Survival Japanese: Housing Terms

Last updated: 29 June 2017

Looking for renting an apartment or a house is usually one of the first things that a foreigner moving to Japan will have to do. However, Japanese rental agreements have some unique features that might differ from those in your country. The terminology used to define the size, space and conditions of a place are quite unique in Japan, and a good knowledge of them is necessary to make the search even easier.

Japanese Housing: Words to Know

If you want to visit a real estate agency, some basic Japanese vocabulary will be most certainly needed.

Rentals: 賃貸 (chintai）

Rental property: 賃貸物件 (chintai bukken)

Apartment: アパート (apāto)

Apartment (large building): マンション (manshon)

Separate house: 一戸建て (ikkodate)

Real estate agent: 不動産業者 (fudōsan-gyōsha)

Guarantor: 保証人 (hoshōnin)

Tenant, renter: 借家人 (shakuyanin)

Security deposit: 敷金 (shikikin)

Deposit, security money: 保証金 (hoshōkin)

Key money: 礼金 (reikin)

Rent: 賃料 / 家賃 (chinryō / yachin)

Monthly management fee: 管理費 (kanrihi)

Initial moving fees: 初期の費用 (shoki no hiyō)

Japanese Housing Layout Terms

The terminology used to define the size, space and conditions of a place are quite unique in Japan, and a good knowledge of them is necessary to make the search even easier.

• Room Layout and Size

For the measurements, three units are used: the common m², the tsubo (about 3.3m²) and the jō (about 1.65m², or 0.5 tsubo). When looking at the floor plan, you might also encounter specific terms. Here is a quick chart to give you an overview of what to expect. The number in front of the acronym usually indicates the number of bedrooms.

Acronym – Type of Room - Term: Explanation

R – Single room – 1R: Coziest type of apartment that can be found in Japan, 1R refers to one room directly connected to the kitchen and bathroom.

K – Kitchen – 1K: 1K apartment usually has the kitchen separated from the main room. However, most of the time it consists of a simple sink and burner.

D – Dining – 1DK: 1DK is slightly bigger than 1K apartments, and features a kitchen/dining room combination.

L – Living – 1LDK: An apartment with a separated living room and bedroom. Typically about 40 to 60m².

S – Storage – 1SLDK: Identical to a 1LDK, except that there is a large closet in which you can actually walk into.

• Vocabulary

Entryway: 玄関 (genkan)

Shoe storage: 下駄箱 (getabako)

Room: 室 (shitsu)

Japanese-style room: 和室 (washitsu)

Western-style room: 洋室 (yōshitsu)

Japanese-style closet: 押入れ (oshi-ire)

Western-style closet: 物入れ (mono-ire)

Storage: 納戸 (nando)

Counter for tatami mats: 畳 (tatami / jō)

Dining room/area: ダイニング (dainingu)

Kitchen: キッチン (kicchin)

System kitchen: システムキッチン (shisutemu kicchin)

Bathroom: 浴室 (yokushitsu)

Toilet: トイレ (toire)

Sink and Vanity: 洗面 (senmen)

Laundry room: 脱衣室 (datsui-shitsu)

Balcony: バルコニー (barukonī)

Housing in Japan

How To: Useful Japanese Phrases

*This information is from the time of this article's publication.
*Prices and options mentioned are subject to change.
*Unless stated otherwise, all prices include tax.

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