Japan Apartment Rentals and Guest Houses

Short-term Japan apartment rentals and guest houses, sometimes referred to as "gaijin houses," are ideal accommodations for visitors planning an extended stay in Japan or those who want to avoid hotels and have a centralized base from which to travel around and about.

Overview of Japan Apartment Rentals

In the past, finding short-term or long-term apartment rentals in Japan that welcomed foreigners was a difficult task. The majority of rental agencies and landlords refused to rent to non-Japanese, and even those that did required renters to pay up to six-months' deposit as well as several more months of "key money," which was essentially a gift to the lender.

Today, the rental situation in Japan has improved significantly, and there is an abundance of foreigner-friendly apartment rental options in Tokyo and Japan's other major metropolitan areas.

Short-term Apartment Rentals in Japan

Sakura House is the leading agency of short-term rentals to foreigners in the greater Tokyo area, and provides short-term apartments and guest houses for daily, monthly, and longer stays. For more information see the Sakura House Web site.

Japanese Guest Houses (Gaijin Houses)

Gaijin houses are another short-term lodging option in Japan. "Gaijin" in Japanese is the curt expression for "foreigner," and gaijin houses are basically Japanese guest houses that accommodate foreign visitors and residents.

Gaijin houses do not require the huge deposits and key money alluded to above, and can be rented weekly, monthly, or indefinitely. Gaijin houses typically provide a furnished private room, with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities. Many also provide free Internet service.

Monthly rates for Japanese guest houses range from around 4,000 to 10,000 yen.