PR · This guide contains affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a fee at no extra cost to you.
CompareForeigner-friendly real estate agents in Shibuya & Meguro
Your first agency decides how fast you find a home. Agencies used to foreign tenants show only rooms that accept foreigners and know which guarantee companies are likely to approve you.
Why the agency matters
A government survey found that about 60% of landlords were reluctant to accept foreign tenants (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism). An agency that is not used to foreign tenants may send applications that get rejected again and again.
Three ways to search
| Way | Examples | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Multilingual property portals | realestate.co.jp, Japan-Property (English, Chinese, Thai) | Browsing many listings first |
| Rental services for foreign residents | Apartment Japan and similar services that support you from application to move-in | People not confident in Japanese |
| Local agencies near the station | Small offices around Naka-Meguro and Ebisu stations. Email first and ask whether someone can help in English | People who know the area and want to view rooms quickly |
Browsing listings is free. When you sign, the agency fee is capped by law at one month's rent plus tax in total, and many agencies charge the tenant the full amount (CHINTAI).
Ask these before you visit
- Can you explain the important points of the contract in English?
- Can I use a guarantee company that accepts foreign residents?
- Will you show me only rooms that accept foreigners?
- Can I view rooms and sign online?
- Can you list every fee before I apply?
What to tell them first
Your move-in date, budget including the management fee, the station you commute to, your residence status and how long it lasts, and whether you have pets or instruments. Giving all of this at once gets you better matches.
You can rent without a Japanese guarantor. Most apartments now use a rent guarantee company instead, and you pay it a fee in place of...
Read the guide