Apartment Houses
For short stays of less than one month and for the Okazaki Joint Utilization Accommodation Facilities for Researchers (Mishima Lodge and Myodaiji Lodge), please see the
Accommodation page.
1. Private apartments
In Japan, rental contracts for private housing are usually arranged through a real-estate agency.
Japan has its own rental practices, so if this is your first time renting housing in Japan, we recommend consulting your host researcher or a Japanese friend and, if possible, asking them to accompany you.
Rent depends on the location, layout, age of the building, and other conditions. In addition to the rent, you may need to pay key money and a security deposit totalling roughly 2-4 months' rent, and a guarantor or rent guarantee may also be required (see below).
Security deposit
(shikikin) |
Money paid to the landlord when you move in, as security for potential damage to the room, unpaid rent, or other costs during the tenancy.
When you leave, any amount remaining after cleaning and repair costs have been deducted is refunded, but practice varies from landlord to landlord. |
Key money
(reikin) |
A payment made to the landlord when you rent the room, separate from the rent.
It is not refunded. |
| Agency fee |
A fee paid to the real-estate agency for arranging the property. |
| Common-area and maintenance fees |
Fees for the upkeep and management of the shared areas of the building.
They are charged every month in addition to the rent. |
| Guarantor / rent guarantee |
You may be asked to provide a guarantor, but in recent years many properties instead require you to use a rent-guarantee company, which charges an initial fee of roughly 0.5-1 month's rent plus an annual renewal fee. |
| Other costs |
Fire insurance; contract renewal fee (a fee for renewing the lease, roughly 1-3 months' rent). |
2. Public housing
If you have completed resident registration in the municipality where you live, you can apply for the public-housing options below.
Applications are screened, so applying does not guarantee that you can move in.
Municipal housing (Okazaki City)
Eligibility
• You live or work in Okazaki City
• You are clearly in need of housing (in principle, you do not own a home)
• You live with, or plan to live with, family members (single applicants are accepted only under specific conditions)
• Your income does not exceed the limit set by the city
• You are not a member of an organized crime group
• You have no unpaid city taxes, can submit an emergency contact form, and can cooperate with the residents' association and pay the related fees
| Applications and inquiries |
Okazaki Municipal Housing Management Center
2-9 Juo-cho, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8601 (City Hall West Building, 1st floor)
+81-564-23-6320 / Fax +81-564-23-6821
Mon-Fri 9:00-16:00 (closed on Sat, Sun, public holidays, and the year-end and New Year holidays)
https://okazaki-shiei.com/ (Japanese) |
Prefectural housing (Aichi Prefecture)
Eligibility
• You live with, or plan to live with, family members or a person regarded as equivalent to a family member (including common-law spouses, fiancé(e)s, persons registered under the Aichi Familyship Oath System or a municipal partnership system in the prefecture, and foster children)
• You are clearly in need of housing (in principle, homeowners may not apply)
• Your income meets the criteria set by the Aichi Prefectural Housing Ordinance
• Neither the applicant nor the family members living with them are members of an organized crime group
• You have no unpaid rent, damages, or other debts related to prefectural housing
Please note
• No joint guarantor is required (since 1 April 2020).
However, an emergency contact is required.
• You must submit a copy of your certificate of residence (juminhyo).
Foreign nationals should request a copy that states the period of stay (i.e., a copy in which this information has not been omitted).
• Single applicants cannot apply (except for some housing in the Higashi-Mikawa area).
• Some units are allocated by lottery, while others are available on an ongoing first-come, first-served basis.
Details are published on the Aichi Prefectural Housing Supply Corporation website.
| Applications and inquiries |
Aichi Prefectural Housing Supply Corporation, Mikawa Housing Management Office
1-4 Myodaiji-honmachi, Okazaki, Aichi 444-8551 (Nishi-Mikawa General Government Building, 5th floor)
+81-564-23-1863 (direct)
9:00-17:15 (except Sat, Sun, and public holidays)
https://www.aichi-kousha.or.jp/prefectural/ (Japanese) |
| Consultation in foreign languages |
Aichi Support Desk for Foreign Residents +81-52-684-5007
9:00-12:00 / 13:00-17:00 (weekdays, except public holidays)
Telephone consultations concerning applications for prefectural housing are available in seven languages.
Remote consultations are also available at each housing management office and branch office. |
