Living and Working in Japan
Looking for a job in Japan? The rules are about to change, as big Japanese companies agree to shift to year-round recruiting
The Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), the alliance representing big business in Japan, has reached an agreement with the country’s universities to expand recruitment of new university graduates to a year-round hiring system. This agreement marks a major shift from the... More
Latest
Area Guides
Live closer to nature and pay lower rent, while still being within commuting distance of central Tokyo. An excellent neighborhood for international students studying at Tokyo Gakugei University, Chuo University Tama Campus, and Meiji University.
Harajuku Area Guide - Living Guide for Foreginers
Harajuku in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo is made up of bustling world famous fashion centers wrapped inside quiet, cozy residential areas. The neighborhood’s vibe differs drastically depending on whether you live there or whether you see it as a destination. Main... More
Sakai Osaka Guide - Living Guide for Foreigners
Sakai's proximity to Osaka but relatively inexpensive real estate makes it ideal for families looking for more space or for those looking for somewhere peaceful that’s not too far from the beaten track.
Shibuya Area Guide - Living Guide for Foreigners
Shibuya is everything to everyone. Every little neighborhood around the station has its own vibe. It runs the gamut from low cost single-room micro-apartments to massive, luxurious seven-bedroom manors. Street food to Michelin-starred gourmet dining. Back alley smoking areas to young, fashionable vape cafes. Mass market department stores to one-of-a-kind designer boutiques. It’s every aspect of Tokyo life distilled into one location.
Guides to Tokyo Residential Neighborhoods
Tokyo area guides to residential neighborhoods popular with foreigners.
Azabu Juban Area Guide
Home to numerous embassies, excellent public and international schools, quiet narrow streets, expat-dense, international influences vie with Edo-period appeal. Popular with expats and cosmopolitan Japanese alike, this family-friendly suburb boasts top-class amenities.
Jiyugaoka Area Guide
Jiyugaoka is a neighborhood and train station on the southern edge of Meguro Ward. With its leafy tree-lined streets, fashionable boutiques, and many small restaurants and cafes, it is known as Tokyo’s Little Europe and is synonymous with “calm and sophisticated.”... More
Hongō Area Guide
Hongō is a neighborhood located in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, west of Ueno Park and north of the Imperial Palace, that is synonymous with Japan’s top institution of higher learning, Tokyo University. It is also home to Juntendo and Toyo Gakuen... More
Chitose Area Guide
Chitose City, with a population of about 96,500, is located about 45-km southeast of Sapporo. Its main claim to fame is its proximity to New Chitose Airport, the main airport serving Hokkaido, but it is also known for being surrounded... More
Ōokayama Station Area: Tokyo Neighborhood Guide
Ōokayama (大岡山) Station in Ota Ward, Tokyo is a relaxed and student-friendly neighborhood. Near the station is the area's most famous landmark, The Tokyo Institute of Technology. Not to be confused with Okayama Station in Okayama Prefecture.
Kyobashi Area Guide
Kyobashi is as central as you can get in Osaka. It has the distinction of being one of the city's largest business districts while being close to many tourist attractions, most notably Osaka Castle Park. It is known for its shopping and nightlife, especially its numerous izakayas and tachinomi, or standing bars.
Kyobashi Area Guide
Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan after Tokyo and one of the largest in the world with a population of more than 19 million. It is located in the southern portion of Honshu, Japan’s main island, on... More
Living in Roppongi
Famous for its iconic nightlife scene and more recently the upmarket Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown mega-complexes. Home to many foreigners living in a microcosm of Tokyo's many urban delights.
Living in Nagoya
Nagoya is situated about midway between Tokyo and Osaka. Many foreigners who have lived in both Tokyo and Nagoya will tell you that Nagoya offers everything Tokyo does, only on a much more liveable, convenient, and affordable scale.
Living in Kichijoji
A youthful and creative neighborhood situated in Musashino City, just west of Tokyo. Close enough to the central wards to be convenient but far enough away to have a relaxed and bohemian atmosphere. Its diverse and vibrant shopping center is surrounded by peaceful residential areas and home to the famed Inokashira Park.
Living in Meguro
A residential area that’s as well connected and convenient as anywhere in the world’s largest city can be. But distinctly calmer, quieter and far more liveable than many other parts of Tokyo.
REJ Room Finder
Finding the perfect apartment in Japan can be stressful. Let the REJ Room Finder do the work for you!
REJ Room Finder
Sections
Living and Working in Japan
The Japan Business Federation (Keidanren), the alliance representing big business in Japan, has reached an agreement with the country’s universities to expand recruitment of new university graduates to a year-round hiring system. This agreement marks a major shift from the... More
Living and Working in Japan
Tokyu Corporation has announced that “Shibuya Scramble Square” a 230-meter high mixed-use skyscraper located directly above Shibuya Station, with indoor and outdoor observation decks, will open for business in November. The opening of what will be the tallest building in... More
Living and Working in Japan
Daiwa House Industry, Japan’s leading home builder, announced on April 12th that 2,000 of its single-family homes and multi-family buildings located throughout Japan are likely in violation of the Building Standards Law. Construction defects in the affected structures range from... More
Getting connected
Having a local phone number is indispensable to setting up your life in Japan. This is because it’s almost impossible to look for a job or apply for an apartment in Japan without one. Landlords and real estate agents in... More
Getting connected
In a fresh blow to its brand, LeoPalace 21, the operator of over 30,000 budget apartment units across Japan, announced on April 10th that it has uncovered shoddy construction in another 3,784 buildings, bringing the total number of buildings with... More
Getting connected
The Cultural Affairs Agency, a special body of Japan’s Ministry of Education, has announced that it plans to establish a new standardized index to evaluate non-native speakers’ level of Japanese language proficiency. This is in line with the recent revision... More
Getting connected
On April 1st, Japan will make a sea change to its immigration policy by officially opening the doors to significant numbers of lower-skilled workers through two new residency visa statuses. Over the next five years, two Specified Skills Visas will... More
Getting connected
It has been a year since operators began applying to do business under the new Minpaku law. Although notifications under the law got off to a slow start, the number of new businesses applying to become a registered minpaku has... More
Market Trends
Land prices are on the rise throughout Japan, according to the latest Official Land Price survey. Here are the key takeaways from the 2019 Official Land Price (koji chika) that was released this month. Compared to 2018, there were 10%... More
Market Trends
In this article, we give an overview of the main move-in costs required for renting an apartment in Japan and how common it is for a deposit and key money to be a requirement. Of the move-in costs usually required... More