Curtner Real Estate

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.

A tenant has to pay a damage deposit and a non- refundable amount known as “key money” before he/she takes over the house. The broker also has to be paid a month’s rent as fee. Until the renter actually signs the agreement for a property there’s no fees for using a real estate agent. The renter must be aware of the substantial move-in fees that a new housing property in Tokyo normally incurs (as described earlier in this paragraph). If the renter gets a local person to help and deal with the landlord and/or agency, it becomes a great help.
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.

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;

1. 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.

1. 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

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. 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.

To own a car in Japan is expensive. Actually, it happened to be more expensive than renting a Tokyo apartment. The reason is not about the cost of the car itself but for different reasons such as the mandatory bi-annual inspections, mandatory insurance, automobile tax and parking space fee in Tokyo’s large cities. Yes, parking space problem in Central Tokyo costs about 35,000 yen up to 100,000 yen per month at the town center. This is more expensive than availing a house in some other countries. However, in the outskirts of Tokyo, parking space is more affordable of only about 1,000 yen a month. Likewise, renting a Tokyo apartment outside of Central Tokyo is also affordable.

Parking Space is luxury in Tokyo
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.

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!