Generally speaking foreigners find it difficult to rent a short-term living place through normal Japanese housing rental service because most commonly you will need at least one Japanese guarantor. On top of that many house owners will ask you for key money, which is generally equal to one to two months’ rent, and also a security deposit of 2 to 3 months rent. These amounts are usually not returned.
However these days some companies specialize in offering nice short-term living places in Japan for foreign customers. I will introduce those companies. They all have at least one English speaking member or staff to help foreign residents.
1. Sakura house
http://www.sakura-house.com/en
Sakura House is located in central Tokyo and also they have some accommodation in Yokohama and Kyoto. Their information center for foreigners is in Nishi Shinjuku and it opens all year round including New Year’s holiday. Multilingual staff will help you find suitable accommodation for you.
How to book
Through their website before your trip or at their information center in Japan
Accommodation type
The types of accommodation available are share houses (guest houses), apartments and dormitories. They are all furnished so it is hassle free to start your new life from your very first day in Japan.
The facilities
- Dormitories: Furnished with private beds, shared rooms, kitchens, showers and toilets.
- Share houses (guest house): Private rooms with beds and desks, shared kitchens, showers and toilets.
- Apartments: Fully furnished and equipped with basic electric devices
- Vacation rentals (Kyoto only): Holiday rental, self-catering rental, holiday home, holiday let
Sakura house dormitory room in Shibuya, Tokyo
Reference: http://www.sakura-house.com/en
Pros: No key money, agent fee, or guarantor
The rent payments include all utility costs (such as gas, electricity and water)
Multilingual language assistance (English, French, German, Chinese and Korean)
Events and activities for the residents
Equipped with essential furniture and electric devices
From one night to any length of stay possible
Cons:
Limited location (Tokyo, Yokohama and Kyoto only)
Privacy can be disturbed
Fewer chances to meet local Japanese people
Fewer chances to speak Japanese
Deposit of 20,000yen (maximum 15,000yen returnable)
2. Oak hotel/house
Oak house offers social houses, share houses, dormitories and apartments. On their website there is all the information you need available in Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean and French. They have an office and information center in Shibuya, Tokyo for customers and potential customers.
How to book
Website, Information center
Accommodation type
- Social houses: Private rooms with beds and desks, shared kitchens, showers and toilets plus social rooms like yoga rooms, home theater room, conference rooms etc.
- Dormitories: Furnished with private beds, shared rooms, kitchens, showers and toilets.
- Share houses (guest house): Private rooms with beds and desks, shared kitchens, showers and toilets.
- Apartments: Fully furnished and equipped with basic electric devices
Oak house apartment room in Setagaya, Tokyo
Reference: https://www.oakhouse.jp/eng/
The facilities
What is the difference between social houses and share houses?
Social houses are designed so that the people living there can meet and collaborate with each other. The company organizes parties and activities for the residents to have a chance to get to know each other and the residents themselves organize social clubs and lessons to exchange their knowledge inside the community. Whereas share house residents do not have such communal activities. However the residents have a chance to meet other residents in a communal area like the living room or kitchen.
Pros: Several different living style accommodations to choose from.
No key money, agent fee or guarantor
Help in several languages is available from the agent when needed
Less costly compared with renting from normal Japanese estate agents
Short-term rentals are available – from one month
Extra facilities like theater room, gym etc.
The company will recruit new share mates
Cons: Limited location and availability to choose from
Only located in big cities
Privacy could be disturbed with dormitory, share house and social residence
Shared kitchen, bathroom and toilets in share houses, social houses and
dormitory.
Other residents might disturb your lifestyle
3. Airbnb
Airbnb is accommodation booking site where individuals list their spare rooms, apartments or houses to rent out for a short period of time. The renting style varies from just a spare room to an entire house. Usually the accommodation is furnished and equipped with basic utilities and electric appliances.
The location covers from big cities like Tokyo and Osaka to small cities, towns and villages in countryside. Some owners don’t speak English but they are usually helpful and able to provide you the local information and they try to offer some kind of help when it’s necessary. You should check what your choice of accommodation offers to you on the listing page.
You can communicate with the listing owners only through Airbnb site. The hosts and the guests are not able to contact each other apart from the message board.
You can read the listing reviews written by past guests before booking. And the owners are able to read guests’ reviews too. This review function will help you to choose you accommodation by giving you more detail than you can find from the basic listing. Owners can decide whether to accept their candidate guests or not. The listing owner can refuse any potential guest.
How to book
On Airbnb site or mobile app
Accommodation type
Various
Apartment in Sakae area in Nagoya, Aichi
Pros: Located widely in Japan
Hosts are individuals so it can be very flexible about rules and policy.
Often the owner will offer great hospitality
Various types of accommodation to choose from
Airbnb help center will try to solve problems between property owners and tenants
No key money or guarantor
Available from one night stay
Usually all furnished and equipped with electric appliances and amenities
Self check-in style is most common (flexible time check-in)
Cons:
No 100% guarantee that the actual listing is truly as described on the Airbnb site
Not all Airbnb hosts are helpful
Language could be problem
Hosts are not always available to come to help their guests to the accommodation
when it’s needed.
4. Leopalace
Leopalace has weekly apartments nationwide. English site available.
Accommodation type
Private apartment
Pros: No key money or guarantor needed
Rent from a short period of time (from one week)
The entire apartment is completely private
With basic furniture
Other costs like gas, water and electricity are included in the rent
Cons: Less easy access to the agent for help when needed during your stay.
Communication problems because of language
Could cost more than a house sharing style accommodation
Length of stay needs to be longer than a week
5. Social apartment
https://www.social-apartment.com/
This company specializes in social apartments. They have in total 41 social apartments in Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Osaka, Kyoto and Hokkaido. Many of their apartments have themes and they mostly have a connection to the local area. Many of these apartments are located in very popular and trendy areas for young professionals and upmarket areas for successful business people. Themed apartments attract younger generations, e.g. a bakery café attached to the apartment, music themed apartment with soundproof music instrument play room, or a soundproof theater room.
Sound proofing music room in Kobe, Hyogo
Reference: https://www.social-apartment.com/
How to book
On their website, on the phone, visit to the office
Accommodation type
- Social apartments
Pros: they have 24/7 call center
Choice of furnished and unfurnished
Private toilet, kitchen, bathroom in some rooms
Professional house cleaner cleans the shared space like kitchen, toilets and
communal area.
Chance to meet new people
Themed apartments such as an artist’s residential apartment
Organized events and parties once or twice a year in each apartment
English website
Cons: Key money and security deposit necessary
Location is limited
Separate utility cost
Management fee
From one month rent
Fellow residents and their friends might disturb your lifestyle
The service is not designed for especially for foreign residents
Green