It is important to know your housing options when coming to Japan. While an apartment immediately springs to mind for most people, you may be better served with a serviced apartment or hotel solution. Serviced apartments offer a medium to long-term housing without complicated contracts, and no need to arrange furniture or set up utilities, which is ideal for some circumstances.
To see what is best for you, have a look at the chart below. Regardless of what “best” is for you, we can help!
How Much Does Renting in Japan Cost?
If a serviced apartment or hotel isn’t going to suit your needs, you should rent an apartment or house. How much that will cost you is, like in other countries, is a difficult question to answer without knowing more about your specific requirements. The properties below are representative of properties commonly selected by our clients, divided by either house or apartment and by whether or not the lease is signed by the individual or their company.
Property Pricing
Ex) Rent: JPY 300,000, Deposit: 3 months, Key money: 3 months,Contract start: May 16
Initial Cost:
JPY 2,578,838 (Needed to pay before contract starting date)
- JPY 900,000 (Deposit)
- JPY 900,000 (Key money which is non-refundable)
- JPY 154,838 (Pro-rated rent for May: JPY 300,000/31 days x 16 days)
- JPY 300,000 (Rent for June / Most case not required if the contract starts from the date before 15th)
- JPY 324,000 (Agency fee of 1 month’s rent + tax)
Monthly Cost: JPY 300,000 (From July)
Other Costs:
- Neighborhood association fee sometimes required separately depending on the area.
- Housing insurance fee will be required separately.
- Guarantor company fee required if necessary.
Ex) Rent: JPY 300,000, Deposit: 3 months, Key money: 3 months, Contract start: May 16
Initial Cost:
JPY 2,788,838 (Needed to pay before contract starting date)
- JPY 900,000 (Deposit)
- JPY 900,000 (Key money which is non-refundable)
- JPY 154,838 (Pro-rated rent for May: JPY 300,000/31 days x 16 days)
- JPY 300,000 (Rent for June / Most case not required if the contract starts from the date before 15th)
- JPY 324,000 (Agency fee of 1 month’s rent + tax)
- JPY 210,000 (70% of monthly rent as a guarantor company fee without a joint guarantor for the initial year. Fee changes depending on each guarantor company)
Monthly Cost: JPY 300,000 (From July)
Other Costs:
- Neighborhood association fee sometimes required separately depending on the area.
- Housing insurance fee will be required separately.
- Renewal fee for the guarantor company (JPY 10,000/most cases) will be required every year.
Ex) Rent: JPY 230,000, Maintenance fee: JPY 15,000, Parking fee: JPY 28,000+tax, Deposit: 2 months, Key money: 2 months, Contract start: May 16
Initial Cost:
JPY 1,585,697 (Needed to pay before contract starting date)
- JPY 460,000 (Deposit )
- JPY 460,000 (Key money which is non-refundable)
- JPY 118,709 (Pro-rated rent for May: JPY 230,000/31 days x 16 days)
- JPY 7,741 (Pro-rated maintenance fee for May: JPY 15,000/31 days x 16 days)
- JPY 15,607 (Pro-rated parking fee for May: JPY 30,240/31 days x 16 days)
- JPY 275,240 (Rent, Maintenance fee and Parking fee for June / Most case not be required if the contract starts from the date before 15th)
- JPY 248,400 (Agency fee of 1 month’s rent + tax)
Monthly Cost: JPY 275,240 (From July)
Other Costs:
- Neighborhood association fee sometimes required separately depending on the property.
- CATV fee, Disinfection fee, Initial lock replacement fee sometimes required depending on the property.
- Housing insurance fee will be required separately.
- Guarantor company fee required if necessary.
Ex) Rent: JPY 230,000, Maintenance fee: JPY 15,000, Parking fee: JPY 28,000+tax, Deposit: 2 months, Key money: 2 months, Contract start: May 16
Initial Cost:
JPY 1,778,365 (Needed to pay before contract starting date)/
- JPY 460,000 (Deposit )
- JPY 460,000 (Key money which is non-refundable)
- JPY 118,709 (Pro-rated rent for May: JPY 230,000/31 days x 16 days)
- JPY 7,741 (Pro-rated maintenance fee for May: JPY 15,000/31 days x 16 days)
- JPY 15,607 (Pro-rated parking fee for May: JPY 30,240/31 days x 16 days)
- JPY 275,240 (Rent, Maintenance fee and Parking fee for June / Most case not be required if the contract starts from the date before 15th)
- JPY 248,400 (Agency fee of 1 month’s rent + tax)
- JPY 192,668 (70% of monthly rent, maintenance fee and parking fee as a guarantor company fee without a joint guarantor for the initial year. Fee changes depending on each guarantor company.)
Monthly Cost: JPY 275,240 (From July)
Other Costs:
- Neighborhood association fee, CATV fee, Disinfection fee, Initial lock replacement fee sometimes required separately depending on the property.
- Housing insurance fee will be required separately. The renewal fee for the guarantor company (JPY 10,000/most cases) will be required every year.
