If you are renting an apartment in Japan, you can sign the lease in your own name or in the name of a company. This choice determines who becomes the legal tenant, whose finances are reviewed, and who is responsible for meeting lease terms. Under a personal contract, or kojin keiyaku (個人契約), you sign the…

Kengo Kuma is the most recognizable Japanese architect working today. He founded Kengo Kuma & Associates in 1990, and the firm now runs studios in Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai, and Paris with completed projects in more than 20 countries. TIME named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021, the only…

In our experience, most landlords in Tokyo only accept applications from tenants who can start the lease within two to three weeks, and well-priced units near major stations often receive multiple applications within days of listing. For rentals, starting too early can be almost as frustrating as starting too late. If you begin shortlisting apartments…

Should you buy or rent in Japan right now? Is Tokyo still a smart place to invest? Are prices going up – or are we heading into a downturn? These are the questions we hear almost daily from expats, investors, and first-time buyers exploring the Japanese real estate market.  The market they’re asking about has…