Rental screening guide

Can foreigners rent an apartment in Japan?

Foreign renters can rent apartments in Japan, but the screening process can be harder when the applicant has limited Japanese, no local emergency contact, a short residence period, or unstable income documentation.

Before contacting agencies, check whether your rent budget is realistic against monthly income, whether your residence card has enough remaining validity, and whether you can provide a Japanese phone number, bank account, workplace or school details, and emergency contact.

If your profile is high risk, consider foreigner-friendly agencies, monthly apartments, share houses, UR housing, or properties that clearly accept guarantor companies.