Apartments for Foreigners Increasing

Several magazines specializing in helping people find accommodation are available in Japan. These publications list lots of vacant rooms and are sold at bookstores and station kiosks. Unfortunately for many foreigners, they are written only in Japanese. However, recently, it has become possible to find rooms easily through the Internet. On the Web, many websites list information about vacant rooms in English and other languages. Also, there are usually real estate agencies near train stations that have local property information.

When you rent a room, you have to prepare about two months deposit, two months "key money" and one month rent advance (although it depends on the property): a total of five months rent. In practice, the deposit is returned to you when you move out, but if you damage the room in any way, the expenses will be deducted from the deposit. Key money is not returned. Key money is a peculiar Japanese system in which a fee is paid to the house owner to "thank" them for renting you the room. In addition, a Japanese guarantor will be required.

Nowadays, there are more and more rooms available for rent to foreigners who use company dormitories besides apartment houses. These are generally called "Guest houses" or "Gaijin houses" (Foreigners' house). Renters usually pay a small guarantee fee, but many landlords do not ask for a deposit, key money or guarantor. Since rooms are usually furnished with a bed, the rent can be rather expensive. This style of accommodation is getting popular as you can easily settle down. Japanese residents are also increasingly using these facilities.

In the Tokyo district, rent in the northern and eastern areas is generally low
To explain a little about the rent situation in Tokyo, the area inside the Yamanote circle line, where commuting is very convenient, is the most expensive. In particular, there are many high-class apartments in Minato ward, where many embassies are situated. Many apartments in this area have monthly rents exceeding one million yen. These apartments are rented mainly by foreign executives of foreign firms, but the rent is usually paid by the firms.

Even outside the Yamanote line, apartments within walking distance of train stations are expensive. As transportation is convenient, many non-Japanese live in Shinjuku ward and Toshima ward where Ikebukuro station is located. Generally, the further you go into the suburbs, the cheaper rent becomes. Most Japanese usually search for apartments in terms of their proximity to the nearest railway line from where it will be convenient to commute within one hour to the school or office. Apartment rents, of course, differ by location and property, but they tend to range between 50,000 yen and 100,000 yen a month for one bed rooms.

In the Tokyo area, rents in the southern and western areas are generally high. These areas include the Chuo line, the Keio line, the Odakyu line, the Inokashira line, the Toyoko line, etc. On the contrary, rents in the northern and eastern areas are relatively low. These areas include the Saikyo line, the Keihin-Tohoku line, the Keisei line, the Sobu line, etc. Rents in the suburbs of Tokyo and Kanagawa prefectures can be rather high, whereas rents in Chiba and Saitama districts are comparatively low.

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