How to Get an Address, Bank Account and Phone Number to Rent an Apartment in Japan
Moving to Japan without an address, local phone number or bank account can be scary. To even apply for an apartment, in almost all cases, you need a bank account and phone number in Japan. But getting a phone number... More
How to get rid of your things when you move out of your Japanese apartment
I recently moved out of the small 1K apartment I had been living in for over three years. Over the course of those three years I accumulated a lot of knick knacks and trash. And to be completely honest, I... More
4 rental apartment recommendations available in Tokyo right now! — May 2021
The bulk of the busy season for apartment hunting is over so now is a great time to be searching. Today I’ll be introducing four properties in Tokyo available NOW from our partner agency, SkyCourt. SkyCourt is a fast and... More
The right timing for apartment hunting in Japan
One of the first things we always tell those who inquire is that most property owners and property management companies in Japan will only accept your application if you’re ready to start your lease in the next two to three... More
Japan’s expensive, mandatory shaken car inspections: My experience
I bought a car last summer and recently brought it in for “shaken,” (車検) the motor vehicle inspection required by the Japanese government every two to three years. Prior to buying a car I heard that Japanese people don’t often... More
Getting a PCR test in Japan: My Experience
I’ve had an ongoing fever for about a week now with only minor other symptoms, and while normally I wouldn’t be worried about something like that, being mid-pandemic introduced a new layer of anxiety. While the staff at the GaijinPot... More
3 Tips for Taking the Stress Out of Furnishing Your Apartment in Japan
In Japan, January marks the start of the busy moving season as it’s a few months away from the start of the Japanese fiscal year on April 1st. However, moving usually peaks around mid-February to early April. Below are three... More