Guides
Booking & Decisions
The choices you make before you book — stay type, paperwork, length, comparison frameworks. Read these to walk into the booking with the right questions.
-
October 7, 2026 NEW
Can a friend or family member stay in your Tokyo rental?
In a leased apartment, an overnight visitor is a question for your contract. In licensed lodging, the business must record every person who sleeps there. Find out which applies, then compare adding your visitor with booking them a hotel nearby.
Read guide -
September 4, 2026
No-guarantor Tokyo apartments: what to check
An apartment advertised without a guarantor can still have income checks, deposits or advance-payment terms. Find out which requirements apply to you, including how much rent and fees you must pay before moving in.
Read guide -
September 4, 2026
Subletting in Tokyo: check the landlord’s consent
A sublet can look convenient for both the person travelling and the person moving in. Check that the landlord has consented to the actual arrangement, and put the dates, payments and responsibilities in writing before anyone hands over keys.
Read guide -
August 22, 2026
Leaving a Tokyo apartment: bills, accounts and refunds
The order of your departure tasks depends on which contracts are in your name and what must happen before you leave. Agree the deposit refund method early, especially if your bank requires account closure before the money is due.
Read guide -
August 17, 2026
Student housing in Tokyo and your resident record
Your school, apartment company and ward office each need different information when you move to Tokyo. Sort out the home and the documents together, so an easy booking also works for the address procedures you need after arrival.
Read guide -
August 13, 2026
Finding a Tokyo home when you live abroad
Coming back to Japan for a while can leave you with a Japanese passport and no current Japanese address. Explain that early when enquiring, then separate the apartment company’s document requirements from the municipality’s rules for registering a home.
Read guide -
May 7, 2026
Tokyo monthly apartments: what to check before you book
Planning a month or more in Tokyo? Compare furnished apartments by the full cost of your stay, the equipment you need, and the booking terms, with a few practical checks before you commit.
Read guide -
May 5, 2026
Tokyo housing on a digital nomad visa
Japan's digital nomad status doesn't come with a residence card, so some rental application forms won't fit your documents. Furnished apartments are worth exploring, alongside other accommodation that confirms it can accept your status and dates.
Read guide -
May 1, 2026
What Japan’s one-month accommodation guidance says
A month-long booking can be a useful starting point for finding a Tokyo home, but it does not settle the legal arrangement. The official guidance considers how the place is offered and managed, as well as the planned length of stay.
Read guide -
April 25, 2026
Documents for a furnished Tokyo apartment
A furnished rental can have a shorter application than a conventional lease, but the paperwork still varies. Get the document list before preparing copies or sending sensitive records to places you’re still considering.
Read guide -
April 25, 2026
First Tokyo stay: book 30 days or commit to 90?
A first month can help you decide whether an apartment and neighbourhood suit you, but it doesn't reserve the months after it. Compare the longer-stay saving with cancellation costs and the cost of moving before choosing your initial dates.
Read guide -
April 20, 2026
Tokyo lodging or a lease: which contract are you booking?
Two homes advertised for sixty nights can come with different contracts and responsibilities. Learn where to find the distinction, why one month is not an automatic legal exemption, and which documents explain the end of a fixed-term lease.
Read guide -
April 20, 2026
Tokyo minimum stays: one month is not always 30 nights
A three-week trip can still mean paying a full month's rent. Here's how to compare that bill with a hotel quote, and what to check before committing to a longer stay for a discount.
Read guide -
April 16, 2026
Tokyo check-in during Golden Week and Obon
A closed booking office doesn't always prevent check-in, and a digital lock doesn't guarantee help will be available. Confirm the paperwork deadline, access instructions and support contact before the holiday begins, and find out what a hotel would cost if you can’t move in that day.
Read guide -
April 14, 2026
Japan's digital nomad visa: eligibility and documents
The income figure is only one part of a digital nomad application. Check the eligible-nationality list, your planned work and the insurance documents together before committing to accommodation, especially if a partner or child will travel with you.
Read guide -
April 11, 2026
Teiki shakka: reading a fixed-term Tokyo lease
A fixed-term lease can give you a clear end date, but staying longer needs a fresh agreement. Check the advance explanation and early-departure clause before signing, and keep the one-year notice rule separate from the rules for a short booking.
Read guide -
April 4, 2026
Why Tokyo furnished rentals often start at a month
A monthly minimum can make a furnished apartment awkward for a trip that is just a little shorter. Check how the company counts a month and prices your exact dates before changing flights or paying for nights you will not use.
Read guide -
March 31, 2026
What comes with a furnished Tokyo apartment?
Furniture and appliances don't tell you whether there's a pan for dinner, towels for the first shower or a place to dry clothes. Check the inventory for the exact unit and price any missing essentials before comparing the total cost.
Read guide -
March 28, 2026
Extending your Tokyo stay in the same apartment
Want to stay longer without moving? Find out whether the apartment is available, what the extra time will cost, and whether you need a new agreement.
Read guide -
March 23, 2026
A second Tokyo trip before a longer stay
A return visit is most useful when it answers something your holiday didn't: the commute, the season or the cost of ordinary days. Choose a few questions to test, then compare that benefit with the cost of another trip.
Read guide -
March 9, 2026
Tokyo hokenjo licensing: what guests should check
The public health office handles lodging licences, but the length of your booking won’t tell you whether the home needs one. Ask for the exact address and the licence or registration the company uses, then check those details with the local ward.
Read guide -
March 4, 2026
Booking a Tokyo apartment for October or November
An autumn search gets harder when every requirement is fixed: exact dates, one neighbourhood and a particular layout. Start with those essentials, ask when bookings open, and compare small date changes before assuming you need to change the whole trip.
Read guide -
February 26, 2026
Tokyo housing: digital nomad, tourist or business stay
Your immigration status matters to a housing application, but it doesn't tell you the rent or cancellation policy. Explain your documents and dates early, then compare written offers for the accommodation you can actually book.
Read guide -
February 7, 2026
Checking a Tokyo minpaku registration number
A registration number is useful when it belongs to the home you are actually booking. Check the address and the date of the official list too, then ask the local office about any mismatch you cannot resolve.
Read guide -
February 1, 2026
The email to send before booking a Tokyo apartment
Start with your dates, the number of people staying and anything the apartment must have. This short email asks for availability and a full quote; the follow-up questions help you check the terms before booking.
Read guide -
January 25, 2026
When to start looking for a Tokyo monthly apartment
A furnished booking may move quickly once the room and documents are ready, while another application has several approvals still ahead. Work backwards from your arrival date and ask which steps must finish before the company will release the keys.
Read guide -
January 16, 2026
Who approves changes to your Tokyo apartment booking?
The person answering your booking email may need someone else's approval for a change. Ask which rule applies, who can decide and when you'll have an answer, so you can keep a workable alternative while the request is reviewed.
Read guide -
January 7, 2026
Do you need a guarantor for a 60-day Tokyo rental?
Some furnished rentals accept a booking without a guarantor; others require a paid guarantee company even for a short stay. Here's how to check the requirements and compare the fees.
Read guide -
January 5, 2026
Fire safety in Tokyo rentals, hotels and minpaku
A booking label can't tell you whether a particular alarm or escape route meets the building's requirements. Ask for the accommodation's safety instructions, learn your way out on arrival, and raise defects with the manager promptly.
Read guide -
December 21, 2025
Choosing a Tokyo stay: apartment, sharehouse or hotel
A private kitchen, people to share dinner with, or someone at reception can each make a longer stay easier. Compare the arrangements you'll use every day, then check the full price and terms for your dates.
Read guide -
December 8, 2025
Renting a furnished Tokyo home as a foreigner
A furnished apartment can make a stay of several months easier to organise, with less household setup after arrival. Check the company's accepted documents and full terms early, then confirm the exact home and handover before arranging your move.
Read guide