Key money — reikin (non-refundable gift to landlord)
Cash needed at signing
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💡 Cut it down: search "no key money" (礼金なし) listings, or UR Housing — government-backed flats with zero key money, zero agency fee and no guarantor required. The single biggest move-in saver for foreigners.
The bits that trip up foreigners
The guarantor (hoshōnin) problem
Most landlords demand a Japanese guarantor. No family here? A guarantor company stands in for a one-time fee of ¥30,000–60,000 (or 50–100% of one month's rent). Standard and expected.
Key money is gone forever
Unlike the deposit, reikin is a non-refundable "thank you" to the landlord. It's the most-resented fee — which is why no-reikin listings are worth hunting.
Fire insurance + lock change
A 2-year fire insurance policy (~¥20,000) is mandatory, and you'll usually pay ~¥15,000 to change the lock. Both are baked into the total above.
Rentals, visas, what's on — the free daily brief, launching soon.
Estimates use common 2026 Tokyo market norms — actual fees vary by landlord and ward. Sources: MailMate, GTN, Best-Estate. Part of mypulse.city · Privacy