The Plaza Process
A Step-by-Step Guide to Apartment Hunting



　Step 1
　Come to Japan!


　Step 2
　Visit us at Plaza Housing. No appointment is required though please feel free to make a reservation.
　 Refer to our Contact/Access page for details on how to reach us and how to find us.

　Step 3
　We will help you select the most convenient train station based on your current situation.
　 Feel free to ask us about the train and subway systems, rush hour, commuter passes,
and any other transportation questions you might have.

　Step 4
　After selecting a station, we will consult with you about your preferences concerning the monthly rent,
　 and then move on to more details such as floor, bathroom style, layout, and any other concerns
that you wish for us to consider.

　Step 5
　Through consulting about the various options that fit your criteria, our staff will escort you to the various 　apartments that you have selected. This will enable you to see the apartments first hand, making the decision easier.

　Step 6
　Once you have made your final choice, the Plaza Staff arranges all the necessary paperwork to begin the 　rental and contract stages with the apartment owner. Basic information that you will most likely be asked to provide include the following.

1. Copy of passport visa page
2. Copy of Alien Registration Card (gaikokujin toroku shomeisho)
3. Identification (student ID, work ID)
3. Bank Information from your bank book (tsuucho)
4. Personal seal (hanko)

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5. shodakusho - official paper saying they'll say to be hoshonin. Stamp it.
6. inkan shomei sho - for hoshonin,
 

　Step 7
　Shinsa gaisha...they will check your honshonin. wait for inspection results. Decide when you will enter the 　house. Decide when you can sign the contract.

　Step 8
　Come to Plaza Housing to sign your contract. Some times this may happen at the owner's agent. During 　this time, you will be asked to bring the money to cover the expenses for your first month's rent, in addition to other charges such as reikin or shikikin. You may also be asked to instead make a bank transfer before the signing.

　Step 9
　Come back to Plaza Housing and have a cup of tea with us anytime!

Fudosanya #110
Your Emergency Real Estate Agent

When you rent an apartment in Tokyo, and encounter trouble with your contract, your landlord, your real estate agent, when you feel that something is not right or that you have been cheated, please call us at 03-5292-2340. We are proud to be able to offer our professional services free of charge for renters in difficult positions. We are proud to be your Emergency Real Estate Agent.

We offer guidance and support on a wide range of issues relating to renting apartments in Japan. We can advise you on legal matters, contractual matters, provide information on Real Estate Agent practices, and assist in negotiations with your landlord. Our support is free of charge as we hope contribute to making a fair and just society in Japan.

Do not hesitate to contact us by telephone, fax, email, or by stopping by our Takadanobaba Office for a visit. Check our Access Page for more information on business hours and location.

Useful Phrases

apaato ･ アパート
Apartment complexes built from wood.

fudō-san-ya ・ 不動産屋
Real Estate Agent.

ho-shō-nin ・ 保証人
Guarantor. In order to rent an apartment, a guarantor is required. The guarantor is a person that can vouch for the tenant, and who effectively promises to pay any damages should the tenant become unable to do so.

jō ・ 畳
This is a standard measurement for the area of an apartment, based on the dimensions of one tatami mat. One jō, (ichi-jō), measures 180cm x 90cm (1.62m2)

manshon ・ マンション
Apartment complexes built from concrete.

men-setsu ・ 面接
Interview. As part of the shinsa process, an interview may take place to know more about the prospective tenant.

ō-ya-san ・ 大家さん
Landlord / landlady.

rei-kin ・ 礼金
Key money. This is a fee charged by apartment owners that is not returned to the tenant. Reikin is paid one time, up front and usually is the amount of one month's rent. While it is possible to find apartments for which reikin is not required, it remains a stalwart feature of the apartment culture in Japan.

shiki-kin ・　敷金
Deposit money. This is a fee charged by apartment owners that is kept for the duration of the tenant's stay. Shikikin is paid one time, up-front and is usually the amount of one month's rent. A portion is returned upon termination of the contract, after a cleaning charge is deducted.

shin-sa ・ 審査
Inspection. 　This is a process by which the owner screens the prospective tenant. An application is filled out at Plaza Housing with help from our staff including information such as bank information, income, occupation, and recent job history.  

kei-yaku ・ 契約
Contract.