This article by JapanProbe highlights the difficulty that Westerners have finding rental accommodation in Japan. Prejudice in Japan is concealed somewhat because foreigners often live in Japan with the support of spouses, girlfriends and sponsoring companies (employers). In my case, I did all three. Some foreigners are able to lease on their own accord, but often they need a Japanese guarantor, or a sponsoring company.
There is the option of 'gaijin accommodation' as well, which is short term rental accommodation targeted at foreigners, which is priced around Y60-150,000 per month. The most popular is Sakura House. Such companies have grown to a size where they are able to offer decent accommodation all over Tokyo. Prejudice against foreigners is particularly strong in rural areas, though even in tourist areas, where you would expect Japanese business owners to appreciate the value of foreign customers, there are signs saying 'No foreigners'. That is of course a red flag for a foreigner like me to enter. he he.
If you are looking at accommodation in Japan for more than 2 years, or you plan to come back, it might make sense to buy your own place. Bear in mind however that apartments have steep management fees attached to them. The solution of course is buying a house and lot. There are reasonably priced housing in subdivisions on the outskirts of Tokyo, say around Sakado in Saitama. I viewed a lot of such properties selling for around Y3.5-6.5 million, though you can pay a lot more. Some people would never consider living in such a place. In these cases you need to wait for further weakening in the market as central city prices rallied more than the outer suburban areas.
I personally don't think the Japanese prejudice is much of a concern because of the alternatives. The Japanese are more scared of foreigners than anything else. They don't understand foreigners and are not very comfortable outside their rigid routines. Its a very homogeneous society and they really do want to knock down the nail that sticks out, but at the same time few of them take the time to understand foreigners.
The Japanese tend to be very polite when they have to accept you. My new neighbour is a lovely guy, a retired engineer from Tokorazawa. My other neighbour is the guy from whom my property was acquired. He is surprisingly friendly, though he can be difficult. He took a year to move his rubbish from my lot (previously his). People are very friendly. On our other property, the prior owner even offered parting advice on how to maintain the house. i.e.. Keep pine needles out of the gutters because they can cause water to flood into the house. It makes all the difference if you can converse in Japanese, otherwise they are not so helpful.
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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com
There is the option of 'gaijin accommodation' as well, which is short term rental accommodation targeted at foreigners, which is priced around Y60-150,000 per month. The most popular is Sakura House. Such companies have grown to a size where they are able to offer decent accommodation all over Tokyo. Prejudice against foreigners is particularly strong in rural areas, though even in tourist areas, where you would expect Japanese business owners to appreciate the value of foreign customers, there are signs saying 'No foreigners'. That is of course a red flag for a foreigner like me to enter. he he.
If you are looking at accommodation in Japan for more than 2 years, or you plan to come back, it might make sense to buy your own place. Bear in mind however that apartments have steep management fees attached to them. The solution of course is buying a house and lot. There are reasonably priced housing in subdivisions on the outskirts of Tokyo, say around Sakado in Saitama. I viewed a lot of such properties selling for around Y3.5-6.5 million, though you can pay a lot more. Some people would never consider living in such a place. In these cases you need to wait for further weakening in the market as central city prices rallied more than the outer suburban areas.
I personally don't think the Japanese prejudice is much of a concern because of the alternatives. The Japanese are more scared of foreigners than anything else. They don't understand foreigners and are not very comfortable outside their rigid routines. Its a very homogeneous society and they really do want to knock down the nail that sticks out, but at the same time few of them take the time to understand foreigners.
The Japanese tend to be very polite when they have to accept you. My new neighbour is a lovely guy, a retired engineer from Tokorazawa. My other neighbour is the guy from whom my property was acquired. He is surprisingly friendly, though he can be difficult. He took a year to move his rubbish from my lot (previously his). People are very friendly. On our other property, the prior owner even offered parting advice on how to maintain the house. i.e.. Keep pine needles out of the gutters because they can cause water to flood into the house. It makes all the difference if you can converse in Japanese, otherwise they are not so helpful.
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Andrew Sheldon www.sheldonthinks.com
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