Renting an Apartment in Japan Without Speaking Japanese

Published August 31, 2026 | Kurabeel

There is no law in Japan that requires a tenant to speak Japanese. What stops people is not the law — it's the process. A handful of steps are still built entirely around Japanese, and if you don't know which ones they are, the whole thing feels like a wall.

This guide identifies the three steps that genuinely require Japanese, and gives you a concrete way to handle each. Everything else can be done in English more easily than most people expect.

Which steps actually require Japanese?

1. What is on the application form (nyukyo moshikomisho)?

This is a one- or two-page Japanese form, and it is where most applications stall. It is not a test — it just asks for facts. Knowing the fields in advance means you can prepare the answers before you sit down.

• Name, date of birth, nationality — exactly as written on your residence card
• Current address — as written on your residence card, not a shortened version
• Employer name, address, phone number, and your job title
• Annual income — gross, before tax. An offer letter is fine if you just started
• Length of employment — under a year is common and not automatically a problem
• Emergency contact — name, relationship, address and phone. This is the field that catches people out

2. What happens on the guarantor company's screening call?

Nearly every rental in Japan now requires a guarantor company rather than a personal guarantor. After you apply, that company usually calls to confirm your details — and that call is frequently in Japanese only.

Three things make this manageable:

1. Ask upfront whether English is available. Several of the larger guarantor companies have English-capable staff, and your agent can request one
2. Ask for a scheduled time rather than a surprise call, so someone can be with you
3. Know what they will ask. It's short: your name, your employer, your income, and whether you actually applied for that apartment. Nothing more

If the call goes unanswered twice, some companies treat it as a withdrawn application — so watch for unknown numbers in the days after applying.

3. What is the explanation of important matters (juyo jiko setsumei)?

Before you sign, a licensed agent must sit down and explain the property's key facts and contract conditions to you. This is a legal requirement in Japan, and it is normally delivered in Japanese.

This document is where the terms that will cost you money actually live: the notice period, the restoration clause, the renewal fee, and any early-termination penalty. Skipping past it because it's in Japanese is the single most expensive mistake a foreign tenant can make. See understanding a Japanese rental contract for what each clause means.

How do you choose an agency that works in your language?

An agency that handles foreign tenants regularly will pre-empt all three of the steps above. Look for these signals:

• They reply in English in writing (chat or email), not just "we have an English speaker sometimes"
• They send the estimate as a written itemised document, not a verbal total
• They tell you upfront whether the landlord accepts an overseas emergency contact
• They don't require you to visit an office before answering basic questions

Written communication matters more than spoken fluency here. A chat thread you can re-read and translate at your own pace beats a rushed conversation in an office every time — which is why LINE-based agencies work well for foreign residents.

Should you pay more for English support?

Some agencies market themselves as foreigner-friendly and quietly charge a full month's agency fee plus "support fees" for the service. That is worth knowing, because the agency fee is the one large cost that is set by the agency, not the landlord.

Key money, deposit and rent are the landlord's terms and stay the same wherever you sign. The agency fee — up to 1.1 months' rent — changes depending on which agency handles the paperwork. English support and a ¥0 agency fee are not mutually exclusive.

How long does the whole process take?

Two to three weeks from first message to keys is normal. Add a week if your screening needs extra documents — see documents you need to rent in Japan.

Frequently asked questions

Can you rent an apartment in Japan without speaking Japanese?
Yes. Only three steps genuinely require Japanese: the application form, the guarantor company's screening call, and the explanation of important matters before signing. Everything else can be done in English.

What is on the rental application form?
Your name, date of birth and nationality exactly as written on your residence card, your current address, employer name and contact details, annual income before tax, length of employment, and an emergency contact.

Is the emergency contact the same as a guarantor?
No. The emergency contact takes on no financial responsibility and is simply someone to call. Many landlords accept an overseas family member, but some ask for a contact in Japan, so confirm which is acceptable before you apply.

What should you ask for before signing?
Ask the agency to send the explanation of important matters and the contract draft a few days before the signing appointment, so you can read them with a translation tool and prepare questions.

Summary

• Only three steps truly require Japanese: the application form, the guarantor call, and the contract explanation
• Prepare the application fields in advance — especially the emergency contact
• Ask for the contract documents several days before signing so you can translate them
• English support does not have to mean a higher agency fee

* The agency fee is as low as ¥0. Listings for which the landlord pays no advertising fee (AD) may not qualify. We always confirm the exact amount in a written estimate before you sign.