how to find an apartment in Japan Part 1: Choose the correct time to move

Here's comes January!

Not only foreigners who live in Japan but also Japanese are moving from their hometown or the old house to the new house.

I wonder lots of things when I first came to Tokyo.

Why lots of people tend to move in April?

Once I asked one of my Japanese friend. The answer was

"Becase it's the best time of the year, it's the time of Spring, it's the time of beginning with your work and study"

I see....

 

So in one hand, it's quite convenient to find house during end of Jan till the beginning of March since people are moving and changing so lots of houses are available for you to choose. On the other hand, it's quite difficult in terms of shortage of thinking time.

 

During that time A good, nice, reasonable house will be taken by others if you not decide on that day.

 

Remember not only you who are finding the house others also.

 

So the first thing to do is choosing the nice time to find the house

 

I recommend Faster is Better! Actually I've already moved to the new house since December, the month that rarely people moved.

 

Of course, for some point of views I might have few choices but I got a nice price with small amount of Reikin(Thank you money) and Shiki-kin(Deposit) and also not big not small house which located nearby my college in the central of Tokyo. ( I will explain about it later on)

So don't forget move in a right time and take a nice move.

★My recommendation:

1. Gathering information End of Jan - Beginning of Feb or A month before you move (using internet maybe the best)

2. Visit the Agency : In Tokyo, Fudoyasan 不動屋さん has both English-speaking Agency or normal Agency

But if you can speak Japanese, it will be pretty easier to find a house

(seriously Japanese House Owners mostly prefer the lender who cans speak Japanese)

3. Go to see the real place Choose at least 2 and go to see the see the comparison. Don't go to see a lot of places in one day! And better go on the daytime so you can sense the sunlight whether it enters your room directly or not.

(Got the Sunlight means your room needs to face the SOUTH or Minami in Japanese)

Room in Japan are rated like this: South, West, East, North

South is the Best and most expensive and North is Cold and easily got fungi in Summer or Winter but it's cheapest compared to others.

However, if you live in 1st floor, even you are in South (Minami) it's useless!

 

Next Part: How to gather the information!