LIVING IN JAPAN
Why Landlords Reject Foreigners in Japan — and the Part That Isn't Racism
A licensed Japanese real estate professional explains the real reasons landlords reject foreign tenants — language risk, guarantor gaps, and the parts that…
LIVING IN JAPAN
Relocation & Living
Renting, guarantors, move-in costs, and the culture of actually living here.
All 8 articles
LIVING IN JAPAN
"Japanese Only" Listings Decoded: What the Landlord Is Actually Afraid Of
A Tokyo licensed real estate professional decodes "Japanese only" rental listings — the real fears behind them, when they're negotiable, and how to find…
LIVING IN JAPAN
The Guarantor System Explained by Someone Who's Stood on Both Sides of It
A Tokyo licensed real estate professional explains Japan's rental guarantor system from both sides — as a tenant who needed one and as a licensed agent who's…
LIVING IN JAPAN
Guarantor Company vs Personal Guarantor: Why Tokyo Now Wants Both
Why are Tokyo landlords asking for both a guarantee company AND a personal guarantor?
LIVING IN JAPAN
Key Money (Reikin): The ¥0-Return Gift to Your Landlord, and How to Avoid It
A Tokyo licensed real estate professional explains key money (reikin) — the non-refundable gift to your landlord — where it came from, how much it costs, and…
LIVING IN JAPAN
Reikin, Shikikin, Chukai: Decoding the 5 Move-In Fees That Double Your First Month
A licensed Tokyo real estate professional decodes Japan's 5 move-in fees — what each is, why it exists, and how to reduce your upfront costs as a foreign…
LIVING IN JAPAN
How I Passed Rental Tenant Screening as a Foreigner on My Third Try
A licensed Tokyo real estate professional shares the exact document changes and guarantor switch that helped a foreign renter pass tenant screening after two…
LIVING IN JAPAN
The Rental Application Documents Foreigners Forget — and the One That Sinks You
A licensed Tokyo real estate professional lists every document needed for Japan rental applications as a foreigner, plus the one missing item that causes the…