housing in Japan

Housing in Japan

If you are interested in teaching English and living in Japan then you may have to find your own housing as most schools do not provide their foreign English teachers with a place to stay. Real estate can be very high, especially in urban areas, and most people in Japan live in an apartment of one type or another. In fact, housing is generally the greatest difficulty for foreigners coming to live in Japan. Although some of the housing issues of the economic bubble years have improved, some of the old problems still remain and are unlikely to change anytime soon.

Depending on the prefecture and place of employment and whether you will work in the city or countryside, there will basically be two types of housing available: gaijin houses and rental apartments. Some cities do have public housing and you should contact the local city or prefecture for details if you are interested in pursuing this option as there may be an income requirement. Another possibility for those that work in the countryside is to rent a house. However, as apartment buildings have sprung up all over Japan renting a house has become less and and less of an option and will not apply to the great majority of foreigners who come to live and teach English in Japan.

Gaijin Houses in Japan

A gaijin house (がいじんハウス；外人ハウス), or foreigner house, is a shared or private accommidation for foreigners who plan to stay in Japan for a short time. They are usually the cheapest and easiest way to procure housing in Japan. However, gaijin houses are only found in large cities and are therefore not an option for people living outside of the main cities of Japan. These guesthouses vary in terms of furnishing but should have a futon and pay phone at the very least, and possibly a television. You should have shared access to a a kitchen and bathroom but be sure to check the place out before putting any money down.

Apartments in Japan

There are three basic types of apartments in Japan. Apato (アパート) are buildings that are made of wood or light steel, normally one or two stories in height with no elevator. Units are generally smaller and you can usually hear noises from neighboring apartments as the walls are thin.

Another type of apartment in Japan is called a manshon (マンション) and should not to be confused with the English term 'mansion'. A manshon is a building made from a steel framework and reinforced concrete. They are three or more stories high and, unlike apato, come with an elevator.

The third option is a kashiya (かしや；貸家) or ikkodate (いっこだて；一戸建て). These are houses that are leased or loaned by the owner.

Housing Measurements in Japan

Floor space in Japan is measured in jou (じょう；畳) and tsubo (つぼ；坪). Jou is the same kanji as tatami mat and measures 1.65 square meters. One tsubo is two jou, or 3.3 square meters. Typical rooms in a Japanese apartment are about 5-8 jou or 8.25-13.2 square meters.