Your Japan Housing Timeline: 3 Months to Move-In Day

“My company gave me one month of temporary housing. Is that enough to find an apartment?” This question appears on Japan forums every week. The answer: probably, if you’re prepared. But “prepared” means having started months before you land.

Here’s the actual timeline, built from dozens of real experiences — from the person who signed a lease one day after arriving to the couple who spent two months in a capsule hotel because nothing worked out.

3 months before arrival

You can’t sign a Japanese lease from abroad (with rare exceptions). But you can do the work that makes the on-the-ground search fast.

Research your target area

Don’t pick a neighborhood blind. Use Google Maps and SUUMO to understand commute times from potential neighborhoods to your workplace. One resident’s advice: “Plot out a commute and area that fits your budget. The important thing is that SUUMO listings are frequently out of date — it’s great to get an idea of the market, but don’t get attached to any specific listing because it’s probably already gone.”

Browse our rent index to understand what rents look like across Tokyo’s 23 wards, or take the ward quiz to narrow down which neighborhoods match your priorities. If your workplace is in Shinjuku, you don’t have to live in Shinjuku — Nakano, Suginami, or even Nerima could save you ¥30,000-50,000/month on the same commute line.

Set your budget realistically

The standard rule: rent should be no more than 1/3 of your monthly income. But also budget for upfront costs of 4-6 months’ rent (see our complete fee guide and use the cost calculator to estimate your move-in total). For a ¥100,000/month apartment, prepare ¥400,000-600,000 for move-in day.

If you’re bringing pets, budget higher — see our pet housing guide.

Start the pet import process (if applicable)

The 180-day waiting period for pet quarantine starts from the date of the rabies blood titer test. If you haven’t started, you’re already behind. Multiple people report that the pet import paperwork is harder than finding the apartment.

Prepare your documents

Gather and translate (to Japanese if possible):

• Employment offer letter or certificate
• Recent pay slips or tax returns
• Bank statements showing savings
• Passport bio page
• Photo ID

You’ll need originals in Japan, but having digital copies ready means your agent can start screening properties immediately when you arrive.

Decide on temporary housing

Your first 2-4 weeks need a roof. Options in order of cost:

Option	Cost/night	Pros	Cons
Company-provided housing	Free	Best option if available	Not always offered
Share house	¥2,000-3,000	Furnished, social, flexible	Small, shared facilities
Monthly mansion	¥3,000-5,000	Private, furnished	More expensive, limited availability
Airbnb/serviced apartment	¥4,000-8,000	Comfortable, private	Expensive for extended stays
Capsule hotel	¥2,000-4,000	Cheap, central	No luggage storage, exhausting long-term

Book your temporary housing before arriving. Don’t assume you’ll figure it out after landing — popular share houses and monthly mansions book up, especially during peak moving seasons (March-April and September-October when companies transfer employees).

1 month before arrival

Contact agents

Email 2-3 real estate agents in your target area. Tell them:

• Your nationality and visa type
• Your Japanese language level
• Your budget (rent + total upfront)
• Your move-in timeline
• Any special requirements (pets, home office, specific layout)
• That you’re a foreigner and want to only see properties that accept foreign tenants

Good agents will start identifying potential properties before you arrive. Some may even arrange virtual viewings.

Understand what you actually need vs. want

Japan apartments are smaller than what you’re used to. A 25m² 1K is considered normal for a single person. Here’s a reality check:

• 1R (ワンルーム): One room, no separate kitchen. 15-20m². The cheapest option but cramped.
• 1K: One room + separate kitchen area. 20-25m². The sweet spot for solo renters.
• 1DK: One room + dining-kitchen. 25-30m². Comfortable for one, tight for two.
• 1LDK: One room + living-dining-kitchen. 30-40m². Comfortable for couples.

The layout matters more than the number. A 1K with an efficient layout and good storage can feel bigger than a poorly designed 1DK.

First week in Japan

This is the busiest week of your life. Prioritize in this order:

Day 1-2: Administrative essentials

1. Register your address at the ward office (区役所). You need a registered address to do anything else. Use your temporary housing address — you can update it when you move to your permanent apartment.
2. Get your residence card stamped. This happens at the ward office during address registration.
3. Open a bank account. Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行) is the easiest for foreigners. Some banks require you to have been in Japan for 6 months — JP Bank doesn’t. You need this for the apartment contract and salary deposits.
4. Get a phone number. A Japanese phone number is required on virtually every form you’ll fill out, including apartment applications. Prepaid SIM cards work.

Some companies offer guided orientation services that handle ward office registration, banking, and phone setup in a single day. They cost money but can save days of confusion, especially if your Japanese is limited.

Day 3-5: Start apartment hunting

1. Meet your pre-contacted agent(s) in person. Bring all your documents.
2. View properties. A good agent will have 3-5 pre-screened properties ready. Be prepared to make decisions fast — good apartments in Japan get snapped up within days, sometimes hours.
3. Apply immediately when you find something suitable. Don’t go home to “think about it” overnight. The apartment may be gone by morning.
4. Confirm the contract type before you apply. Ask whether it’s an ordinary lease (普通借家) or fixed-term (定期借家) — the latter won’t renew, and the cheapest, most spacious listings are disproportionately fixed-term. Our fixed-term lease trap guide explains what to ask.

One renter’s experience: “I met the agent the day after I landed, had a contract signed one week later, and moved in a week after that.” This is fast but achievable if you know what you want and your documents are ready.

The application-to-keys timeline

Once you submit an application, expect:

Step	Duration
Application submission	Day 1
Guarantor company screening	3-7 days
Landlord approval	1-3 days
Contract preparation	3-5 days
Contract signing + payment	1 day
Key handover	Move-in date (often 2nd of the month)
Total	10-20 days

One resident’s rule of thumb: “Select your apartment no later than the 10th of the month prior to move-in. It can take upwards of 2.5 to 3 weeks to finalize everything.”

This means if your temporary housing ends April 30, you need to have found and applied for your apartment by April 10 at the latest. Don’t wait.

Week 2-4: Finalizing and moving in

If everything goes smoothly

You sign the contract around week 2, pay all upfront fees, and receive keys on your move-in date. Your remaining temporary housing days are spent buying furniture and appliances.

Essential purchases (budget ¥100,000-200,000 total):

• Refrigerator: ¥30,000-50,000
• Washing machine: ¥30,000-50,000
• Microwave: ¥5,000-10,000
• Futon or mattress: ¥10,000-30,000
• Curtains (apartments come without them): ¥5,000-15,000
• Light fixtures (apartments often come without ceiling lights): ¥3,000-10,000

Nitori, Don Quijote, and secondhand shops (リサイクルショップ) are your friends. Facebook Marketplace “Sayonara Sales” from departing foreigners can save you thousands.

If you get rejected

It happens. Frequently. Don’t panic, but don’t waste time either.

• Ask your agent why. Was it the landlord or the guarantor company? The answer determines next steps.
• If the guarantor company rejected you, try a different one — ideally GTN. Our Japan guarantor company guide covers which companies are foreigner-friendly and how to push for GTN as an option.
• If the landlord rejected you as a foreigner, move on immediately. No amount of negotiation will change their mind.
• Broaden your search area. If you’ve been targeting one ward, expand to neighboring wards.
• Consider UR housing as a backup. No discrimination, simpler process. See our housing comparison guide.
• Extend your temporary housing. If your company housing is ending, book a share house or monthly mansion. Don’t make panicked decisions because of a hard deadline.

If you’ve already been rejected multiple times, our six-move rejection recovery playbook walks through exactly how to diagnose and fix the pattern — ward pivots, agent swaps, and which guarantor company to push for.

If Obon or Golden Week falls in your timeline

Government offices, real estate agencies, and management companies largely shut down during:

• Golden Week: Late April to early May (up to 10 days)
• Obon: Mid-August (about a week)
• Year-end/New Year: Late December to early January

If your arrival coincides with these periods, add at least a week to your timeline. One ALT arriving in late July warned: “Many real estate places, other companies, government offices will close over Obon, so if you’re not in housing before then, it’s going to drag the process out.”

The complete checklist

3 months before:

• Research target neighborhoods and commute times
• Set budget (rent + 4-6 months upfront)
• Start pet import process if applicable
• Gather and translate documents
• Book temporary housing

1 month before:

• Contact 2-3 agents in target area
• Finalize must-haves vs. nice-to-haves
• Confirm temporary housing booking
• Transfer funds to accessible account

Week 1 in Japan:

• Register address at ward office
• Open bank account
• Get phone number
• Meet agents, view properties
• Apply for apartment

Week 2-4:

• Complete guarantor screening
• Sign contract, pay fees
• Buy furniture and appliances
• Move in
• Update address at ward office

Don’t try to optimize for the perfect apartment on your first move. Several long-term residents advise: “See your first place as temporary until you get a better understanding of how things work.” You can always move in 2 years when your lease renews — and the second time, you’ll know exactly what you want and how the system works.

If you’re facing rejection due to nationality, our guide to foreigner acceptance rates covers which property types and wards give you the best odds. If your income is non-standard, see how to rent without Japanese income.

Start your search with Tanu before or after you arrive. Tell it your timeline, budget, and requirements — it’ll search 14,000+ real listings and help you understand what’s available before you set foot in an agent’s office.

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Timeline based on resident experiences from r/movingtojapan, r/japanlife, r/ALTinginJapan, and r/japanresidents. March 2026.