Housing Terminology โ
Japanese apartment listings use specific terms that can be confusing at first. Here's what they all mean so you can read listings with confidence.
Room Layouts โ
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1R (One Room) | Studio apartment with no separate kitchen |
| 1K | One room with a separate small kitchen |
| 1DK | One room plus a dining/kitchen area |
| 1LDK | One room plus a living/dining/kitchen |
| 2LDK, 3LDK, etc. | Multiple rooms plus a living/dining/kitchen |
The letters stand for: L = Living, D = Dining, K = Kitchen. So a 2LDK has two rooms plus a combined living/dining/kitchen space.
Fees & Costs โ
- Shikikin (ๆท้) - Security deposit, usually 1-2 months rent. This is refundable when you move out, minus any cleaning or repair costs.
- Reikin (็คผ้) - "Key money" or gift money paid to the landlord. This is non-refundable. Not every place requires it, so look for listings with ็คผ้ใชใ (no reikin).
- Chukai tesuryo (ไปฒไปๆๆฐๆ) - Agent/broker fee, usually 1 month's rent.
- Kanrihi / Kyoekihi (็ฎก็่ฒป/ๅ ฑ็่ฒป) - Monthly building maintenance and management fee. This is on top of your rent.
- Koshinryo (ๆดๆฐๆ) - Renewal fee, typically charged every 2 years when you extend your lease.
- Hoshonin (ไฟ่จผไบบ) - Guarantor. Some places accept guarantor companies instead of a personal guarantor.
- Hoshogaisha (ไฟ่จผไผ็คพ) - Guarantor company. A paid alternative to having a personal guarantor, which is helpful since most newcomers don't know anyone who can vouch for them yet.
Building Types โ
- Mansion (ใใณใทใงใณ) - A concrete apartment building, usually mid-rise or high-rise. This does NOT mean a large house. It's just the Japanese word borrowed from English with a different meaning.
- Apaato (ใขใใผใ) - A wood or lightweight steel apartment building, usually 2-3 stories. Generally cheaper than mansions but with thinner walls.
- Ikkodate (ไธๆธๅปบใฆ) - A detached house. These are available for rent but more common as purchases.
- Share House - Shared living space with private bedrooms and common areas like kitchen and bathroom. A budget-friendly option that's also great for meeting people.
Features & Amenities โ
- Auto-lock (ใชใผใใญใใฏ) - Building entry system with an intercom at the front door.
- Eki chika (้ง ่ฟ) - Close to a train station, usually within walking distance. A big plus for your commute.
- Minami muki (ๅๅใ) - South-facing. Gets the most sunlight throughout the day, which is a sought-after feature.
- Baruconii (ใใซใณใใผ) - Balcony. Used for drying laundry since many people in Japan don't use dryers.
- UB (Unit Bath / ใฆใใใใใน) - Combined bathroom with toilet, sink, and tub all in one small unit.
- Separate (ใปใใฌใผใ) - Separate bathroom and toilet rooms. This is generally considered a nicer setup than a unit bath.
- Flooring (ใใญใผใชใณใฐ) - Western-style hardwood or laminate floors.
- Tatami (็ณ) - Traditional woven mat flooring. Room sizes are often measured by how many tatami mats fit inside.
Measurements โ
| Term | Size |
|---|---|
| 1 jo (็ณ) | About 1.65 mยฒ (17.7 sq ft). The size of one tatami mat. |
| Tsubo (ๅช) | About 3.3 mยฒ (35.5 sq ft). Equal to 2 tatami mats. |
| Heibei (ๅนณ็ฑณ / mยฒ) | Square meters. The standard metric measurement you'll also see in listings. |
TIP
When apartment hunting, focus on the total monthly cost (rent + kanrihi) and check if reikin is required, since that money won't come back.