Licence
Business name, licence authority, number and validity can be checked against an official record.
JAPAN SETUP MAPSee the whole journey
VIEWINGChoosing a real estate agent
MY CURRENT STAGEChoose a stage below
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LICENSE · LANGUAGE · RENTAL SUPPORTChoose the agent.
Choose the agent.
Verify the business.
A helpful first conversation is not enough. Confirm the licensed business, the person handling your rental, the support available through contract signing and every fee before sending sensitive documents.
BEFORE YOU CONTACT AN AGENT
Six facts worth checking first.
Use the same checks for every business. A company name used in an advertisement may differ from the licensed legal name, so match the official record carefully.
Service area
Cities, train lines and property types the office actually handles.
Language support
Language, channel and hours available for the viewing, explanation and contract—not only the first inquiry.
Response process
Who replies, expected response time and which documents are requested before property details are discussed.
Fees
Agency fee and any other service charge, including tax, payment timing and refund or cancellation conditions.
Rental support
Viewing, screening, important-matters explanation, lease signing, key handover and move-out contact.
Official business search
Open the MLIT company search Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism provides a company-information search that includes licensed real-estate businesses. New or changed records may take time to appear.
FIRST CONTACT CHECKLIST
Ask questions that reveal the full process.
Keep the reply. If an answer changes later, ask for the current term in writing before applying or paying.
Can you handle this search?
- Target city, station and commute
- Rent and total move-in budget
- Household, pets and move-in date
- Furniture, guarantor or other needs
Who explains each step?
- Inquiry and viewing language
- Screening communication
- Important-matters explanation
- Lease and move-out support
What could I pay?
- Agency fee and tax
- Deposit, key money and guarantee fee
- Insurance, cleaning and support fees
- Cancellation and refund conditions
What is needed—and why?
- Identity and residence information
- Employment, school or income proof
- Co-occupant and contact details
- Recipient, storage and secure method
A CLEAR HANDOFF
From general guidance to a rental transaction.
The person responsible should be obvious at every step. Once you contact a real-estate business about an individual property, ask that business to confirm the next action and responsible contact.
- 01Learn and prepare here
Use Japan Resident Guide to understand rental terms, estimate costs and prepare questions and documents.
- 02Choose the business yourself
Compare verified facts such as licence, area, language support and fees. Paid placement must be clearly labeled.
- 03Contact the selected business
Send only the information requested through a known company channel. Confirm who will receive personal documents.
- 04The licensed professional handles the transaction
Property selection, availability, viewings, landlord communication, negotiation, screening, explanations and the lease belong to the real-estate business.
PAYMENT & DOCUMENT SAFETY
Pause when the recipient is unclear.
Do not send a residence-card image, bank details or money only because someone contacted you through social media or an unfamiliar message. Reconfirm the company, person, property, recipient account, payment purpose and cancellation term through a known channel.
Stop and verify if:
- The legal company name or licence cannot be confirmed
- You are pressured to transfer money immediately
- The bank-account holder does not match the stated recipient
- Fees or refund conditions are missing from written documents
- A personal document is requested without a clear purpose
VERIFIED PARTNER DIRECTORY
Listings will begin after verification.
No partner business is currently presented as recommended or verified on this page. Before a listing is activated, Japan Resident Guide will confirm the business identity and licence record, supported areas and languages, fee disclosure, inquiry route and update contact.
Licence, service scope and support claims must be documented and dated.
Sponsor status and commercial relationships will be visible to readers.
Payment will not silently convert into an editorial recommendation.
Readers decide which business to contact; JRG does not select an individual property or negotiate.
Prepare before contacting an agent
Return to the complete housing guide Understand costs, floor plans, equipment, contracts and living rules first.