How to Qualify for House Rentals in Japan – (Expat housing Tokyo)
Expat housing Tokyo means informal way of taking house on rent. A surprising feature of Japanese houses is that they are assumed to have a limited lifespan, and are normally torn down and rebuilt after a few decades. For an expatriate to rent a house in Tokyo/Japan, the easiest way and the one that offers the widest choice is to visit real estate agency located in the desired locality and go through the detail of houses available for rent. The details usually include the layout of the house and the rental amount for this house. If a person is interested in a particular house, the agent organises a visit to the property after confirming from the landlord. Usually, a guarantor is required who will promise to pay the rent in case of any problem arises. An expatriate cannot rent a house on his/her own in Tokyo. If a person decides to go through a broker, he/she should take enough time to look at lots of places since the first ones shown may not be appropriate for user but may be beneficial to the broker.
The landlord and the tenant have to undergo a rental agreement which is normally for one year. This agreement has to be revised every year and a fee is paid by the tenant equivalent to an additional month’s rent. However, in other cities this agreement is simply considered as the minimum duration of stay for the tenants and also, the rent may not change for many years. The renter should try and wait for the appropriate property before signing any agreement. Japanese apartments and houses are intended to be smaller in size so that they can have an attractive glamour at storage space and the bathrooms before signing on any rental agreement.
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Tags: affordable apartment in Tokyo, apartment Tokyo, expat housing Tokyo, how to rent an apartment in Tokyo | 
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Best Cities in Japan to Live
Japan is a country that offers the perfect destination for any professional, travel and / or leisure enthusiast. People with industrial – related ambitions may go to Tokyo, while tourists may want to check out Osaka. All the major cities in Japan are actually very interesting places to visit, although there are a few that could be given special mention, because of their contribution to the general culture of Japan, Industrialization, Educational foundations and Social scenes or lifestyle.
Below are five best cities Japan can boast of;
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Tokyo
This is the capital city of Japan. Further, it is famed for being the world’s number one most populated capital. It harbours a population of over eight million citizens. It actually originated as a castle town back in the sixteenth century. It later elevated into a political powerhouse, causing the number of its citizens to sky – rocket.
Tokyo is a good destination for shoppers. It has a rich culture as far as entertainment, heritage, food, and hospitality are concerned. Art enthusiasts have a wide range of museums to tour, age – old temples and beautiful ancient gardens. It’s transport system is intact, with rail roads leading to city outskirts.
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Yokohama
Yokohama harbours a population of over three million people, it being Japan’s second biggest city. Situated in the South of Tokyo, it is the capital of the Kanagawa Zone. This city originated as a port, heavily utilized between the sixteenth and eighteenth century. This city boasts of Japan’s most valuable brain power, producing many scientists, technological experts. Yokohama is also the base for Japan’s largest Chinatown. This is because a large number of Chinese traders settled in this region over the early years.
It has numerous Chinese Stores and Restaurants
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Osaka
Osaka holds a population of about two and half million people. It is basically one of Japan’s most stable economic powerhouses. It is characterized by vibrant citizens, delicious food places and comedy centres. However, contrary to the wide range of activities here, employment rates are very low.
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Nagoya
Nagoya also holds a population of about two million people. It acts as the capital for the Aichi Zone. It is a pivotal industrial centre. It boasts of beautiful prehistoric buildings that act as major attractions for tourists.
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Sapporo
Sapporo is Japan’s fifth largest city. It is the capital of the Hokkaido Zone. It is a relatively young city, having been formed in the eighteenth century. It being an administrative centre, Sapporo grew to become larger and stronger economically. It is also a Winter Olympic destination, having hosted the games in 1972.
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Tags: Japan, Japan cities, Japan's best cities, leisure enthusiast, live in Japan, travel |
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In Tokyo, Parking is More Expensive than Houses in Some Countries
In Tokyo, parking space is an added luxury to many people with limited parking space or no space at all. There are only 2 ways of parking vehicles in Central Tokyo. First, is the standard way of parking vehicles, that is parking a car at any space available and second, parking with the use of a special machine or the “lift system”. The first seems very difficult now, due to scarcity of space. Generally, families in Japan owned small lots with an area of only 70 square meters, more or less or of about 800 square feet. Famous architect like Martin Van Der Linden of Van Der Architects says, when people ask him to design a building complex for profit, the first thing that comes into his mind is not about the building, but the parking which generally, would be earning greater that the proposed building. Thus, it makes more sense to build a parking tower than building a residential unit.
The Parking Tower
The parking tower is designed where it is built below the penthouse. To make this possible a very expensive technology is required using a “lift system” where the cars are transported to fixed parking spots. The penthouse shall occupy the first floor, the second floor and the roof top. On the first floor, the living room, kitchen and small music-study area is located, on the second floor will be the bedroom and the bathroom while at the roof top will be utilized for other purposes including a space for billboards.
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Tags: affordable apartment in Tokyo, apartment, apartment Tokyo, how to rent an apartment in Tokyo, Tokyo house |
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Common Amenities Around your neighborhood
Tokyo is home to luxurious living
The famous Tokyo Disneyland is the most popular theme park in Japan and one of the most popular in the world. It’s called the “the happiest place on Earth. The biggest park so far measuring about 114 acres with 45 rides and attractions and accommodates about 85,000 to100,000 guests. All of Tokyo neighboring areas are full of big hotels, luxurious apartments and condominiums. All over Tokyo are small gourmet restaurants, grocery stores, laundry and post office and the ready to “take-away food” available day and night and drinking machines everywhere makes your tour of Tokyo a memorable experience. In addition, spending the night with Tokyo’s charming pubs, and restaurants is an ideal experience of a downtown life.
Tokyo’s best transportation facilities
In Tokyo, you have the best transportation facilities from air, railway, subway stations and bus lines. Tokyo has two airports, the Narita Airport which caters to international flights, located 60 kms outside of Central Tokyo, while Haneda Airport is located at the Center of Tokyo which caters more of domestic flights. The train lines and subway lines are convenient to move around Central Tokyo. While outside of Central Tokyo, buses serve as a secondary means for public transportation which complements the train and subway networks. Buses serve as the transportation facility for smaller towns, the countryside and national parks. Renting a car is also an option if you plan to explore the outskirts of Japan where access by public transportation is not convenient and unavailable. A rental car can also be an economical alternative, if traveling in groups. Plan your tour, make your Tokyo visit a great experience!
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Tags: apartment, apartments, how to rent apartments in tokyo, live in tokyo, tokyo apartment, tokyo apartments, Tokyo house |
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The Benefits of Renting a Monthly Apartment
When looking for somewhere to stay during your visit in Japan, what fits best will depend on the length of your trip. If your stay in Japan is going to be a month long, then a monthly apartment rental would probably fit you best. Of course since a monthly apartment in Japan probably has a different definition than anywhere else you’re used to, you will want to gain a keen understanding of what the benefits of renting a Tokyo serviced monthly apartment are.
All of the benefits involved in renting a monthly apartment in Japan surround around money. You will save a lot of money by renting a monthly apartment as opposed to choosing to stay in a hotel for a month. Hotels can get to be quite pricey. It is definitely not worth paying the price of a hotel if you are going to be staying in Japan for more than a month.
Also, when you rent a monthly apartment there are certain fees you don’t have to worry about. There is no deposit required to move in. There is also no key money required. Aside from that, there is no guarantor required. So, although the rent may be a little bit higher; you will ultimately be saving money.
As you can see, the benefits of renting a monthly apartment will save you money. So, if you would like more money to spend on your trip instead of blowing it all on your housing; be sure to check out monthly apartment rentals in Japan. You will feel at home in your apartment and you will have more money in your pocket by choosing to rent a monthly apartment. With those benefits alone, it should be no question as to whether or not renting a monthly apartment in Japan would be the best option for you.
What is a Monthly Apartment?
A monthly apartment in Japan may take on a different meaning than what you may be familiar with. In Japan, a monthly apartment refers to a fully furnished apartment that is available for a single month contract. The rent of a monthly apartment in Japan is slightly higher than an apartment on a yearly lease would be. However, the upfront cost is less. A monthly apartment rental is fairly common for those who are in Japan for a month long business trip because it is less expensive than getting a room in a hotel for an entire month.
There are many monthly apartments available all around Japan. You can search for what you’re looking for and get in contact. Monthly apartments are available for as many as four bedrooms. You can find many monthly apartments in some of the best locations that are most convenient for you. While the rent may be slightly higher, you will also be saving money. You will not be charged key money or a deposit. There is also no need for a guarantor.
When looking into renting a monthly apartment in Japan, you may be wondering what the process is. First, you need to find a monthly apartment you are interested in renting. Then, you can either contact the property or the real estate agent or company that handles that property. Then you will fill out an application. The property or the real estate agent or company will then review your application. Provided everything comes back okay after the review, you will then sign the contract to rent. You will then pay all of your fees associated with renting, which would be your rent and possibly an application fee. Once that is done, you can check in.
As you can see, there are differences in what a monthly apartment in Japan is. However, they can prove to be convenient as well as money-saving. The process to renting one is not too difficult or time-consuming, which is a huge plus. Luckily, there are an abundance of monthly apartments available in Japan. So, you can take your time in choosing which apartment would be best for you.
Shinjuku, the Heart of Metropolitan Tokyo
When people come to Japan, they usually have a list of things they’d like to see and do. It’s difficult to try to cover everything in one visit, but for visitors to Tokyo, there are a few things that people simply cannot miss. One of these things is visiting Shinjuku, one of Tokyo’s city hubs, and home to the world’s busiest train station. Great accommodations are available throughout the area, including Shinjuku’s serviced apartment hotels, and other great resources.
Shinjuku is one of Tokyo’s 23 wards, and is a bustling city hub with lots to see and do. To the west of the station is the skyscraper district – full of businesses and upscale hotels, this is a prime place to stay if you have a high budget and want access to many train lines. To the east of the station is shopping and famed red light district kabukicho, where entertainment in various forms can be found. South of the station is shopping, restaurants, and the large yoyogi park, a beautiful oasis in the middle of Tokyo where families and friends gather for picnics, bike rides, and to enjoy a little nature. North of the station is a large Korean district – find Korean food, products, and more from Korean culture here.
Shinjuku has a plethora of amazing restaurants and cuisines to sample. Shinjuku sanchome, a 10 minute walk from Shinjuku station, features several blocks of tiny, delicious restaurants featuring foods as varied as turkish food, african cuisine, italian, japanese, and thai. It would take weeks to visit each one! The same area has a number of interesting bars – it’s up to each person to find his or her favorite theme!
Near Shinjuku sanchome is the beautiful and spacious Shinjuku Gyoen, or Shinjuku park. This famous park is an amalgam of different architectural styles – both European and Japanese influences are seen throughout the place. Visit in spring to see the cherry blossoms in bloom, or stop by in autumn to see the gorgeous colors of changing leaves. Paths throughout the park take visitors through a quiet, enchanting walk that makes one forget it’s actually Tokyo.
These are just a handful of places to see in Shinjuku – each person has his or her own experience to have, and it’s well worth your visit! Be sure to spend some time in this exciting hub the next time you’re in Tokyo!
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Why Rent a Yokohama Guesthouse?
If you are considering moving to Japan permanently, visiting for a short while, or already live here but are thinking about relocating within Japan, I highly recommend you contemplate renting a Yokohama guesthouse.
Below are the top three reasons why I recommend renting a Yokohama guesthouse:
1. Location
Yokohama, Japan’s second largest city, is located on the beautiful East coast of Japan, just an hour south of Tokyo by regular train and only thirty minutes by high speed train. Due to Japan’s highly efficient public transportation, traveling between major cities is no problem at all!
2. Affordability
Tokyo was recently listed as the number one most expensive city in the world to live in. Taking this into account, Yokohama can act as a more convenient, affordable option to live or stay in Japan while still being able to experience the high quality standards that the Japanese live by.
3. Fun!
Although not as big as Tokyo, there are still many sights to see and things to do in Yokohama. For example, the Hakkejima Sea Paradise is fun for the whole family! There is also a great zoo and many outdoor activities such as cycling tours for you and your friends and family to enjoy!
As previously mentioned, these are just a few of the many reasons why staying or living in a Yokohama guesthouse is a great idea. I hope that one day you at least get to visit Yokohama, but to experience the most Yokohama has to offer, reside in a guesthouse and you will not be disappointed.
Image: Sun Taxi
Steps to sell your house: Part One – Preparation
Preparing the house for sale
Often thought of as one of the most fundamental and yet most emotionally challenging tasks to undertake is to make your home “neutral”. It has to stop being your home so that prospective buyers can more easily see it as theirs. This means removing family photos, sports trophies, collectibles, souvenirs ,and other assorted knick-knacks. To further increase the effect of redecorating things to a simpler style, as much as you may love 1950’s décor, not everyone does and you want to be able to sell the house to “everyone”, so rent a storage space and put the items you want away for safe keeping. If you are anything like me, then your home will be full of “clutter” which needs to be gotten rid of. Clutter collects everywhere and can often hide under the guise of “useful stuff” or “things that might become useful at some undisclosed point in time”.
It could be helpful to have someone else help you decide what is and what isn’t clutter as it can be a difficult judgment to make.
The kitchen is one of the most, if not the most important room in the house. So it is the best place to begin your de-cluttering mission. Clear the work surfaces of everything, even the toaster. Put it away in a cupboard and bring it out only when you need it. If your kitchen cabinets and drawers are packed full of unused pots, pans and cutlery clear them out and put them into storage. The emptier everything is, the more easily the prospective homebuyer will be able to imagine their stuff occupying the kitchen spaces. The same goes with the area under the sink, make sure all unnecessary cleaning products are removed.
The rest of the house also needs a thorough de-clutter. Remove items of furniture that take up too much space, empty out closets of extra clothes and shoes. Remember: the idea is to give an impression of space even where not much really exists.
Another simple yet effective step is to make sure all the light switches and faucets are working, aren’t loose, or dirty. Making some little repairs can make a big difference in the buyer’s perspective of the home’s quality. Most potential buyers aren’t sure what they are supposed to be looking for. Switches, faucets and toilet flushers are all fair game to be toyed with, so make sure they stand up to inspection!