For those already living in Japan, as well as those planning to move to the Land of the Rising Sun, finding a comfortable, affordable and conveniently located place to live can be difficult. Language barriers and cultural differences can often make the task arduous and frustrating. Fortunately, Daito Kentaku Leasing Co.’s e-heya.net service is ready to help make the process of finding a place to live as easy and painless as possible.

International Osaka Office has launched

On May 1, Daito Kentaku Leasing Co., with a history dating back nearly five decades, opened a branch office in Osaka. This is their second branch office that is dedicated to helping foreign customers. Set up to assist foreign people in the Kansai region, the new branch follows the opening of their first International Office that opened in June 2021 in Okubo, Tokyo. The E-heya International Osaka Office is located in the center of Umeda, along Mizdosuji Avenue, next to the Tsuyu no Tenjinjya Shrine, commonly known as Ohatsu Tenjin.

Multilingual support in 6 languages

E-heya offers support exclusively to foreign apartment seekers in six languages: English, Mandarin, Korean and Portuguese in person at the shop, as well as Spanish and Vietnamese via online support.

Support is not just verbal, e-heya.net provides multilingual documentation to help foreign residents better understand apartment rules and present information on electricity, gas and water.

With 240 offices spread throughout Japan’s 47 prefectures — all of which provide interpretation support in all six languages — e-heya.net can help in finding an apartment virtually anywhere in Japan, allowing foreign people to enjoy living comfortably. E-heya.net works diligently to satisfy customers’ needs, with apartments ranging from studios and middle-level apartments (one room with a living room, dining room and kitchen) to larger places with a number of separate bedrooms suitable for those with families.

Japan’s No. 1 agent for rental properties for 12 years

Named the nation’s “No. 1 Real Estate Agent for Rental Properties” by the Weekly National Housing Newspaper (Shukan Zenkoku Chintai Jutaku Shinbun in Japanese), for 12 consecutive years, the company has earned a well-deserved reputation for excellence. With over 1 million properties under management, e-heya.net can help anyone from students to professionals find properties that meet a variety of criteria, including those with elevators, secure entryways and even pet-friendly flats.

No co-signers required

Another major hurdle and potential headache for foreigners trying to rent an apartment in Japan is that many landlords require renters to have a guarantor, or co-signer (hoshonin in Japanese). A guarantor acts as an insurance policy, agreeing to pay for missed rent or damage to the property if a renter is unable to pay or the contract is terminated early, such as when a renter leaves the country. Due to the huge financial burden asked of guarantors, even Japanese people have trouble securing one, and it can be very difficult for a foreigner to find someone qualified — usually a Japanese national — and willing to take on the responsibility. Fortunately, most of e-heya.net’s properties do not require renters to secure a guarantor to get an apartment, eliminating one of the more difficult aspects of finding a place to live in this country.

Generous after services

Supporting new renters beyond just finding rental apartments, e-heya.net provides a number of services to make foreigners’ stay in Japan — whether long- or short-term — easier and more convenient. The company can assist renters with setting up internet connections, finding cleaning and moving services and helping to set up utilities such as electricity, water and gas. The company is also able to accept e-payments, making rent payments much more convenient.

Purchasing appliances in Japan can be a costly undertaking and disposing of them when leaving the country can be an expensive and somewhat complicated due to various recycling rules and regulations. To help people with this aspect of the moving process, the company offers rental packages that give tenants the ability to rent a variety of things such as furniture, home appliances and home electronics. Additionally, e-heya.net can recommend cleaning and moving services to help renters when they are moving in or out of an apartment.

For most renters, dealings with the real estate agency end when they take possession of the keys. However, this is not the case with e-heya.net as they provide after-care services for the properties that they manage. They will help tenants with issues such as water leaks, lost keys and problems with basic equipment.

Although a major selling point of the company is support in six languages, they also understand the importance of finding more properties that are foreigner-friendly. In this regard, they are working diligently to expand their partnerships with owners and management that are open to renting to foreigners.

e-heya.net International Office in Tokyo

For those living in Japan and considering a move to those thinking of coming to Japan for work or education, there is no better real estate agency than the international office of e-heya.net. With the main office conveniently located in Shinjuku Ward, the company’s agents are available for telephone, video or in-person consultations. Their website explains how to find apartments and has real estate information in 6 languages, and allows people to view properties and sign rental agreements virtually (app required). With a huge number of properties located throughout Japan’s archipelago, multilingual service, rental packages for furniture and appliances, as well as unparalleled after-care services, e-heya.net is here to help foreign renters find a place to call home while pursuing their dreams of living in Japan.

Multilingual e-heya.net website: https://www.eheya.net/en/index.html

Shop Information

E-heya.net International Office

Address: 2F, San-shin Bldg. 1-14-15 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0072
Access: Located above the au Shop: 5-minute walk from Shin-Okubo Station on JR Yamanote Line.
Business Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Day: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, The Golden Week (early May), summer and winter holidays
Tool-free telephone: 0800-919-4954
Email: international@kentaku.co.jp

E-heya.net International Osaka Office

Address: Umeda Pacific Bldg 102, 2-5-10 Sonezaki, Kita-ku, Osaka 530-0057
Access: Located next to Ohatsu Tenjin. 8-minute walk from JR Osaka station. 3-minute walk from Higashi-Umeda Station.
Business Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Closed Day: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, The Golden Week (early May), summer and winter holidays
Tool-free telephone: 0800-222-8266
Email: internationalosaka@kentaku.co.jp

E-heya International Office and International Osaka Office website
https://www.eheya.net/en/office/tokyo/international/index.html