often has no key money / no guarantor listings.
- Sakura House – Great for short to medium-term stays in Tokyo and Kyoto. Sharehouses and apartments.
- Oakhouse – Well-managed sharehouses with English support and a great community vibe.
- Leopalace21 – Offers semi-furnished apartments with flexible contract terms.
- Suumo and Homes.jp – These are massive listing sites, but mostly in Japanese. Good if you’re confident navigating with Google Translate 😅
🧑💼 Go! Go! Nihon
And of course — let’s not forget about Go! Go! Nihon, who offer housing support for students and even help with applying to language schools, getting a SIM card, and setting up life in Japan.
When I first visited Japan through one of their courses, their team helped sort out accommodation before I even arrived — which made my move so much smoother. Whether you’re going short-term or planning to study long-term, they’ve got solid connections and English-speaking support.
🏙️ What to Expect from Japanese Apartments
Let’s talk about reality: Japanese apartments are often smaller than what you’re used to — especially in places like Tokyo or Osaka.
A typical one-room apartment (1R or 1K) might be around 18–25m², with just enough space for a bed, small desk, kitchenette, and tiny bathroom. But hey, it’s cozy — and honestly, once you get used to the layout, it kinda grows on you! 😄
📐 Apartment Types
- 1R (one room): Just one open space + bathroom. Super compact.
- 1K: One room with a small separate kitchen area.
- 1DK / 1LDK: Includes a dining or living area, great for couples or those needing more space.
If you’re moving on a working holiday visa or just starting out, a 1R or 1K is totally manageable (especially if you’re not home much).
📍 Location vs. Size
There’s always a trade-off between space and location. The closer you are to major stations (like Shinjuku or Shibuya), the smaller and more expensive the place will be.
Living 20–30 minutes away from central areas by train can save you money and get you a bigger room — just make sure you check train line convenience and last train times 🕐
🚿 Utilities, Furnishings, and Day-to-Day Living
Japanese apartments tend to come unfurnished — no bed, no fridge, no washing machine… sometimes not even a light in the ceiling 😅. So here’s what you need to prepare for:
🛏️ Furnishing Your Place
If you go through foreigner-friendly agencies like Leopalace or Oakhouse, you’ll often get a furnished room with basics like:
- Bed & mattress
- Fridge
- Microwave
- Washing machine
- A/C unit (essential for Japanese summers 🥵)
If you rent privately, expect to buy all this yourself. Nitori and Don Quijote are great for affordable furniture and home goods, and there’s always Mercari or Facebook Marketplace for second-hand finds.
💡 Utilities (Gas, Water, Electric, Internet)
You’ll usually set these up yourself, unless you’re in a sharehouse or furnished apartment. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Gas & Electricity: Can be arranged online or by phone. Monthly bills depend on the season, but they’re usually manageable.
- Water: Billed every 2 months, usually around ¥2,000–¥4,000.
- Internet: Not always included! Services like Softbank Air, Pocket Wi-Fi, or wired broadband from NTT or au are common. Setup can take 1–2 weeks or more — so plan ahead!
Some places include “all utilities” in the rent, which can be convenient, especially short-term.
💸 Things to Watch Out For When Renting in Japan
I’m still in the preparation phase myself, but after speaking to friends who’ve lived in Japan, checking out rental sites, and doing a ton of research, I’ve picked up on some key things you’ll want to be aware of when apartment hunting.
🚫 Key Money (礼金) Is a Real Thing
One of the first things you’ll probably notice is the mysterious “礼金” (reikin) — this is key money, a non-refundable payment to your landlord, usually equal to one or two months’ rent. It’s not charged everywhere, but it’s definitely something to filter for when searching (look for 礼金なし) to keep your upfront costs low.
🧾 Extra Fees Add Up
From what I’ve seen while browsing apartments, there are a bunch of additional fees that can sneak in, like:
- Cleaning fees when you move out
- Contract renewal fees after 1–2 years
- Sometimes agent fees (仲介手数料)
- Even furniture rental or key exchange fees
It’s a lot to take in, so using a foreigner-friendly agency like the ones Go! Go! Nihon partners with can be really helpful — they guide you through the paperwork and break down all the fine print so you don’t get blindsided.
🛏️ Sharehouses Can Be a Great Starter Option
If you’re on a working holiday visa or just staying short term, sharehouses seem to be a solid option. They usually come furnished, have lower upfront costs, and you’ll be living with other people — great for making friends quickly and adjusting to life in Japan.
It’s probably not for everyone, but if you like living with others, you can definitely consider this option to ease into life in Japan before diving into the more serious apartment hunt!
🧳 Final Thoughts – What I’ve Learned So Far
While I haven’t started renting in Japan yet, I’ve spent a lot of time researching, planning, and speaking to people who have — and one thing’s for sure: there’s a lot to learn.
From unfamiliar rental terms like 1K and 1LDK, to the surprise fees, to knowing which websites or companies to trust — it can all feel pretty overwhelming. But the more I dig into it, the more confident I feel that with the right information (like what I’ve shared here), it becomes way more manageable.
I hope this guide helps prepare you just like it’s helped me — whether you’re weeks away from your move or still in the dreaming phase. And once I’m in Japan myself, I’ll be sure to update this with more first-hand advice!
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