# Foreigner-friendly real estate agents in Japan: how to find one

URL: https://japanhow.com/housing/renting/foreigner-friendly-real-estate-agents/
Author: japanhow editors
Updated: Oct 20, 2026

## Summary

To find a foreigner-friendly real estate agent in Japan, start with the Japan Property Management Association's list of agencies offering foreign-language services: about 441, sorted by prefecture with each one's languages, as of October 2026. Look for its language stickers at agency offices. UR public rental housing needs no guarantor, key money, agent fee or renewal fee, but has an income standard. Foreigner-focused portals and share-house operators are other routes; check who runs each one.

## Key facts

- JPM multilingual agent list: About 441 agencies
- UR rental: No guarantor, key money or agent fee
- UR deposit: 2 months' rent
- Paid placements here: None

The most reliable way to find foreigner-friendly real estate in Japan is the **Japan Property Management Association's (JPM) list of agencies offering foreign-language services**. As of October 2026 it lists **about 441 agencies**, sorted by prefecture, with the languages each one offers. If you'd rather skip agents and guarantors, **UR public rental housing** charges no key money (礼金), agent fee or renewal fee and needs no guarantor. Foreigner-focused portals and share houses are other options.

**How we wrote this:** We don't rank individual agencies and nobody pays to appear here. We list official and industry sources first, then name a few portals and operators so you know what they are and who runs them.

## How do I find a foreigner-friendly real estate agent in Japan?

### 1. Use JPM's multilingual agency list

The Japan Property Management Association (日本賃貸住宅管理協会, JPM) is the rental management industry body. It works with MLIT on guidance for foreign tenants. Its **List of Real Estate Agencies Offering Foreign-Language Services** has English, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese versions. It is organized by 11 regions, then by prefecture.

The prefecture counts add up to about 441 agencies. Tokyo has the most (72), followed by Saitama (23), Aichi (23) and Osaka (22). Some prefectures have only one. Each entry lists the languages offered: some about ten, some only English.

### 2. Look for the language stickers

JPM says agencies display **Foreign-Language Service Stickers** at their offices, showing which languages their staff speak. If you're walking around the neighbourhood you want, look for them in the window.

### 3. Ask your city, school or employer

MLIT's Apartment Search Guidebook suggests:

- **Your local government's consultation desk for foreign residents** and the **international exchange association** (国際交流協会). They can answer housing questions, and some local governments provide staff who go with you to an agent.
- **Your school's student office**, if you are a student. It may have student housing information.
- **Prefectural schemes.** Saitama Prefecture, for example, registers "Trusted Renting Support Agents" who help foreign residents find housing.
- **People you know**, who may hear of vacancies.

### 4. Search MLIT's Safety Net Housing site

MLIT's guidebook points to its **Safety Net Housing (セーフティネット住宅)** website, where you can search for rental housing that accepts foreign tenants. It is in Japanese only.

## What should I look for in a foreigner-friendly agent?

- **Your language, in writing.** Can they explain the contract and the important points explanation (重要事項説明) in a language you understand?
- **Guarantee companies with language support.** MLIT publishes a list of registered rent guarantee companies with foreign-language support (as of September 30, 2026). Ask which ones the agent uses, and compare them in our [guarantor companies guide](/housing/renting/guarantor-company-japan/).
- **An itemised estimate before you apply.** MLIT's rule of thumb for initial costs is 4 to 7 months' rent. See [renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner](/housing/renting/how-to-rent-apartment-japan-foreigner/).
- **No pressure on insurance.** You can often choose your own fire insurance if it meets the lease. See [renters' fire insurance](/housing/insurance/renters-fire-insurance-japan/).
- **Honest screening questions.** MLIT says agents usually ask about your job, income, Japanese ability and who will live with you. A good agent tells you up front what the landlord and guarantor will need.

If your Japanese is limited, MLIT suggests bringing a Japanese speaker to the agent.

## Can foreigners rent UR housing?

Yes. UR rental housing (UR賃貸住宅) is run by the public Urban Renaissance Agency. Its English pamphlet (information as of September 2022) lists four advantages:

| | UR rental housing |
|---|---|
| Key money (礼金) | None |
| Agent fee (仲介手数料) | None |
| Renewal fee (更新料) | None; contracts renew automatically, except fixed-term ones |
| Guarantor | Not needed |
| Paid at move-in | Deposit of **2 months' rent**, plus prorated rent and common fee for the first month |

### Who qualifies for UR?

You must be a Japanese national or a **foreign national with the qualifications UR requires**, and meet an **income standard**. For an individual applicant:

| Monthly rent | Monthly income you need |
|---|---|
| Under ¥62,500 | 4 times the rent |
| ¥62,500 to under ¥200,000 | ¥250,000 |
| ¥200,000 or more | ¥400,000 |

For household applications the thresholds are 4 times the rent below ¥82,500, ¥330,000 from ¥82,500 to under ¥200,000, and ¥400,000 above that. If you don't meet the income standard, UR offers an **advance rent payment system** or a **savings standard** instead. Ask at a UR shop for the details.

Two practical points for foreign applicants:

- **Your residence record (住民票) needs extra items.** UR asks foreign nationals to request a copy showing nationality, the date you started living in Japan, your status and period of stay, and your residence card (在留カード) number. These are often left off unless you ask.
- **Language.** UR's pamphlet says people who need Japanese support should have a coworker or another Japanese speaker contact UR.

## What are foreigner-focused rental portals?

Several websites list apartments open to foreign tenants, in English. We name them so you know what they are. This is not an endorsement or ranking.

- **Best-Estate.jp** describes itself as an apartment search site for foreign residents. It showed **279,401 listings** on October 20, 2026, in seven languages including English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Portuguese. It is run by **Global Trust Networks (GTN)**, which is also a guarantor company.
- **Real Estate Japan** and **GaijinPot Apartments** are long-running English rental portals. Both sites blocked our checks, so we can't report their current listings or terms.

Portals show listings from agencies. You still sign with an agent, a landlord and usually a guarantor company. The same checks apply.

## Is a share house a good option for foreigners?

A share house is a building where you rent your own room, or a shared one, and share the kitchen and other spaces. Some operators rent to you directly, so you deal with one company instead of an agent, a landlord and a guarantor.

For example, **Oakhouse**, a share-house operator since 1992 with houses in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka and other cities, advertises **no key money or guarantor needed** and online booking. Its site is in English, Chinese, French and Korean, and you can filter for "Foreign Residents Allowed". Some of its listings advertise no deposit and short-term stays.

| | Share house (Oakhouse example) | Regular lease |
|---|---|---|
| Who you deal with | The operator | Agent, landlord, guarantor company |
| Key money and guarantor | Advertised as not needed | Key money often in Kanto; personal guarantor or guarantor company needed |
| Move-in costs | Set by the operator | About 4 to 7 months' rent (MLIT) |
| Kitchen and common areas | Shared | Your own |

Read the share-house contract as carefully as a lease: contract type, notice period, fees and house rules.

## Related guides

- Steps, documents and costs: [renting an apartment in Japan as a foreigner](/housing/renting/how-to-rent-apartment-japan-foreigner/)
- [Guarantor companies compared](/housing/renting/guarantor-company-japan/)
- [Renters' fire insurance](/housing/insurance/renters-fire-insurance-japan/)
- Setting up a bank account for rent: [bank accounts for foreigners](/money/banking/bank-account-for-foreigners-japan/)

## Questions people ask

### How do I find an English-speaking real estate agent in Japan?

Use the Japan Property Management Association's (JPM) list of agencies offering foreign-language services. It is sorted by region and prefecture and lists the languages each agency offers. Agencies also show stickers at their offices for the languages their staff speak.

### Can foreigners rent UR housing?

Yes, if you meet UR's conditions for foreign nationals and its income standard, which can be replaced by paying rent in advance or by a savings standard. UR charges no key money, agent fee or renewal fee and needs no guarantor. The deposit is 2 months' rent.

### What is a share house in Japan?

A building where you rent a private or shared room and share the kitchen and other spaces. Some operators rent to you directly: Oakhouse, for example, advertises no key money or guarantor needed and lets you filter for houses that accept foreign residents.

### Are there apartment websites for foreigners in Japan?

Yes. Best-Estate.jp, run by the guarantor company GTN, showed 279,401 listings in seven languages on October 20, 2026. Real Estate Japan and GaijinPot Apartments are other English portals, though we couldn't open their sites to check them.

## Sources

- [Assistance with facilitating occupancy (English)](https://www.jpm.jp/foreign/en/), JPM (日本賃貸住宅管理協会) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [List of Real Estate Agencies Offering Foreign-Language Services](https://www.jpm.jp/multilingual/en/index.html), JPM (日本賃貸住宅管理協会) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [Apartment Search Guidebook (English)](https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001317844.pdf), MLIT (国土交通省) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [セーフティネット住宅 情報提供システム](https://www.safetynet-jutaku.jp/guest/index.php), MLIT (国土交通省) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [How to rent UR rental housing (English pamphlet)](https://www.ur-net.go.jp/chintai/pdf/common/plt_english.pdf), UR (Urban Renaissance Agency) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [BEST-ESTATE.JP](https://www.best-estate.jp/en/), Global Trust Networks (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [Oakhouse](https://www.oakhouse.jp/eng), Oakhouse (accessed Oct 20, 2026)
- [外国人の言語対応サポートを行っている登録家賃債務保証業者](https://www.mlit.go.jp/jutakukentiku/house/jutakukentiku_house_fr7_000031.html), MLIT (国土交通省) (accessed Oct 20, 2026)