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here’s a little video I shot with my Casio Exilim last weekend after I had cleaned my apartment a little bit.

I can’t stress enough how much accommodations vary between JETs, so you shouldn’t be bummed if your apartment is way different than mine.

The amazing thing about my place is that I live alone, while everyone else in my building with the exact same apartment floorplan is at least a family of three people or more – a family of five live above me in the same amount of space.

Thanks for watching and more soon.

Peace!
-jason

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HOW TO GET AN APARTMENT IN JAPAN
1. Get some cash. Sounds like a no brainer, but you’ll need a bunch of it for the various payments you have to make during the process:
* A real estate agent’s fee called Chukai Tesuryo”. This is non-refundable and is typically one months rent.
* A security deposit called “shikikin” (敷金). This is typically two or three months’ rent.
* The landlord gets the next cut. It’s called “reikin” (礼金). This, as you might have guessed, is non-refundable. Typically its two months rent. If its only one, consider yourself lucky.
* A reservation fee called tetsukeikin” (手付金). Its refunded as soon as you sign contracts. Its the agents way of making sure you are serious about the deal a guarantee if you will.
2. All in all, if your rent is $1000, you’ll probably need about $5000 to rent your own apartment.
3. Find a guarantor (”hoshonin” 保証人 in Japanese). This is basically a co-signer to the rental agreement. This person needs to be a Japanese national with a good credit history. In some cases, your employer may volunteer to act as your guarantor. There are also a number of private companies (known as “hoshonin-gaisha” 保証人会社) that can act as your guarantor for a fee. Rental agencies catering to foreign residents may also provide this service for an additional fee.
4. Be patient. Landlords simply don’t want to deal with foreigners especially foreigners who don’t speak Japanese. (After all, if they don.t speak English, how can they tell you that you threw your garbage out on the wrong day?) This means you will be turned away many times before you find a landlord who will rent to you. Essentially its a numbers game. You have to keep plugging until you find an apartment.
5. Register your new address with local authorities at the local city hall or ward office. They will write the new address information on the back of your Alien Registration Card.

TIPS

* A word of warning on finding your apartment. Don’t be hasty in selecting your apartment. Take your time and make a good selection. Paying key money once is pretty tough, paying twice is a financial disaster.
* Don’t expect the rental contract to be in English, so bring a Japanese friend to help you with understanding its terms and conditions.
* If you’re making a higher salary, you may save on taxes by arranging for your employer to pay your rent as a “housing allowance.” US citizens working in Japan are allowed to receive very generous housing allowances which are not counted as income for US tax purposes. Check the IRS website or talk to your lawyer or accountant.
* If you get an indefinite term for your lease, your landlord has almost no way to kick you out so long as you are paying your rent. This can be an excellent negotiating tool to change the terms of your lease, as you can annoy your landlord to death without much reprisal. However, many landlords have switched to fixed-term leases to avoid this problem.
* Most Japanese move house near the end of the fiscal and school year (in March). Start preparing for your move before this time, if possible.

WARNING!

* Once you find an apartment, make sure you look at your surroundings at night. If you are next to a busy restaurant, especially one that serves alcohol, you could be in for a rough time.
* Try to find one with a western toilet. They are getting more popular, but old buildings will have a traditional type. “Squatters,” as they are called, are a drag.
* Be sure to check if the apartment has a shower. Some older apartments have only a bathtub with a gas heater. These can take a considerable amount of time to heat up, especially in the winter.
* Make note of any defects. Look at the tatami mats carefully. These things are expensive if they have to be replaced.
* Make sure to ask if the apartment has air conditioning and heating. Some don’t.
* Leaving your apartment in pristine condition doesnt guarantee that “shikikin” or your security deposit will come back.
* Be aware that real estate agents can usually only show you an apartment once the current tenant has moved out. When you visit the apartment, utilities will be disconnected, and you cannot turn on the lights to get a clearer view of things, (especially the bathroom). If possible, try to visit the apartment during the day to get a good look at it. Alternatively, bring a flashlight to peer into darkened rooms and closets.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS IN JAPAN http://www.debito.org/

Japan immigration: http://www.immi-moj.go.jp/english/index.html

Websites who cater to gaijins and help you find a place:

http://www.sakura-house.com/english/special/view/available_view.php

http://www.jafplus.com/

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2200.html

http://www.gaijinpot.com/

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7-5-9 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo, Japan
+81.3.5338.3131
http://www.oakwood.com/serviced-apartments/furnished/JP/Tokyo/prop6921.html

It is about a 10 minute walk from the Shinjuku station West exit.

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The balcony is nice, but it is really small, so you can’t do anything with it. I decorated my apartment with items from Daiso and the 390 shop located in my town. Gotta stay cheap!

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