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Moving Tips

Things That Anyone Apartment Hunting Needs to Know

2020-03-23

Depending on where you live, you can have a very different experience when looking for housing. It could be as simple as looking at pictures and getting a detailed rundown of the apartment before putting money on it. These things usually come with their own little quirks, and Japan in no different. There are certain things that you will need to know before you start looking, or while you are looking, at new places to live.

Always Request a Walkthrough

Even though most people in Japan are trustworthy and generally nice people, there are still those who don’t follow the straight and narrow. Most landlords who post listing of their vacancies keep it with up to date photos and information. Some don’t do this and use old photos or lie about the condition of the places being rented. The only way to get past this is request a walkthrough, or to be shown the room. If they refuse or deny you the ability to do so, it is best to look elsewhere. You will need to do your due diligence in this area and be firm with the landlords. There have been times where people had been shown pictures and videos of places, only to show up to less than stellar housing. Most realty companies that have an English department will have this service available to potential renters. Make sure you take advantage of it and get the best place for you.

Use Multiple Sources When Apartment Hunting

There are a few very popular sites to use when looking for housing, and the one that is recommended the most is the website GaijinPots. Even though it may be the biggest forum to use when looking, you should try to see if there are any local places you can use. Because the site is so big, it may not have all the best listings possible in the area you are looking for. The thing that it does is guarantee that you will have English assistance of some kind when you go to look and rent a place. If you have a little Japanese ability you can go find even cheaper and better housing options. Always have different sources when looking for your potential new home.

Be Ready for Extra Charges

There are quite a few small to large charges you will come across when looking at renting an apartment. The first being key money, which is an extra month rent that goes directly to the landlord. It is viewed more as a thank you to the landlord for allowing you to rent the apartment. There are a lot of places that don’t do it, but there are far more that do it. It has become a cultural thing, so it won’t be going anywhere. There is also a fire insurance fee for any place that you go to rent. It is a requirement for any new occupancy and is enforced throughout the country. There can be maintenance costs for different things that can come with an apartment. If you have a furnished apartment there will be a maintenance fee for all the items, you will be using. There can be other charges as well so make sure to check the contract for anything other than the base rent. 

Check the Distance

Distance from the train station will drastically affect the pricing of any apartment. It can even impact the kind of housing that would be available to you. The amount of time from your house to the station will change the price of an apartment from 30,000 to 90,000 yen. It will be advantageous to you to look for places that are from 10 to 20 minutes from the station. It keeps the commute reasonable and reduces the price of the apartment to a more manageable level. The surrounding conveniences will impact price as well. If there are a lot of department stores, malls, and convenience stores, it will increase the price of the apartment. Trying to keep a well-rounded distance from all the amenities will give you the place for a good price.

Check the Surroundings

The kind of city will impact the kind of apartments that will meet your standards. There are a lot of cities you can choose from to find that perfect apartment. The closer to the center of the city will tend to be more expensive. The cities that make up center tend to be high income areas, or very popular tourist attractions. Places like Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Meguro can all end up being very expensive. If you are looking for something that is still in Tokyo, but not in the expensive parts, you can look at the cities at the outer edges of Tokyo. Places like Machida, Tama ward, and Aoba ward. You can still have access to all the popular areas of Tokyo, but the cost of living can be much more manageable.

Guarantor

 In Japan, to get into an apartment you will need a guarantor. If you are a foreigner looking for an apartment you will need a native resident, or your employer to be a guarantor on the contract. The landlords do this to avoid people from signing a contract and breaking it early to go back to their home country. It has happened so much that it is a requirement for foreigners to have this done. If you don’t have a company that can do this, or Japanese friends or family that is willing to sign, you hire a guarantor company to sign for you. These businesses act as guarantors for a fee, which is usually the equivalent of a month rent. They are necessary if you don’t have anyone to turn to for help. There are usually guarantors attached to listings for foreigners so make sure to read through them thoroughly.

It can be a shock to find all these extra charges and cultural differences. They can sneak up on you if you don’t look carefully at the contract. Take your time when looking, and don’t move to quickly on an apartment. It would be best to check out online forums and try to connect with people who are already living in the country. It will benefit you in the long run, and make your stay in Japan much more enjoyable.

2020-03-23
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Jigokudani Monkey Park is the only place in the world where monkeys naturally bathe in hot springs! Thank you @di_villanueva for the amazing video!⁣
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O parque de macacos de Jigokudani é o único lugar no mundo onde macacos se banham naturalmente em águas termais!⁣
Obrigado @di_villanueva pelo fantástico vídeo!⁣
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Você também tem alguma foto impressionante do Japão? 🇯🇵 Use a hashtag #villagehousejp e ganhe destaque!⁣
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🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣⁣ 朱塗りの神橋は 🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣⁣
朱塗りの神橋は、日光山内への神聖な入口として知られています。世界遺産に登録されており、アーチ形の木造反り橋でその構造から日本の三奇橋の1つに数えられているそうです。

こちらの素晴らしい動画は、Victor Gusukumaさんよりお借りしました。有難うございます!

🚫 他人と一定の距離を取りながら行動するようにして下さい。今年は訪れる事が難しいかと思います。また来年を楽しみに待ちましょう!

ビレッジハウス茂呂に住めば、日光の素晴らしい神社にいつでも行く事ができますよ!詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!

🇬🇧 EN 🇬🇧⁣⁣
The vermillion Shinkyo Bridge is the sacred entrance to Nikko's shrines and temples. The bridge itself is a world heritage site and is considered one of the 3 finest bridges in Japan.

Thank you Victor Gusukuma for this wonderful video!

🚫 Please practice social distancing. We recommend not going this year, but see you there next year!

Visit the amazing shrines of Nikko any time by living down the road at Village House Moro (茂呂)! Learn more at our website! 👉 (Link in our profile)

🇧🇷 PT 🇧🇷⁣
A ponte avermelhada de Shinkyo é a entrada sagrada para os santuários e templos de Nikko. A ponte, por si só, é um patrimônio da humanidade e considerada uma das 3 pontes mais importantes no Japão.

Obrigado Victor Gusukuma por este maravilhoso vídeo!

🚫 Vamos praticar o distanciamento social. Recomendamos não ir lá este ano, mas nos vemos lá no ano que vem!

Visite os maravilhosos santuários de Nikko à qualquer hora morando no mesmo caminho na Village House Moro (茂呂)! Saiba mais em nosso website! 👉 (Link no nosso perfil)

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大阪府交野市の近郊にお住まいのあなたにとっておきの情報です!⁣
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ビレッジハウス私部⁣
✅敷金・礼金・仲介手数料が0円!⁣
✅広めの3K & 3DKのお部屋⁣
✅交野市駅まで徒歩14分⁣
✅交野農協前バス停まで徒歩4分⁣
✅閑静な住環境⁣
✅フルリノベーションされたお部屋!⁣
✅エアコン有⁣
✅ペット可!⁣
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詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!⁣
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🇬🇧 EN 🇬🇧⁣⁣⁣
Do you live near Katano-shi, Osaka Prefecture? We have an apartment for you!⁣
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Village House Kisabe 私部⁣
✅ No deposit, no key money, no handling fees!⁣
✅ Spacious 3K & 3DK rooms available⁣
✅ 14-minute walk to Katanoshi Station⁣
✅ 4-minute walk to Katano Noukyoumae Bus Stop⁣
✅ Calm, quiet neighborhood⁣
✅ Renovated apartments!⁣
✅ Air-conditioned⁣
✅ Pet-friendly!⁣
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Learn more at our website! 👉 (Link in our profile)⁣
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🇧🇷 PT 🇧🇷⁣⁣
Você mora perto de Katano-shi em Osaka-fu? Nós temos um apartamento para você!⁣
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Village House Kisabe 私部⁣
✅ Sem depósito, taxa de cessão de chaves ou comissão!⁣
✅ Apartamentos espaçosos de 3K e 3DK disponíveis ⁣
✅ À 14 minutos de caminhada da estação de Katanoshi ⁣
✅ À 4 minutos de caminhada do ponto de ônibus de Katano Noukyoumae ⁣
✅ Vizinhança tranquila e silenciosa ⁣
✅ Apartamentos reformados! ⁣
✅ Ar-condicionado ⁣
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Saiba mais em nosso website! 👉 (Link no nosso perfil)⁣
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#villagehousejp #ビレッジハウス
🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣⁣ 越前大野城は、 🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣⁣
越前大野城は、大野市の中心にある亀山(標高249m)の頂上にあるお城です。気象条件によっては深い霧がふもとの街を覆い、まるで魔法がかけられた「天空の城」のように見えます。⁣⁣
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@etsuyo623 さんのインスタグラムより写真をお借りしました。有難うございます!⁣⁣
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🚫他人と一定の距離を取りながら行動するようにして下さい。今年は訪れる事が難しいかと思います。また来年を楽しみに待ちましょう!⁣⁣
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ビレッジハウス鹿谷に住めば、こちらの空中に浮かぶお城まですぐに車で行く事ができますよ!⁣⁣
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Echizen Ono Castle is built upon the 249m-tall Mount Kameyama at the center of Ono City. When weather conditions are just right, a thick fog covers the city below, turning the castle into a magical "Castle in the Sky."⁣⁣
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Thank you @etsuyo623 for the photo!⁣⁣
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🚫 Please practice social distancing. We recommend not going this year, but see you there next year!⁣⁣
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You can live a short drive away from this castle in the sky at Village House Shikadani (鹿谷)! Learn more at our website! 👉 (Link in our profile)⁣⁣
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🇧🇷 PT 🇧🇷⁣⁣
O castelo Echizen Ono foi construído no topo to monte Kameyama de 249 metros de altitude, no centro da cidade de Ono. Quando as condições climáticas são favoráveis, um nevoeiro denso cobre a cidade, transformando o castelo em um mágico “castelo nas nuvens”.⁣⁣
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Obrigado @etsuyo623 no Instagram pela foto!⁣⁣
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🚫 Vamos praticar o distanciamento social. Recomendamos não ir lá este ano, mas nos vemos lá no ano que vem!⁣⁣
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Você pode morar à uma pequena distância deste castelo nas nuvens na Village House Shikadani (鹿谷)! Saiba mais em nosso website! 👉 (Link no nosso perfil)⁣⁣
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🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣ 梅の花が咲いてい 🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣
梅の花が咲いていますね…春はすぐそこですよ!⁣
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🇬🇧 EN 🇬🇧⁣
Plum blossoms...spring is coming soon!⁣
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Botões de flor de ameixeiras… A primavera está chegando!⁣

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岡山県倉敷市の近郊にお住まいのあなたにとっておきの情報です!⁣⁣
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ビレッジハウス塩生⁣⁣
✅敷金・礼金・仲介手数料が0円!⁣⁣
✅広めの3DKのお部屋!⁣⁣
✅南塩生バス停まで徒歩7分⁣⁣
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✅フルリノベーションされたお部屋!⁣⁣
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✅ペット可!⁣⁣
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詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!⁣⁣
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🇬🇧 EN 🇬🇧⁣⁣
Do you live near Kurashiki-shi, Okayama Prefecture? We have an apartment for you!⁣⁣
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Village House Shionasu 塩生⁣⁣
✅ No deposit, no key money, no handling fees!⁣⁣
✅ Spacious 3DK rooms available!⁣⁣
✅ 7-minute walk to Minami Shionasu Bus Stop⁣⁣
✅ 8-minute walk to Honjou Ikoinoiemae Bus Stop⁣⁣
✅ Beautiful view of the Seto Inland Sea!⁣⁣
✅ Renovated apartments!⁣⁣
✅ Air-conditioned⁣⁣
✅ Pet friendly!⁣⁣
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Learn more at our website! 👉 (Link in our profile)⁣⁣
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🇧🇷 PT 🇧🇷⁣⁣
Você mora perto de Kurashiki-shi em Okayama-ken? Nós temos um apartamento para você!⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Village House Shionasu 塩生⁣⁣
✅ Sem depósito, taxa de cessão de chaves ou comissão!⁣⁣
✅ Apartamento espaçosos de 3DK disponíveis! ⁣⁣
✅ À 7 minutos de caminhada do ponto de ônibus de Minami Shionasu ⁣⁣
✅ À 8 minutos de caminhada do ponto de ônibus de Honjou Ikoinoiemae ⁣⁣
✅ Bela vista do mar da ilha Seto ⁣⁣
✅ Apartamentos reformados! ⁣⁣
✅ Ar-condicionado ⁣⁣
✅ Animais de estimação permitidos! ⁣⁣
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Saiba mais em nosso website! 👉 (Link no nosso perfil)⁣⁣
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#villagehousejp #ビレッジハウス
🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣⁣ 日本を創った神 🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣⁣
日本を創った神々は、茨城県にある神磯の鳥居から下界へ足を踏み入れたそうですよ。 @wanderingvince さん、素敵な写真を有難うございます📸⁣⁣
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素敵な写真が撮れましたか? 🇯🇵 #villagehousejp を付けて、投稿してみてくださいね!⁣⁣
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詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!⁣⁣
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🇬🇧 EN 🇬🇧⁣⁣
It is said that the gods who created Japan entered this world through Kamiiso-no-Torii in Ibaraki Prefecture. Thank you @wanderingvince for the amazing 📸⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Have any awesome pictures of Japan? 🇯🇵 Use #villagehousejp for a feature!⁣⁣
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Learn more at our website! (Link in our profile)⁣⁣
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🇧🇷 PT 🇧🇷⁣⁣
Dizem que os deuses criaram o Japão neste mundo começando por Kamiiso-no-Torii em Ibaraki. Obrigado @wanderingvince pela maravilhosa 📸⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Você também tem alguma foto impressionante do Japão? 🇯🇵 Use a hashtag #villagehousejp e ganhe destaque!⁣⁣
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Saiba mais em nosso website! (Link no nosso prefil)⁣⁣
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#villagehousejp #ビレッジハウス
🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣ 小鉢に小さく盛り 🇬🇧🇧🇷⬇️⁣
小鉢に小さく盛りつけた蕎麦を満腹になるまで食べるスタイルが特徴です。小鉢の蕎麦を食べ終わると、蕎麦を給仕する人が小鉢に新しい蕎麦を入れ、もっと食べるように促します。小鉢の蓋を閉めて「もう食べない」という意志を表示するまで、新しい蕎麦を入れ続けます。⁣
⁣
次のアパートを岩手で探してみませんか!⁣
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詳しくはプロフィールのリンクから!⁣
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🇬🇧 EN 🇬🇧⁣
Wanko Soba is all-you-can-eat soba noodles served in small portions in small bowls. Every time you finish your noodles, your server refills your bowl and cheers you on to keep eating! This process only ends when you put a lid on the last bowl to signal that you're completely stuffed.⁣
⁣
Find you next apartment in Iwate! Learn more at our website! 👉 (Link in our profile)⁣
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🇧🇷 PT 🇧🇷⁣
O soba Wanko é um “coma a vontade” de macarrão tipo soba servido em pequenas porções em tigelas pequenas. Toda vez que você terminar de comer sua tigela de macarrão, um garçom te serve uma nova tigela de soba e te incentiva a continuar comendo! Este processo só acaba quando você coloca uma tampa sobre sua tigela, dando um sinal de que você já está completamente empanturrado. ⁣
⁣
Encontre seu próximo apartamento em Iwate! Saiba mais em nosso website! 👉 (Link no nosso perfil)⁣
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#villagehousejp #ビレッジハウス
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