Living Quarters in and around Tokyo

This is the floor plan to the House of Three Gaijin: a 3LDK. That means it has 3 bedrooms, a Living, Dining and Kitchen area. Rooms are measured in jo, a space the size of a single tatami mat.

Renting a home is even harder if you're a gaijin. In Japan, there are no protectionist groups campaigning for the rights of foreigners, and no laws preventing landlords from discriminating. Most landlords believe foreigners make lousy tenants because they 1) are dirty (what if they keep their shoes on in the house?), 2) throw loud parties, 3) are inconsiderate of their neighbors and neighborhood customs, 4) don't speak Japanese, and 5) will trash the place and then bail out of Japan for their home country without warning. Although this isn't true for most of us, unfortunately, there are a few bad apples who reinforce these beliefs. To find a place to live, foreigners usually resort to making arrangements through their company, through connections, or by just getting really, really lucky. I used all three methods.

Also, the renter is usually responsible for supplying his or her own appliances. That includes any and all lighting fixtures, air conditioner, heaters, cooking range, oven and water heater. If you get any of these things, consider that a bonus.

Check the classified ads. I used Japan Times and Tokyo Journal for references to gaijin-friendly apartments and homestay programs.

Use all your contacts. Friends and work contacts can turn you toward a good housing prospect.

Make a good first impression. Dress nicely when interviewing real-estate agents and landlords. Give your business card to the agent--if you work for a Japanese company, letting them know it will help you. Speak as much Japanese as you can--prove you're not going to be an inconvenient tenant.

Ask about the neighborhood rules when viewing a place: What are the policies for garbage disposal? What are the noise rules? Can you put nails in the walls and clothes rails in the closets? Not only does this tell you how convenient the place will be to your lifestyle, it shows you are concerned about not inconveniencing your neighbors. Community counts.

Have your own hanko (chop stamp). Most real-estate agencies require it for their contracts, and it becomes your signature. Some might settle for your fingerprint, but having a hanko is cooler and you can use it in other transactions.

Don't be afraid to say no. It's hard to find a place, but that doesn't mean you have to settle for a drafty rathole of an apartment that's convenient to nowhere. You'll find the right place eventually.