Job Discussion Forums

brokenarm22 · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 35

How difficult is it? I really want a place with a wash machine. If there is no benefit of letting interac set you up with an apartment, what is the point of being with them? I was told it is between 200 and 300000 yen up front for an apartment through interac. Any tips on this front?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Where are they placing you?

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629

Not that hard. I did after Interac stuck me with a house that had slugs.

You can check out yahoo.jp and they have a map with apts on it.

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

brokenarm22 · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 35

brokenarm22 · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 35

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If it is indeed LeoPalace, then I don't know why a washing machine is not included. Maybe some LP plans don't include it, but as far as I can see from the LP web site, they do:

http://en.leopalace21.com/room/

stumptowny · Joined: 29 May 2011 Posts: 310

soft land it... start in a guesthouse..

http://www.sakura-house.com/en/
http://www.oakhouse.jp/eng/
http://guesthouse-apartment.com/english/e_room/eng_house_list.html
http://www.borderless-house.com/en/search/map/

all included and stay as long as you please.. month to month.. leave with minimal loss and pay by cash or another non financially binding means such as a smart pit card at the convenient store..

piece of advice... lock in a low "campaign" (sale) price (or the lowest possible price) for long term stay, regardless of if you plan to stay or not. tell em you are staying for a 1 or 2. if you say 2 months (coz you are not sure), after 2 months they will jack you up on a new contract... you will never see the low price again..

leopalace is not cheap and although they speak a little english, you will have all the contracts just as if you go to chintai and go it alone anyway.. chiintai is cheaper as well..

brokenarm22 · Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 35

TokyoLiz · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1548 Location: Tokyo, Japan

A long time ago, Interac set me up with an apartment right below the school, but 45 minutes from the nearest station. Opt for a place close to a station.

Also, if I had to do it all over again, I would never pay key money for a place right away. I'd look around first. Get into a LP place, or stay in a guest house. I lasted 3 months in the apartment on the back side of nowhere, and had went into a place with no key money for slightly more rent.

Good luck!

ssjup81 · Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2012 6:33 am Post subject:

The Leopalace place I had came with a washer and was Internet ready. The job I just accepted seems nice in the sense that I had the choice of looking for my own apt when getting over there or either my employer could. I decided to let them do it. I hope that the apartment they do manage to get for me will be Internet ready. To my knowledge Leopalace properties usually come furnished with a washer.

OneJoelFifty · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 463

It's annoying you don't have a location yet. I'd go for a guest house for a month if you have to, while looking for a suitable apartment.

I stayed in LeoPalace for the first year, it was convenient but slightly more expensive than a regular place. You should ask yourself if you're planning on being here over a year. If you're not, I'd just take the LeoPalace that Interac will probably find for you. You'll pretty much leave with the suitcase you arrived with. If you think you'll be here longer, search around and get your own place. Once you know the area, you can search online. Find the local agents, send them an email asking if they speak English. They might be willing to help you. I live in a small city of around 250,000. Two agents got their only English-speaking employees to help me. I stopped by a third one too.

There's also some room for negotiation; all three agents offered to waive their fees/give me a month free rent (40,000 Yen in all cases), two of them because I mentioned the third was running a special offer. My apartment was unfurnished, I asked if the landlord would accept lower than the quoted price, and was told "No, but she'll give you a stove and lighting fixtures." I bought a washing machine and fridge second-hand, in good condition, for under 10,000 Yen each.

spidr245 · Joined: 26 Nov 2008 Posts: 60

Basically, as soon as you can find out your location, it's best to start looking asap. Interac is gonna force you into a LeoPalace (or something like that) if you don't have a place of your own. I don't know if it's true or not, but I heard they are making money off of their connection with LeoPalace. So it's all the more reason they want to stick you into one of those places.

rxk22 · Joined: 19 May 2010 Posts: 1629