Quick Tips: Moving In Japan

Posted on 05/11/2021 Last updated on 07/09/2021

Quick Tips are fast advice for busy people- the perfect thing to read on that morning commute!

When you first move to Japan, you don’t always end up in the location you want right away. While you may settle in and come to enjoy your new home, there’s always going to be that “what if I lived in…” question in your mind. Eventually, you may decide to just pick up and move to a different city, prefecture, island or what have you. While you can do this and it is quite normal for foreigners to move in Japan, you may not realize how many steps are involved to ensure that the transition is a smooth one.

But fear not! We’re here to provide you with a few of the basic things you need to be aware of if you plan on moving within Japan in the near future!

“Foreigner-friendly” apartments

As a foreigner, (especially one who might not speak Japanese fluently) finding an apartment can be difficult. Some places won’t rent out to foreigners because either they can’t speak enough English or they don’t want to take the risk of having a foreigner just walk out mid-contract without paying the rent.

Fortunately, there are a number of foreigner-friendly options, be they large real estate companies like Leopalace or smaller, individually-managed apartment complexes. The best way to start looking for places to live is through websites such as gaijinpot.com, eheya.com, and realestate.co.jp. If you are coming to Japan to teach English, most companies will help you with finding an apartment or they will provide you with one. In some cases, they may be able to help with your search, especially if you are moving to another area for work.

The Cost

You should be aware of the costs of moving. Here are some things to know upfront:

• The costs of getting rid of unwanted items. Yes, you have to pay for some large items if you don’t plan on taking them with you. Thankfully, smaller items that are still in good, working condition can be sold off at second-hand shops like Hard Off or any place with a buy-back （買取）service. You may need to make several trips, and don’t expect to get more than a fraction of what you paid, but this is an effective way to offload items that you don’t need anymore or can’t transport that aren’t worth just throwing away.

• The initial costs can be high. You should prepare a couple months’ worth of rent, as well as a thing called key money, (reikin 礼金, a one-time gift to the landlord similar to a security deposit, although it’s non-refundable) cleaning fees, and lock fees. Not every apartment requires these, but it’s best to be prepared. One advantage of living in an apartment run by a large company like Leopalace is they will waive some of the fees if you move to another apartment run by them, even mid-contract.

• Moving companies can be expensive depending on how far you are moving and how much stuff you have to move. If you have a Japanese license or an international driver’s license you could rent your own truck but, again this could get expensive as well. For this, we would suggest having between ¥50,000 and ¥100,000. If you do decide to go with a moving company, be sure to have them come and give you a free estimate. And, if your Japanese is good enough or you have a friend with you, see what kind of discounts they are willing to give you so you use their services rather than a competitors’!

In Conclusion

While the cost of moving can become quite expensive in Japan, as people who have all moved at least once if not more, moving isn’t all that difficult when you are organized and have people willing to help you out. Lastly, please be aware that this article is just covering the actual move. There are other things you’ll have to do with moving, such as changing your address and managing utilities. Stay tuned for our guide to those in the future!

Looking to relocate in Japan, teach English and seeking a company able to assist you? Borderlink is looking for you! For more information, read all about the job of an ALT!

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Top Image: Irasutoya