If you are thinking of moving to Japan, what about a house to live in?
Finding a place to live in Japan is one of the major challenges of moving to Japan.
It is extremely challenging for foreigners to enter into a lease contract in Japan, and the difficulty level increases even more if you cannot speak Japanese.
Therefore, we recommend that you secure a short-term place to stay before coming to Japan.
In this article, we will introduce how foreigners can secure a place to live before moving to Japan!
It is challenging to find a place to live in Japan
If it is your plan to take time to find a house after you arrive in Japan, you should change your mind. You should know that it is very difficult for foreigners to find housing in Japan.
Below are the main reasons why it is difficult for foreigners to find housing in Japan.
(1) Some of the necessary documents are not readily available
In order for a foreigner to sign a lease contract in Japan, the following are generally required.
- Residence card or passport
- Certificate of residence
- Japanese bank account
- “Inkan” (personal seal)
- Guarantor or Guarantee Company
- Contract deposit (must be in Japanese yen)
In particular, it is challenging to obtain a certificate of residence when you first move to Japan,
A certificate of residence can be obtained by registering your residency at your nearest municipal office, and a valid address in Japan is required for the registration.
For this reason, it is impossible to enter into a lease contract immediately after entering Japan.
You will need to first have a place to stay where you can register as a resident.
Therefore, as we explain later in this article, we recommend that you find a temporary place to live in a shared house/monthly apartment where you can register as a resident before entering Japan.
(2) Very few real estate agencies support foreign languages
The language barrier is a major problem for foreigners looking for housing in Japan.
First, there are only a limited number of real estate agencies that support foreign languages or that cater to foreigners.
In recent years, some companies, especially in urban areas, have started to provide services in foreign language, they are still few and far between.
Therefore, if you cannot speak Japanese, communication with real estate agencies and landlords often becomes a hurdle. It is also difficult to understand contracts and lease terms.
(3) Some properties have restrictions on foreigners moving in
Unfortunately, some real estate agencies and properties restrict lease contracts to foreigners.
This is often due to misunderstanding or prejudice caused by differences in culture and lifestyle.
Secure a short-term place to stay!
Unfortunately, foreigners who have just arrived in Japan and cannot prepare necessary documents, would not be able to sign a lease contract in Japan.
What should they do?
First, before entering Japan, you should secure a short-term place to stay in order to register as a resident!
It would be best to ask a relative or acquaintance to let you live in their house, but if you do not know anyone, we recommend living in a “shared house” or “monthly apartment.”
Some people may think that a shared house means that several people live in the same room and completely lose their privacy like a youth hostel arrangement, but this is not the case.
In many cases, bedrooms are set up individually, and only kitchen and showers are shared.
Furniture and appliances are included, and the monthly rent is often low.
Some people choose hotels or private accommodations such as Airbnb as a place to stay for a short period of time, but you cannot register as a resident in those places.
Therefore, you can start by living in a shared house or monthly apartment as a short-term stay, and only enter into a leasing arrangement when you have all the necessary documents.
Of course, if you like the shared house or monthly apartment, you can continue to live there too!
Recommended real estate search sites for foreigners
If you are looking for a shared house or monthly apartment for a short-term stay, we recommend using the following sites.
Best-Estate.jp
【Best-Estate.jp】Japan’s largest rental property listing website for foreigners
Best-Estate.jp is where foreigners can find a room in Japan.
You can search for shared houses and monthly apartments available for foreigners throughout Japan.
Best-Estate.jp has the following foreigner-friendly features:
- The site is available in 7 languages. The site is available in 7 languages, so there is no problem even if you do not understand Japanese.
- Multilingual staff is available. Before entering Japan, you can inquire by phone or e-mail from the site. There are many things you may not understand, so please inquire as soon as possible.
- Contracts can be signed before entering Japan. Virtual tours, applications, and contracts can be arranged for those outside of Japan. Therefore, you can move in immediately after arriving in Japan.
Inquiries can be made by phone even from overseas, so you can resolve any questions you may have at your earliest convenience.
wagaya Japan
wagaya Japan is another site that specializes in finding rooms for foreigners.
Here, too, you can search for shared houses and monthly apartments that foreigners can sign up for.
Features of wagaya Japan are as follows:
- The site is available in 5 languages. The site is available in 5 languages, so there is no problem even if you do not understand Japanese.
- A professional staff is available to help you look for a room. If you send your desired room criteria through the request form, a professional staff will look for and recommend rooms.
- Contracts can be signed before entering Japan. Virtual tours, applications, and contracts can be arranged for those outside of Japan. Therefore, you can move in immediately after arriving in Japan.
Both sites are available in foreign languages and provide support for foreigners.
By using either site, you will be able to find a room that meets your criteria.
When choosing a property, make sure to check if the property allows you to register as a resident, just to be sure♪
Secure a short-term place to stay before entering Japan!
In order to settle in Japan, we recommend that you secure a short-term place to stay before entering the country.
Use the websites listed in this article to find a shared house or monthly apartment that meets your desired criteria, and complete the necessary procedures in advance.
The information contained in this article is based on the information available as of March 31, 2023.
