About Renting in Japan

Before you get started

Fill out this form to think about your personal requirements and to help others understand your needs.

1. Name 名前
2. Job 職業
3. Current address 現在の住所
4. Number of people to live with you ＿＿＿＿  入居予定者（人数）
5. Japanese language ability, speaking/listening 日本語能力: 話す・聞く
   [ ] No できません 
   [ ] A little 少し 
   [ ] Regular conversation 毎日会話  
   [ ] Fluent 流暢
6. Japanese language ability, reading/writing 日本語能力: 読む・書く
   [ ] No できません
   [ ] Hiragana/Katakana ひらがな・カタカナのみ
   [ ] Some kanji ある漢字
   [ ] Fluent 流暢（支障がない）
7. When do you want to move? 希望する入居日
   Year 年＿＿＿＿＿ Month月＿＿＿＿＿ 
8. Rent budget 家賃
   Between ＿＿＿＿＿ yen/month to ＿＿＿＿＿ yen/month 月＿＿＿＿＿円 ～ ＿＿＿＿＿円 まで
9. Desired kind of housing 希望する種類
   [ ] Apartment アパート・マンション
   [ ] House 一戸建て
10. Desired # of rooms 希望する部屋数
11. What do you want your housing to be close to? 周辺環境に何があればいいですか？
    [ ] A school 学校 （Age of child(ren): お子さんの年齢： )
    [ ] Supermarket スーパー
    [  ] Convenience store コンビニ
    [  ] My workplace (Address:＿＿＿＿＿_) 職場 (住所：＿＿＿＿＿)
    [  ] Train station 駅
    [  ] Bus stop バス停
    [  ] Other その他 ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿
12. Do you need a parking space? 駐車スペースは必要ですか？
    [  ] Yes #cars ＿＿ はい、台数＿＿
    [  ] No
13. Do you have pets? ペットいますか？
    [ ] Yes はい
    [  ] No いいえ

Finding a place

Most people find housing through real estate agencies. Find agencies by searching online with terms like 奥州市 不動産 (Oshu city + real estate agent) or 奥州市 賃貸 (Oshu city + rental accommodation). It's all right to use more than one real estate agency to search for a place to live.

If you can’t speak much Japanese or you’re new to Japan, you’ll need someone to help you search for a place, communicate with the real estate agency, and help you understand the details of your contract and utility situation. For example: support staff at your workplace, a colleague, close friend, or city or prefectural international association staff.

Housing listings

Housing will often be described with numbers and letters like “1K” or “3LDK.”

The number shows the number of bedrooms. The letters describe the function of the remaining rooms: K is kitchen, D is dining, L is living. Toilets/bathrooms, closets, etc are not included in this description.

Common housing descriptions

It can be confusing figuring out what these designations mean. When in doubt, look at the floor plan!

Common markings for Japanese floor plans

• 和室
  Tatami room
• 洋室
  Western-style (non-tatami room)
• 押入
  Closet
• 浴室
  Bath
• 玄関
  Entrance
• トイレ
  Toilet
• 洗面所
  Bathroom sink
• バルコニー
  Balony

Floors in Japan

In Japan, the 1st floor is the ground floor. The 2nd floor is the floor above the ground floor. B1 is the basement level floor.

Costs

Moving in can cost 5 month’s rent or more, and monthly costs can be affected by other fees and utilities, so read ads thoroughly and check carefully with the real estate agent.

Initial costs

Monthly costs

Signing a contract and moving in

After you meet with a real estate agent and view housing you’re interested in, you’ll fill out an application. If your application is approved, the real estate agent will prepare a contract and explain it to you. If the contact is OK, you sign it and pay the initial costs. Congratulations! You have the key and are ready to move in.

Important points to double check 確認する事項

1.  Please list all of the money I will need to pay when I sign the contract. Rent, deposit money, key money, real estate agent fee, housing insurance, parking fees, other fees.契約するときに払わなければならないお金をすべてリストアップしてください：家賃、敷金、礼金、仲介料、保険、駐車場料金、その他。
2. Please list all of the money I will need to pay monthly/other after I move in. Rent, maintenance fees, parking fees, neighborhood association fee? 入居したあとに払うお金と頻度（毎月など）をすべてリストアップしてください：家賃、共益費・管理費、駐車場料金、町内会費。
3.  What utilities are there? Electricity, gas, water, septic tank, internet, other. ライフラインは何がありますか：電気、ガス、水、汲み取り、インタネット、その他。
4.  Who should I contact if there’s a problem with my housing or if I have a question? (Name and contact information)
   住居で困った時、質問がある時どなたに連絡すればいいですか？ （お名前と連絡先）
5.  Do I need to drain water from my pipes at night during the winter? Who will show me how to do this? Who should I contact if my pipes freeze? 冬に水抜きをする必要がありますか？水抜きの仕方を教えてくれるのはどなたですか？ パイプが凍ってしまったときの連絡先は？
6.  What is the company name and contact information for each utility? ライフラインのそれぞれの会社名と連絡先を教えてください。
7.  What are all of the rules in this contract? (Things I should not do)契約で書かれている、すべてのルールを教えてください。（してはいけないこと）
8.  How long is the housing contract for? 何年の契約ですか？
9.  How much notice should I give when you want to move out? Is there a fee if I move out mid-contract? 引っ越しをしたい場合は、いつまでに連絡すればいいですか？契約の途中で解約すると違約金が発生しますか？
10.  Will anything be replaced when I move out no matter what? (For example, tatami,shoji screens)退去するときに必ず変えれられるものがありまうか？（畳、障子など）
11.  What will deposit money probably be used for when I move out? (if I didn’t damage anything)敷金は何に使われますか？（破損はなかった場合）破損がなければ、どれくらいが戻ってくる見込みですか？

Moving in

Try to take photos of the apartment/house when you move in and keep those photos until you move out. This will help document the original condition of your place.

Utilities

You will need to set up utilities. Provide your name, new address, and customer number if you’ve used the company before.

If possible, arrange to have utilities paid automatically from a bank account so you won’t need to worry about forgetting individual payments. It might be possible to pay your rent automatically as well.

Each utility will send you mail statements about how much you’re using and being charged. Try to keep at least one statement from each company along with any paperwork you received while setting up the utility. The statements list your customer number, which you’ll need if you move out.

Other procedures

Furnishing

Most apartments/houses in Japan are unfurnished. You can buy or receive used furnishing from other people, or you can check nearby secondhand stores and furniture shops.

Secondhand shops: Find with terms like リサイクル 家具 奥州市 (used + furniture + Oshu City)

Furniture shops: Find with terms like 奥州市 家具 (furniture + Oshu City).

Many household goods like futons are sold at home centers. Search for ホームセンター 奥州市 (home center + Oshu City) Electronics like heaters, refrigerators are sold at home electronic stores. Search for 家電 奥州市 （electronic stores + Oshu City）

Everyday life

Getting along with the neighborhood: general etiquette

You should have no problem getting along with neighbors if you obey the rules of your contract like no pianos, no unauthorized pets, no unauthorized residents Follow common-sense good neighbor rules like not making loud noises at night or in the early morning, not leaving your belongings in public hallways, and parking cars and bicycles in designated areas only.

Japanese people like greetings, so be sure to greet people you see around with a friendly ohayo gozaimasu (good morning), konnichi wa (good day), kon ban wa (good evening) or even an English “hello” if you prefer.

Garbage

Japanese rules are pretty particular about garbage. You have to sort garbage and recycling properly, and put it out in the correct garbage station during the designated times and days for your area.

If your garbage isn’t put out correctly, crows could come and eat it, leaving a big mess, or service providers might not collect that garbage. Either situation means someone in your neighborhood has to deal with a mess afterward. Check with city hall staff, your real estate agent, or neighbors if you have questions.

Common issues with Japanese housing

Your Japanese housing may have a few unfamiliar quirks!

Moving out

Give proper notice

When you need to move out, give your landlord proper notice as described in your contract.

Remove your belongings

You will need to remove all your belongings from the house.

Get rid of items you’re not taking with you by selling them, giving them away, or discarding them. Oversized garbage that doesn’t fit into garbage bags and large amounts of garbage from moving can be discarded by hiring a disposal service, or by bringing the garbage to Tanko Regional Sanitation Center. This costs money and the center can’t handle some items, so check in advance by phone.

Tanko Regional Sanitation Center
Open weekdays from 8:45 AM -4:45 PM and 8:45 AM - 11:45 AM on the third Sunday every month (24-5821).

Electrical appliances like TVs, computers, refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners have to be recycled, but the way you can do this and how much it costs depends on the appliance and the maker.

Clean up

Your landlord will use a cleaning service when you move out, but it’s a good idea to clean before you leave as best you can. If all goes well, you will get your deposit back minus cleaning fees. Check with your landlord about how much cleaning fees should cost and how the deposit will be returned to you.

Shut down utilities

Arrange to shut down whatever utilities you started when you moved in. If you don’t cancel the utilities, you’ll keep being billed for them, so don’t forget to do this!

Other procedures

Don’t forget to do any necessary city hall procedures when you move. This includes notifying Oshu City you’re changing addresses within the city or moving out, and will involved more if you’re returning to your home country. Ask your workplace or city hall for details.

If you’re moving within Japan, don’t forget to change your address with the post office, update your driver’s license address, and update your address with other places like your bank and your cell phone company.

Questions?

Please contact Oshu ILC Promotion Division.