Find Accommodation in Tokyo

Thinking about moving to Tokyo?
Below is a brief guide to help you find accommodation in Tokyo.
 
There are essentially 3 types of accommodations here in Tokyo:
 
 1. Guesthouse / Sharehouse / Dorm
2. Short-term furnished apartment / Airbnb
3. Long-term unfurnished apartment
 
Guesthouse / Sharehouse / Dorm
   usually ¥65,000 per month for a 12m2 room.
 
Short-term (SakuraHouse / Airbnb )
In main city areas (Shinjuku and Shibuya wards)  – typically ¥100,000 per month for a 12m2 room + bathroom and hallway kitchen.
Short-term
   In areas ~30 min from Shinjuku and Shibuya wards –  could be as low as ¥70,000 per month for a 12m2 room + bathroom and hallway kitchen.
Airbnb
   In areas ~30 min from Shinjuku and Shibuya wards –  could be as low as ¥70,000 per month for a 12m2 room + bathroom and hallway kitchen.
 
Long-term (suumo.jp or homes.jp)
   In main city areas (Shinjuku and Shibuya wards) – ¥80,000 month for 30-40m2. Examples 1
   In areas ~30 min from Shinjuku and Shibuya wards – ¥70,000 per month for 40m2. Examples 2
 
There are 2 issues associated with long-term apartments:
 
1. A large sum of money is paid upfront. If you rent a long-term apartment, you should expect to spend between ¥2-300,000 yen when signing a contract. Some apartments also charge a 1-month renewal fee every 2 years.
 
2. It is very difficult to apply for these kinds of apartments outside of Japan. Most real estate companies cannot assist clients in English and landlords have the right to refuse any potential tenant. However, it may be possible if you can communicate in Japanese.  There are some English-speaking Real Estate Companies here, but their properties typically start from ¥100,000. Also, please note that you most likely would not be able to rent a long-term apartment without a long-term visa.
 
   In short, there are many real estate companies on the internet to look through, but SakuraHouse or Airbnb may be the least painful process in the beginning. Once you have a chance to find an area you really like, you could visit a local real estate shop.

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