How Women Living Alone in Japan Can Stay Safe: Property Tips and Security Measures

2024-07-03

When living alone as a woman, choosing a safe property is an important point to avoid harm or trouble. It is also important to take proper security measures to avoid encountering unexpected incidents.

In this article, we introduce features of properties recommended for women living alone, lifestyle tips, and recommended products for crime prevention.

Please use this as a reference if you are looking for a place to live alone for the first time and aren’t sure where to start and what points to pay attention to.

Village House has a large selection of properties throughout Japan that are ideal for women living alone. Make sure to check out our website.

Features of properties that make it safe for women to live alone

Apartments on the second floor or higher

For women living alone, apartments on the second floor or higher are recommended. If possible, it is better to choose an apartment on the third floor or higher. The first floor is a convenient place for suspicious individuals because it is easy to break into and escape from the balcony. We recommend that you choose an apartment on the second floor or higher to avoid being a victim of a crime.

Choose a property with good security facilities

It is said that burglars do their homework in advance before committing a burglary. Therefore, buildings with good security facilities are less likely to be targeted because they are riskier to break into.

Some properties have surveillance cameras installed in visible places, and elevators that cannot be opened without a key. If the security measures are solid, you can rest assured that you are in safe hands.

Choose an area with good public security

No matter how well-equipped the security facilities are, there is a high chance of being targeted by suspicious individuals in areas with poor public security. Try to choose an area with good public security where the burglary and crime rates are low. If you are not familiar with the area and are unsure, consult with a local real estate agent, who will be able to tell you whether the area is safe or not.

Properties with a supervisor

If the supervisor is stationed at the entrance of the apartment building or if the landlord is also living on the property, it will serve as a crime prevention measure. If a suspicious individual wanders around and tries to enter the property, the manager or landlord will call out to them, so you do not need to worry.

There is a space for laundry inside the building

Choose a property that has an indoor laundry room. If washing machines are placed outside, there’s a risk of clothes and underwear being stolen. Even if the laundry room is indoors, it’s safer to hang women’s clothes and underwear inside the apartment.

Security measures when going out

Always lock the door behind you even if you are only going out for a short time, such as taking out the trash or picking up the mail
Install double locks on your windows
Use a timer to turn on your lights at a set time

According to the Metropolitan Police Department’s “Residential Crime Prevention No.110,” the most common method of burglary is an unlocked door. Even if you take various security measures, if your door is not locked, someone may break in. Therefore, make sure to lock your door even if you are only going out for a short time.

Security measures on the way home

Choose well-lit, busy roads
Regularly change your route home
Carry a personal safety alarm
Check your surroundings when entering your home
Use the elevator alone whenever possible

Choose a bright, busy road when going home. We also recommend that you change your route home regularly to prevent your return time and route from being identified.

When you’ve arrived, be careful not to let your guard down until you enter the apartment, and check your surroundings before entering the home, as there may be suspicious individuals lurking nearby, waiting for an opportunity to open the front door.

Try to ride the elevator alone. An elevator is a closed room, so you never know what might happen. Therefore, it’s safer to be careful and avoid being alone with people you don’t know.

Recommended security products

Install a peephole cover

Install a peephole cover to protect yourself from sneak photographing or being a victim of thumb-turn lock turning. Peephole covers are sold at 100-yen shops, so you can easily install them.

Install a thumb-turn lock cover

A thumb-turn lock refers to the knob inside the door that locks and unlocks the door. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of ways where perpetrators manipulate thumb turns to unlock doors, rather than using the traditional lock-picking techniques. Therefore, to avoid turning the thumb-turn lock, please install a thumb-turn lock cover on the knob.

Install a door post cover

If you have a door post, there is a high chance that someone may peek into your apartment or manipulate the thumb-turn lock. Therefore, if you have a door post, we recommend that you take measures by putting a cover on it.

Install a double-lock

In addition to the main key, you can install an auxiliary key to make a double lock to increase security. Double locks are available in external, internal, and double-sided types.

Most external and internal type locks are simple, so they can be used even in rental properties without any problem. However, the double-sided type requires drilling holes in the door, so in the case of rental properties, permission from the management company or landlord is required.

Install a smart lock

A smart lock is a locking system where a smartphone or an IC card is used as a key. Since there is no keyhole, there is no risk of picking. There are also smart locks that automatically lock after a certain amount of time, so there is no need to worry even if you forget to lock the door.

Install privacy curtains

Privacy curtains are curtains that have a concealing effect which makes it difficult to see into a room from outside. They are effective at preventing prying eyes, being difficult to see through both at night and during the day. In addition, privacy curtains reflect and refract sunlight, so they also have a heat-shielding function that cuts ultraviolet rays and solar heat.

Apply security film on windows

When you apply security film, the glass becomes less prone to breaking. Therefore, even if burglars break the window glass to break in, they are likely to give up because the glass would not break unless they hit it hard. However, security film has a strong adhesive power, so it is very difficult to remove it. Since it will affect your moving-out costs, ensure to get your landlord’s approval before applying the security film.

Install a security buzzer on your window

A security buzzer serves as an effective window security measure. If there is an abnormality in the window, it triggers a loud alarm, so it is recommended as a measure against burglars who try to break or force open a window.

Security alarms that prevent burglars from breaking in come in various types including small ones and thin ones. It is convenient as they can be installed on various types of windows.

Properties to avoid for women living alone

Apartments on the first floor

As mentioned above, apartments on the first floor are an easy entry route for suspicious individuals through balconies and windows. Therefore, when deciding on an apartment, be sure to choose a property on the second floor or higher.

Intercom without a monitor

It is reassuring to have an intercom with a monitor that allows you to check visitors such as couriers and friends. Since you can check the visitor on the monitor, you can use the option of pretending to be out if you don’t know the person or if you feel suspicious. Moreover, if the intercom includes a recording feature, it is useful as it can be used as evidence to consult the police.

Apartments far from the station

If the property is situated far from the station, returning home may take a considerable time. Walking alone on a dark road late at night increases the likelihood of being targeted by suspicious individuals. If for some reason the property is far from the station, try to use a bicycle instead of walking.

Village House has over 1,000 properties throughout Japan. If you want to live alone safely as a woman, please feel free to contact us. We have many nice and affordable properties.

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