Job Discussion Forums

capper · Joined: 12 Feb 2004 Posts: 61

I presently live in Japan and my girlfriend and I are in the process of looking for a apartment to share in central Tokyo. It's been a real struggle. Rent is very high and apartments are very small. If we choose to move away from the central area and the stations, we will no doubt find something suitable and within our rent-range. However, can anyone suggest a real estate company that has a really good reputation above others? We recently saw an apartment we really liked and the lcoation is very good BUT we must pay 5 months upfront before we even start paying rent. Generally, the places that go without key money and / or limited deposits are not well-located and / or smaller. We are looking for a 1 LDK / 2DK or larger, with at least 40 square meters of floor space. Any suggestions would be great! We have already seen a couple of dozen places and been to several real estate companies with mainly frustrating results. Putting down almost a million yen might be the inevitable but at least we'd like to see if there are other options out there. The place we really like requires an 825,000 yen payment upfront before the first month's rent. Yes, standard in Japan. Especially in Tokyo. But any suggestions?

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Brooks · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1369 Location: Sagamihara

yeah, that is the way it is.
It costs more in Tokyo than it does in Osaka, for example.

That is why so many salarymen (and women) live out in Saitama, Chiba, and Kanagawa.
I am moving into a new place not far from Tokyo in Kanagawa and that was 550,000 up front (including the first month of rent). But for a 3LDK I was told that I got a good price. And, it is less than 10 minutes from an express stop.
The farther you are from a train station, the less you pay. Apatos cost less than mansions.
And if you need to take a bus to the station, or have to walk 15 minutes or more, the price is less.

I hear that it is cheaper when you live near a JR line (like the Yokohama line - 3 months up front) than near a private line like Odakyu or Denentoshi.

However, I have heard that Meguro is a good place to look. Rents there are cheaper than they used to be. Tokyo`s population has gone up because people are moving back.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Brooks, Meguro isn't cheap!

Actually, I don't think the train company has much to do with it. If anything, I think living on a JR line is more expensive. It really boils down to three things: convenience, desirability of location and age of the building. Odakyu and Denentoshi lines are expensive because they run through desirable areas (Yoyogi and Setagaya) and run into central Tokyo (Shinjuku and Shibuya respectively). If you live on any express stop it will be more expensive. Yokohama line is cheaper because it runs from Kanagawa to Hachioji... not into central Tokyo and not very useful.

If you are prepared to live in an older building, it will be cheaper. You might want to try around Shinagawa Seaside on the Rinkai line. It's slightly inconvenient because trains don't run so often and ticket price is expensive... However, buildings are generally newer, rooms larger and cheaper and trains run directly into SHibuya and Shinjuku.

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

I'm in the process of securing an apartment in Funabashi. Chiba. The apartment is 15 minutes from Funabashi station by foot. It's a 2LDK and has 58 square meters of space. I'm not paying any key money. The rent is 95,000 a month. It only takes 20 minutes to Tokyo Station from Funabashi.

I hope this helps for comparison.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Tokyo station has always been my most frequently used station. My wifes family live in Tochigi, so Tokyo is a necessary station. I also frequently use the Sobu line which has an express to Tokyo.

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

I should have eloborated...

Does anyone actually use Tokyo station for anything except to take a shinkansen or any other train out of the city?

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

Hi Capper,

I've been looking into this as well, as my boyfriend and I will be looking for accomm in the Tokyo area in August. I think Leo Palace don't require key money or deposit up front, and you can specify that you are 2 sharing. As far as I remember utilities are included in the rent as well. I've never seen one of their apts though, so don't know what they're like.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

L