Renting a furnished Tokyo home as a foreigner

For a stay of a few months in Tokyo, start with a furnished home that fits your dates, budget and daily needs. Before reserving it online, check which documents you'll need and when cancellation charges begin. You may be committing money before your application is approved.

The furniture is only part of the convenience. Utilities, internet and equipment may already be arranged, saving you work after arrival. Check what is actually included, though: a monthly-rental label doesn't guarantee cooking equipment or unlimited utilities.

Start with the stay you'll make

Start with your dates, the number of people staying and your budget for the whole trip. Add any essentials, such as lift access, space for two people to work or permission for a pet. Include those details when you enquire about an apartment, along with where you’ll need to commute.

Compare accommodation types before deciding. A sharehouse can be worth considering if you want shared spaces and company. A hotel or aparthotel may suit a stay where reception and housekeeping matter more than a private kitchen.

Each rental company has its own booking requirements. Oakhouse, for example, advertises apartments from one month with no guarantor. Check the requirements for the particular home you want.

Check which documents you need

Tell the company your immigration status and whether you'll have a residence card. Ask which documents you'd need to apply and how to send them securely when you're ready. Don't assume a company accepts every applicant because its website is in English.

If you'll receive a residence card after entering Japan, ask what you can submit now and what can follow later. ISA's procedure guide explains where people who qualify for residence cards receive them: at airports including Narita and Haneda, or generally by post after reporting their address if they enter elsewhere.

Short-term visitors and digital nomads won't receive a residence card. Sakura House's check-in list, for example, asks for a passport and a residence card only if you have one. Confirm the requirements for the apartment you're considering before applying. Our document guide explains the paperwork in more detail.

An emergency contact is someone to call when needed; a guarantor agrees to cover unpaid rent under a guarantee agreement. If the rental requires a guarantor, ask whether it accepts an individual or requires a paid guarantee company, and get the terms before asking anyone to sign.

Compare the full price and the cash due upfront

Request the rent, mandatory fees, utilities, internet, cleaning, taxes where applicable and any refundable deposit for your exact dates. The quote should also say whether you owe key money, a non-refundable payment to the landlord, an agent fee, or a fee for a guarantee company. Furnished homes are not automatically exempt from those charges.

Use two totals: the expected cost of the stay and the money needed before arrival. A refundable deposit can make the second figure higher without necessarily increasing the final cost. Ask when and how it will be returned and what deductions are allowed.

For a made-up two-month example, ¥200,000 monthly rent plus a ¥30,000 mandatory cleaning fee gives a ¥430,000 cost before any other charges. If a refundable ¥50,000 deposit is also due, you would pay ¥480,000 in total, including the deposit. The payment schedule tells you how much of that is needed now.

Read the terms before reserving

MetroResidences’ FAQ says a cancellation charge applies if you cancel after online pre-booking. It also says screening starts once all documents have been submitted, and the digital lease follows screening. You could therefore owe a cancellation charge before you have seen the lease.

If you’re unsure whether your documents will be accepted, resolve that before pre-booking. Ask for the terms with the quote, so you know what you would owe if the application or your travel plans change. Other rentals may use a different sequence; find out which step commits you to a charge.

A monthly apartment can be booked as guest accommodation, like a hotel, or rented as your home under a residential lease. Ask which arrangement applies. For a fixed-term lease, check when it ends. Before you sign, the landlord must give you a statement that the lease ends without renewal and explain it to you. A monthly advertisement alone doesn't identify the contract.

Read what happens if you cancel before arrival, leave early or want to stay longer. Find out how to give notice and what each change would cost. If your visa or assignment is unresolved, choose terms you can afford if the dates change.

Ask who you are signing with: the owner, a company renting the home from the owner, or someone else. Save the agreement and payment details, and clarify whom to contact for repairs and building issues.

Confirm the apartment you will actually receive

Ask whether the photos show the exact unit. Check the table and chair, what you can cook with, where you can wash and dry clothes, the bed sizes and the storage space. Look for somewhere to put your suitcases after unpacking; wide-angle photos can make a compact room look larger.

For utilities, ask about allowances and extra charges. For internet, ask what connection is supplied and whether there are restrictions relevant to your work. The inclusions guide covers the details that make a home usable from the first evening.

Arrange the key handover before travelling

Before flying, confirm that the application, agreement and required payment are complete. Save the address, building entrance, room number, access time and key instructions offline. Ask what to do if your flight is delayed or the lock doesn't work.

Bring any original documents the company asks to see at check-in. On arrival, compare the furniture and equipment with the list you were given, and record any existing damage or missing items promptly.