Renting
Renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner: steps, documents and up-front costs
Renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner: the steps from search to keys, the documents for screening, and up-front costs of about 4 to 7 months' rent.
Housing
Renting an apartment without a Japanese guarantor, choosing a guarantor company (保証会社), renters' fire insurance (火災保険) and what a mortgage looks like when you don't have permanent residency.
5 guides, last updated Oct 20, 2026
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Renting
Guarantor companies in Japan (保証会社) for foreign tenants, compared
A guarantor company in Japan stands in for a personal guarantor on your lease. Fees, emergency contact rules and languages at GTN, Casa, Nihon Safety and JID.
Mortgages
Mortgage in Japan without permanent residency: which lenders say yes
A mortgage in Japan without permanent residency is hard: Flat 35 and most banks require PR. PRESTIA lends to foreign residents earning over ¥10 million.
Renting
Foreigner-friendly real estate agents in Japan: how to find one
How to find foreigner-friendly real estate in Japan: JPM's list of about 441 multilingual agencies, UR housing with no guarantor, portals and share houses.
Home insurance
Fire insurance for your apartment in Japan: what it covers and whether you can choose your own
Fire insurance for an apartment in Japan covers your belongings and damage you cause the landlord. Cover, cost and how to pick your own policy.