Expat Living in Tokyo: Navigating the Rental Housing Market

Post date: 2/21/2025

Moving to Tokyo as a foreign expat involves finding a house and settling in, which can be complex. Securing long-term rental housing in Tokyo requires tackling various tasks, such as property selection, area orientation, coordinating with movers, completing registrations, and handling administrative changes. If you have children, you must find a suitable school and manage the enrollment process.

These tasks can be time-consuming, especially for stays lasting more than a year. In such cases, working with an experienced real estate agent who understands the expat lifestyle and has extensive knowledge of properties that cater to your specific needs is recommended, ensuring you find the most appropriate housing solution.

Plaza Homes assists newcomers to Tokyo throughout this process, providing guidance on different areas and property types, selecting suitable properties based on the length of your stay, and explaining Japanese business customs. For more information, visit our website's "Guide to Renting Property" page.

Rental Apartments & Houses in Tokyo

What are Expat Apartments and Houses in Tokyo?

It describes real estate that provides foreign expatriates with a certain standard of living without any hassles. Westerners prefer to live in homes that allow them to comfortably live in the same style as in their home countries because they have different physiques and lifestyles than Japanese people. Hiroo and Azabu are home to numerous rental apartments and homes that meet international standards. Tokyo has long had properties built for foreigners and embassy staff from Europe and the United States.

Below is a guide to the criteria for a typical western-style rental property.

Features of Tokyo Apartments Designed for Foreign Residents

Western-Style Floor Plans in Tokyo Expat Apartments

The living room, dining room, and bedrooms are more spacious than in a typical Japanese apartment/house, and the ceilings are built high to avoid a sense of oppression. Family rooms are also favored as spaces where families can relax.

It is also common for them to invite guests, so it would be ideal to have guest bathrooms.

Finding Tokyo Apartments with Multiple Bathrooms for Expats

In Western lifestyles, multiple bathrooms (bath, washroom, and toilet) are required for rooms of 3 bedrooms and more, as they do not share bathrooms with children or guests. In Europe and the United States, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms are clearly indicated on the floor plan. Apartments/houses for foreign residents in Japan also have multiple bathrooms.

>> Rental Properties with 2 or more than 2 bathrooms

Importance of Kitchen and Washbasin Heights in Tokyo Expat Housing

For tall Western people, the low kitchen counters and washbasins found in older properties in Japan could be too difficult to use.

Essential Amenities in Tokyo Apartments for Expats

Old and difficult-to-use air-conditioning and hot water supply systems may be a problem for Western people who cannot read Japanese manuals.

Standard Appliances in Western-Style Tokyo Apartments

If you are renting an apartment, you will need to have a large refrigerator, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, microwave, etc., because you cannot bring in appliances from your home country due to voltage differences. Western-style properties usually have large, foreign-made appliances that are familiar to people from Europe and the United States.　

The Benefits of English-Speaking Staff in Tokyo Expat Housing

It is essential to have English-speaking staff at the reception and English-speaking management company in order to make inquiries about problems in the property and to be informed of room inspections.

Luxury Tokyo Apartments Catering to Both Japanese and Expats

In the past, the majority of properties for expats were luxury properties for Western people, however recently luxury properties that do not distinguish between those for Japanese and those for foreigners, but rather combine the best parts of both, and meet the needs to both wealthy Japanese and foreign expats, have been developed.

Foreign expatriates can reside in these apartments without difficulty, and they can take advantage of the high-tech amenities that only Japanese luxury properties can provide.

For example, Japanese-style bathrooms have a bathroom heater/dryer, an automatic bath function, and a mist sauna, toilets with tankless water supply, heated toilet seats and washlets.

In some cases, English instructions on how to use the facilities and how to dispose of garbage are not available however, if the real estate agent speaks English, they may be able to explain when they move in.

Expats usually start looking for an apartment/house about 6 weeks before they plan to move in, and usually visit 10 to 15 properties on average before deciding which one to sign a contract with.

We usually ask them what they are looking for before them arrive in Japan, suggest properties, and take a few days to show them around once they arrive.

Top Tokyo Neighborhoods for Foreign Expats

When you find a house, you may decide your residence location considering convenience for living and budget for housing.
You may have to consider multiple elements such as near-by expat-friendly living facilities, easy access to school bus routes, convenience for commuting, public parks in the neighborhood, and so on.

PLAZA HOMES provide easy guidance on popular residence areas for expats.

Introduction to Tokyo’s Expat Areas

When your child goes to an international school in Tokyo, you and your child may have problems unless you live close to a school or the school bus is running along near-by streets. Please access here about our recommended residence areas with good access to international schools.

Residential Area for Commuting International Schools in Tokyo

Housing Budgets for Expats in Tokyo: What to Expect

You may usually have to find your home within the budget for housing predetermined by your company depending on your company post or your family structure.
We here introduce the popular areas in Tokyo and average rent per unit size about expat-friendly housings.

The market rate for rents of expat properties in Tokyo

Furniture Options for Expat Apartments in Tokyo

Typical rental housings for a long-term contract does not come with furniture and appliances. There are some options such as bringing them from your home country, leasing them in Japan during the period of your stay, asking a lessor of a rental housing to lease them, and living in a rental house with furniture.

Furniture for Expat residences in Japan - Bringing, Leasing or buying
Furnished Apartments for Expats

Furnished apartments come fully equipped with furniture and appliances, making them ready for immediate use. These apartments are ideal for individuals looking for a temporary or hassle-free living space without the need to purchase or move furniture.

- Luxury Furnished Apartments for Long-Term Rent in Central Tokyo

Serviced Apartments

A serviced apartment blends the comfort of a fully equipped apartment with the added convenience of hotel-style services. These often include amenities such as housekeeping, front desk support, and sometimes even gyms and swimming pools. Utilities like electricity, heating, and internet are usually included in the rent, offering an all-inclusive and more luxurious living experience.

Luxury Serviced Apartments in Tokyo

Monthly Apartments

A monthly apartment offers a fully furnished living space, perfect for short-term stays. It typically comes with all the essential furniture, appliances, and sometimes includes utilities like electricity and internet.
- Furnished Monthly Apartments in Tokyo

Navigating Appliance Choices for Expats in Tokyo Apartments

Bringing appliances from your home country is not recommended due to the difference of voltage. Hence there are also some options such as leasing them in Japan and living in a rental house with appliances.