Life in Japan can be extremely expensive, especially if you want to live close to the center of the city, or even just find a place that’s not way out on the “sticks.” Finding an affordable apartment for rent in Japan can be a daunting task. Here are 10 tips to help you find a place that fits your needs and budget when looking for an apartment for rent in Hokkaido:
Tips on how to find apartment in Hokkaido
- Find a map of Tokyo and look at what areas are conveniently located near public transportation stations – this will save you from having to buy or rent a car (which is also very expensive).
- Visit https://www.villagehouse.jp/en/rent/hokkaido/hokkaido/ for information about living in Tokyo and find out about the types of apartments for rent that are available.
- Try to find out what utilities will be included in your apartment, and if not included how much it might cost you.
- Find out if there is an agency nearby (or in the city you’re looking to live) that will help you with your apartment search – they can be a great help if they speak some English, even just to translate contract details or to help explain the process.
- Search online for “Apartments in (name of city) Hokkaido” or something along those lines, then narrow down the results based on location or price (e.g. “apartments in Sapporo Hokkaido” or “apartments for rent in Sapporo under 100,000 yen”).
- When considering rentals, look up the latest report from the city or town hall to see the average rent compared to what you’re used to paying back home.
- Look into the possibility of living in a dormitory-style apartment – they are usually much cheaper than small private apartments and usually come with some sort of meal plan (you can also eat out cheaply so it’s not a bad option).
- Check out pare.go.jp – it’s a Japanese government website that has a very useful search engine for looking up apartments for rent.
- Look for housing agencies that are located in the city or area you’re looking to live – they may be able to give you some advice or help you get an apartment rental without going through an agency or broker first.
- If you’re living on your own, try asking the landlady about any possible deals for renting a larger apartment with more bedrooms than what you currently have (e.g. because a relative is visiting and there aren’t enough beds). If the current tenants are moving out, try approaching them and asking if they know of anyone looking to rent a similar apartment – sometimes you’ll get a better deal since you’re taking over a previous tenant’s place.
As always, the more you know about the city or area you’re looking to live in, the easier it will be to find an apartment that suits your needs and budget. Good luck in finding your new apartment for rent in Hokkaido!
