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Japan · Housing & Relocation

Renting in Japan

Verified data Last verified June 15, 2026 Reviewed by Henry van de Vorming

Renting long-term in Japan usually means a fixed two-year lease on an unfurnished unit, high upfront costs (commonly 3-6 months' rent once deposit, key money, agency fee and first month are combined), and a guarantor or guarantor company. Newcomers often start in a furnished "monthly mansion" or serviced apartment, which skips most of these costs, while they search for a standard lease.

The rental basics

Typical lease
2 years
Deposit
1 mo rent
Furnished
Mostly unfurnished
Mid-term market
Strong mid-term market
Address registration
Required

Agency fee: The tenant typically pays the real-estate agency/brokerage fee, customarily up to about one month's rent plus consumption tax. This is separate from non-refundable "key money" (reikin), which is usually 1-2 months' rent in central Tokyo and often 0-1 month in regional cities.

Address registration

Mid- to long-term foreign residents must file a moving-in notification (転入届, ten'nyū todoke) at the municipal/ward office within 14 days of taking up a new address, presenting their residence card (and a move-out certificate if arriving from another Japanese municipality). This creates or updates the resident record (jūminhyō) and the address recorded on the residence card; address changes are handled at the municipal level, so no separate report to the immigration authorities is needed for the address itself.

Your rights as a tenant

The Act on Land and Building Leases (借地借家法, Shakuchi Shakuya-hō) strongly protects tenants on ordinary leases: a landlord cannot refuse to renew an ordinary lease without a "justifiable reason" (seitō jiyū). Fixed-term leases (teiki shakka), by contrast, end with no right of renewal, so newcomers should check which type they are signing.

Good to know

  • Strong legal tenant protection: ordinary leases are renewable and landlords need a justifiable reason to refuse renewal.
  • A large, well-developed furnished 'monthly mansion'/serviced-apartment market lets newcomers land softly with no key money, no deposit and no Japanese guarantor.
  • Major listing portals (SUUMO, HOME'S, at home) are huge and detailed; foreigner-focused sites like GaijinPot Apartments and BEST-ESTATE.JP offer English listings and process help.
  • Refundable security deposit (shikikin) is comparatively modest at roughly 1-2 months' rent.

Watch out for

  • High move-in costs: deposit, non-refundable key money (reikin), agency fee, guarantor-company fee, fire insurance and first month commonly total 3-6 months' rent.
  • Most landlords require a guarantor or a paid rent-guarantee company, and some properties still decline foreign tenants, so screening can take time.
  • Standard long-term rentals are usually unfurnished and the major portals are mostly in Japanese, which can be a barrier for newcomers.
  • Address registration is mandatory within 14 days of moving in; missing it complicates other paperwork, and deposit deductions for 'restoration' at move-out are a frequent dispute.

Where to look

SUUMOHOME'S (LIFULL)at homeGaijinPot ApartmentsBEST-ESTATE.JP

Platforms are listed for orientation only — we don't endorse or rank them.

Renting in Japan: FAQ

Renting in Japan: FAQ

How much deposit do I need to rent in Japan?

Landlords typically ask for around 1 month of rent as a security deposit, on top of the first month upfront, plus any agency fee (the tenant typically pays the real-estate agency/brokerage fee, customarily up to about one month's rent plus consumption tax. this is separate from non-refundable "key money" (reikin), which is usually 1-2 months' rent in central tokyo and often 0-1 month in regional cities.). Budget for that as a lump sum before you arrive.

Do I have to register my address in Japan?

Yes — Mid- to long-term foreign residents must file a moving-in notification (転入届, ten'nyū todoke) at the municipal/ward office within 14 days of taking up a new address, presenting their residence card (and a move-out certificate if arriving from another Japanese municipality). This creates or updates the resident record (jūminhyō) and the address recorded on the residence card; address changes are handled at the municipal level, so no separate report to the immigration authorities is needed for the address itself.

Can I find furnished or short-term rentals in Japan?

Mostly unfurnished and the mid-term market nomads rely on is strong mid-term market. Start your search on SUUMO, HOME'S (LIFULL), at home.

Sources