Guides
Renting in Tokyo, explained.
Plain-language guides on the parts of the Tokyo rental market that most often catch newcomers off guard. Written by our advisors, drawn from the questions clients actually ask.
Reading list
Start here.
Costs
8 min read
Move-in costs in Tokyo, line by line.
The standard 4–6 months of rent up front, broken down: deposit, key money, agency fee, guarantor, fire insurance, lock change, cleaning. What is negotiable, what is not, and the hidden fees worth watching for.
Coming soonFor international renters
10 min read
Foreigner-friendly leases: what changes, what doesn't.
Why some landlords decline non-Japanese applicants, how guarantor companies bridge the gap, what documents you actually need, and how to position your application so you are competing on the same footing as a Japanese applicant.
Coming soonCosts
7 min read
Deposit and key money: the Japanese rental tradition.
Reikin (key money), shikikin (deposit), and the newer shikibiki (deposit amortisation) — what they are, why they exist, how much you should expect in central Tokyo, and how to find ¥0 reikin / ¥0 shikibiki listings without sacrificing quality.
Coming soonAreas
12 min read
Tokyo's eight central wards: which one fits your life.
Minato, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Chiyoda, Chuo, Meguro, Setagaya, Shinagawa — what each ward feels like to actually live in, who tends to settle there, and the trade-offs between them on commute, schools, dining, and rent.
Coming soon
Tokyo Rent Desk
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