Job Discussion Forums

query29 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 25

What is the cheapest rent one can find in Japan. I would love to room with someone, is that an easy thing to find as a foreigner? Any other creative ideas or time tested methods would be greatly appreciated.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Some friends had a nice big house with an outdoor shower in Nagano for 10,000 a month. Besides that, I had a friend in a kodan apartment where the previous tenant had died and it was 28,000. Maybe search the obituaries.
Enjoy,
s

query29 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 25

I hope the situation will not come that I cave to troll the obitz. What about finding roomates once I get there?

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

post a clssified in japanzine, kansai flea market etc.

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

"What about finding roomates once I get there?"
That's what we call a guesthouse; far to cramped and stressful here to deal with roomies. But go ahead and try, who knows.
Enjoy,
s

query29 · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 25

Is there a reliable way to find cheap housing for a 3 month job hunt?

bornslippy1981 · Joined: 02 Aug 2004 Posts: 271

Sweetpea,

I remember awhile back you and your partner were going to offer people a room for a few months. Kind of a homestay type deal.

Did you ever do that?

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

If you ae asking me, no we didn't. Our place seems to be shrinking dramatically as the hands-to-pockets ratio multiplies.

sethness · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hiroshima, Japan

If I were you (and I was, 6 years ago), I'd come to Japan after finding a homestay offer. Basically, this is where you live with a family and teach'em English in exchange for a bed, access to the phone, a stable mailing address, maaaybe food, and NO RENT. Oh, yeah...and friends who can read a newspaper, drive a car, and hold your hand when the world seems too unfriendly. Smile

Excepting that, I'd say that there's ZERO chance of finding a "cheap place for 3 months while you look for work". Ain't a-gonna happen. The best you might hope for is a "weekly mansion" (an efficiency apartment in the city, for about $900~$1,500 a month), or maybe to hang your hat at a Youth Hostel where you share a room for $25 a night and can network heavily with other foreigners.

Once you're established in Japan, with a secure job, then you can hunt for better deals. In the city, your chances of finding cheap digs are ZERO. However, in the deep countryside, you can (if you're well connected) find houses that're actually FREE or almost-free to live in as long as you pay the utilities.

On the happy side, some schools understand your situation, so they may offer to set you up in an apartment for a fairly standard rent. The only advantage in this is that you don't usually have to pay "key money", which is an insanely expensive (1~3mo. rent's worth) commission paid to the real estate agent.

Some apartments don't require this insane "key money", but they're at the bottom of the heap for some reason.