Signing my own apt. lease

Hi, I'm an American who will start working in Tokyo in a month or so (as soon as the work visa is sorted out), and I've been browsing through Tokyo real estate listings and related forums (http://oshiete.homes.jp and others). After searching with the keyword ''外国人'' on these forums, it occurred to me that there are Japanese real estate agents and/or landlords who refuse to deal with foreign tenants for, granted, very understandable reasons.

I'd love to hear from working gaijins about your experiences in dealing with the real estate agents and landlords in your search for homey and affordable accommodations.

A little bit about myself--
I'm a U.S. citizen of Taiwanese birth (naturalized), speaks and reads Japanese fairly fluently . I will be in Japan on a work visa sponsored by my company (a Japanese business going on its 12th year). My boss has insisted that I move into a furnished monthly apartment(mansion) leased on a corporate account for my first few months, and look for a place on my own in the mean time. I'm doing my homework on the peculiarities of Japanese apartment rentals (room layouts, measurements, etc.), and this is all new to me.

How hard would it be to sign my own lease in Tokyo (backed by my company as the guarantor) on a decent-sized mansion?

I've seen both cases where: (1) the company signs a corporate contract for you (this would be easiest if you cannot read Japanese contracts in details), or (2) you sign the contract with the company as the guarantor(when you go there to sign, make sure you have someone with you who can read the papers on your behalf and help with any questions; this will simply mitigate any unfounded concern the landlord might possibly have about leasing to non-Japanese). It will work out either way :)

landlords who refuse to deal with foreign tenants for, granted, very understandable reasons.

If you have a Japanese company or person who is going to act as your guarantor then there should be someone you or the agency can go to if there are problems.

All you need is to be able to understand the language or have someone who can explain it to you.

Discrimination is NOT "understandable" or justified.

If an agency acts in this manner then you should refuse to do business with them.

Thank you, AK, koan

I've been to Japan more than a few times, once on a 4-month internship. Discrimination based on race=nationality exists, but unlike in the U.S., making a fuss about being racially-discriminated on a number of things (housing, for one) often won't get you any sympathy. What I'd really like is to get through the housing transition relatively hassle-free as I'll probably be too swamped with work already.

I'm not going to comment on discrimation issue itself, but from my experiences firsthand (myself being Japanese, but with a non-Japanese spouse), I know what you mean about wanting to go hassle-free on that part of your life. You signing the contract with a local company acting as the guarantor should be fine.

When you start apartment-hunting, first maybe ask for help from your company to find you a reliable estate agent, or if you yourself find a nice estate agent, go there once together with someone from your company to say that this company/this president/manager will be the guarantor for you, so "yoroshiku onegai shimasu." That should smooth things out upfront :) I have seen an apparently foreign-looking tenant-to-be visiting a real estate agent accompanied by his (probably) employer or college staff, doing something along that line.

Just one thing on discrimination; I think Kawasaki City (Kanagawa Prefecture) does have a local ordinance prohibiting any discrimation on the part of real estate agents based on nationality, age, etc., which is a nice move.

I did not have much of a problem in terms of getting somewhere to live in Tokyo. (I arrived in Tokyo with a work visa.)

I don't speak any Japanese. I went to the "Next Door" real estate agency with my friend. I am really not picky with my living preferences; all I wanted was a place within reasonable walking distance to my work (like 15 to 45 minutes), and a place that is pet friendly.

At the time, it seemed like it took forever to secure just one place to look at. In hindsight, however, I was severely jet lagged, and I did not know how much the Japanese liked to talk and fill out paperwork.

It was actually more difficult for us to find an apartment where they would rent to foreigners than allow pets! I actually took the first place that I looked at. It's tiny (16.5 square meters), but it had what I wanted.

My boss was my guarantor, which I don't like, because it makes me feel like a child, but that's my problem. The people at the agency were very nice. They pretty much understood me, but spoke with my friend in Japanese first, probably to make sure that we were clear on everything.

I did not realize how much cash I had to provide up front for a deposit on the apartment though. It was a lot more than average because I had to pay the agency and for the pet.