Housing

Housing discrimination against foreigners, while illegal in principle under the Basic Act for a Multicultural Society, remains common in practice. Common stated reasons include: concern about language barrier (emergencies, rule explanations), uncertainty about whether the tenant will stay long-term, and unfamiliarity with different cultural norms around garbage separation or noise. The situation has been improving, especially in major cities with large expat populations, and platforms specifically listing foreigner-friendly properties help significantly.

Key money (礼金, reikin) is a non-refundable payment of 0–2 months' rent made to the landlord as a customary 'thank you gift' upon signing a lease. It dates to post-war housing shortages. It is becoming less common in Tokyo and major cities - increasingly many listings show reikin zero (礼金ゼロ). You can negotiate, or specifically search for 礼金なし listings. Share houses and UR public housing never charge key money.

It is very difficult to sign a standard lease before arriving because Japanese landlords typically want to meet tenants, and the process requires an in-person visit to sign documents. The best pre-arrival solutions: book a furnished monthly apartment (monthly マンション) or gaijin house for the first 1–3 months, then apartment hunt in person once you have your residence card and ward office registration. Some international relocation companies (LS Japan, Japan Intercultural Consulting) can facilitate pre-arrival housing.

Yes - UR (Urban Renaissance Agency) public housing is explicitly open to foreign nationals and has no key money, no guarantor requirement, and no agency fees. UR properties tend to be older and located in suburban areas, but they offer excellent value and ease of application for new arrivals. Apply directly at UR offices or online at ur-net.go.jp. The trade-off is that many UR complexes are in less central locations and lack the newer amenities of private manshon.

Garbage separation (ゴミ分別, gomi bunbetsu) is taken extremely seriously in Japan and varies by municipality. Standard categories include: burnable waste (燃えるゴミ), non-burnable waste (燃えないゴミ), plastics, cans, bottles, and cardboard - each collected on specific days and placed in designated communal areas by 8am. Incorrect separation can result in your bag being returned to you with a note, or in extreme cases, complaints from neighbors. Your ward office provides a garbage calendar (ゴミカレンダー) when you register - follow it carefully.