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jtea
Joined: 22 Apr 2014
Posts: 69
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 Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 9:40 am Post subject: Renting an apartment outside of tokyo |
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I need some help on this as I'm having quite a hard time. I'm currently looking for an apartment in funabashi. However, not having much luck.
All the common apartment rental sites either have the same listings, super outdated information, or no images. I'm also not looking for a guesthouse or a furnished apartment.
Rental places like Kimi have completely stopped responding to my emails for god knows what reason. I know I can't reserve an apartment until June (since my move in date is July) but I don't understand why they won't even provide me with the information I'm asking for. Another rental company is doing the same, they won't actually give me what I'm asking for, just keep telling me I can't reserve.
Any advice on renting an apartment while I'm overseas? This is a little too ridiculous. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Can you read Japanese? Even a little bit? yahoo Japan has a good apt search function. The foreign focused sites only have a bit, and usually only Tokyo apts. And yes, as a Chiba resident Funabashi isn't Tokyo. |
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ksw09
Joined: 22 Mar 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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As far as not getting replies to your emails, if this just started this past week then it is because of Golden Week. Things should start getting back to normal on Wednesday.
Also use Google translate on realestate.yahoo.co.jp or athome.co.jp, if you can read very little Japanese. It isn't perfect but will help enough to navigate the sites pretty well. How you move forward with talking to someone about apartments you find on those sites I am not sure how to help you there, I was lucky to have a friend to translate for me. |
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jtea
Joined: 22 Apr 2014
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Mon May 05, 2014 5:13 pm Post subject: |
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| ksw09 wrote: |
| As far as not getting replies to your emails, if this just started this past week then it is because of Golden Week. Things should start getting back to normal on Wednesday. |
I thought about that too but I thought Golden Week consisted of several holidays but people still go to work in between. The lack of emails from rental companies started early last week. I received emails from my employer late last week. If I don't hear back by the end of this week I'll know for sure.
And unfortunately, I can't read or understand Japanese. That's one of the goals of moving there but right now, I'm stuck with just the English rent sites and the options are so very few. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 12:12 am Post subject: |
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| Not sure what to tell you. A lot of the English sites aren't that great. On top of being run by Japanese with less than fluent English ability. Maybe you asked a Q that they didn't understand? |
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Inflames
Joined: 02 Apr 2006
Posts: 486
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 6:06 am Post subject: |
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| You're coming in July, so honestly most places don't see the point in responding as it is far too early. Basic information will likely be correct but information about apartments won't be valid then. |
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jtea
Joined: 22 Apr 2014
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 3:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Inflames wrote: |
| You're coming in July, so honestly most places don't see the point in responding as it is far too early. Basic information will likely be correct but information about apartments won't be valid then. |
That's highly possible, but still annoying. Guess I'll wait until June. I might just end up getting a guest house for a month and look for an apartment while I'm there. I'd rather be able to see what's in the vicinity. I'll just have to deal with moving/buying everything while I'm working.
Also, I'm surprised there's not many apartment options in Funabashi, I thought it was a bit city? Only furnished apartments and leo palaces, and I don't want those cause I hate the design/furniture :/ |
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ksw09
Joined: 22 Mar 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 8:04 pm Post subject: |
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| jtea wrote: |
| Also, I'm surprised there's not many apartment options in Funabashi, I thought it was a bit city? Only furnished apartments and leo palaces, and I don't want those cause I hate the design/furniture :/ |
There are likely a ton, it is just that they aren't listed on the gaijin focused sites. I had the same issue when looking for an apartment in Kawasaki, couldn't find a single apartment around Musashi-Kosugi I was content with. Looked on yahoo japan and athome and there were many good choices.
If you start out in a share house I highly recommend trying to find someone who speaks Japanese to help you look with a true Japanese agent before you search for your private apartment, it makes a HUGE difference. |
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ksw09
Joined: 22 Mar 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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| Oh and also from my experience it seemed the gaijin site apartments were about %20 overpriced on average. Just another reason to avoid them if possible. |
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rxk22
Joined: 19 May 2010
Posts: 1629
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 10:31 pm Post subject: |
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| jtea wrote: |
That's highly possible, but still annoying. Guess I'll wait until June. I might just end up getting a guest house for a month and look for an apartment while I'm there. I'd rather be able to see what's in the vicinity. I'll just have to deal with moving/buying everything while I'm working.
Also, I'm surprised there's not many apartment options in Funabashi, I thought it was a bit city? Only furnished apartments and leo palaces, and I don't want those cause I hate the design/furniture :/ |
Funa is a big suburban city. But in English, I guess you are looking at less than 1% of available housing.
Do the guesthouse. Seriously. As picking an apartment from overseas is hard, and easy to get something that you really didn't want.
There are some stations that have pretty low rents, and are just a few stations off of the main lines. Or you could live in CHiba city, and commute, and pay slightly less rent that way too. |
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Mr. Leafy
Joined: 24 Apr 2012
Posts: 246
Location: North of the Wall
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 11:19 pm Post subject: |
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I lived in Japan twice, for about seven years each time in a couple areas. Get a guesthouse first and look for an apartment once you arrive. Wait until you can check out a neighbourhood and know someone who can go to an agent with you in Japanese.
Kimi is overpriced and has a small selection, if it's the same as when I was there. Go to a little agent in the neighbourhood or street you want to live in.
It is difficult if you are coming from abroad, but people look for apartments at very short notice. My first places, I went to agents on the last day of the month a full month before I wanted to move in. They wouldn't even talk to me and said to come back in the last week of the month. I couldn't believe people get a place on such short notice, but that's how regular places go. Maybe super high-end places are different.
Chintai Magazine will be helpful (after you're here) but just as a guide, the best places are gone before the magazine hits the stands. |
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jtea
Joined: 22 Apr 2014
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Tue May 06, 2014 11:57 pm Post subject: |
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| ksw09 wrote: |
There are likely a ton, it is just that they aren't listed on the gaijin focused sites. I had the same issue when looking for an apartment in Kawasaki, couldn't find a single apartment around Musashi-Kosugi I was content with. Looked on yahoo japan and athome and there were many good choices.
If you start out in a share house I highly recommend trying to find someone who speaks Japanese to help you look with a true Japanese agent before you search for your private apartment, it makes a HUGE difference. |
| Mr. Leafy wrote: |
I lived in Japan twice, for about seven years each time in a couple areas. Get a guesthouse first and look for an apartment once you arrive. Wait until you can check out a neighbourhood and know someone who can go to an agent with you in Japanese.
Kimi is overpriced and has a small selection, if it's the same as when I was there. Go to a little agent in the neighbourhood or street you want to live in.
It is difficult if you are coming from abroad, but people look for apartments at very short notice. My first places, I went to agents on the last day of the month a full month before I wanted to move in. They wouldn't even talk to me and said to come back in the last week of the month. I couldn't believe people get a place on such short notice, but that's how regular places go. Maybe super high-end places are different.
Chintai Magazine will be helpful (after you're here) but just as a guide, the best places are gone before the magazine hits the stands. |
Thanks for the advice, I'm definitely leaning towards getting a guest house for a month and going from there. I'm really tired of dealing with these gaijin sites by now. Hopefully, I can find someone who will be willing to help me after a month as I prefer not to stay in a guest house. I like my own space :/
How likely are agents willing to rent to foreigners even if they bring along someone who speaks Japanese? I hear a lot of places don't want to rent to foreigners because of the stereotype and bad reputation foreigners bring.
Also, Mr Leafy, this might sound like a dumb question but how do you find these apartment agents? In the states, apartment complexes just have offices outside...is it similar in Japan?
| rxk22 wrote: |
Funa is a big suburban city. But in English, I guess you are looking at less than 1% of available housing.
Do the guesthouse. Seriously. As picking an apartment from overseas is hard, and easy to get something that you really didn't want.
There are some stations that have pretty low rents, and are just a few stations off of the main lines. Or you could live in CHiba city, and commute, and pay slightly less rent that way too. |
Unfortunately, I have to work in Ichikawa as well, which is why I chose Funabashi as it's right in the middle.  |
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ksw09
Joined: 22 Mar 2014
Posts: 13
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 12:38 am Post subject: |
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| jtea wrote: |
| How likely are agents willing to rent to foreigners even if they bring along someone who speaks Japanese? I hear a lot of places don't want to rent to foreigners because of the stereotype and bad reputation foreigners |
Yeah that will be the final hurdle. You should have so many options though that even if your first few don't pan out, you will eventually get something you're happy with. The apartment quest in Japan is one of the most difficult I have ever experienced. Nothing like having that first celebratory beverage when it is all over  |
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jtea
Joined: 22 Apr 2014
Posts: 69
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 2:47 am Post subject: |
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| ksw09 wrote: |
| Yeah that will be the final hurdle. You should have so many options though that even if your first few don't pan out, you will eventually get something you're happy with. The apartment quest in Japan is one of the most difficult I have ever experienced. Nothing like having that first celebratory beverage when it is all over |
Care to share your experience? It's always nice to see what fun I have to look forward to  |
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Mr. Leafy
Joined: 24 Apr 2012
Posts: 246
Location: North of the Wall
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| Posted: Wed May 07, 2014 11:15 am Post subject: |
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| jtea wrote: |
| Also, Mr Leafy, this might sound like a dumb question but how do you find these apartment agents? In the states, apartment complexes just have offices outside...is it similar in Japan? |
There will probably be several in the nearest shotengai (shopping street) and the streets near your train and subway station. They'll be easy to spot by the pictures in the window. Learn 20-25 kanji so you can read the specs and you'll quickly get an idea of what you get for you yen in that area.
Only really big new places have an onsite agent. Probably out of an entry-level price range. |
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