Tune in Tokyo: Apartment Hunting

A very informative post on the "art" of securing a place to call home in Japan from Tune-in-Tokyo. If you are thinking about making the move to Tokyo, check out the latest on finding an apartment, a guarantor and a doctor, if you are not use to paying high fees and deposits!

Finding an apartment in Japan is difficult for the Japanese. As a gaijin you can expect the process to be even more complicated.To rent an apartment you must prove your income. Having a job in Japan with proper tax documents will do the trick. If you work for a company based in another country then things won’t be so simple. It doesn’t matter what company you work for, anything outside of Japan is questionable and therefore you will have a harder time when it comes to your guarantor.Everyone needs a ‘hoshounin’ (保証人) or personal guarantor (sometimes two) in order to rent. The person must basically sign their life away stating that they will cover your debt should you choose to not pay. The guarantor must also prove their income and is subject to a credit check. The less credible your job the more strict they will be on your guarantor.Check out the rest of the article here. Be sure to follow Tune in Tokyo on Twitter!