Glossary
Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 間取り (Floor Plan) | The layout of rooms in a residential property. |
| 敷地 (Building Site) | The land or plot on which a property is located. |
| 角部屋 (Corner Room) | A type of apartment or unit in which only one side is adjacent to other units on the same floor. It can also refer to a unit located at the corner of a building structure. |
| 室內洗濯機場 (Hook-up Area for Washing Machine) | An area designated for the placement of an indoor washing machine. |
| 専有面積 (Exclusive Area) | When calculating the size of a property in Japan, only the indoor area is considered, and balconies are not included in the calculation. |
| 賃料 (Rent) | The amount of money a tenant has to pay for renting a property. |
| 敷金 (Rental Deposit) | Typically, when signing a lease agreement, tenants are required to pay a rental deposit equivalent to 1-2 months' rent to the landlord. The deposit serves as a guarantee for rent or for repairing the property to its original condition. Upon termination of the contract, the landlord must return the remaining deposit to the tenant after deducting any repair costs. |
| 礼金 (Gratitude Money) | Originating from a time when it was difficult for many people to find housing after World War II, gratitude money is a way for tenants to express appreciation to landlords for providing accommodation. When entering into a new lease agreement, tenants pay one month's rent as gratitude money to the landlord. Unlike a rental deposit, gratitude money is not refunded to the tenant upon termination of the lease. In recent times, the trend has shifted towards leases that do not include gratitude money, and it is sometimes offered as an incentive to attract new tenants. |
| 管理費 (Management Fee) | The fee charged for managing an apartment building, which covers expenses such as personnel costs for administrators and cleaning fees. The owner is required to pay a certain amount each month. |
| 修繕積立金 (Reserve Fund) | The fund set aside for repairing and maintaining common facilities in a building. The owner is required to contribute to this fund on a monthly basis. The management company uses the funds as needed for long-term repair plans, such as replacing exterior tiles or repairing elevators. |
| 日勤 (Day Guard) | Refers to security personnel on duty during the daytime. Night patrols refer to patrols conducted at night (often including other residential buildings), while resident guards are dedicated security or management personnel available 24 hours specifically for the building in question. |
| PM費 (Property Management Fee) | Fee charged by the property management company. |
Relevant Information
Foreigners can acquire and own real estate in Japan without any restrictions on the number of properties.
Purchasing land or property in Japan does not grant the right to reside in Japan.
Long-term visas for foreigners issued by Japan are categorized as Special Residence (refugees, relatives of Japanese citizens, valid for 6 months to 5 years), Permanent Residence (indefinite stay), and Naturalization.
In general, investing (purchasing property) does not grant a residence visa unless you are employed in Japan, studying in Japan, establishing a company in Japan (with a capital of 5 million or more) and hiring two or more Japanese employees, or marrying a Japanese citizen/permanent resident. Currently, under the current law before the revision, the visa that can be obtained is a short-term stay in Japan for up to 90 days without a specific purpose.
After the 1981 amendment to the law, houses built after 1983 are required to have a seismic resistance of level 7 or higher, while houses built before 1981 are required to have a seismic resistance of level 5 or higher.
In Japan, compulsory insurance includes fire insurance (excluding earthquake insurance).
Banks Offering Loans
| For Taiwanese Passport Holders | Tokyo: Bank of Taiwan, Mega International Commercial Bank, CTBC Bank, Chang Hwa Bank, First Commercial Bank |
| Osaka: Mega International Commercial Bank | |
| For Hong Kong Passport Holders | Bank of China |
Loan Requirements
| Tokyo: Properties with loan amounts of over 20 million yen and a term of up to 30 years |
| Osaka: Properties with a term of up to 30 years and an area of over 50 square meters |
Regarding the carrying of cash: Travelers leaving Japan with more than 10,000 USD or its equivalent in cash must declare it to customs. Failure to declare the excess amount will result in confiscation. False declarations will result in confiscation of the amount exceeding the declared amount.
| Documents Needed for Signing the Contract |
|
| Documents Needed for Completion of the Deal | Identification card, passport, seal, family register transcript (translated and notarized), final payment, and settlement of all expenses. |
| Documents Needed for Loan Application | Tax certificate, income certificate, savings account statement, or real estate as proof of financial capability to be submitted to the bank. |
