We all know the stresses of moving. Looking for a new place to live can be a nightmare. There are so many things to consider: where to move, when to move, how to move – especially when we seem to own so many things!

But moving apartments need not be so difficult, especially when you know what to look for. Fear not, we are here to help you. If you are looking for apartment hunting tips then please read on!

Wondering what to look for when apartment hunting? Here are some tips on what makes an apartment more expensive and some tips on how to choose an apartment that’s right for you.

If you are thinking about what to look for when apartment hunting, everyone has different priorities, needs, and expectations when finding somewhere to live.

Location is the main priority for many people, for others, it is the size and condition of the apartment, and for many, it is about finding a balance of these elements for a suitable price.

If you are unsure about what to look for when apartment hunting, one of our apartment hunting tips is to write a list of what you would like from your prospective apartment so that you can easily figure out what your priorities are. Knowing your priorities will help greatly when considering how to choose an apartment.

Apartment Location

City vs. Countryside

Since location is often something very important to prospective tenants, it is also something that affects the value of a property and is therefore largely responsible for any potential rent inflation.

Most of us want to live in a sizeable apartment, and that’s completely natural. We all want our own space after all. However, with space comes additional cost. If you are wanting an especially spacious home, then perhaps living in a city is not for you.

A 1DK apartment in central Tokyo in Shinjuku is going to cost a lot more than a 1DK apartment of the same size in the countryside in Gunma. In the countryside and suburbs, you are much more likely to find cheaper places to rent, and in big cities, there are many more expensive apartments.

Whether you are in the middle of a big city or out in the inaka, other things cause rent inflation and expensive apartments.

Access to Public Transport

If you’re wondering how to choose an apartment, the distance from the nearest station plays a big factor in making apartments more expensive. One of the popular apartment hunting tips that may help you to get a large apartment in good condition is to live further away from a station. If you can deal with living further away from a station (even if you are twenty minutes away rather than five minutes away), there are a lot more good apartments for a cheaper cost.

However, we all know the convenience of living near a station! Therefore the prices of apartments near popular stations are so high. But, if you have your own form of transportation then you should consider looking for an apartment further away from these popular stations. You might just end up saving yourself a lot of money!

Similarly, expensive apartments are more likely to be in areas that are better connected by public transport. However, for many people access to public transport is crucial, so it’s important to bear this in mind when thinking about what to look for when apartment hunting.

Another one of our apartment hunting tips to find a good deal is to live slightly further out from the city but somewhere close to public transport since public transport is so efficient and developed in Japan.

Just because you aren’t living in a city doesn’t mean you have to miss out on city life. Japan is so well connected that you can have the best of both worlds. It is possible in Japan to be able to live further out, on the main train line, and still have the full city living experience. If you don’t mind adding a little extra time to your commute, then this might be a good option for you.

What’s Nearby

Beyond living in the cities and having access to public transport, there are other elements to an apartment’s location that make it more desirable and therefore expensive and subject to rent inflation.

When you are wondering how to choose an apartment, the proximity to parks and other green spaces can also increase the cost of the rent. As well as this, access to schools, supermarkets, and department stores is also responsible for expensive apartments.

If an area is full of trendy and expensive shops, the houses in that are more than likely also going to be expensive. The same goes with cultural spots. Historic neighborhoods are simply not going to be cheap places to live. Neither are places with views. These are all things to keep in mind when apartment hunting.

Apartment Size

Alongside the location, the size of the property is one of the main causes of rent inflation. Can’t figure out how to choose an apartment? Apartment hunting often involves figuring out some compromises that can work for you, and it usually involves finding a balance between location vs. apartment size.

In the center of Tokyo, where space is limited, even expensive apartments can be small. So, if you are looking for a much larger apartment, you will be able to find cheaper ones further out from the cities, where space isn’t such a premium.

Apartment Condition

In Japan, we love new-builds and innovation. There’s a large number of new apartments popping up all the time – take a walk down around any suburb and you’re sure to see some construction going on somewhere!

Newer apartments are more desirable and because of this, they are normally more expensive too.

One of our apartment hunting tips if you are trying to save money is to find an older building. There are still so many old buildings in impeccable condition. Across the World, many people prefer living in trusty older buildings since they often have more character. Though this doesn’t tend to be the case in Japan, with newer buildings being a lot more popular.

Apartment Floor

If you’re thinking about what to look for when apartment hunting, one of the more unexpected variants is the apartment floor. What floor an apartment is on can affect the price.

Ground floors are generally cheaper because they are considered to be less private so moving into a ground floor apartment can be a great way to save money if privacy is not your priority! You may be able to enjoy a small garden or terrace too!

There are so many things that lead to rent inflation of apartments in Japan, but the main two points are the location and the size of the apartment. There are plenty of apartments in Japan that strike a balance between these two and a variety of apartments to suit all people’s needs, nevertheless. Good luck with the apartment hunting!