Apartments Japan

The last 20 years has welcomed a huge boost in regards to the standard of living conditions in large cities such as Tokyo yet there are many cheap and small apartments for rent still available for those living on a small budget.

Apartments in Japan come in many styles, from traditional buildings to modern and contemporary designs, and the most basic way to find both long-term and short term housing is to seek out a real estate company. These can be found with ease all over the cities and towns and can provide would-be-renters with a portfolio of properties available for rent. Visits to preferred properties can then be arranged and it is common practice for a renter to provide a guarantor along with a damage deposit and what is known as key money, which is a notable part of the deal as it is non-refundable.

Some apartments come fully furnished (tenants can expect to pay slightly more for these) while others feature simple wooden or tatami floors and are down to the tenant to furnish as they please. A usual rental period is a year but it is possible to find serviced apartments that can be rented by the month and in the cities, even by the week.

It is important to learn some of the local lingo with regards to real estate in Japan. LDK is possibly the most vital term, which means 'Living, Dining, Kitchen'. It is often preceded by a number, which represents the number of rooms in the apartment. For example, an apartment listed as '2DK' means that there are two rooms and a dining and kitchen area while a '1LK' listing represents a one-room apartment with separate living and kitchen areas.