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Japanese for “Looking for an apartment”
You visit a real estate agency to find an apartment. You tell the agent your budget, preferred station, and walking time, then ask about deposit fees and whether foreigners can rent.
Sample dialogue
Real estate agent
いらっしゃいませ。今日はどのようなご用件ですか？irasshaimase. kyou wa dono youna go youken desu ka?
Welcome. What can I help you with today?
You (Customer)
アパートを探しているんです。予算は月8万円くらいで、駅から歩いて10分以内がいいです。apaato o sagashiteiru n desu. yosan wa tsuki manen kuraide, eki kara aruite juppun inai ga ii desu.
I'm looking for an apartment. My budget is around 80,000 yen a month, and I'd like somewhere within a 10-minute walk from the station.
Real estate agent
かしこまりました。駅はどちらがご希望ですか？kashikomarimashita. eki wa dochira ga go kibou desu ka?
Understood. Which station would you prefer?
You (Customer)
渋谷駅の近くだといいんですけど。あと、敷金と礼金がいくらかかるか教えてもらえますか？shibuyaeki no chikaku da to ii n desu kedo. ato, shikikin to reikin ga ikura kakaru ka oshietemoraemasu ka?
Somewhere near Shibuya Station would be good. Also, could you tell me how much the deposit and key money cost?
Real estate agent
渋谷ですね。敷金は1ヶ月分、礼金は1ヶ月分です。それから保証会社の利用料もあります。shibuya desu ne. shikikin wa ikkagetsubun, reikin wa ikkagetsubun desu. sorekara hoshou kaisha no riyouryou mo arimasu.
Shibuya, got it. The deposit is one month's rent, and the key money is one month's rent. There's also a guarantor company fee.
You (Customer)
保証会社？それは何ですか？hoshou kaisha? sore wa nani desu ka?
A guarantor company? What's that?
Real estate agent
保証会社は、何か問題があった時に家主さんと借主さんの間に入る会社です。外国人のお客さんも利用する人が多いですね。hoshou kaisha wa, nani ka mondai ga atta toki ni yanushisan to karinushisan no ma ni hairu kaisha desu. gaikokujin no okyakusan mo riyou suru hito ga ooi desu ne.
The guarantor company acts as a go-between if there are any issues between the landlord and tenant. Many of our foreign customers use them.
You (Customer)
わかりました。外国人でも借りることができますか？wakarimashita. gaikokujin de mo kariru koto ga dekimasu ka?
I see. Can foreigners like me rent an apartment?
Real estate agent
はい、大丈夫です。保証会社に申し込めば、ほとんどの物件で大丈夫ですよ。hai, daijoubu desu. hoshou kaisha ni moushikome ba, hotondo no bukken de daijoubu desu yo.
Yes, no problem. If you apply through the guarantor company, most properties will accept foreign tenants.
You (Customer)
そうですか。良かった。物件を見てもいいですか？sou desu ka. yokatta. bukken o mite mo ii desu ka?
That's good to hear. Can I see some properties?
Real estate agent
もちろんです。今日はいくつかおすすめの物件を用意しています。こちらをご覧ください。mochiron desu. kyou wa ikutsu ka osusume no bukken o youi shiteimasu. kochira o goran kudasai.
Of course. I have some recommendations ready for you today. Please take a look at these.
Phrases you can use
予算は～円くらいよさんは～えんくらいyosan wa ～ en kurai
My budget is around ~ yen
Use this when telling an agent or salesperson your price range
予算は3万円くらいです。yosan wa manen kurai desu.
My budget is around 30,000 yen.
駅から歩いて～分以内えきからあるいて～ぶんいないeki kara aruite ～ bun inai
Within a ~ minute walk from the station
Use when specifying your preferred walking distance to a train station
駅から歩いて5分以内がいいです。eki kara aruite 5fun inai ga ii desu.
I'd like within a 5-minute walk from the station.
敷金と礼金しききんとれいきんshikikin to reikin
Deposit and key money (traditional move-in fees in Japan)
Use when asking about initial costs for renting in Japan
敷金と礼金はいくらですか？shikikin to reikin wa ikura desu ka?
How much are the deposit and key money?
外国人でも大丈夫ですか？がいこくじんでもだいじょうぶですか？gaikokujin de mo daijoubu desu ka?
Is it okay for foreigners too? / Can foreigners rent?
Use to ask if foreigners are accepted as tenants
Casual vs polite
Casual予算は8万円ぐらい。yosan wa manen gurai.
Polite予算は8万円くらいです。yosan wa manen kurai desu.
Casual uses ぐらい (or くらい) and no です; polite uses くらい and です. Use polite with real estate agents.
Casual駅から10分以内がいい。eki kara juppun inai ga ii.
Polite駅から10分以内がいいです。eki kara juppun inai ga ii desu.
Casual ends at the adjective; polite adds です. Use polite to sound respectful when making requests.
Casual外国人でも大丈夫？gaikokujin de mo daijoubu?
Polite外国人でも大丈夫ですか？gaikokujin de mo daijoubu desu ka?
Casual is a direct question; polite adds ですか. Use polite with agents and service staff.
Culture tip
In Japan, move-in costs (敷金・礼金) are a significant one-time expense separate from rent. 敷金 (deposit) is often returned after move-out, while 礼金 (key money) is a non-refundable gift to the landlord. Always ask about these upfront. Foreign renters typically need a 保証会社 (guarantor company) because landlords may be unfamiliar with renting to non-citizens. Being polite and organized when house-hunting shows respect and increases your chances of approval.
Ready to say it out loud?
On Tuned you can practice this scene in 3 steps: copy the model, build it up bit by bit, then role-play with an AI partner — at your level.