HOW TO RENT AN APARTMENT IN TOKYO, JP 🇯🇵 advice, prices, and reality 

I really appreciate that you didn't dodge or deny the discrimination issue. Those like myself who have been to Japan several times are aware of it, and it's always hurtful when RU-vidrs act as if it's a figment of our imagination. Many times it can be avoided and mitigated with planning, but it does exist. Thanks again for pointing it out.

Just booked an apartment viewing for next week! Trying to escape my sharehouse 🤞🏾 The coworker who recommended this real estate agent to me told me that a different real estate agent told him to recommend a friend but not a Black one...and this is in 2024, years after you posted this 🥲 I hope I get the apartment! Thank you for this video and similar informative ones like this

Your passport plays a big part in your likelihood to be accepted for an apartment as well. I have a Chinese last name, which puts off a lot of Japanese landlords in the same way as skin color. But as soon as I told them I was American, everything was fine. The system is indeed pretty messed up here.

I've heard it's expensive and this video gives the details I didn't expect like it's not double but 5 to 6 times more than you might think! Good to know if you are saving up to move to Japan. Thanks so much!

Love your honesty! Thank you!!

This was so informative! I never expected it to be that much

Very helpful video. Real estate varies so much from one country to another and there are things that you could never « guess » until you go through the process yourself (or watch this video) 😊 Thank you for sharing !

Thank you so much for the honesty!!

Cool video, thanks! It’s interesting how different renting is in different countries. In my country, living in any of the big cities, you could maybe rent someone’s basement storage room or living room for $800. A proper room anywhere remotely central would be over $1000 and living alone would be $1700-2000 for a tiny place. The startup costs are typically a bit lower and they come with appliances though.

Just got called out on the Gaijinpot apartments 😂 Thank you for the great video. Moving to Tokyo in October so this video is a huge help🌻

Thanks for the video! Great info, I love the price breakdown. I'm glad that gift money is going out of style, it's pretty shady as a concept. Thanks for being so honest about the problems you faced and the problems others could face as far as racism, I haven't seen a video that really mentioned that but it definitely needs to be talked about. Hopefully progress will be made on that front! And others...

I would really like to move to Tokyo in a few years, so this really helped! I also want to apply to a teaching job (preferably at a kindergarten) but I’m kind of nervous they won’t employ me because I’m not an English native speaker, but it’ll probably work out. Love your videos btw!

Great video! I’m not moving to Tokyo, or planning to move there ever lol, but I love your videos 😂😂😂

Very good video. So helpful to a person wanting to come to J.

Hi Allison! I just wanted to leave a comment saying how much I enjoy your videos and learn so much from them. I'm hoping to make it to Japan but covid is making it impossible. I'm not giving up! Stay safe and keep up the good work! ~ a South African fan🌻

Glad I watched this, was planning on using something like gaijinpot to find a place in march but going to a sumo seems way better

If you can I would always recommend Ikea for furniture, It's cheap and gets the job done.

I am just now seeing this video and I love all the info! It is such a big help, I will be moving to Tokyo in April 2022 and I had been searching on gaijin pot LMAO, but I just have one question, because I will be attending language school but my visa will only be 1 1/2 year for now (i can extend it later), how does it work for like the financial side? As a student will they be willing to give a contract if i don't immediately have a job? Love your videos!!

This is a great breakdown on renting in Tokyo, and thanks for sharing your experience :) There are so many unknowns, but I think my biggest obstacle will be finding pet friendly apartments there. So can you just find any listing on Suumo and take it to any real estate agent? Or do you have to use an agent that has some sort of tie with Suumo? Sorry if I missed this in your video. :)

One thing I would add to your recommendation of Suumo (or other online apartment search sites) is that even when I sent desired apartments to an agent he said none of them were available. I find it hard to believe that 100% of my choices had sold out the day I found them and sent them in. Apparently Japanese prefer to go in person and be blindsided by apartment options so they accept that what’s online is basically “fake” or window dressing to get you in the door. Also I was in a similar corona+ one day to look situation as you so I sent the guy which apartments I wanted and what my parameters were in advance. He waited until I arrived to call them all in front of me and hear a lot of them say “no gaijin” even though I was going to work at a prestigious school. This was in Hamamatsu, so I’m wondering is a Tokyo is more accepting of foreigners. Last thing, what size layout is your 8万 place? I’m having a hard time gauging what are normal prices for various layouts (not downtown Tokyo, but more suburban).

Another fire video!!!! Do you know if there is a way to ship some appliances over to Japan as well? Appliances like kettles, dinnerware, cookware, etc? Or would it cost more then just buying it there?

Hi Allison! I recently discovered your channel and I am so glad because you are super interesting and I love your editing! :) I am starting graduate school at the University of Tokyo (Hongo campus) and I was wondering if you would have any recommendation of areas I should look into to rent an apartment? I would like to commute by bicycle but still be in a neighborhood that is interesting and that has easy access to the center. Thank you for any recommendation!

Thank you for this video! The start up costs are outrageous! I can't believe it! 800 a month isn't bad, but the start up to get that place is... wow! I'm a bit worried since my skin is darker than dark, but I'm sure it's not *impossible* to find a place in Japan. -nervous laughter- I have a question, do you have any advice for those who are looking to work in Japan for jobs that aren't IT but in other industries? I find that most foreigner-based websites don't really have much outside of that realm.

Thank you for the valuable information! I am a male and very clean and organized btw. Your statement "woman are clean " was ridiculous. Hello from Phoenix Arizona 👋

I admit it: I'm an inveterate thrifter and trash picker. When I lived in Japan, there was an online group of ALTs that announced events and classes (I wasn't an ALT, but I was able to join the group). AND when people were moving back home, they'd sell their stuff. I got a lot of furniture that way and it was really cheap. I got an older fridge that was about twice the size of a dorm fridge for $30. When I upgraded to a better fridge a couple years later--well, that's how my husband and I met! Group members would also sell their cars, and those were also so cheap--much cheaper than a used car in the USA. But here's the hitch, paying shaken 車検 on that car can cost you. Disposing of that old appliance can also be quite expensive--you have to pay to recycle those things--for the fridge the fee was $70! (But my employer actually paid that fee.) In Japan, getting rid of old stuff is difficult. The bigger it is, the harder it is to get rid of. So often people will just GIVE you stuff. And in my town, there was a "big trash night" where people could pile up old stuff in a vacant lot for disposal. I got some amazing old wooden chairs from the trash pile--I cleaned and polished them up and bought new cushions. I got a restaurant stainless steel prep table. I got a sewing machine from the recycle bin. I sold all these things to ALTs when I left. I got a pile of really cool dishes from a restaurant that had gone out of business--free. If you're coming to Japan, look into it! Btw, I was there for 6 years, so finding great stuff does take time, as every thrifter knows.

I know this video is 2 years old, and this is a long shot, but what sorts of information does the guarantor agency end up needing from you? I'm just trying to make sure I'm as prepared as possible. Thank you so much for posting all the information you do, if you've covered this somewhere and I missed it I apologize.

Hi Allison. My question is how much do you pay for a guarantor? Is it a monthly fee or a one time fee?

I'm ok with a small 1R apartment as long as the price is low. However, the build should be modern, having the electronic toilet seat.

Allison!!! Very informative video today. I think it’s quite reasonable considering ..... ahhh JAPAN!!! You sure have the right friends in your corner, good for you:) what about renting an apartment for a month? Is that at all possible or way to difficult? Your apartment is perfectly laid out. You have maximized your space. PINK IS PERFECT!! Wish you could do way more videos :)

My rent is going to be about the same as yours. My set up costs aren't quite as bad as yours (about $1000) less. However, I'm going to have to buy my furniture, fridge, washing machine etc when I get there, so I will be going to Nitori and Hard Off. How much do things like gas, electricity and internet cost to set up?

Tysm I’m in a share house my company provided me I was forced to sign a 3 months contract or they wouldn’t hire me so now that the contract is over I can find my own apartment which now that I’m thinking about it is expensive I can afford an apartment but now I need to buy furniture and a bed which I don’t have much money for my original share house came completely furnished like when I say I’m,a be sleeping on the floor and eating instant Roman just to save up for some furniture I’m being serious😭. And oh yeah the discrimination is scary I’m Latin American but I think it’s easier for me then it would be a black person for example while it’s also harder for me then if I were white .

Hello, thank for ur video ! I have a question tho is 80 000 yens easily obtainable through 1 baito ?

Hi, Allison! Great video! Do you have any recomendation for new income students of Todai (anywhere near Hongo campus)? Any good areas? Areas to avoid? Any dormitory? Etc

The rent isn’t that much different than in large cities in the US. We have to pay first, last and security here. And unless you live in a high rise, you have to have gas, water, electric, and internet set up. While I’ve never heard of a lock change fee, many apartments here do require that you get renters insurance. And, our rent is so much more expensive. If I wanted to move into a new apartment tomorrow, the cheapest 1 bedroom I could find in a safe neighborhood would be over $1200. So I’d pay $3,600 (first, last, and security) plus hiring a mover (low end $500). Then paying for all utilities to get set up.

I’m curious if you need a guarantor if I’m willing to pay the full 2 years rent up front. In less expensive cities I’ve seen decent sized loft 0DKs for ~$450

Awe man, I found an apartment I really love on Gaijinpot :( is it really that bad?

❤

Do i have to stay in the country the whole time, or can I leave the country? Maybe pay for the whole term in advance? I wonder because i might be there on tourist visa and not permanent stay, but it could still be nice to have a place that u can make into a second home. Sounds like maybe one should have a attorney for signing the contract, so one do not get ripoff.

Any recommendations for moving with children. As in accommodations for staying until we get housing.

as a black (mixed) trans guy I’m excited to see what my experience will be like 💀

It looks like it’s better to use Airbnb for 6 months or even a year

Hey Alison are you by chance on the MEXT program? Also what are you studying?

$800 a month and $8000 for the whole move including fees really isn't very much at all. I had expected substantially higher costs for living in Tokyo. Very interesting

I find 11:00 to be very concerning, I’m already coming from America, but I feel that’s going to complicate things even more...

$800 a month is good for Tokyo, that's around £700 (give or take) which wouldn't even get you a 1 bed flat in London

No sound?

I guess the discrimination is payback for dropping a couple A-Bombs.😮

Thank you Allison for keeping it 💯re: the discrimination that happens . So sad people of color are judged harshly solely for having darker complexion…… makes me NOT want to visit Japan 🧐 but tbh in America and all over the world my race is unfairly viewed with negativity….. so, I can’t escape it….. and folks always acting like we’re making this ish up!! #walkadayinmyshoes

Stigmatised homes would be much cheaper

I do understand the racism thing, alot of foreign countries find it rude to try to be there culture if that makes sense. almost if its rude to try to be Japanese, but also rude to not respect there culture and take part of it. so yeah i dont really get that

Hey how are you I am new here You’re very cute

ok, i liked all the videos but hearing the phrase "white privilege" raises some flags.