Guides
Make yourself at home in Japan.
Practical help for arriving, settling in and everyday life, from the HalfKey team. Start with our Tokyo guides; check each page for the local rules that apply.
Where are you in the journey?
Choose a starting point. No booking needed.
Before you arrive
Make the decisions that unblock your first week.
Your first week
Get connected and learn how your building works.
Everyday life
Handle the small things that keep a week running.
Solve a problem
Find the next action when something goes wrong.
When you leave
Close accounts and organise the handover.
Start here
The handful of guides we point everyone to first.
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Booking & Decisions · December 21, 2025
Choosing a Tokyo stay: apartment, sharehouse or hotel
A private kitchen, people to share dinner with, or someone at reception can each make a longer stay easier. Compare the arrangements you'll use every day, then check the full price and terms for your dates.
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Booking & Decisions · December 8, 2025
Renting a furnished Tokyo home as a foreigner
A furnished apartment can make a stay of several months easier to organise, with less household setup after arrival. Check the company's accepted documents and full terms early, then confirm the exact home and handover before arranging your move.
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Living in Tokyo · April 28, 2026
Planning a Japan digital nomad visa stay
Planning the application and planning daily life are separate jobs. Start with eligibility and your work arrangements, then check the insurance, housing and everyday services you would need during the stay.
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Booking & Decisions · May 7, 2026
Tokyo monthly apartments: what to check before you book
Planning a month or more in Tokyo? Compare furnished apartments by the full cost of your stay, the equipment you need, and the booking terms, with a few practical checks before you commit.
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Booking & Decisions
See all in Booking & DecisionsWhat to know before you book — choices, prep, and the questions to ask the operator.
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September 4, 2026
No-guarantor Tokyo apartments: what to check
An apartment advertised without a guarantor can still have income checks, deposits or advance-payment terms. Find out which requirements apply to you, then compare the whole stay rather than treating the absence of one fee as the deciding factor.
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September 4, 2026
Subletting in Tokyo: check the landlord’s consent
A sublet can look convenient for both the person travelling and the person moving in. Check that the landlord has consented to the actual arrangement, and put the dates, payments and responsibilities in writing before anyone hands over keys.
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August 22, 2026
Leaving a Tokyo apartment: bills, accounts and refunds
The order of your departure tasks depends on which contracts are in your name and what must happen before you leave. Agree the deposit refund method early, especially if your bank requires account closure before the money is due.
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August 17, 2026
Student housing in Tokyo and your resident record
Your school, apartment company and ward office each need different information when you move to Tokyo. Sort out the home and the documents together, so an easy booking also works for the address procedures you need after arrival.
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August 13, 2026
Finding a Tokyo home when you live abroad
Coming back to Japan for a while can leave you with a Japanese passport and no current Japanese address. Explain that early when enquiring, then separate the apartment company’s document requirements from the municipality’s rules for registering a home.
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May 7, 2026
Tokyo monthly apartments: what to check before you book
Planning a month or more in Tokyo? Compare furnished apartments by the full cost of your stay, the equipment you need, and the booking terms, with a few practical checks before you commit.
Read guide
Money & Contracts
See all in Money & ContractsFees, deposits, contracts, and the math that runs the industry.
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September 5, 2026
Late rent on a Tokyo furnished apartment: what to do
A failed transfer and an inability to pay need different solutions, but both call for prompt contact. Keep the payment record, ask for a clear balance and deadline, and get advice quickly if you receive a termination notice.
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September 5, 2026
NHK fees in a furnished Tokyo apartment: who handles them?
A television supplied with the furniture doesn't tell you how NHK is handled. Ask about the existing contract, confirm the arrangement with NHK where necessary, and keep any payment or cancellation record with your other apartment documents.
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August 22, 2026
Why foreign cards fail on Tokyo apartment payments
A failed payment is easier to resolve when you know which checks completed. Save the error details, confirm your available credit, and agree a supported payment method with the rental company before making another attempt.
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August 14, 2026
Tokyo apartment paperwork your employer can use
Company-paid accommodation needs the right documents as well as a suitable apartment. Confirm the contracting and paying parties early, separate the refundable deposit from expenses, and ask finance what it needs before the first invoice is issued.
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August 4, 2026
Tokyo commuter pass or pay as you go: do the maths
A commuter pass can sit on an IC card, so the decision is whether to prepay a particular route. Count the journeys it would cover, compare the exact calendar term, and check refund rules before buying more months than you'll use.
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May 13, 2026
Comparing Tokyo monthly apartment cleaning fees
A cleaning fee can change which apartment is better value, especially for a short stay. Compare the complete bill and the work included, then check whether checkout charges or damage deductions could sit outside the advertised fee.
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Living in Tokyo
See all in Living in TokyoDay-to-day in a Tokyo apartment, from konbini bill payment to the heating-and-mold dance.
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September 5, 2026
Inspection notices in a Tokyo apartment: who may enter
An inspection notice may mean staying home for a short visit, or simply planning around a water outage. Check what the crew needs to reach, then agree the timing and access with the company you're renting from.
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September 5, 2026
Locked out of your Tokyo apartment: what to do tonight
A key left inside, a lost key and an unresponsive keypad need different solutions. Contact the company you're renting from with the exact problem, and agree any outside call-out or lock replacement before spending money on it.
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September 5, 2026
Utility cut-off notice in your landlord's name: next steps
A utility warning needs attention even when the account is in your landlord's name. Send the complete notice to the company you're renting from, confirm which bill it concerns, and get a clear answer about payment and any reconnection needed.
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August 22, 2026
Build a Tokyo furnished-apartment move-out packet
Keep your checkout arrangements in one place so you can find them after leaving Japan. Include the accepted departure date, key-return instructions, condition photographs and an agreed refund method, with copies you can access without your Japanese phone number.
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August 19, 2026
Cooking in Tokyo on one burner and a small fridge
A small kitchen can be enough for meals you enjoy, once you know what equipment and storage you have. Start with a manageable shop and a few dinners that work with one burner.
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August 18, 2026
Tokyo clinic visit without national health insurance
Having travel insurance, having Japanese public insurance and being able to prove that insurance are three different situations. Tell the clinic which applies before the visit, and confirm who pays on the day.
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Neighborhoods
See all in NeighborhoodsWhere to live for which kind of life — ward by ward.
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September 4, 2026
Nakameguro for a month: beyond the river walk
Nakameguro combines two useful railway routes with a river walk that changes through the year. The best address for your stay depends on the station exit, the walk home and whether your everyday errands take you through the blossom crowds.
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August 21, 2026
Nakano for a monthly stay: choose the right train
Nakano’s trains can serve very different parts of central Tokyo even when departure boards show similar destinations. Start with the line you need, then compare the shopping route and apartment entrance on the same side of the station.
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May 21, 2026
Living in Yotsuya: trains, groceries and your street
Yotsuya has several stations and useful food shops, but the best daily route depends on your address. Compare the trains, groceries and nearby streets before deciding whether an apartment here fits your stay.
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April 2, 2026
Tokyo summer stays: check the festival route
Summer festivals can change the walk to your apartment as well as the sound outside it. Match your dates and building entrance to the organizer’s route map, then decide whether you want the celebration nearby or a train ride away.
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February 17, 2026
Tokyo for remote-working couples: desks and internet
Two remote workers need a plan for overlapping calls as well as a reliable connection. Compare an apartment with a separate room against a smaller place plus a paid workspace, then verify what the specific building and workspace actually provide.
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January 25, 2026
A month in Bunkyo: hills, stations and daily errands
Bunkyo’s hills can put two nearby apartments on very different daily routes. Compare the walk home from groceries with your station journey, and check garden hours and Tokyo Dome events before choosing the part of the ward that suits you.
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