Moving in Japan can feel intimidating when you don’t speak fluent Japanese: confusing contracts, guarantor requirements, and surprise fees. This guide breaks down what moving in Japan actually costs, the step-by-step process, and the cheapest, foreigner-friendly options — so you can relocate without overpaying or getting stuck on paperwork.

The Real Cost of Moving in Japan

For a standard apartment, the upfront cost is the shocker. On top of the moving company fee (often ¥30,000–¥100,000 depending on distance and volume), a new rental typically demands deposit (shikikin), key money (reikin), agency fee, guarantor company fee, and the first month’s rent — frequently 4–6 months’ rent all at once. For many foreigners, the guarantor requirement is the hardest wall.

The Cheapest, Easiest Option for Foreigners: Share Houses

If you want to avoid deposit, key money, and guarantor headaches entirely, a share house is the single most foreigner-friendly way to move in Japan. Most have no deposit, no key money, no guarantor, come fully furnished (so you barely need movers), and include utilities and Wi-Fi in one monthly fee. You can often move in within days.

Two of the largest, most foreigner-friendly operators are Cross House (some of the lowest initial costs in Tokyo, English support) and Oak House (furnished rooms nationwide, strong international community). Both let you sign up online before you even arrive in Japan. For a full comparison, see our guide on Oak House vs Cross House.

Step-by-Step: How to Move in Japan

1. Decide your housing type — share house (cheapest, fastest) vs private apartment (more privacy, higher upfront cost). See cheapest ways to live in Japan.
2. Apply & sign — share houses are online; apartments need a guarantor company and screening.
3. Book a mover (if needed) — furnished share houses need almost nothing; apartments may need a moving company.
4. Transfer utilities & internet — set up electricity, gas, water, and Wi-Fi. See our Japan internet guide and best eSIMs.
5. Change your address — update your residence card at city hall within 14 days.

Movers vs Doing It Yourself

If you’re moving a furnished apartment’s worth of belongings, a moving company saves your back and your time. For a single person with few items — especially moving into a furnished share house — a takkyubin (parcel) service or a small van rental is far cheaper. Get multiple quotes; prices vary widely by season (avoid March, the peak moving month).

FAQ

Do I need a guarantor to move in Japan?

For most private apartments, yes — usually a guarantor company you pay a fee to. Share houses like Cross House and Oak House typically require no guarantor, which is why they’re popular with newcomers.

What’s the cheapest way to move to Japan?

A furnished share house with no deposit/key money/guarantor, combined with a parcel service for your belongings, is usually the cheapest and fastest route.

If you are moving to Japan as a foreigner, two names dominate every share-house recommendation: Oakhouse and Cross House. Both let you skip the brutal Japanese rental wall — no guarantor, no key money, no agency fee — and both are genuinely foreigner-friendly. But they are built for two very different kinds of person. After comparing initial costs, rent, contracts, community and support, here is the honest 2026 verdict on which one is right for you.

Oakhouse vs Cross House at a glance

Cross House — the budget champion

Cross House is built around a single, powerful idea: get into Japan for as little money as possible. Rooms come fully furnished, utilities and Wi-Fi are typically included, and the all-in initial cost can be held to around ¥30,000 — a fraction of the ¥210,000–¥350,000 a normal apartment demands. Rent starts from roughly ¥38,000 a month, among the lowest you will find anywhere in Tokyo.

The trade-off is honest: kitchens and common areas tend to be functional rather than luxurious, and the community is quieter than Oakhouse. But you also get genuine freedom — contracts from just one month and free transfers between houses, so you can land first and decide where you actually want to live later. For students, working-holiday travelers, and anyone who would rather spend their yen on travel and experiences than on rent, Cross House is the obvious winner.

Choose Cross House if you…

• Want the absolute lowest cost to start your life in Japan
• Prefer flexibility — short contracts and free transfers
• Are a student or on a working holiday and watching every yen
• Are happy with simple, practical facilities

Oakhouse — the community and comfort leader

Oakhouse is the biggest share-house operator in Japan, with around 6,400 rooms ranging from quiet private apartments to large “Social Residence” complexes with shared lounges, gyms, theater rooms and rooftop terraces. Like Cross House, it charges no deposit, no key money and no guarantor fee; initial cost is around ¥50,000 and rent typically runs ¥63,000–¥77,000.

What you pay a little extra for is the experience. Oakhouse is the place to actually meet people — both other international residents and Japanese locals — through its community events and well-designed shared spaces. English support is strong, the booking process is smooth from overseas, and the higher-end houses feel more like a stylish co-living hotel than a budget room. If your move to Japan is also about building a network and not feeling isolated, that social layer is worth real money.

Choose Oakhouse if you…

• Want a ready-made social circle and community events
• Value premium shared facilities (lounges, gyms, terraces)
• Want the widest choice of locations and room types
• Appreciate strong English support and an easy overseas booking

How to decide in 30 seconds

It really comes down to one question: are you optimizing for savings or for lifestyle?

• Money & freedom → Cross House. Bank the difference and spend it on travel.
• People & comfort → Oakhouse. Pay a bit more for community and facilities.

A smart strategy many expats use: start at Cross House to minimize cost while you find your feet, then move to an Oakhouse social residence — or a normal apartment — once you know the city and have a guarantor company set up.

Frequently asked questions

Do Oakhouse and Cross House really require no guarantor?

Correct. Both waive the Japanese guarantor requirement that blocks most foreigners from normal apartments, and neither charges key money or a deposit.

Which is cheaper, Oakhouse or Cross House?

Cross House is cheaper on both initial cost (~¥30,000 vs ~¥50,000) and monthly rent (from ~¥38,000 vs ~¥63,000). Oakhouse charges more for its larger community and premium facilities.

Can I book before arriving in Japan?

Yes. Both let you reserve a room online from overseas before you fly, so you have an address waiting when you land.

Can I move between houses?

Both offer free transfers within their networks, which is ideal if you are not yet sure which neighborhood suits you.

Moving to Japan? The biggest shock for most foreigners is not the rent — it is the move-in cost. A normal apartment can demand 3 to 5 months of rent upfront (deposit, key money, agency fee, guarantor fee, fire insurance, lock change), and almost all require a Japanese guarantor. This guide shows the cheapest, foreigner-friendly ways to get a place in 2026 — without a guarantor and without draining your savings.

Why renting a normal apartment is so expensive

For a typical 70,000 yen per month apartment, expect roughly 210,000 to 350,000 yen before you move in:

On top of that, many landlords still hesitate to rent to foreigners without a guarantor. The good news: share houses and furnished apartments solve both problems at once — no guarantor, no key money, and you can often move in for around 30,000 to 50,000 yen total.

The 4 cheapest housing options for foreigners

1. Share houses — cheapest and most social

Furnished private room with shared kitchen and bathroom. Utilities and Wi-Fi usually included. No guarantor, no key money, no agency fee. Initial cost can be as low as about 30,000 yen. Best for newcomers who want to make friends fast and keep costs minimal.

2. No-guarantor furnished apartments

Your own private apartment, furnished, with the guarantor requirement waived. Slightly higher than a share house but full privacy.

3. Monthly mansions

Fully furnished, flexible short contracts. Great while job-hunting, waiting for family, or moving between cities.

4. UR housing (public)

Government-managed UR apartments require no key money, no guarantor, no agency fee, and no renewal fee — saving hundreds of thousands of yen. The catch: limited availability, income requirements, and unfurnished units.

Best foreigner-friendly services (no guarantor)

Cross House — lowest initial cost (about 30,000 yen)

Cross House is built for budget-conscious newcomers. Furnished share-house rooms with rent starting around 38,000 yen per month, initial costs kept to roughly 30,000 yen, and no guarantor required. You can also move between their houses for free — perfect if you are not sure which area suits you yet. The best choice if your top priority is spending as little as possible to get started.

Oakhouse — the largest, most social network

Oakhouse is the biggest share-house operator in Japan, from social houses to furnished private apartments. Rent averages 63,000 to 77,000 yen per month, initial cost around 50,000 yen, and again no deposit, key money, or guarantor. Great community events and English support make it the easiest soft landing for expats.

Which should you choose?

• Absolute lowest cost to start → Cross House (about 30,000 yen move-in)
• Community, events and English support → Oakhouse
• Full privacy, short stay → monthly mansion
• Long-term and you qualify → UR housing

Money-saving tips

• Start in a share house, then move to a normal apartment once you have a guarantor company and local credit history.
• Filter for reikin 0 (no key money) properties.
• Furnished options save the huge one-time cost of appliances and furniture.
• Set up cheap mobile data first so you can house-hunt on the go.

FAQ

Can I rent in Japan without a guarantor?

Yes. Share houses such as Cross House and Oakhouse, no-guarantor furnished apartments, monthly mansions, and UR housing all let you skip the Japanese guarantor requirement.

What is the cheapest way to live in Japan as a foreigner?

A share house is usually cheapest, with move-in costs as low as about 30,000 yen and rent from around 38,000 yen per month including utilities and Wi-Fi.

Do share houses include furniture and Wi-Fi?

Yes — rooms are furnished and utilities and Wi-Fi are typically included in the monthly fee.

Sending Money Abroad from Japan in 2026: The Complete Guide

Whether you’re sending savings home, supporting family, or paying overseas bills, moving money out of Japan can be confusing — and traditional banks often charge high fees with poor exchange rates. The good news: modern services make international transfers cheaper, faster, and easy to do from your phone. This 2026 guide compares your options and shows how to send money abroad without overpaying.

Why Bank Transfers Are Usually the Worst Option

Japanese megabanks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho) and Japan Post Bank let you send money overseas, but they typically charge ¥3,000–¥7,000+ in fees per transfer, add hidden markups to the exchange rate, and may take several business days. For most people, a dedicated money-transfer service is far cheaper and faster.

The Best Ways to Send Money from Japan

• Wise (formerly TransferWise): Uses the real mid-market exchange rate with a low, transparent fee. Transfers are fast and easy to track in-app — a favorite among expats in Japan.
• Revolut: A multi-currency app with competitive rates, handy if you manage several currencies.
• Wise / online services vs. banks: Online specialists almost always beat banks on the total cost (fee + exchange-rate markup).
• Convenience-store & remittance services: Options like SBI Remit or Seven Bank cater to specific corridors (e.g., Southeast Asia), sometimes with cash pickup.

👉 Tip: If you want the real exchange rate with low fees, you can try Wise here and see your exact fee before you send.

How to Choose the Right Service

1. Compare the total cost, not just the headline fee. Always check the exchange rate offered — a “free” transfer with a bad rate can cost more.
2. Check the destination country and payout method (bank deposit vs. cash pickup). Some services are cheaper for specific corridors.
3. Mind the speed you need. Many app transfers arrive within hours to 1–2 days.
4. Verify limits & ID requirements. You’ll need your Residence Card and a Japanese bank account to set up most services.

What You Need to Get Started

• A valid Residence Card (zairyu card) for identity verification.
• A Japanese bank account to fund transfers.
• The recipient’s bank details (account number, SWIFT/BIC, and sometimes IBAN).
• The purpose of the transfer — services may ask for this for compliance.

Tips to Save Money on Every Transfer

• Send larger amounts less often to reduce per-transfer fees.
• Watch the exchange rate and send when the yen is favorable for your destination currency.
• Avoid weekend/holiday transfers if speed matters — processing can be slower.
• Compare two services before a big transfer; rates and fees change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the cheapest way to send money from Japan?
For most corridors, online specialists like Wise beat banks by offering the real exchange rate with a low, transparent fee.

Do I need a Japanese bank account to send money abroad?
Usually yes — most services fund transfers from a local bank account, and you’ll verify your identity with your Residence Card.

How long does an international transfer take?
Online services often deliver within hours to two business days; bank wires can take longer.

Is it safe to use money-transfer apps in Japan?
Reputable, regulated services use strong security and are widely used by expats. Always use official apps and double-check recipient details.

Conclusion

Sending money abroad from Japan doesn’t have to be expensive or slow. Skip the high bank fees, compare the total cost (fee plus exchange rate), and use a transparent online service to keep more of your money. Set it up once with your Residence Card and bank account, and future transfers take just minutes from your phone.

How to Learn Japanese in 2026: A Practical Guide for Beginners

Learning even a little Japanese transforms your time in Japan — ordering food, reading signs, making friends, and navigating daily life all become easier and more fun. The language has a reputation for being hard, but with the right tools and a realistic plan, steady progress is very achievable. This 2026 guide breaks down how the language works, the best apps and methods, and a simple roadmap to follow.

Understanding the Three Writing Systems

Japanese uses three scripts together, and knowing what each does removes a lot of the fear:

• Hiragana: 46 phonetic characters for native Japanese words and grammar. Learn this first — it’s the foundation.
• Katakana: 46 characters for foreign/loan words (コーヒー = “coffee”). Surprisingly useful for travelers reading menus.
• Kanji: Characters borrowed from Chinese, used for most nouns and word stems. There are thousands, but you only need a few hundred for daily life — and you can learn them gradually.

Good news for pronunciation: Japanese has just five vowel sounds and is spoken in clear, even syllables, so it’s easier to pronounce than English.

The Best Apps to Learn Japanese

• Duolingo: Free, gamified, and great for building a daily habit and basic vocabulary.
• Anki: A free spaced-repetition flashcard app — the gold standard for memorizing kana and kanji efficiently.
• WaniKani: A structured system for learning kanji and vocabulary through mnemonics, loved by serious learners.
• Bunpro: Focused on grammar, with spaced repetition to lock in sentence patterns.
• Tandem / HelloTalk: Language-exchange apps to chat with native speakers for free.

A common winning combo: Duolingo for habit, Anki or WaniKani for kana/kanji, and a textbook or grammar app for structure.

Textbooks & Structured Courses

Apps are great, but a structured course prevents gaps. Popular beginner resources include Genki (the classic university textbook), Japanese From Zero (gentle and beginner-friendly), and Tae Kim’s Grammar Guide (free online). If you prefer guidance, online tutoring platforms like italki connect you with affordable native tutors for conversation practice.

A Simple Learning Roadmap

1. Weeks 1–3: Master hiragana, then katakana (Anki + a kana app).
2. Months 1–3: Work through a beginner textbook (Genki I), learn ~100 common kanji, and practice basic phrases daily.
3. Months 3–6: Build vocabulary, study core grammar (Bunpro), and start speaking with a tutor or exchange partner.
4. Ongoing: Immerse with anime, podcasts, NHK Easy News, and real conversations. Consistency beats intensity.

Tips to Stay Motivated

• Study a little every day — 15 focused minutes beats a rare three-hour session.
• Learn what you’ll use: restaurant, shopping, and travel phrases give instant rewards.
• Make it fun: watch shows with Japanese subtitles, play games in Japanese, label items at home.
• Track progress and celebrate milestones to keep the habit alive.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to learn Japanese?
Basic conversational ability takes around 6–12 months of consistent study; fluency takes years. Survival travel phrases can be learned in weeks.

Do I need to learn kanji?
For reading daily life (signs, menus, apps), a few hundred kanji help enormously. You can speak and travel with far less.

Is Duolingo enough on its own?
It’s great for habit and basics, but combine it with a grammar resource and speaking practice for real progress.

What’s the hardest part of Japanese?
For most learners it’s kanji and getting used to sentence structure — both very manageable with spaced repetition and practice.

Conclusion

Japanese is far more learnable than its reputation suggests. Start with hiragana, build a daily habit with apps like Anki and Duolingo, add a structured textbook, and practice speaking early. Even a few months of steady effort will make living in or traveling around Japan dramatically richer. Ganbatte — you’ve got this!