Job Discussion Forums

[TokyoLiz]

My advice is take photos of the room as it is when you move in, keep copies for yourself, and give copies to the landlord. No disputes.

One of the joys of traditional life in Japan is tatami rooms. You don't need furniture because you can sit on the floor. As others have said, a kotatsu table and zabuton are all you need. Don't put anything heavy on the tatami as it will leave a mark. It's easy to clean, too, with a damp cloth. If you're worried about spills, put down cheap bamboo mats or bath mats where you spend the most time. Putting your artwork down on the floor keeps the living space cozy and intimate. If you hang stuff on the wall, you feel like you're at the bottom of a well.

If you want back support, you can get legless chairs for sitting on the floor in some big department stores.

I lived on tatami for a year in rural Japan. Cleaning took me no time at all, futon on tatami did wonders for my back and posture, and the tatami is relatively cool in summer and warms quickly in the winter.

[rampo]

What about calenders and clocks? I can't make any holes in the walls.

[madeira]

It's going to be impossible to keep the tatami in 'as new' condition, as others have said. Re-covering costs about 10,000 yen per mat in the Tokyo area, maybe you can find it cheaper. (The price depends a lot on the fabric for the edging). No idea what replacing the whole mat would cost... but re-covering doesn't get rid of dents from furniture.

In the last place we rented, I covered one room in carpet and put plywood under the couch. The tatami was fine after a year, no mould. Maybe I was lucky, though.

[madeira]

Hanging stuff? There should be a rail/moulding at the top of the walls that you can put hooks into, then fishing line from there.

[flyingkiwi]

This whole thing sounds dodgy. The scheming landlord will convince you that you need to replace all the tatami's at the end of your stay, and thus you will pay him more than if you had just paid rent every month. He's already worked it out how much he'll charge you, so he'll make a nice profit.

[Glenski]

Your employer is shafting you. General wear and tear is part of life, and he and the apartment manager know it. To gouge you for 200,000 yen just for any fleck of damage to tatami or any hole in the wall is an out and out disgrace to the renting profession. Don't stand for it.

Take those pictures.
Get a carpet from Nitori to fit the tatami floor. I did, and they make them to fit EXACTLY the size of various tatami, so there will be nothing exposed. (The only thing to be concerned about is mildew. See if HOMAC has some charcoal lined vinyl sheets to help with moist flooring.)

This is a second room to your apartment, right? Not the living room? If it's only the bedroom, you won't have anything heavy in it. A plastic chest of drawers will fit in the closet, and you can keep a desk in the living room.

Gentlemen's agreement? No such thing. You are just setting yourself up for a ride without having a contract or lease. Danger, Wil Robinson!

Oh, and as for natural wear and tear, read this site FULLY (the NEXT link is at the top of each page). I point you to this little jewel in both languages.

[rampo]

Thanks!

You've been really helpful, playing devil's advocate even!

I plan to use as little furniture as possible to minimize any damage to the tatami, but what can I use as a desk?

[flyingkiwi]

It don't matter son, even if you never set foot in the apartment for your entire term there. The landlord will STILL find something wrong with the tatami and will ring you dry.

[Gordon]

[6810]

Best bet is to lay down one of those reed mats, I think they're called goza in Japanese. Basically, a tatami over the tatami. Will let you put down heavier (but not too heavy) furniture without damage to the tatami.

Make sure you air out the goza every couple of weeks though in order to avoid mildew.

Rugs and carpets are the same. There is nothing strange or odd about it. Heck, throw a carpet on top of the goza on top of the tatami. Then you won't have to be so worried about damage.

Again, make sure you air them out though!

That said, even if you do destroy the tatami (on purpose or otherwise) since you are living practically rent free, you could always buy new tatami when you move out with the savings on rent (the land lord might make you do this anyway...)

[rampo]