· Updated
By the HalfKey team
Tokyo furnished rentals: get the full fee breakdown
The rent on a listing may leave out cleaning, utilities and fees due before or after your stay. A complete quote should show both what you will spend and how much money you need before arrival, including any deposit.
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Ask for the total for your dates, not just the monthly or nightly rent, when comparing Tokyo furnished apartments. A listing may clearly state the rent but leave out what you will pay for utilities, cleaning or booking fees.
A useful written breakdown separates mandatory costs, refundable money and optional services, with a payment date for each. It lets you compare the stay's cost and the cash you'll need before arrival.
Check how a monthly price becomes a daily price
A published Union Monthly listing explains how it charges for days in the arrival and departure months. It adds the monthly rent and common charges, divides by 30 and rounds up any fraction. That rule is different from dividing by the actual number of days in that calendar month.
If the monthly rent and common charges total a made-up ¥180,000, ten billable days cost ¥60,000 when the monthly amount is divided by 30. Dividing by 31 instead would produce about ¥58,065, a difference of about ¥1,935. Those are example amounts, not the listing’s quote.
Ask how the company calculates the rent when you stay for only part of a month, and which days it charges for. You need both to check the total, even if the quote lists every fee.
Six fees to get in writing before you sign
Departure cleaning. Ask how much the clean costs, what work it includes, when you must pay and when extra charges can apply. If you cancel before arrival, would you still owe this fee, and would an advance payment be refunded? The cleaning-fee guide explains the effect on shorter stays.
Utilities and common-area charges. Ask which services are included and whether the price stays the same, covers only a certain amount of use, or depends on what you use. Keep 共益費 (kyōekihi), the common-area charge, separate from apartment utilities unless the agreement explicitly combines them.
Refundable deposit. Ask what the company can deduct, when it will return the rest and how it will pay you. You need the deposit money upfront, and may not get all of it back or receive it immediately after checkout.
Key money and setup charges. Ask whether any non-refundable signing, application or administration fee applies. Key money is a non-refundable payment to the landlord. A short stay does not automatically mean you can avoid this fee.
Brokerage or booking fees. Confirm whether you are booking directly with the company renting the apartment or paying someone else to arrange the booking. Ask who receives each fee. Ask how much you must pay including tax.
Mid-stay cleaning and linen. Ask whether cleaning visits are included, whether you must pay for them separately, or whether you can choose to book them. Some apartments offer no visits at all. Include any cleaning you must pay for in the total cost of the stay.
Request a quote, then fill the gaps
Start with a short request:
Hello, I'm interested in [unit reference] from [start date] to [end date] for [number of guests]. Could you send the full price for those dates, including mandatory fees and utilities, with the refundable deposit listed separately?
Once you have the quote, follow up on anything it leaves out. The fee list above will help; you don't need to repeat questions the quote already answers. Before committing, also read the deposit-return and cancellation terms and ask how any estimated charges become a final bill.
Compare the reply with the draft agreement. If the amounts or terms differ, ask the company to correct or explain them before you pay. If someone explains a change by phone, ask them to confirm it in writing when it affects what you must pay or do.
What a complete fee table looks like
This example covers 90 nights, billed as three 30-night periods. The prices are made up; they are neither a real apartment quote nor an indication of typical Tokyo prices:
| Charge | Calculation | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | ¥6,800 × 90 nights | ¥612,000 |
| Departure cleaning | Once | ¥24,000 |
| Fixed utility charge | ¥9,000 × 3 | ¥27,000 |
| Common-area charge | ¥4,500 × 3 | ¥13,500 |
| Total before optional cleaning | Sum of the above | ¥676,500 |
| Refundable deposit | None in this example | ¥0 |
| Optional mid-stay cleaning | ¥5,500 per visit | Add if booked |
In this example, ¥676,500 is the cost before optional cleaning. The payment schedule tells you how much of it is due before arrival.
Your quote may use calendar months, days or 30-night periods. These can produce different totals for the same stay. Ask whether the total includes taxes and how the company calculated the charge for any days that fall outside a full month or billing period.
When the answer is still incomplete
Point to the missing item: “Does the total include departure cleaning?” is easier to answer than “Are there hidden fees?” If the final utility charge depends on how much you use, ask how much use is included and how the company charges for anything above that amount. A bill from a similar past stay may help you budget, though your own use will differ.
Once two quotes are complete, compare the cancellation terms and the apartment features you need. Keep the accepted quote with the agreement and receipts so you can check later invoices against the same figures.