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Settling in

By CarterWittMedia

Most foreigners flinch at the idea of paying hundreds of thousands of yen to a landlord just to move in. As mentioned, the monies required, a combination of present or key money (reikin), security deposit (shikikin) and guarantee money (hoshokin) can total about eight months rent – and that's before you've paid the agent a commission. There are a number of foreigner-oriented housing companies that can find apartments for which no key money or deposit is required. The selection is not as extensive, however, and you may find that rents are adjusted to include key money-just on a monthly basis.

The practice of giving one or two months' rent as a gift (the key money mentioned above) to the building's owner originated after World War II, when demand for housing far outstripped supply. While the government tried to protect the rights of tenants through rent control, the lack of capital made it hard for any landowner to amass the cash to construct new buildings. Landlords started demanding key money and got it because it was a seller's market. The system became institutionalized and is now standard practice, although there are exceptions.

In addition to key money, tenants are required to pay anywhere from one to four months' rent as shikikin. Theoretically, this money is refundable, but landlords often use it to pay for any damages-sometimes even normal wear and tear-and return just a fraction, if any, of what you paid. Look for phrases like "Natural wear and dirt are the responsibility of the landlord" or "The tenant is responsible for fixing intentional damage," if you want your deposit back.

Many landlords will use the security money to replace tatami mats, sliding doors (fusuma) or general cleaning, but the Consumer Contract Law (shohisha keiyakuho) enacted in 2000, protects tenants against these unreasonable practices. Interestingly, tenants have won the majority of disputes over deposits since the enactment of this law. To play it safe, don't return your key until you get your deposit back.

In some cities, especially in the Kansai area in western Japan, there is a slightly different system. Instead of key money and deposits, you pay a guarantee deposit (hoshokin), usually equivalent to about three to five months' rent, half of which you can expect to get back.

Rather than rail about how unfair the system is, it's best just to go with the flow. Tally up the deposits, key money and real estate fees, divide by the number of months you plan to be there and think of that as your real rent. It may be cheaper in the long run to pay it all up front. For example, if rent is ¥50,000, plus another ¥100,000 in key money, it would be cheaper than paying ¥60,000 in rent with no key money if you stay for a year.

Finding Apartments
The Wind Site
http://mjukis.net/wind/index_E.htm

Sharese
http://www.sharese.com

Overseas Corporation
Listings for luxury apartments and houses.
(03) 3562-2061
http://www.overseas.co.jp

H&R Consultants
Japan Home Search
Real estate services.
http://www.japanhomesearch.com
Tokyo (03) 5575-2340
Nagoya (052) 973-3957
Osaka (06) 6344-2223

Housing Japan Inc.
Real estate services for the Tokyo area.
http://www.housingjapan.net
(03) 5545-4407

Consumer Contract Law
http://www.consumer.go.jp/e/cca/index.html

Gaijin Houses
In Tokyo:
The Wind Site
http://mjukis.net/wind/index_E.htm

Kimi Information Center
http://www.kimiwillbe.com

In Osaka:
Orange House, Banana House and Melon Apartment
http://www.oct.zaq.ne.jp/orange

Serviced Apartments
Azabu Court
http://www.azabucourt.com
frontdesk@azabucourt.com
Phone: (03) 3446-8610
Fax: (03) 3442-3344

Leo Palace 21
http://www.eg.leopalace21.com

The Mansions Roppongi/Azabu
http://www.themansions.jp
(03) 5414-7070
(03) 5414-7088 Fax

A list of serviced apartments is available at:
http://www.moveandstay.com/tokyo

Telecommunications
NTT English Information
0120-364-463
http://www.ntt-west.co.jp/service_guide/index.html

Townpage
http://english.itp.ne.jp/index.html

AT&T
(03) 5561-5750

ICS Direct
(03) 5470-1590

IDC
0120-030-061
http://cwidc.com/JP/EN/index.html

DDI (Domestic Only)
(06) 6451-0417

Japan Telecom
0088-41
http://www.japan-telecom.co.jp/english

KDD/KDDI
0057
http://www.kddi.com/english/telephone/index.html

MYLINE
http://www.myline.org/index_e.html
Their list of participating carriers
http://www.myline.org/content7e.html.

A great search function that finds the best deals.
http://www.kakaku.com/myline/ (Japanese only)

Internet Phones
@Nifty Phone
http://www.nifty.com/international/?top13

Dion
http://www.dion.ne.jp/english/index.html

NTT’s JENS ipPhone
Lets you call abroad from landlines, cell-phones, pay phones, hotels, and even from overseas.
http://www.ip-phone.jp/en/ipphone/index.html

Internet:
ISP Japan
Information on Internet service providers in Japan.
http://www.ispjapan.org

Yahoo! BB
0120-919-820
http://www.bbapply.com/.
http://bbpromo.yahoo.co.jp/ (Japanese only)

English forum for Yahoo! BB users.
http://www.eikaiwa.net/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi

GOL
http://home.gol.com/english/index.html
Personal Services: 0120-987-800
sales@gol.com
Corporate Services: (03) 3239-6881
corpsales@gol.com

Asahi Net
0570-01-3522
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/en/adsl.html

Dion
0077-7076
http://www.dion.ne.jp/english/index.html

Freecom
http://www.freecom.ne.jp (Japanese only)

Livedoor
http://isp.livedoor.com/join/plan/frbs (Japanese only)

USEN Broadband; 100Mbps fiber connections (Japanese only)
http://www.gate01.com

Post Office
Post Office
http://www.post.japanpost.jp/english/fee/index.html
For help in English about postal matters, call (03) 5472-5851.

Courier Services
Federal Express
0120-003-200
http://www.fedex.com/jp_english

DHL
0120-39-2580
http://www.dhl.co.jp/eng/inquiry/index.html

Pakmail
http://www.pakmail.co.jp/index_e.html

Shipping Companies
Yamato Transport
0120-008008
http://www.kuronekoyamato.co.jp/

Bookshops and Libraries
Bookstores in Japan
Guide to book buying in Japan, including an extensive list of stores.
http://www.geocities.com/evelynleeper/jp-misc.htm

Japan Foundation Library
http://www.jpf.go.jp/e/about/library/index.html

Online bookstores:
Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.jp

Skysoft
http://www.skysoft.co.jp/English

Newspapers
The Japan Times
http://www.japantimes.co.jp

The Daily Yomiuri
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm

Mainichi Daily News
http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp

International Herald Tribune
http://www.iht.com

Online Newspapers
Links to thousands of newspapers all over the world.
http://www.onlinenewspapers.com

J@pan Inc. newsletters, including Frugal Watch
http://www.japaninc.net/newsletters

Cable and Satellite Providers
Its TV
0120-109-119
http://www.itscom.jp (Japanese only)

StarCat
0120-181-374
http://www.starcat.co.jp/english

You TV
0120-317-230
http://www.netyou.jp (Japanese only)