Getting a house or apartment to rent Renting a house or apartment in Japan is not difficult if you are prepared. Foreign nationals and Japanese residents are not treated differently while renting a home, depending on the landlord and where you choose to live. You can usually find something available within a few days if you know what you're looking for. In general, houses in larger cities are harder to come by than apartments, which are often called "kaminari" (窓口). These are small units inside large buildings that can be rented separately from their rooms. Often, the receptionist will be able to give you a list of available kaminari. They tend to be cheaper than regular apartments but sometimes have very limited views. It's best to check these things before you sign anything. If you get stuck trying to find a place to stay, don't worry about it. Just make sure you have a return address where you can be reached, and keep looking. Sometimes people cancel last-minute, which gives you another chance at finding a place to stay. Finally, remember to write down exactly how much your monthly rental costs so that you don't get surprised by extra fees at move-in time. Some landlords may try to charge you as much as possible since they only need to cover their expenses with you for a short period of time.