A Student’s Guide to Apartment Hunting

2025-02-28

There are many who get excited at the thought of moving out of their parents’ home and living alone for the first time. However, many may also wonder, “How do I find the perfect apartment for me?”

In this article, we will introduce ways to find rental properties suitable for students, along with some important factors to consider. Please use this article as a reference to find your ideal apartment and make the most of your student life!

At Village House, we offer rental properties across Japan starting from just 20,000 yen per month. If you’re searching for an apartment, be sure to check out our website!

Schedule your move

Determine your negotiables and non-negotiables, and start searching for a property

Contact a real estate agency and schedule a viewing

Apply for a tenancy

Go through the tenant screening process

Review important contract details and sign the lease agreement

Receive the keys and move in

The time required to find an apartment varies from person to person. Some may secure a place within a week, while others take up to three months to carefully consider their options. If you find your ideal apartment quickly and have no problems after viewing it, then you can make a decision smoothly. However, if you struggle to find your ideal apartment or realize after viewing that it doesn’t meet your expectations, it may take longer.

If you intend to complete your move by the end of March, you should finalize your apartment search by mid-March at the latest. Since apartment hunting typically takes two weeks to a month, start preparing as soon as the school acceptance results are announced in mid-February.

Set a budget for rent

Since most students have their rent and living expenses paid by their parents, most of them set a budget limit for rent before searching for a property. However, this doesn’t mean cheaper is always better, but rather, it’s about finding the best value for your money for properties with similar conditions.

In reality, it’s best to carefully compare factors beyond just rent and choose a property that meets your most important criteria. Moreover, when discussing budget with a real estate agent, you don’t need to reveal your maximum limit upfront. In fact, it’s often better to state a slightly lower amount.

For example, if your actual budget limit is under ¥50,000, it’s advisable to say you’re looking for places in the ¥40,000 range. This is because real estate agents may suggest options slightly above your stated budget, such as properties around ¥55,000. Thus, to stay within your budget, it’s a good strategy to mention a slightly lower amount when inquiring.

Choose a location to live

Rent varies greatly depending on the area you live. Considering the convenience of commuting, a property close to your university is ideal, but rent in city centers tends to be higher.

Even if you live in an area a little far from the university, you can shorten your commute time by choosing a station where express trains stop. On the other hand, stations where express trains don’t stop tend to have lower rent, even within the same train line. As you narrow down your housing preferences, consider these factors to find the area that best suits your needs.

For female students, safety is a key factor when selecting a place to live. When evaluating the route from the nearest station to your potential home, consider the following:

Are there 24-hour convenience stores or shops nearby to keep the area well-lit?

Is there a nightlife district in the area?

Are there any large parks with little foot traffic that could potentially be unsafe?

Furthermore, living near nightlife areas like bars and izakayas can increase the risk of being approached by drunk individuals. Additionally, if your route home requires passing through secluded areas, the risk of being involved in a crime may also be higher. To stay safe, it is advisable to check at night whether there are people on the streets and evaluate whether it is a dangerous environment.

Determine the size and layout of the room

When it comes to living on your own as a student, you can choose from the following types of typical apartment layouts.

1R (One Room)

This layout combines the entire living space into a single open area. The kitchen and living space are all in one room. Recommended for those who are living alone for the first time or who want to live in a minimal space.

This layout features one living space with a separate kitchen (K). Since the living space and kitchen are separated by a door, cooking smells are less likely to spread into the living space. Suitable for those who want to live alone and value privacy and comfort.

This layout includes one living space and a dining-kitchen space (DK). The dining-kitchen space is relatively spacious and can be used as a dining area. Recommended for those who want to live more comfortably than in a 1K or who prefer to keep the kitchen separate from the living space when having guests over.

Since university students typically live in their apartments for four years, it’s convenient to choose a place with enough storage space for clothing and seasonal items. According to your budget, select a layout that suits your lifestyle.

Key points to consider when choosing an apartment

Is there an adequate security system?

For female students, it’s recommended to choose a condominium with an auto-lock system or an apartment with a monitoring intercom system or security cameras.

Recently, more properties are introducing dimple keys or card keys as a measure against lock picking. Additionally, choosing an apartment on the second floor or higher can improve security, as it is less vulnerable to break-ins. Selecting a women-only property is also another alternative to prioritize safety.

What facilities and amenities are available?

Air conditioner

Free internet (Wi-Fi)

Sink

Bidet toilet

Indoor laundry area

Parcel delivery box

Bicycle parking

By checking off what suits your needs from the list above, you can find your ideal apartment more easily. In addition, properties that offer free internet can help you save around ¥5,000 per month, making them a great option.

Is the surrounding area convenient?

Supermarkets

Convenience stores

Drugstores

Hospitals, etc.

When searching for a property, make sure to check whether the facilities above are available nearby. Having convenient access to daily necessities will make your life much easier. Additionally, areas with restaurants and shopping malls are perfect for students who want to work part-time during their free time.

Distance to the nearest station

After entering school, your main focus will be commuting to school. However, as your opportunities to go out increase, you will find it inconvenient to have a property that is far from the nearest station. Therefore, it is recommended to choose a property based not only on the distance to school, but also on the accessibility to the nearest station.

Moreover, there are more part-time jobs for students around stations. To make commuting between school, home, and your part-time job more efficient, living halfway between school and the station, or closer to the station, will make your daily life much more convenient.

Is it a rental property for students?

In apartment complexes such as condominiums and apartments, tenants have varying lifestyles. As a student, you’ll likely have a routine where you wake up in the morning, go to school during the day, and return home in the evening or night when there’s nothing else in particular to do. In student-only properties, tenants tend to have similar daily schedules, so you won’t have to worry too much about using a vacuum cleaner or washing machine during the day.

However, in housing intended for working adults or mixed-residence properties, some tenants may work night shifts, leading to reversed sleep schedules. In such cases, you need to be mindful of the noise you make even during the day.

When choosing a property, it is a good idea to check with the real estate agent in advance about the tenants’ typical schedules. If the tenants’ lifestyles are different, it is important to take this into account before committing to an apartment.

At Village House, there are no deposits, key money, renewal fees, or handling fees required (※). If you’re looking to save on initial costs, feel free to get in touch with us!

※Depending on the contract terms and the results of the screening process, a security deposit may be required.

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