Short Stays

Ryokan

Ryokan are traditional Japanese inns. The rooms in a ryokan generally consist of a tatami floor, a low table and futons. Guests are provided with a yukata, a Japanese robe, which you can wear in the Ryokan. The overnight stay includes a Japanese style dinner and breakfast. Ryokan's are generally considered to be a bit classier and, consequently, more expensive than Minshukus (see below); however, this is not always the case.

Minshuku

Minshuku are traditional Japanese pensions, generally a large, private home that has been equipped to accept visitors. The facilities are much like that of a Ryokan; however, a bit more modest.

Youth Hostels

Youth hostels are about what you would expect them to be if you have ever gone to a youth hostel in America or Europe, only a lot cleaner. Youth hostels are relatively inexpensive and you should book well in advance.

Western Style Hotels

Hotels offer Western style rooms and facilities and are equipped with all the comforts that you would expect.

Business Hotels

Business Hotels offer rather small western style rooms. Cheap and practical, however not a place you want to hang out in for a long time due to their small size and lack of ambiance.

Temples

In some Buddhist temples, tourists are welcome to stay the night.

Love Hotels

Love hotels are, as the name implies, hotels that are generally used by couples who want a little privacy for their "activities". Many foreigners say that a Love Hotel can also be an inexpensive place to spend the night, however, as they are not intended for long stays, you'll probably not be able to leave your things anywhere at the hotel.

Long-term housing

• Company provided housing.
• A house/mansion/apartment passed through friends that is somehow miraculously both inexpensive and spacious.
• A large space shared between a couple of people. Often the Law of Increasing Returns is at work here. You can pay a bit more and get a substantially larger/nicer place. Might want to think about sharing with a friend as long as the space is large enough for two independent lives.

Most people aren't as lucky and have to resort to finding their own, expensive pad...

Real Estate Agents

Easier, no Charge

You will generally find it easier/have more choice finding an apartment using a real estate agent. There is no charge to use an agent until a contract has been signed, but if you do decide on an accommodation that you found through them, it will cost you a fee equal to approximately one month's rent.

Special Code Words

Special code words you will find at real estate agencies:

• A "mansion" is generally an upscale apartment.
• 1K (one room and a kitchen)
• 1DK (one room and a dining room/kitchen)
• 1LDK (one room, a living room, and a dining room/kitchen)
• Measurements are usually in terms of tatami mats (jou). Tatami mats generally measure 1 x.5 meters. An average, small room will measure around 6 jou.

Cost

A bundle of Dough Up Front

Be prepared to pay a bundle of dough up front. The move-in costs generally amount to 3 to 7 months of rent (even for modest places, plan on paying somewhere between 300,000 - 500,000 yen before you see the front door key).

Move-in Fees

The initial move-in fees generally break down as such:

• 1st month's rent.
• Refundable damage deposit (shikikin) equal to 2-3 months rent. This is refundable in theory, but don't plan on getting all of it back.
• Key money (reikin) equal to 1-2 months rent as a nonrefundable gift to the landlord (ouch!). In the past few years, some landlords have been abandoning this fee, but this is still the exception, not the rule.
• If you use a real estate agent, you'll be expected to pay a fee that amounts to about 1 month's rent.

The GaijinPot Apartment/Mansion Checklist

Check many Places

Of course it depends on the agency, but some have had the experience at a few Japanese rental agencies that the first places shown are not the best ones (trying to unload defective merchandise?!). In any case, you should look at a few places to get a feel for what you can get for different amounts of money. Don't be in a hurry, hold out for a good place.

Neighbor

Check out the Evil Neighbor:Thickness of Wall Ratio! You don't want to be stuck in an apartment where you can hear each other eating breakfast, or get complaints every time a friend comes over. This can be a tough one to check, because you'll probably be looking in the daytime when there is no one at home in the apartment next door.

Closet

Check the closet space. Make sure you have enough.

Toilet

Check the toilet. To sit or to squat. That is the question.

Bathroom

Check the bathroom. Pay particular attention to the bath and/or shower. If there is a shower try to check the water pressure/heat. Funky showers/no showers may seem like an interesting novelty at first, but very quickly you might find that novelty wears off.

Don't Rush

Don't sign anything/pay any money until you are completely decided. It usually isn't cheap to move in (see above), so make it a wise move.

Contracts

Before signing

Before signing a contract, you'll need the following documents:

• Certificate of Alien Registration - this is a document that you will receive from your local ward office.
• Income statement from your company.
• Guarantor's statement - you will need a guarantor (hoshounin) that "guarantees" that you will pay the rent and not thrash the place. In most cases this will be your employer.
• Certificate of seal impression (for foreigners, your signature is usually ok)- get it from your local ward office.

Bring a Japanese Person Along

Real estate contracts can be confusing, so unless your Japanese reading ability is quite good, try to either work with a real estate agency that has English speaking staff or bring a Japanese person along to help out.

Temporary Housing (often referred to as "Gaijin Houses")

The Usual Way

Given that the initial costs are so high to move into an apartment, many new arrivals start off with temporary housing to bide themselves the time and money to make the move. Unlike a normal apartment, these accommodations usually only require monthly rent and may stipulate a minimum period of stay and come in a variety of different levels of comfort/price.

Accommodation in Japan: Other Sources

English Speaking Real Estate Agencies

• Tokyo Apartment Service
• Tokyo Apartment
• Japan Home Search
• KEN Corporation
• Century 21 Sky Realty, Inc.
• Planners International Group
• Nord House
• Plaza Homes

Gaijin Houses

• GaijinHouse.com Houses in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
• Bamboo House Guest houses in Tokyo and Chiba.
• J&F Plaza Japan Guest house offering apartment-finding services.
• Sakura House

Hotels

• Sakura Hotel. Overseas visitors find reasonable rates at this hotel near the Tokyo Dome.
• Japan Hotel Association. Nice site. Lots of hotels/info.
• HotelJapan.com. Offers discounts at hotels in Tokyo and other major cities.

Ryokans

• Sawanoya Ryokan. Located near JR Ueno Station/Ueno Zoo.
• eRyokan. Reservation service and lists of Japanese Traditional Inns (Ryokans).
• Japan Ryokan Association. At first it looks just like info, but use the search to find ryokans throughout Japan.

Bread & Breakfasts

• TourClub Kyoto . Very cheap and brand new B&B located close to Kyoto Station.

Youth Hostels

• Japan Youth Hostel Association