Let's find a place to live Place to Live

There are various options to live in,
including student dormitories and apartments.
Let's see how you can find the best place to live.

Where to Live in Japan 4 Choices
to select from

01

If you want to interact with
students and at a low cost Student
Dormitory

Advantages

  • Less expensive than apartments (No security deposit, key money, or renewal fee required in most cases)
  • In most cases, you need to buy your furniture, appliances, etc.

Disadvantages

  • Not all applicants can move in due to the limited number of rooms.
  • In some cases kitchen, toilet, and bath may be shared

Types of Student Dormitories

Student dormitories at your school

Some schools provide dormitories and other accommodations for International Students.
Since it depends on school, please contact your school office.

02

If you want to live in Japan
at your pace for a long time Rent

Advantages

  • You can manage your daily routine freely.
  • You can develop a sense of finance.

Disadvantages

  • In many cases, Shiki-kin (a security deposit, equal to several months' rent. It is also called “Hosyo-kin” in some areas) and key money, agency fees, etc. must be paid in advance.
  • The rental contract process is complicated.
  • You need to buy your furniture, appliances, etc.

Types of rental housing

UR Rental Housing (former public housing)

There are 750,000 rental housing units available nationwide. No guarantor, key money, agent fees, or renewal fees are required, and only a two-month security deposit is required. International Students are also able to move in under the same requirements as Japanese nationals.

Private rental housing

There are five major types of private rental housing, as shown below.

Apartment
Wooden or prefabricated construction, usually a two-story apartment building. Kitchens and toilets are shared or private, and some do not have baths.
Large apartment / Condominium (called Mansion in Japan)
It is a reinforced concrete housing complex, usually three or more stories high. In addition to the rooms, there is a kitchen, toilet, and bath. Rooms on higher floors often have higher rents.
Single-family home
It is an independent house. They are usually one or two stories high with a small garden. Of course, they have a kitchen, bath, and toilet.
Homestay
In this program, students stay with a Japanese host family as a member of the family. This is a popular option for International Students as it allows them to learn about Japanese culture and customs.
Shared house
The living room, kitchen, bathroom, etc. of a single-family home with many rooms are shared, and the private rooms are used as private spaces. This type of housing offers a good location with relatively inexpensive rent.

Rental Housing Contracts

Sign a lease contract with the landlord or real estate agent. When you sign the contract, you will pay a deposit (equivalent to several months' rent), key money, and an agent's commission. Most rooms are unfurnished, so you will need to provide your own furniture.

Co-signer

A “co-signer” is required in most cases of moving into a residence. If you do not pay rent by the due date, or if you damage equipment in your room and do not pay for repairs, the landlord can demand payment from your cosigner.

  • If a co-signer cannot be found, the following options are available.

Comprehensive Renter's Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan (run by JEES)

Some schools offer this program to serve as a co-signer for your housing. In order to take advantage of this system, the following conditions must be met.

  • The school must be a member of the International Student Housing Compensation Program.
  • You must purchase the insurance specified by the program (premiums are 4,000 yen for one year and 8,000 yen for two years).
  • Landlord agrees to institutional guarantee under this program.

For more information, please contact each school office.

03

If you need to find temporary housing
to find a place to
live on your own
after coming to Shizuoka Temporary
residence

This is temporary housing for those who are looking for a place to live after arriving in Shizuoka. Contracts can be made on a monthly or weekly basis.
(Guesthouses and hostels are treated differently because they are not residences but inns or other accommodations.)

Types of temporary housing

Monthly / Weekly apartment

You can move in and out easily and stay at a relatively low cost. In many cases, household items such as TVs, air conditioners, beds, and refrigerators are equipped.

Guesthouse/Hostel

Shared use of lthe iving room, kitchen, toilet, shower room, etc.
Some places require a deposit to be paid in advance when signing a contract.

04

If you have been in Japan for over
a year, and want to save money Public
housing

This is a program provided by local governments. To apply, you must have lived in Japan for at least one year and have a relative living in the area. However, in some cases, conditions may be more flexible or preferential for International Students.

Point Tips for choosing a residence

Many schools have their own partnerships with real estate agents to help students find safe and secure housing.

If you are looking for a room through a real estate agent on your own, you should go with a Japanese friend, a guarantor, or an older student who speaks fluent Japanese to help you negotiate

  1. Recommended housing
    from your school
    Japanese universities, special training schools, and Japanese language schools introduce their students to private accommodations around the school. Please inquire at your school office for the details.
  2. Find a room with
    a real estate agent
    Real estate agents help you to find apartments and condominiums. You can find the signs like “◯◯ Real Estate” and “XX Home” in many areas around train stations.
  3. Search for a room
    on the Internet
    You can search by the area where you want to live, the name of the university where you will study, or the rent you want to pay. If you find a property you are interested in, you can inquire online or visit a real estate agent in person.

Monthly cost of housing

Student dormitory

28,000 yen
(for JASSO Tokyo Japanese Language Education Center)

Apartments

The price varies greatly depending on the popularity of the station, distance from the station, and the age of the building. In the countryside of Japan, you can find an apartment for around 30,000-40,000 yen. But in Tokyo, an apartment under 60,000 yen is one of the target prices.