What's it Like to Move in Japan?

In our archives, we have a lot of great articles about moving house within Japan. We cover a lot of basics, from a checklist of things you'll need to do before and after the move, to explanations of common terms in the Japanese real estate gig like shikikin and reikin, common features of apartments, and a description of how Japanese apartments are classified.

What we haven't done, yet, is provide a real time account of what steps you go through when you decide you want to move from one rental property to another. Over the next few weeks, I'll share one of my own moving experiences in Japan. If you're planning a move yourself, I hope you find some good information in it, and if you don't have a move in mind yet, I hope you find the read entertaining.

In this case, the process from inquiry to move-in took about a month. Once I'd decided on a place, the key was in my hand within two weeks, which is quite a fast turn around. Other moves have been a 6- to 8-week process for me, which I would guess is closer to average.

Week 1, Monday:
After wanting to move to another apartment for months, I decide to get serious about it. I'm sick of my current commute and noise levels in the neighborhood and want to move within my current city.

I pick out a few neighborhoods and start looking at apartments listed online, through Suumo. I choose three places and click on the 問い合わせ (toiawase) button to request more information. I tick the box for この部屋の最新の空室状況を知りたい, "I'd like to know if this property is still available," give my intended move in date as いいものがあれば, "Whenever I find something I like," and fill out my name and contact information.

Now I wait.