Our $1000/Month Japanese Apartment Tour in Tokyo | Renting in Japan as a Foreigner

In this video, I’m sharing a full tour of our $1000/month Japanese apartment in Tokyo (3DK, about 50 sqm). I’ll show how we organize the space, small upgrades we made, and what it’s really like renting in Japan as a foreigner.

I’ll also talk about where to find Japanese apartments, how much rent costs, and things I wish I knew before moving in. Whether you’re planning to live in Japan or just curious, I hope you enjoy this peek into our daily life.

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Hello my dears! I hope everyone is doing well. Last time, I received a message from a friend asking, how did I rent my Japanese apartment. As a foreigner in Japan, finding a long-term place to live can be quite a challenge. Most Japanese landlords are hesitant to rent to foreigners due to several reasons. First reason is the language barrier, it makes communication difficult, especially when it comes to emergencies or understanding building rules. Second is cultural differences because it often lead to concerns that foreigners might not follow local customs. Like proper trash separation, keeping quiet during certain hours, or respecting neighbors. Most Japanese apartments have thin walls, so even soft music or conversations can be heard by your neighbors. Third, some landlords assume foreigners are only staying short-term and might suddenly move out without notice. So renting here wasn’t easy. To rent a Japanese Apartment there’s a lot of requirements. You’ll need a residence card, a Japanese phone number, and an emergency contact. Most landlords also require a guarantor or guarantor company, along with proof of income or employment for financial security. For foreigners who don’t have any acquaintances here, a guarantor company is helpful. They cover the rent if foreigner can’t pay, and the fee is usually 50 to 100% of one month’s rent, plus a small yearly renewal. Initial moving costs in Japan can be very expensive. There’s something called key money, which is a non-refundable gift to the landlord, usually equal to one or two months’ rent. Imagine, I had to give a non-refundable gift to my landlord just to say thank you for letting me rent the place. You’ll also need to pay a deposit, which is refundable, but cleaning or repair costs might be deducted when you move out. The real estate agency will also charge a fee, typically equal to one month’s rent. You’ll need to pay your first month’s rent in advance, and if you’re using a guarantor company, that also comes with a fee. In Japan, it’s normal to pay four to six months worth of rent before you even get the keys😅. Most Japanese people consider more than just the rent when looking for an apartment. They carefully check the location, whether it’s close to train stations, supermarkets, and their workplace or school. South-facing apartments are especially popular because they get more sunlight throughout the day. For women, first-floor units are often avoided due to safety and privacy concerns. I still remember when I was living in Niigata Prefecture. One of my colleagues had her underwear stolen from the balcony. Since then, I’ve always made sure to choose a unit on the second floor or higher. It’s also important to check if the apartment is pet-friendly, especially if you plan to have a cat or dog in the future. Not all apartments allow pets, and some charge extra deposits or cleaning fees. Another important thing to know is how Japanese apartment sizes are labeled. Instead of square meters alone, apartments are described using the “LDK” system. “L” stands for living room, “D” for dining area, and “K” for kitchen. For example, a “1LDK” means one bedroom plus a combined living, dining, and kitchen area. If you see “2DK,” it means two bedrooms with a dining and kitchen space, but usually no separate living room. Studios are labeled as “1R,” which means one room without a separate kitchen or bedroom. It’s a simple system, but it really helps give an idea of how the space is arranged. When choosing a home, it’s also important to know the difference between a “mansion” and an “apāto. A “mansion” in Japan refers to a modern, concrete building that’s more earthquake-resistant and better insulated. An “apāto,” on the other hand, is typically a smaller wooden building, often older and less soundproof. Mansions tend to be quieter and more durable, while apāto units are usually more affordable. Next year, our two-year apartment contract will end. The rent here has been quite heavy for both of us. I’ve been thinking about finding a smaller place. To be honest, I dream of owning a small room or house, something I can truly call my own. Not having to worry about rent or the fear of losing a place to live would mean so much. But right now, I don’t have enough savings to make that happen yet. Still, I continue to take small steps, working, saving, and hoping for a more stable future. I often look for real estate agents who specialize in helping foreigners. Websites like Homes.co.jp, GaijinPot Apartments, and Suumo are very useful. They offer English support, detailed filters, and listings that are foreigner-friendly, it makes the search process a lot easier and less overwhelming. Anyhow, let’s start the apartment tour. First is the genkan, or the entryway where you take off your shoes before entering. The door is made of steel for security and fire safety, which is very common in Japanese apartments. This one has a double lock, which gives a bit of extra peace of mind. The door is really heavy😅. There’s also a peephole on the door, which is a standard feature in most apartments. I attached a magnetic key hook with a small storage to keep our keys organized right by the door. I also hooked an eco bag near the door, so it’s easy to grab when we head out for groceries. Are shoehorns commonly used in other countries? I’m not used to it, because we don’t really use these in my country. Another eco bag ☺️. I also attached a magnetic umbrella holder that collects water at the bottom, which helps keep the entryway clean. This mailbox isn’t used very often, most of the time, it only receives printed ads or flyers. Right next to the entryway, there’s a built-in shoe cabinet. In Japan, it’s common to take off your shoes before entering the home, so having this space is really helpful. On top of the shoe cabinet, I place my lucky cats and a few other items. I keep a lint roller to make my clothes look neat and fresh before going out. Mask. Allergy face spray. I often forget my tripod when I go out, so now I place it near the door to remind myself. There’s a small storage space on the upper part, where I keep random things like a raincoat and gloves. Shoe leather cleaner. The door near the entrance leads to the toilet room. The toilet is separate from the bath area. The toilet has a bidet, which is really common in Japan. There’s a small storage shelf on the upper part of the toilet room, we use it to store extra toilet paper, tissues, and other bathroom essentials. Here is the laundry area. I placed a tension rod above to stock a few items like laundry detergent and washing machine cleaner. This washing machine has a dryer function, and it’s a heat pump type so it saves energy compared to regular dryers. This is the brand of liquid detergent we use. Most of the time, my boyfriend does the laundry. We don’t use fabric softener. Here are some cleaning items. This one is a foldable mirror wiper, it automatically squeezes out the water when it folds. This one is an aircon dust wiper, perfect for reaching into small vents and corners. This window glass wiper has an attached spray bottle, so you can spray and wipe at the same time. This one is a diamond glass cleaner, it’s great for removing tough stains and water marks on glass surfaces. And this one is a shoe cleaner. Here is the powder room and bathroom. I attached this hanging storage here to hold small towels. Many razor blades here 😅. In many Japanese apartments, powder room and bathroom are often combined or located close together for convenience. I bought this hair blower holder from Daiso. I’m glad there’s a space to store extra towels. This toothbrush holder comes with a magnetic cup. The mirror can be opened to reveal storage space inside. I use this Vitamin C serum, Niacinamide, sometimes retinol serum and moisture face gel. For my hair, I use Orbis Hair Milk Essence and their Water Treatment, they keep my hair soft and smooth. There’s a storage space below the sink,where we keep our extra supplies and stock. I bought this under-sink rack from Amazon. Bath tablets. Some skincare and hygiene stocks, like backup cleansers, serum, and extra toothpaste. Here is the bathroom. It’s a compact space, but it has everything we need for a relaxing bath time. We use a hanging dispenser for our bath products. I don’t need to transfer the liquid into bottles, the dispenser can be attached directly to the refill sachet. I use this hair mask, I usually apply it once or twice a week as part of my self-care routine. In Japanese bathrooms, you’ll often see a basin and a small chair. Japanese people often take their shower while sitting on a small chair. I’m still not used to this style. I keep a bathroom cleaner here because it’s easy for mold to build up due to the humidity. Behind the doors, are some cleaning brushes for the bathtub and a body scrub towel. Our apartment is a 3DK, which means it has three rooms plus a dining and kitchen area. This is the first room in the apartment. I originally planned to use it as a storage space for snacks for my small business. But I eventually decided to just buy items from the store when I receive an order. This room doesn’t have an air conditioner, so it’s not ideal for long-term storage. We also keep a few bottles of water here, along with the remaining stocks from my shop. There’s a large closet in this room where we store clothes we don’t often use. I bought this tension rod garment rack to hang some of our clothes. It’s adjustable and doesn’t require any drilling, so it’s perfect for apartments. It also helps save closet space and keeps everything organized. This closet has a built-in hanging so it’s easy to hang clothes without installing an extra rack. I bought this door hanger from Daiso. There’s also some upper storage where we keep things we don’t use often, like seasonal clothes. I try to keep it organized by using storage bags, so it’s easier to find things when we need them. I like that there’s a barrier on the window, especially because this window is close to the pathway of the apartment building. Here’s another door hanger. Let’s move on to the dining and kitchen area. Our apartment is about 50 sqm (538 sqft). Maybe for some people it’s not that big, but for us, it already feels spacious. We’re really grateful to have this much room, especially in the city. In this area, there’s an intercom system attached to the wall. It has a screen, so we can see who’s outside before opening the door. The light can be adjusted, so we can dim it to save energy or make it brighter when needed. I often get questions about this tiny monitor-looking device. It’s actually a Bluetooth speaker from Divoom. It’s small but really adds a cute touch to the room. This silver play button reminds me that even small efforts, done consistently, can lead to something beautiful. When I started this, I kept telling myself I shouldn’t expect much and to just enjoy the process of sharing my thoughts and meeting new people. This reminder board, helps me start each day with a positive mindset, especially when things get tough or I feel discouraged. On the side of the storage rack, we keep a handy vacuum cleaner and a robot vacuum cleaner. I was curious about this hidden socket, and I found out it’s a gas outlet plug. This is where you can connect a gas appliance, like a gas stove or fan heater. In some Japanese apartments, gas is supplied through these outlets instead of electric connections for certain appliances. However, newer or more modern apartments sometimes use electric stoves, so it depends on the building’s age and design. I keep the modem box just in case I don’t need it anymore or want to change my internet provider. Because returning the equipment in good condition is usually required. Here is the temperature control panel for the hot water supply. One great feature is the “ofuro” function, which lets you fill the bathtub automatically to your preferred temperature and water level. We use hands-free garbage can here, which open by stepping on a pedal. Since the kitchen doesn’t have a window, there’s a built-in ventilation fan to help with air circulation. It’s really helpful for removing cooking smells and moisture, especially in smaller or enclosed spaces like this. I don’t often use this light. The kitchen didn’t come with a built-in gas stove. When you move into a new apartment, you need to contact the gas company to start the supply. It’s also better to check if the apartment uses city gas or propane gas, because they require different stoves. Also, propane gas is usually more expensive than city gas. Glad I bought this stovetop gap rack, it keeps the kitchen neat. There’s a socket here for small kitchen appliances. I often buy magnetic storage to save space. They’re easy to attach to the fridge and perfect for holding spices, utensils, or cleaning supplies. I’m glad this narrow storage fits perfectly here. This magnetic spice holder is one of my favorite kitchen organizers. It holds all my frequently used spices and can fit the kitchen paper towel. This magnetic plastic wrapper holder is very useful. I also have a magnetic food clip holder. And this magnetic kitchen scissor sticks right on the fridge, making it easy to grab when I need it. Glass straw cleaner. We placed the dish drainer here because there’s not much counter space. I bought this towel holder from Daiso. Japanese kitchen storage space is often limited, so every inch counts. I placed the plates and dishes under the sink because of the limited space but, I always wash them thoroughly before using. In the top storage, I keep all the condiments and kitchen essentials that I use often. It helps keep the counter clear and makes everything easy to grab while cooking. I use this hook to hang and dry the gloves after cleaning. Another storage here. This is where I place spoons and other utensils. Near the dining and kitchen area, there are two rooms. This is my room, it’s a small, cozy space where I can relax, edit videos, and unwind after a long day. All the furniture in my room, I bought it online and assembled it by myself. It was a bit of a challenge, but it felt really satisfying to put it together on my own. I love this cute chair, it adds a bit of charm to the room. This jewelry stand, keeps my earrings, necklaces, and rings neat and easy to find. I also created this vision board to keep my dreams close to my heart. It fills me with hope and motivation, inspiring me to believe that little by little, my dreams can come true. I’m just hoping that when success comes, my parents will still be strong to see and share in that joy with me. Underneath my bed, I have some storage bags. I bought this storage book, it looks like a regular book but actually hide items inside. I also have a humidifier with a built-in light that I sometimes use as a night lamp. I also hide my remote controls for the light and air conditioner here. This is a room ventilation vent, so that fresh air comes in naturally from outside to help with airflow and reduce humidity. My bed frame has a built-in power outlet. I have a full-length mirror and I added some artificial plants to bring a touch of nature and coziness. Underneath the mirror, I have a power outlet and an antenna plug for TV or internet connections. Unfortunately, the TV won’t fit in my room anymore. My room doesn’t have a balcony. Most Japanese apartments come with a mesh screen on the windows to prevent insects from entering. My room has an air conditioner. His room has a tatami floor, giving it a traditional Japanese feel. Unlike me, he prefers sleeping directly on the floor without a bed frame. He has this stretch pole in his room that I sometimes borrow to relax and stretch. His room also has an antenna plug, he enjoys watching comedy shows on TV. His room also has a storage cabinet. I’m not showing all of his stuff as a respect. He has this clip hanger because, as I mentioned earlier, he often does the laundry. His room has a balcony. There’s also a mesh screen to keep insects out. We installed our own drying poles too, which makes it convenient for hanging laundry. The balcony isn’t very spacious, so it’s a bit challenging to grow plants or set up any gardening space. There’s also an emergency ladder installed here. That’s all for the apartment tour. I hope you enjoyed it and found some inspiration or helpful ideas along the way. Thank you so much for watching 💕🤗.
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