In short
At a viewing, focus on what photos can't show: sunlight and airflow, sound insulation and nearby noise, water pressure and hot water, phone signal, space for a washing machine and fridge, outlet locations, storage, the state of the garbage area, the real walking time to the station, and what the area feels like at night. If you can't go in person, ask the agent to check these by video call or photos.
Hi, I'm Sunny. This week is all about the viewing — what Japanese agents call naiken. Listing photos always look great, but a lot of what makes a place comfortable only shows up when you're standing in it.
10 things to check at a viewing
- 1. Light and airflow: which way the windows face, and whether a building blocks them
- 2. Noise: how thin the walls feel, and whether you're next to a main road or railway
- 3. Water pressure and hot water: run the tap and the shower
- 4. Phone signal: check your bars inside the room, especially on low floors and in corners
- 5. Washing machine space: is there an indoor spot, and will your machine fit?
- 6. Fridge and appliance space: measure the width and check where the outlets are
- 7. Storage: is the closet big and deep enough?
- 8. The garbage area: how tidy it is says a lot about how the building is managed
- 9. The real walk to the station: walk it yourself, hills and traffic lights included
- 10. The area at night: street lights, foot traffic, nearby shops — visit after dark if you can
Things worth doing while you're there
| What | Why | Bring |
|---|---|---|
| Measure | You'll need sizes for curtains, a washer and a fridge | Tape measure |
| Take photos or video | Easier to compare places later | Phone |
| Look at shared areas | Mailboxes, corridors and bike parking show how well it's managed | — |
| Note questions | Have the agent ask the landlord before you apply | Notes app |
If you can't be there in person
If you're still abroad, ask the agent to check by video call or to send photos and video. Send them the list above and ask them to go through it item by item — it's much more reliable than the listing photos. A video call still won't tell you about smells or damp, so ask the agent to describe those in words.
Sunny's takeaway
A viewing often lasts only ten or fifteen minutes, so decide what you're going to check before you walk in. Washer and fridge sizes and phone signal in particular are hard to fix once you've moved in. See you next week!
Further reading
→Can You Sign a Lease in Japan Before You Arrive (From Overseas)?→Empty Means Empty: What You Still Have to Buy Before You Move In in Japan→What Does It Really Cost to Move Into an Apartment in Japan? A Real Tokyo Quote, Line by Line→Can You Rent an Apartment in Japan Without Speaking Japanese?When you've found a place you want to see, talk to ieree. Find a listing you like on SUUMO or any other site and bring it to us — our agency fee is ¥0 to 0.3 months' rent plus tax, and you can chat with us on LINE in English, including about what to check at the viewing.
About the author
SunnyLicensed Real Estate Agent in Japan (Takken)
Originally from Taiwan, Sunny has lived in Japan for 17 years and holds Japan's national real estate license (Takken). Having started renting in Japan from scratch as a foreigner, Sunny now helps international tenants find homes in Tokyo with ieree, writes the weekly “Sunny's Tokyo Renting Notes,” and co-hosts the bilingual running podcast RunChat.jp.
Reviewed by the ieree editorial team (licensed Japanese real estate agent)