{"id":17019,"date":"2023-06-28T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-28T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/?p=17019"},"modified":"2025-06-30T00:01:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T15:01:15","slug":"how-much-does-it-cost-to-move-in-japan-top-5-biggest-expenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/moving-tips\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-move-in-japan-top-5-biggest-expenses\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does It Cost To Move In Japan \u2013 Top 5 Biggest Expenses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Moving is stressful \u2013 physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially. The latter is especially true in Japan where a slew of hidden costs can quickly put a strain on your well thought out budget. To avoid or at least be aware of much you may have to set aside when you move in Japan, this article will list 5 of the biggest moving expenses you\u2019ll encounter when moving in Japan. Alternatively, if you want a budget-friendly, relatively stress-free move, Village House<\/a> is a real estate organization that offers low upfront apartment costs with no deposits, no renewal fees, no key money, and no handling fees.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial Move In Costs<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Arguably, the biggest expense when you move in Japan will be the initial move in costs. Before you\u2019re even handed the keys to your brand new apartment, you\u2019ll have to be ready and willing to part with up to 5~6 months\u2019 rent. Let\u2019s break it down: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First month\u2019s rent<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong>\u2013 this is standard for many countries in the world when renting a place <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deposit<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong>\u2013 again, this is fairly standard procedure and will be refunded upon moving out (minus any damage charges beyond the usual wear and tear and a mandatory cleaning fee) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key money<\/em><\/strong> <\/strong>\u2013 possibly something unique in Japan, the concept of key money was introduced post-WWII to show gratitude to landlords for letting you rent their property during a housing shortage. It\u2019s not refundable and can cost between 1~2 months\u2019 rent <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Monthly building management fees<\/em><\/strong> (Kanri fee)<\/strong>\u2013 may or may not be added to your rent. It\u2019s a monthly cost to maintain the public facilities of your apartment building and can cost anywhere from \u00a52,000~\u00a510,000 depending on the apartment building <\/p>\n\n\n

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Broker fees<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 some real estate companies tack on a kind of \u201cservice fee\u201d that can cost up to a months\u2019 rent for the tenant <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guarantor fees<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 in Japan, it\u2019s common practice to have a guarantor who will cover any rent or damage costs if the tenant isn\u2019t able to pay their rent or cancels their lease before the contract period is up. Many real estate organizations will refer the tenant to a guarantor company where there\u2019ll be an initial fee of 50%~100% of the tenant\u2019s monthly rent. On top of that, there is an annual renewal fee of \u00a510,000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fire insurance<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 most landlords and real estate organizations will require the tenant to purchase fire insurance, which can cost between \u00a513,500~\u00a520,000 per 2 years <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Key exchange fee<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 funny enough, in some cases, the tenant<\/em> is required to pay for the keys and locks to be replaced and this can cost anywhere between \u00a515,000~\u00a525,000 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contract renewal fee<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 known as koshin ryo<\/em> in Japanese, this again is pretty standard practice in the Japanese real estate industry where tenants will have to pay up to a month\u2019s rent to renew their lease after 2 years <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of these fees may be negotiable so if you\u2019re strapped for cash, try negotiating with the real estate agent or getting them to negotiate with the landlord on your behalf to see what costs can be eliminated.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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Moving \/ Removals Company<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most Japanese real estate organizations require tenants to return the apartment to its original state upon moving out. This means that you can\u2019t leave anything behind lest you\u2019ll be charged for it. Thus, if you have furniture and various household appliances, you\u2019ll most likely be hiring a moving or removals company to help you transfer the items from your old place to your new place.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on whether you\u2019re moving as a single person, a couple, or a family and how far your new place is from your old place, the price of hiring a moving or removals company varies. It\u2019s estimated that for a single person with very minimal belongings, a moving company may cost anywhere between \u00a520,000~\u00a560,000. For a family, this can increase up to \u00a5200,000 yen, depending on whether you tack on services like getting the moving company to pack up your stuff for you.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can minimize these expenses by hiring a van or moving truck and roping in family and friends to help you pack and move.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel Expenses<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This can be another pricey expense, especially if you\u2019re moving to Japan from abroad. Plane tickets nowadays from one international destination to another can cost anywhere between \u00a597,000~\u00a5350,000 depending on where you\u2019re flying from and what airline you choose. If you\u2019re already in Japan and simply moving across the city or to a nearby prefecture, your travel costs will be lower. However, if you\u2019re moving, say from the Kanto region down to the Kyushu area, your travel expenses will go up. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Cleaning Fee (And Potential Damage Costs)<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another quirk of the Japanese housing industry is that upon moving out, there\u2019s a mandatory cleaning fee that tenants have to pay and it can cost up to one or even two months\u2019 rent. At Village House<\/a>, the mandatory cleaning fee is \u00a51,120 per m\/2 (tax included). You\u2019ll have to factor this in to your moving budget so it won\u2019t come as a surprise.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be aware that your apartment will be subject to a \u201cmoving out inspection\u201d, which again is standard practice in Japan and some other countries. Any damages that don\u2019t fall under \u201cwear and tear\u201d will result in damage costs that may eat into your moving budget. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Furniture and Household Appliances<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For those who are moving to Japan from abroad, you may be shocked to realize that a lot of rental properties are unfurnished \u2013 to the point where there isn\u2019t even an A\/C unit, light bulbs, or even a burner stove. If you are renting such a property, outfitting your apartment with all the necessities such a bed, desk and chair, kitchen appliances etc. can quickly become a costly expense. To minimize these costs, look for recycle shops (secondhand shops) in your local neighborhood or check out Facebook pages and Craigslist for listings where people who are leaving Japan are giving away their furniture and household appliances for free. All you need to do is arrange transport and pay for it.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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