Housing
What do I need to rent an apartment in Japan, and do I need a guarantor?
Most private rentals ask for a guarantor or require you to use a guarantor company. Prepare your residence card, proof of income or savings, a Japanese phone number and an emergency contact. Students may be asked for proof of enrolment.
Guarantor companies usually screen your application and charge an initial fee, often 50–100% of one month's rent, plus ongoing or renewal fees. Budget for the other move-in charges too. If this is difficult, compare share houses, school dormitories and UR housing. UR does not require a guarantor, but income or savings conditions still apply.
What may vary
Screening outcomes depend on the landlord and the guarantor company, which typically check your residence card, income or school status and an emergency contact; whether a particular landlord accepts you is decided case by case. UR's current standard for a single applicant is monthly income of four times the rent for rents under ¥62,500, a fixed ¥250,000 for rents up to ¥200,000, or savings of 100 times the rent; prepaying rent waives the income test. Some schools can act as joint guarantor for their students, so ask your international office. The guarantor company's renewal fee is often about ¥10,000 a year or a small monthly charge. MLIT publishes a free apartment-search guidebook in 14 languages.
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