讀後心得

The experience of foreigners living in Japan is very diverse. According to statistics from 2022, over 1.4 million foreigners chose to settle in Japan and shared their rental experiences. Many expressed appreciation for Japan's quiet and safe environment, believing it alleviated their concerns about renting. Additionally, convenient transportation and an abundance of convenience stores made life easier. Many foreigners also prefer short-term rental options, as many properties come furnished with furniture and appliances, significantly reducing hassle. However, some foreigners reported facing rental rejections due to language barriers, and there is a general belief that housing spaces are relatively small. Overall, despite the challenges, most people remain satisfied with their living experience in Japan.

Everyone really loves having this in their room! Sharing experiences of living in Japan that surprise foreigners. Besides sightseeing, what else can travelers who love Japan do? Of course, they choose to live here! According to statistics from the Japanese Ministry of Justice in 2022, there are currently over 1.4 million foreigners living in this land. However, do they face challenges related to language or culture in their lives in Japan? What are their impressions? Here are some foreigners who have lived in Japan for over a year, sharing the difficulties and experiences they encountered during their renting process. Let's take a look at their stories!

• 1. A quiet and safe place brings peace of mind!

  “I live near a river where I can even see turtles, which makes me feel the breath of nature; the environment is very quiet and peaceful.” (British/30s/Female)

  “Although I live in the city center, it's surprisingly quiet on the weekends. I thought Tokyo would be noisy, but now I feel very safe living here.” (Malaysian/30s/Female)

  “Although it’s a bit far from the station, the living environment is really quiet, and it's easy to find such places in Japan.” (British/20s/Female)

  Many people believe that one of the advantages of living in Japan is safety, and many areas are very quiet, making it easier to choose a rental location.

• 2. The trains are very convenient, and convenience stores are everywhere, no worries in daily life!

  “There are tram lines all over the city center, and it's really convenient to get anywhere from my home, no need to drive! It's easy to go to the supermarket or convenience store, so there are almost no issues in daily life.” (Malaysian/30s/Female)

  “I live in an area where I can walk to the station and the convenience store, and there are parks and hospitals nearby. In Slovakia, I would have to drive.” (Slovakian/30s/Female)

  Foreigners living in big cities like Tokyo or Osaka generally mention the frequent train schedules, making travel very convenient, especially for single foreigners.

  Many also praise Japan's convenience stores, feeling that they can just go to a convenience store whenever needed. For those without cars and living alone, life in Japanese cities is quite pleasant.

• 3. Short-term rentals without burden! Rooms with furniture and appliances are super convenient!

  “It's great to rent a short-term apartment with furniture and appliances; I don't need to buy anything extra!” (American/30s/Male)

  “I thought I would need to bring my own appliances in Japan, but I ended up renting a room with air conditioning. I feel really lucky!” (British/30s/Female)

  When renting, you usually need to prepare your own furniture and appliances, but depending on the type of rental apartment, some places provide the necessary items. Although the price might be slightly higher, it saves a lot of preparation hassle. For foreigners from certain countries, finding rooms with furniture and appliances is indeed very convenient.

• 4. Real estate agents are very friendly! Finding a place is faster than expected!

  “I initially thought it would take a lot of time to find a house as a foreigner, but the real estate agent found one for me in just two weeks!” (British/20s/Female)

  “I found my room through a real estate company; I only commissioned them twice, but each time the attitude was very friendly.” (Slovakian/30s/Female)

  “I commissioned a housing company that understands foreigner needs, and it only took two weeks to sign the contract. The speed is really impressive!” (Malaysian/30s/Female)

  Many foreigners initially thought renting a house in Japan would be difficult, but now there are many real estate companies that cater specifically to foreigners, making the search much less cumbersome. Some can even complete the contract in just two weeks, which is quite fast!

• 5. Rooms with separate bathrooms are fantastic!

  “I love the design of separate bathrooms, and surprisingly they are easy to find!” (British/30s/Female)

  “I only wanted to live in a room with a separate bathroom, and the real estate agent was super helpful in finding one for me.” (Slovakian/30s/Female)

  “A big kitchen and a separate bathroom are my must-haves when looking for housing!” (British/20s/Female)

  Many women pay special attention to separate bathrooms; although rooms in Japan are generally smaller, finding a room with a separate bathroom is actually relatively easy.

• 6. No worries about expenses! Compared to the West, rent is much cheaper!

  “The biggest surprise for me in renting a house in Japan is that the price is very cheap! Even though I’m in the city center, it’s much cheaper than in the UK; this is fantastic!” (British/20s/Female)

  “The rent for the shared space I had in London was more than three times that of Japan.” (British/30s/Female)

  “The room I rent is fully furnished, yet the price is very reasonable, which amazed me.” (American/30s/Male)

  Many foreigners are surprised by the cheap rent in Japan; compared to London, rent in Tokyo is indeed much lower. As for respondents from Southeast Asia, they find Japan's rent somewhat expensive, so feelings can vary by country.

• 7. There are also cases of being rejected for rentals due to being a foreigner...

  “The place I'm living now was initially rejected because I was a foreigner, but thanks to the efforts of the real estate agent, they eventually agreed to let me move in. This was my dream house, and I’m very satisfied living here.” (Slovakian/30s/Female)

  Although more and more foreigners are coming to Japan to work and live, there are still a few people who are not used to foreigners, worrying that communication might be difficult; therefore, there are occasional cases of rejection based on identity. I hope that the environment will be more accommodating for foreigners in the future!

• 8. People from various countries all say: Japanese houses are really too small!

  “The rent and environment are flawless, but the room size is about half that of America, which is really too small!” (American/30s/Male)

  “Houses in Japan are really small, whether apartments or standalone, I find it surprising.” (British/20s/Female)

  “Although I really like where I live now, it really is super small.” (Slovakian/30s/Female)

  “Even though it's close to the city and convenient, the room is really too tight ~” (Malaysian/30s/Female)

  While everyone is satisfied with the living environment in Japan, almost everyone believes that the room space is too small! Japan's land area is smaller, and with many people concentrated in urban areas, houses are generally small as well. Nevertheless, respondents are still very satisfied with the living environment in other aspects!

Summarizing the views of the respondents, although the rooms in Japan are smaller, the surrounding living environment is very quiet, convenient, and reassuring. If given the chance, would you also like to experience living in Japan?