House hunting in Japan has never been easy especially if you are internationals.  First thing you need to do is to make an appointment with a property broker, who, at most cases, does not speak English at all.  Yes, there are high-end focused brokers such as Ken Corp that assists you in English but not so many for normal end.

 

 

Once you find a property of your interest through your broker, then other hassles will follow — heavy load of paper works!  First, you need to fill out a “preliminary” application form which will require a lot of information including your income for the past 3 years, certificate of residence, guarantor, and emergency contact, etc.  Needless to say, you have to fill out everything in Japanese besides your name which is likely the only item that can be in Alphabet!  Once you complete those, you may be in a shock as most brokers will ask you to send it via FAX!  Apparently, Japan seems to be the only G20 country that still deploys FAX machines in day-to-day business practices, specially in the property brokerage industry.  If you are coming from overseas, you probably don’t have it and so most people end up going back to the shop giving the requested items hand-to-hand.

What’s next!?  More paper works!  In a few days up to a week, you will hear from the broker whether or not you have passed the preliminary credit and background check.  Once you pass, they will request you to fill out an “official” application which is more demanding vs the “preliminary” one which you have already hassled with.   In addition, you are normally obliged to complete other forms such as a proof of guarantor, auto-bank wiring for your rent, and property insurance application.  Also, one form you might find funny is you have to sign on “You are not a Yakuza (gangster)” from, unless you are a “Yakuza”, of course.  Again, these have to be all in Japanese.

 

 

After a few days, your broker will ask you to show up in their shop to sign the leasing contract.  This can easily take up an hour or more, as Japanese licensed brokers by law must explain word by word what is on so called,  “Jyuyoujikou Setsumeisho 重要事項説明書”, before you can actually sign the contract.  Of course, they all do this in Japanese, and so you just pretend that you understand by keep nodding, unless you do not want to sign the leasing contract.

One last thing!  Key handover.  You will have to come back to the shop again (this is already third time!) on the move-in date to pick up the key for your room — at this stage, you broker may be your first friend in Japan after seeing each other so much!  Keep in mind that property brokers do have strange off days such as Wednesday in Japan — So, be careful when you move in.

All in all, it takes easily a few weeks on average to complete the paper works before you can actually see and sign your leasing contract.   Is there any better way to rent an apartment? Yes!  Visit our site, KaguAruoo where you find zero paper work.