A Guide to Starting Your New Life in Japan
So you're moving to Japan, ready to start your new life here, but then you realize you need to find a place to live. Then you realize you might need basic utilities like electricity once you've found a place to live. And then you realize you don't know much about Japanese culture and aren't sure if you'll be able to adapt to the country and fit in. It's a lot to think about.
But don't worry, because in this article, we'll give you some tips for what you will need to know and do to choose and sign a rental contract, plus point you in the right direction of helpful information about setting up utilities and getting comfortable with Japan's lifestyle and culture.
Signing a Rental Contract in Japan
When signing a rental agreement in Japan, there are a few things you should know. First, there are several up-front costs you are usually expected to pay when signing a rental agreement, including:
・A Security Deposit (Shikikin):
This is usually equivalent to 1-2 months' rent, refundable upon moving out if no major damages occur to the unit.
・Key Money (Reikin):
This is a non-refundable fee, typically equaling 1-2 months' rent, which is paid to the landlord as a gesture of gratitude. It is quite likely your home country does not have "key money" like Japan does, so if you want more information on it, check out our article about key money by clicking here.
・Agent Fee:
A one-time payment to the real estate agent who helped you find the apartment, usually equaling one month's rent.
・Management Fee:
These are monthly fees for building maintenance and services. The amount varies.
・Advance Rent:
Usually, you will have to pay the first month's rent at the time of signing the contract.
These are a lot of up-front costs, making moving into a new apartment costly in Japan. Be prepared to have the necessary money on-hand before signing any rental contracts.
When signing the contract, you will typically need:
Your Residence Card
Your Passport
Proof of Income (a salary statement or bank statement)
An Emergency Contact
If you are coming to Japan to work,and are already employed, talk with your employer to see if they can provide you with documents proving your salary or act as an emergency contact.
On top of all this, many landlords require a guarantor (hoshōnin): a person or company that guarantees rent payments in case the tenant cannot pay. Your employer may act as the guarantor if they help make your living arrangements, but if not, you'll need to find someone else. Foreigners new to Japan often use a guarantor company (hoshōgaisha), which charges a fee (about 50-100% of one month's rent). This could be one more cost on top of everything else we've already mentioned, so keep this in mind.
Setting Up Utilities in Japan
Once you've found an apartment and signed the rental agreement, you'll need to begin preparing to move in. Part of this process is signing up for utilities (gas, electricity, and water) before you move in. Ideally, you should take care of this at least a week before moving, since you may need to arrange appointments for the utilities to be turned on.
We've prepared a whole guide for setting up utilities and also included some helpful advice for how to keep your monthly utility bills low.
Getting Used to Life in Japan
Once you're all settled into your apartment in Japan, it's time to start getting used to life in Japan. At Foreigners Tokyo, we have tons of helpful articles available to guide you through all aspects of life in Japan. We'd love for you to take some time to browse through all of our articles, but here are some topics that may be especially useful to you as you begin your life in Japan:
Japan has a long-held image as being a cash-based society, but this has been changing significantly in recent years.
To learn more about cashless payments in Japan, click here.
It can be tough to know how to clean your apartment in a different country, which may have a different climate than your home country.
To learn more about keeping your Japanese apartment clean, click here.
Garbage disposal rules in Japan might be very different from those in your own country, and since every city has different rules, this can get confusing for newly-arrived expats.
To learn about Japan's complicated garbage disposal, click here.
Once you are more settled in, you'll likely want to learn more about Japanese culture, and perhaps start learning the language (if you haven't already).
To learn more about Japanese mannerisms and customs, click here.
And for some advice on learning Japanese, click here.
Be sure to check out the Foreigners Tokyo website for even more articles and information about life in Japan.
Finally, if you need help finding an apartment, we at Tokyo Apartment Inc. would be happy to help. Click here to visit our website, which features foreigner-friendly apartment rentals across Tokyo.
