Apartment search sites in Japan with English: SUUMO, HOME'S, Real Estate Japan

SUUMO is in Japanese only. Its homepage had no English or other language link on 27 October 2026, and we found no English version of HOME’S either. If you want to search in English, use Real Estate Japan, GaijinPot Apartments or Best-Estate.jp. Whichever site you use, it only lists homes: you still sign the lease through a real estate agent (不動産会社).

Does SUUMO have an English version?

No. The SUUMO homepage is entirely in Japanese, with no language switch. A secondary guide (Expats Japan) says browser translation works well on SUUMO and that it has no dedicated foreigner filter, so you check each listing, though it also mentions a 外国人可 filter if you can find it.

Its tip for each listing is to ask the managing agency: 外国人でも申し込めますか？ (“Can foreigners apply?”). We could not find an official SUUMO page on foreigner acceptance, and guides disagree on whether a filter exists. Treat any listing as “ask first”.

Does HOME’S have an English version?

We found none. HOME’S (LIFULL HOME’S, ライフルホームズ) blocked our direct request, so we read an archived copy of the homepage dated 25 October 2026. It is in Japanese, and we found no English or foreigner (外国人) text on it. The same secondary guide says translation works and describes HOME’S foreigner filtering as “limited”.

Which apartment sites are in English?

Real Estate Japan and GaijinPot Apartments are portals: the agents behind the listings are separate companies. Real Estate Japan’s agent filter lists dozens of them, including Global Trust Networks and Plaza Homes. We read archived copies of both sites, so listings and prices we saw may have changed.

Best-Estate.jp is run by Global Trust Networks, which is also a guarantor company. It says it has multilingual staff, virtual tours and the option to sign your lease from overseas. It has popular filters such as “No Security Deposit or Key Money” and “Room Sharing Allowed”. These are the provider’s own claims. See our guarantor companies guide to compare the company behind it.

Who handles foreigners: the site or the agent?

The agent. A portal shows the listing. The landlord and the agent decide whether you can rent, and a guarantor company usually screens you too. The MLIT Apartment Search Guidebook says an intermediary agent charges an agency fee (仲介手数料), set within one month’s rent.

To find an agent who works in your language, see foreigner-friendly real estate agents in Japan.

Is there an official site for housing that accepts foreigners?

Yes, in Japanese. MLIT’s guidebook points to the Safety Net Housing (セーフティネット住宅) website, where you can search for rental housing that accepts foreigners. If the internet doesn’t give you what you need, the guidebook says to visit local real estate agents and tell them your requirements. Agents post rental information outside their offices.

You can also skip portals with public housing. UR rental housing has no key money, agent fee or renewal fee and needs no guarantor, according to our UR guide.

How should I use these sites?

The MLIT guidebook lists the usual initial payments as the security deposit, key money, agency fee, damage insurance premium, rent and common service fee. It says guarantee companies often charge 35% to 50% of one month’s rent, paid in advance for two years. It also tells you to check whether an application fee is charged.

If your Japanese is limited, ask an agent who works in English, or bring a Japanese speaker.

Related guides

• Foreigner-friendly real estate agents in Japan
• Steps, documents and costs: renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner
• Guarantor companies compared
• UR housing for foreigners