What Leopalace21 is
Leopalace21 is a rental housing company that runs furnished flats across Japan. Because its contracts come without a deposit or key money, and because you can rent for short periods, it tends to be picked by people on work postings, students, and anyone staying a limited time.
This article is for anyone weighing up furnished rentals of that kind. It sets out what this way of renting involves, and the things worth comparing when you have several options in front of you. Conditions at individual properties change over time, so check each company's own site for the current terms.
The furniture and appliances are already there
A bed, fridge, washing machine, microwave and television are normally in place, so you can move in without buying what you need to live. You also avoid the cost and hassle of getting rid of appliances when you leave.
Lower cost to move in
With no deposit and no key money, getting started costs less than an ordinary rental. There is nothing to spend on furniture or appliances either, which helps when you cannot easily put a lump sum together.
Short stays are possible
Some plans let you set a short contract term, which fits a stay of known length. It suits a work posting or a training period, where you already know how long you will be there.
Five things to compare in furnished rentals
Furnished housing comes in several forms: studio flats, monthly apartments, share houses, and furnished apartments. Which one fits you is easier to judge on these five points.
1. Compare the total, not the monthly rent
Comparing monthly rent alone leads you astray. Add the cost of moving in, the monthly cost (rent plus shared fees and other fixed charges), and what you pay when you leave, then multiply by the number of months you plan to stay.
The thing to check first is whether utilities and internet are included in the monthly figure. If they are billed separately, the difference runs from a few thousand yen to around ten thousand a month.
2. Check what is actually provided
Furnished means different things at different companies. Ask for a list of what is provided and what you bring yourself. Cookware, crockery and bedding are the items most often left out.
3. Check the internet
Find out whether internet is provided or you have to arrange it yourself. If it is provided, look at what kind of connection it is and whether the cost sits inside the monthly figure. If you work from home, ask whether you can check the actual connection before you commit.
4. Contract length, and how easily it extends
Where the term is fixed, ask whether you can extend it and what happens financially if you leave early. The less certain you are about how long you will stay, the more this matters.
5. Whether you need a guarantor
Whether you need a personal guarantor, or whether joining a guarantor company is enough, varies by company. With a guarantor company, an initial guarantee fee and a monthly guarantee fee normally apply on top. The amount is set by screening, so ask for it at the quote stage.
Search for a room
Only furnished properties with appliances are listed!
Who furnished rentals suit
If you are moving in a hurry
Even with no time to buy furniture and appliances, you can start living there the day you move in. It is a common choice when a transfer or a university place comes through at short notice.
If you know how long you are staying
A work posting, a training course, a short project — anything with a defined end. You save both the money and the effort of buying appliances and then disposing of them, which brings the total down.
If you want to keep the upfront cost down
Where there is no deposit, key money or agency fee, getting started costs less than an ordinary rental. Nothing to spend on furniture or appliances either.
If finding a personal guarantor is difficult
Some housing lets you sign using a guarantor company instead of a personal guarantor. That works for students, for people who have come from abroad, and for anyone who would rather not ask family.
XROSS HOUSE as an option
XROSS HOUSE runs share houses and furnished apartments across 11 prefectures, centred on Tokyo. Everything is furnished when you move in, and the cost is broken down in advance.
What it costs
| Item | Amount (tax incl.) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost | 30,000 yen | No deposit, no key money, no agency fee |
| Rent | Varies by property and room type | Private room, dormitory and so on |
| Shared service fee | 15,000 yen/month | Covers utilities and shared supplies |
| Support fee | 1,500 yen/month | Covers help with problems in your home |
Utilities and internet sit inside the shared service fee, so what you pay each month is settled before you move in. If you want to compare on the total, that makes it straightforward.
You do not need a personal guarantor. If you sign as an individual you will normally need to join a guarantor company, and an initial guarantee fee and a monthly guarantee fee apply on top of the initial cost. The amount is set by the screening when you apply, and we give it to you in your quote. If you are staying short-term and pay for your whole stay up front, you do not need a guarantor company at all.
Room types
If you want your own kitchen and bathroom, that is the furnished apartment. If you want to keep costs down, there is a private room in a share house. Share houses also come in semi-private and dormitory forms, so you can pick by budget.
You can see the full cost breakdown on our fees page.
Moving between properties
If your workplace or your circumstances change after you move in, you can move between properties XROSS HOUSE manages. That suits anyone who would rather try somewhere first and decide later. We explain the conditions when you move in.
Search for a room
Only furnished properties with appliances are listed!
Frequently asked questions
What kind of housing is Leopalace21?
Furnished flats, rented across Japan. Contracts come without a deposit or key money, short-term plans are available, and it is a common choice for people on work postings and for students. Check their own site for the terms at a given property.
What comes with a furnished rental?
Usually a bed, fridge, washing machine, microwave and television. What is included varies by company and by property, though. Cookware, crockery and bedding are often left out, so ask for a list before you commit.
Do furnished rentals work out expensive?
The monthly figure can look high on its own, but work it out including what you would otherwise spend buying appliances and disposing of them later. The shorter your stay, the more the total tends to favour furnished housing.
Is there internet?
At some properties a connection is provided; at others you arrange it yourself. Where it is provided, check whether the cost is inside the monthly figure. At XROSS HOUSE, internet is covered by the shared service fee.
Can I sign without a personal guarantor?
Some housing lets you sign using a guarantor company. XROSS HOUSE does not require a personal guarantor either. If you sign as an individual you will normally join a guarantor company and pay a guarantee fee on top. If you are staying short-term and pay up front, you do not need one at all.
Can I stay for a short time only?
Yes. At XROSS HOUSE you can move in for as little as seven days. If you know how long you are staying, comparing on the total makes the decision clearer.
Can I rent as a foreign national?
At XROSS HOUSE, yes. Most of our residents came to Japan from abroad, and we handle enquiries in several languages. Which documents you need depends on your residence status, and we explain that when you get in touch.
In summary
Furnished rentals cut both the cost and the effort of getting started. Alongside studio flats of the Leopalace21 kind, there are monthly apartments, share houses and furnished apartments, and which one suits you depends on how long you are staying and what you need.
Compare on five things: the total cost, what is provided, the internet, the contract term, and whether a guarantor is required. The total is the one that separates the options — work it out including the cost of moving in and moving out, multiplied by the months you will be there.
