Apartment Hunting in Sendai: Step-by-Step Guide for International Students
Are you an international student who has just arrived in Sendai, or are you already living here and considering moving to a new apartment? Renting in Japan can be confusing if you are not familiar with the process. This article explains the step-by-step flow from visiting a real estate agency to actually moving in. By reading this, you will understand what to prepare and how to avoid common mistakes.
Step 1: Preparation Before Visiting a Real Estate Agency
Documents you must bring:
- Residence Card
- (Passport)
- Student ID (University, College, or Japanese Language School)
- A Japanese phone number (mandatory)
- Your current address (dormitory or apartment– it is always required)
Information often required for the screening process:
- Parent’s name, address, and phone number in your home country (emergency contact)
- Teacher’s name, school address, and phone number in Japan (often requested as a second emergency contact)
Note: Some teachers may refuse to be listed as an emergency contact. Be prepared and think carefully about who you can ask in advance.
Initial costs:
When moving into an apartment, you usually need to pay several types of fees:
- Deposit and key money
- Agency fee
- First month’s rent
- Guarantor company fee
- Fire insurance
In total, it usually costs about 4–6 months of rent.
Example: For a 30,000 JPY apartment in Sendai
- Deposit (1 month): 30,000 JPY
- Key money (1 month): 30,000 JPY
- Agency fee: 30,000 JPY
- First month’s rent: 30,000 JPY
- Guarantor company fee: ~15,000 JPY
- Fire insurance: ~15,000 JPY
Total: Approx. 100,000–150,000 JPY
(If deposit/key money = 0, the cost will be lower.)
Step 2: At the Real Estate Agency
- Choose an agency that has experience helping foreign students.
- Tell them your conditions (budget, area, commuting time, facilities, etc.).
- They will show you some options and arrange a viewing (inspection).
Step 3: Viewing the Apartment
Important points to check:
- City gas or propane gas (city gas is cheaper)
- Type of stove (gas or IH)
- Space for refrigerator and washing machine
- Sunlight and number of windows
- Can more than one person live there? (Most 1-room apartments are for one person only)
- Parking space or bicycle parking available
- Separate toilet and bath or combined
- Toilet with washlet function or not
These points affect your daily life and monthly expenses. If you are not confident in Japanese, bring someone to help you understand the explanations.
Step 4: Application and Screening
Information required in the application form:
- Name, date of birth, contact information
- Residence card
- Passport
- Student ID
- School name (University, College, or Japanese Language School)
- Guarantor information (in most cases, a guarantor company)
- Part-time job information (only if you are working)
- Emergency contacts (your parents abroad and your teacher in Japan)
About guarantor companies:
- Nowadays, almost all apartments require using a guarantor company.
- The company checks if you are reliable for paying rent (screening).
- If you fail, you may need a Japanese guarantor – but in reality, it is very hard to find one.
Therefore, passing the guarantor company’s screening is extremely important.
Screening time: usually around 3 business days. Sometimes they may ask for extra documents or call you to confirm.
Step 5: Contract Procedure
- The contract and explanation of important matters are always in Japanese.
- You must pay the initial costs at this stage.
- Key points to check:
- Cost when moving out (cleaning fee, restoration)
- How much notice is required before moving out (usually 1 month)
- Prohibited items (pets, musical instruments, smoking, etc.)
Step 6: Preparation for Moving In
- Receive your keys on the move-in date
- Contract utilities BEFORE moving in: water, electricity, gas, and internet must all be arranged by the tenant
👉 If you don’t apply in advance, you may not be able to use them on the day you move in.
👉 Gas opening often requires someone to come to your room, so book it early. - Address change at city hall: must be reported within 14 days after moving
- Resident registration (住民票)
- Residence Card (back side update)
- My Number update
- Also update your address at school, bank, part-time job, and phone company.
For Students Who Are Moving (Not First-Time Renters)
- Cancellation notice: Usually required 1 month before moving out. Inform your landlord/management company.
- Deposit settlement: Restoration costs will be decided at the inspection when you move out.
- Overlap of contracts: It is safer to sign the new contract before canceling the old one. But you may have to pay double rent for a short time.
- Don’t forget address changes at city hall, school, bank, and other institutions.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
- Underestimating initial costs
→ Always tell the real estate agency your budget limit clearly. - Delays in guarantor screening
→ Prepare your documents in advance and always answer the phone. - Not understanding the contract
→ Pay attention to rules about cancellation, restoration, and prohibited items. - Forgetting utility contracts
→ Water, electricity, gas, and internet must all be arranged by yourself before moving in. - Starting the apartment search too late
→ The whole process takes time. Start at least one month before you plan to move.
Summary
The basic flow for international students renting in Sendai is:
Preparation → Real estate agency → Viewing → Application & screening → Contract → Move-in preparation.
If you are moving, you also need to handle cancellation and address change (within 14 days).
Since all procedures are in Japanese, and the system is different from your home country, many students feel anxious.
With support, you can move smoothly and avoid problems.
👉 Learn more about professional support here: Services & Pricing
