Most apartments in Japan don’t come furnished, which creates a real problem if you’re moving from overseas or only staying for a year or two. You either spend thousands of dollars buying furniture you’ll abandon when you leave, or you scramble to find one of the limited furnished options available.
Though limited, furnished apartments do exist, especially in major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. They’re also a practical alternative to hotels if you’re staying for a few months, since hotels get expensive fast and aren’t designed for actually living and working in one place.
A furnished apartment gives you a real kitchen, laundry, and space to settle in without the upfront cost of buying everything yourself. In Japan, these apartments typically come with the essentials like a bed, desk, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, and basic dining furniture, though smaller items like cooking utensils usually aren’t included.
In this guide, we’ll walk through the benefits and drawbacks of renting furnished apartments in Japan, how they compare to unfurnished options, and exactly how to find one.
Benefits of Furnished Apartments
Furnished apartments make the most sense when you’re trying to minimize upfront costs, reduce hassle, or avoid committing to a long-term setup in Japan. Here’s what you’re getting.
Lower upfront costs
Moving into an unfurnished apartment in Japan means buying everything yourself, and that adds up fast. Furniture and appliances for a single person typically run between 200,000 to 300,000 yen, and can exceed a million yen depending on your needs.
Furnished apartments eliminate most of that upfront spend, which makes a real difference if you’re only staying a year or two and don’t want to sink money into things you’ll have to sell or abandon when you leave.
Cheaper moving costs
Without furniture and appliances to transport, your moving costs drop significantly.
This matters more than you might expect in Japan, where moving companies charge based on volume and distance, and peak seasons like March and April can double or triple the price.
Less hassle on both ends
Furnished apartments save you the time and effort of shopping for furniture, coordinating deliveries, and figuring out how to dispose of everything when you move out.
Disposal in Japan isn’t as simple as leaving things on the curb. Large items require scheduling pickups and paying fees, and if you’re leaving the country on a deadline, that becomes a real headache.
Drawbacks of Furnished Apartments
Furnished apartments aren’t the right fit for everyone. Here’s what you’re trading off.
Higher monthly rent
Furnished apartments typically cost 20-30% more than unfurnished units, and in Tokyo that premium adds up quickly. Some also bundle in additional fees for cleaning, utilities, or contract costs, so your actual monthly expense can end up higher than the listed rent suggests.
If you’re staying longer than a year or two, the math often starts to favor an unfurnished place where you buy your own things.
You can’t remove or replace the furniture
Most furnished apartments have strict policies against removing or swapping out the provided furniture and appliances.
If the bed is uncomfortable or the desk is too small, you’re generally stuck with it. This can be frustrating if you have specific preferences or already own furniture you’d like to use.
Everything is secondhand
The furniture and appliances in furnished apartments have been used by previous tenants.
They’re cleaned before you move in, but if you’re uncomfortable sleeping on a mattress someone else used or sitting on a couch with unknown history, this might bother you.
You might be on the hook for repairs
Contracts often categorize furniture and appliances as either “additional facilities” or “lent items,” and the distinction matters.
If something breaks and it falls under the lent category, you could be responsible for repair or replacement costs. Always read the contract carefully before signing.
How to Find a Furnished Apartment in Japan
Finding a furnished apartment in Japan is more straightforward than renting a traditional unfurnished place, but the process still has quirks that trip up foreigners.
Use platforms that cater to foreigners
Standard Japanese real estate sites like SUUMO and Homes.co.jp have limited furnished inventory and assume you can read Japanese.
If you’re a foreigner, you’ll have a much easier time using platforms that are built for non-Japanese renters and have English-speaking agents who understand the challenges you’re facing.
At Tokyo Portfolio, we specialize in helping foreigners find housing in Tokyo, including furnished apartments for short and long-term stays. We handle the entire process in English and work with landlords who are comfortable renting to non-Japanese tenants, which eliminates one of the biggest friction points in the Japanese rental market.
If you’re exploring other options, here are some platforms worth checking out:
- GaijinPot Apartments has an English interface and agents experienced with foreign tenants, with listings across Japan
- Real Estate Japan offers a large database of furnished apartments with English support in multiple cities
- Apartment Japan lets you complete the entire rental process online, including e-signatures, and many listings don’t require a guarantor
- Oakhouse and Sakura House focus on share houses and smaller furnished units with simplified processes for foreigners
- Plaza Homes and Housing Japan specialize in upscale furnished rentals for expats in central Tokyo, though you’ll pay a premium for the service level
Understand the guarantor situation
Traditional Japanese rentals require a guarantor, which is someone who agrees to cover your rent if you can’t pay. For most foreigners, finding a Japanese person willing to take on that responsibility is nearly impossible.
Furnished apartment providers have largely solved this problem. Many don’t require a guarantor at all, especially for short-term leases. Others work with guarantor companies, where you pay a fee of typically half to one month’s rent and the company guarantees your lease instead of an individual person. Some platforms like Apartment Japan accept credit card guarantees as an alternative.
If your employer is willing to sign the lease on your behalf or act as your guarantor, that opens up even more options. This is common for people on corporate transfers or working for larger international companies.
Know what to ask before signing
Before you commit to a furnished apartment, get clear answers on a few things that often cause problems later.
Find out exactly what’s included in the rent. Some furnished apartments bundle utilities and internet into one monthly payment, which makes budgeting simple. Others list a base rent that doesn’t include any of that, and the extra costs can add 20,000 to 30,000 yen per month.
Ask about the furniture policy. Can you add your own items? What happens if something breaks? Some contracts make tenants responsible for repairs on “lent” items, which can get expensive if an appliance dies during your stay.
Confirm the move-out process. Some places require professional cleaning at your expense, and others have specific checkout procedures that can be a hassle if you’re leaving Japan on a tight schedule.
Start your search early
Good furnished apartments, especially affordable ones in convenient locations, don’t stay on the market long. If you know when you’re arriving in Japan, start looking at least a month in advance.
Many platforms let you reserve from overseas and complete the paperwork remotely, so you can have a place lined up before you land.
Furnished vs. Unfurnished Apartments in Japan
The right choice depends on how long you’re staying and what tradeoffs you’re willing to make.
Furnished apartments make the most sense if you’re staying in Japan for less than two years. The higher monthly rent is offset by the money you save on furniture, appliances, and moving costs. You also avoid the hassle of disposing of everything when you leave, which in Japan means scheduling pickups and paying fees for large items.
Once you get past the two-year mark, the math starts to shift. The 20-30% monthly premium on furnished apartments adds up, and at some point it would have been cheaper to just buy your own furniture upfront. If you’re planning to stay in Japan long-term, an unfurnished apartment gives you more control over your living space and usually costs less over time.
Here are some differences between furnished and unfurnished apartments that you should consider when making a decision:
Upfront costs are very different
Moving into an unfurnished apartment in Japan involves significant upfront costs beyond just buying furniture. You’ll typically pay a security deposit of one to two months’ rent, key money of one to two months’ rent (which is a non-refundable gift to the landlord), an agency fee of one month’s rent, and a guarantor company fee if you’re using one.
Add furniture and appliances on top of that, and you could be looking at five to six months’ worth of rent before you even move in.
Furnished apartments usually have much lower upfront costs. Many don’t charge key money or agency fees, and some only require the first month’s rent plus a small deposit.
This is a big reason why they’re popular with people who are new to Japan or don’t want to tie up a lot of cash before they’ve settled in.
Availability and location
Furnished apartments are concentrated in major cities, particularly Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Within those cities, you’ll find the most options in central areas and neighborhoods popular with expats. If you’re looking to live in a smaller city or a more residential neighborhood outside the city center, your furnished options will be limited.
Unfurnished apartments are available everywhere. You’ll have far more choice in terms of neighborhoods, building types, and price points. If location flexibility matters to you, going unfurnished opens up the entire rental market rather than just the subset that caters to short-term and foreign renters.
Lease terms and flexibility
Furnished apartments often offer more flexible lease terms. Many allow month-to-month rentals or leases as short as three to six months, which is useful if you’re not sure how long you’ll be in Japan or if your work situation might change. Some also let you extend easily if your plans shift.
Standard unfurnished apartments in Japan typically come with two-year leases. Breaking a lease early usually means losing your deposit and sometimes paying a penalty. If you’re not confident you’ll stay for the full two years, this rigidity can be a real drawback.
Who should choose furnished
Furnished apartments work well if you’re staying for a shorter period, want to minimize upfront costs and hassle, or need flexibility in your lease terms.
They’re also a good option if you’re new to Japan and want to get settled quickly before figuring out your longer-term housing situation.
Who should choose unfurnished
Unfurnished apartments make more sense if you’re planning to stay in Japan long-term, want more control over your living space, or need to live in a location where furnished options are scarce.
Conclusion
Furnished apartments are a practical option if you’re moving to Japan for a shorter stay or want to avoid the upfront costs and hassle of setting up an unfurnished place. They’re especially useful if you’re new to the country and want to get settled quickly without navigating furniture stores and disposal logistics in an unfamiliar system.
That said, they’re not the right fit for everyone. If you’re staying long-term, moving with family, or want full control over your living space, an unfurnished apartment will likely serve you better over time.
The key is understanding what you’re optimizing for. If it’s convenience and flexibility, furnished apartments are hard to beat. If it’s cost over time and personalization, unfurnished is the way to go.
If you’re looking for a furnished apartment in Tokyo, we can help.
At Tokyo Portfolio, we work with foreigners every day to find housing that fits their needs, whether that’s a short-term furnished place or a longer-term rental. We handle the process in English and work with landlords who are comfortable renting to non-Japanese tenants. Get in touch with us to start your search.
