In short
Japanese apartments come with no furniture and no white goods, and many have no ceiling light fittings or gas stove either. On top of your move-in costs, budget roughly ¥150,000–350,000 to make the place liveable — and check lighting, stove, air conditioning and curtain rails while you're still viewing.
Hi, I'm Sunny. In this post I want to talk about the money you still need to spend after paying move-in costs, before you can actually live in the place.
Unfurnished, in the literal sense
In much of Asia — and in plenty of furnished-flat markets elsewhere — a rental comes with air conditioning, a fridge, a washing machine, often a bed and wardrobe. You arrive with a suitcase and live there. Japan works the other way around. Apart from the air conditioner, assume nothing is included. Your move-in costs of 4–6 months' rent buy you the keys; making the apartment habitable is a separate budget.
What to budget on top
| Item | Typical cost (JPY) |
|---|---|
| Fridge, washing machine, microwave | 80,000–200,000 |
| Bed and bedding | 20,000–50,000 |
| Curtains | 10,000–30,000 |
| Ceiling light fittings (per room) | 5,000–20,000 |
| Moving costs | 30,000–100,000 |
Call it ¥150,000–350,000. Moving costs in particular spike during the March–April relocation season, so if your dates are flexible, moving outside it saves a noticeable amount.
Four things to check while viewing
- Lighting: many rooms have only a ceiling socket and no fitting attached to it
- Stove: some kitchens provide just the counter space, and you buy the stove yourself — confirm whether it's gas or induction
- Air conditioning: nearly always present, but in a multi-room apartment sometimes only in one room
- Curtain rails and window sizes: Japanese windows are sized unusually and off-the-shelf curtains may not fit, so measure before buying
Ways to spend less
- Consider a furnished unit — rent is higher, but the up-front hit is much smaller
- Use second-hand recycle shops or a monthly appliance rental service
- When buying online, check whether installation and old-appliance disposal are included in the price
- Buy the minimum first — fridge, washing machine, curtains, lighting, bedding — and fill in the rest once you've lived there a while
Sunny's takeaway
When you view apartments in Japan, budget not just for rent and move-in costs but for lights, a gas stove, curtains and appliances too. Asking “is this included?” at the viewing saves you from discovering a second bill after you move in.
Further reading
→What Does It Really Cost to Move Into an Apartment in Japan?→Can You Sign a Lease in Japan Before You Arrive (From Overseas)?→Can You Rent an Apartment in Japan Without Speaking Japanese?ieree checks lighting, stove and air conditioning during the viewing and tells you what's actually included, so you know the full cost of moving in before you sign. Ask us on LINE in English.
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)