Japan Series Part 3: Arriving at Your New Japanese Home and Getting Settled In

By Zakari Watto | 15 Years in Cross-Cultural Communication | November 6,2025

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  Just arrived at your new Japanese apartment? This comprehensive guide walks you through the first steps of settling in, understanding your lease, meeting your landlord, and navigating the unique aspects of Japanese residential life as a foreigner. You found your apartment. Now what? Your first day in a Japanese home, explained. Key money, deposits, and house rules: everything you need to know about your Japanese apartment.Moving to Japan? Here's what to expect when you walk through that apartment door for the first time.

A Western newcomer takes in the view of his first Japanese apartment, experiencing the characteristic tatami flooring, minimal furnishings, and authentic neighborhood view that define settling into Japanese residential living.

Introduction: Welcome Home, Now the Real Adventure Begins

Congratulations. You've made it through the bureaucratic gauntlet at city hall. With your residence card and Jūminhyō ready, you are now at your new Japanese home. The hardest part is behind you, right?

Not quite. While the government registration was about proving you belong in Japan administratively, settling into your apartment is about learning how to live here—and that's an entirely new challenge. After 15 years of helping Westerners navigate this exact moment, I can tell you that this is where culture truly meets daily life.

Your apartment is more than just a place to sleep. It's where you'll learn unwritten rules, discover what your neighbors expect of you, and begin to comprehend the deeper nuances of Japanese community living. This guide will walk you through that first crucial transition, from unlocking your door to understanding everything that comes with calling a Japanese space your home.

Understanding What You've Actually Rented

When you signed your lease in Japan, you probably noticed something that caught you off guard. The apartment you rented might have come with surprisingly few belongings. In many cases, Japanese apartments arrive completely empty—no light fixtures, no kitchen equipment, sometimes even no flooring in certain areas. This isn't a mistake or a sign of a bad deal. This is normal.

Japanese rental culture operates on a principle of separation. When you rent an apartment in Japan, you're renting the shell of the space. What you do with it, how you furnish it, and what you add to it is entirely your responsibility. This differs dramatically from rental markets in many Western countries, where furnished or semi-furnished apartments are common. Understanding this distinction from day one will save you considerable frustration and unexpected expenses.

The lease itself will spell out exactly what is included and what isn't. Some apartments come with built-in air conditioning units; others don't. Some have gas lines ready for stoves, others are electric-only. Your responsibility as a tenant is to read these details carefully before signing, and if you haven’t, now is the time to review the lease document and understand your space fully.

Your First 48 Hours: The Essential Setup

The moment you receive your keys, your first priority is electricity, water, and gas. These aren't services you can delay setting up. Before you even think about furniture or decorating, you need these utilities activated. In Japan, this process is more streamlined than many Westerners expect, but it does require some coordination.

Contact your utility companies—the electric company, water bureau, and gas provider (if applicable to your apartment). You can usually do this online or by phone. Have your lease documents and your resident registration details ready. Most utilities can be activated within a few days. Water and electricity are typically managed by municipal services, while gas companies vary by area. Your real estate agent or landlord should provide you with the contact information for these.

Once the utilities are flowing, your next step is addressing the bare floors. Most Japanese apartments have tatami, wooden, or vinyl flooring, and in your bedroom, you'll likely want to add a futon or bed frame. Many Westerners are surprised by the size constraints of Japanese bedrooms and apartments. What might feel spacious in a floor plan can feel quite compact once you're standing in it. Be strategic about your furniture purchases. Japanese spaces reward minimalism, and trying to force too much Western furniture into a Japanese apartment is a common mistake newcomers make.

Meeting Your Landlord and Understanding the House Rules

Your landlord or property management company will provide you with a document—often several pages long—that outlines the rules of the building or apartment complex. These rules are not suggestions. These are expectations, and following them is essential to maintaining good relations with your neighbors and your landlord.

Common rules in Japanese apartments include restrictions on noise after certain hours (often 10 PM onward), guidelines about where you can place air conditioning units on the exterior of the building, rules about laundry hanging (many buildings prohibit outdoor laundry lines on balconies), and specific instructions about trash disposal. Some buildings have rules about guests, pet ownership, or even the color of your curtains if they face the street. These rules exist because Japanese apartment living is communal living, and your actions directly affect the comfort and peace of those around you.

When you meet your landlord, even if it's just to pick up keys, treat this interaction with the respect it deserves. A simple greeting, a polite bow, and an expression of gratitude for the opportunity to rent the space go a long way. Many landlords are more relaxed about foreigners than they once were, but there's still an expectation that you'll be a responsible, considerate tenant. If you have questions about the rules, ask them during this initial meeting. Clarify anything that seems unclear. It's far better to ask up front than to violate a rule you didn't understand three months in.

The Mystery of Japanese Kitchen Equipment and Appliances

Here's something that surprises almost every Western newcomer: Japanese kitchens often come without ovens, without a traditional refrigerator space prepared, and sometimes without even a stove top. Instead, you'll find either a gas burner setup or an induction cooktop that you're expected to install yourself or purchase separately.

If your apartment doesn't have a kitchen exhaust system already built in, you'll need to install one. This isn't optional—it's a safety requirement. Cooking in a Japanese apartment without proper ventilation will create condensation issues, mold problems, and unhappy neighbors.

Westerners often need to buy a small oven or toaster oven on their own. Ovens aren't commonly used in traditional Japanese kitchens, unlike Western kitchens. If baking matters, consider a small toaster oven or convection oven. Bic Camera, Yodobashi, and Don Quijote, Japanese appliance stores, stock many compact kitchen appliances for small areas.

Your refrigerator will need to be purchased and delivered separately as well. Size is crucial here. Japanese apartments have limited space, and over-sizing your refrigerator is a common mistake. Measure your kitchen carefully before purchasing any large appliances. A space that looks spacious in person can become impossibly cramped once a large refrigerator is installed.

Navigating Trash Day and Garbage Rules

If there's one thing that will teach you the importance of following rules in Japan, it's garbage day. Your building or neighborhood will have a specific schedule for when trash, recyclables, and combustibles can be put out. This schedule is not flexible. Putting trash out on the wrong day, in the wrong place, or in the wrong category will result in your trash being left behind—and potentially a visit from building management.

Most neighborhoods divide garbage into several categories: burnable trash, non-burnable trash, plastics, glass, aluminum, and paper. Some areas have even more specific divisions. Your landlord or the neighborhood association will provide you with a detailed calendar, usually in Japanese, showing exactly which items go out on which days.

The key to success here is simple: take the time to understand your local garbage system completely. If you're uncertain about a particular item, ask your landlord or a neighbor rather than guessing. Japanese neighbors are more forgiving of a foreigner asking a question than they are of repeated violations of the garbage system. Respecting the garbage rules is a sign that you respect the community.

Connecting with Your Neighbors and Building Community

Your neighbors are watching. Not in a sinister way, but in the way apartment dwellers everywhere notice who's moving in next door. In Japan, this observation is particularly heightened because communal living is such a core part of the culture.

When you first move in, consider introducing yourself to the neighbors directly contiguous to your apartment and perhaps to those on your floor. A simple greeting, perhaps with a small gift (a modest box of cookies or tea is perfectly appropriate), establishes that you're aware of your place in the community and that you intend to be a good neighbor. This gesture carries significant weight in Japanese culture and can prevent many potential conflicts before they start.

If your building or neighborhood has a tenant association (often called a "Chōnaikai"), attend the meetings if you're able to. These meetings discuss building maintenance, community events, and collective decisions. Your participation, even if you don't understand everything being said, demonstrates respect for the community structure.

Setting Up Internet and Phone Services

Internet and phone services in Japan are separate from your apartment rental, but they're essential to set up quickly. Most Japanese apartments do not come with pre-installed internet lines. You'll need to contact an internet service provider and arrange for installation.

Popular providers include NTT East or West (for fiber optic), SoftBank, and various cable companies, depending on your area. Installation can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on availability and demand. The process typically involves a technician coming to your apartment to run cables and set up the modem.

For mobile phone service, you'll already have a Japanese phone number if you followed Part 2 of our series and registered at city hall. However, if you haven't yet, now is the time to visit a mobile carrier like Docomo, SoftBank, or au and activate a proper phone plan. Having reliable connectivity is essential for navigating Japanese life, from receiving building notices to communicating with your landlord.

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Understanding Your Lease: Keys, Money, Deposits, and Other Surprises

Renting an apartment often involves unique financial concepts. These concepts are not common in most Western rental markets. For example, key money is standard in Japan. Key money is a non-refundable payment to the landlord. This is separate from the security deposit. This payment can equal one or two months' rent. You will not get it back. It is simply the cost of renting the apartment.

Your security deposit, on the other hand, is refundable. However, the conditions for getting it back are very specific. Your apartment must be returned in its original condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted). Any damage, holes in walls, stains on flooring, or other issues that can result in deductions from your deposit. Some landlords will inspect beforehand; she had never been this joyful. When you move out, disputes over damage charges are not uncommon.

Before you move in, do a walkthrough with the landlord or property manager. Document the apartment's condition in writing and with photos. This protects you and the landlord. Note any existing damage in writing. This prevents you from being charged for it later.

Your lease will also specify your rent payment plan. Most Japanese apartments require payment via bank transfer on a specific day each month. Set up an automatic transfer from your Japanese bank account to ensure you never miss a payment. Late rent payments, even by a day, are taken very seriously.

Furniture, Appliances, and the Art of Japanese Minimalism

One of the greatest gifts Japan offers to the overwhelmed newcomer is an introduction to the concept of minimalism. Your apartment space is likely smaller than what you're accustomed to, and this constraint will force you to think carefully about what you need.

Resist the urge to fill your space immediately. Many Westerners make the mistake of purchasing too much furniture too quickly, only to find that their apartment feels cramped and overwhelming. Instead, start with the essentials: a bed, a small table, perhaps a bookshelf. Live in the space for a few weeks before adding more.

For furniture and appliances, IKEA, Nitori, and Muji offer affordable, space-saving options perfect for Japanese homes. These stores understand spatial constraints and offer products that fit naturally into Japanese apartments. Western-sized furniture often looks absurdly large in these spaces.

For larger purchases, delivery services are reliable and affordable. Most stores will deliver and even assemble furniture for a reasonable fee. Take advantage of this service rather than trying to figure out how to fit a disassembled wardrobe into a taxi.

Your First Month: Establishing Routines and Building Understanding

As you settle into your apartment, your first month is about establishing routines and building understanding. Learn when your neighbors are home, when they're sleeping, and when they're most likely to tolerate noise. Notice the rhythm of its building. Understand when the hallway lights turn on and off, when trash day arrives, and what the building feels like at different times of day.

This observation period is crucial. It's how you'll learn the unwritten rules that don't appear in any document. Japanese buildings and neighborhoods operate on subtle social contracts, and your awareness of these contracts is what separates a respectful tenant from someone who creates friction with those around them.

Your landlord will likely check in on you during this first month. Respond positively to any communication. If there are any issues with utilities, appliances, or the building itself, report them promptly. This demonstrates that you're a responsible, engaged tenant.

Conclusion: You're Officially Settled

When you close your apartment door at the end of your first month, having learned the rhythms of your space, connected with your neighbors, and established your routines, you've accomplished something significant. You've moved beyond being a visitor in Japan. You now have a home here.

This is a milestone that deserves recognition. You've navigated government bureaucracy, found housing, and integrated yourself into a community. With your apartment established and your utilities running, you're now ready for the next logical step in your settlement journey.

Next up in our series: Now that you have a home and you're officially registered, it's time to tackle the financial foundation of your new life. Part 4: Opening Your First Japanese Bank Account—Why It's Harder Than You Think and How to Get It Right on the First Try.

About the Author

Zakari Watto is the founder of Japan Insider. With over 15 years of cross-cultural communication expertise, he specializes in helping Western professionals, families, and businesses navigate the complexities of Japanese society. As someone who has guided thousands of newcomers through their first months in Japan, Zakari brings both practical knowledge and deep cultural understanding to every article he writes. His passion is to bridge the gap between cultures and help newcomers not just survive in Japan, but truly thrive and build meaningful connections with their communities.

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You can learn more about our services and explore additional guides at our website, www.japaninsider.org, or send us a direct message at info@japaninsider.org. You can also follow our company insights, community tips, and cultural commentary on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/JapanInsider. We're here to support you at every step of your Japanese journey.

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For readers interested in continuing their settlement journey in Japan, we recommend exploring these related topics: understanding Japanese rental agreements, navigating the Japanese school system for families, setting up utilities and internet services in Japan, Japanese workplace culture for foreign professionals, managing finances in Japan, and building authentic friendships in Japanese communities. Each of these topics builds naturally from successfully settling into your home and represents the next phases of integration that most newcomers encounter.