Move-in cash calculator
Japanese rentals want a big lump sum before you get the keys. Enter the monthly rent to estimate the up-front cash.
- Deposit (shikikin, ~1 mo)
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- Key money (reikin)
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- Agency fee (~1 mo + tax)
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- Guarantor company (~0.5 mo)
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- First month rent
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- Fire insurance + lock change
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- Up-front cash needed Path2Japan estimate
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Next steps
Estimate — move-in costs vary a lot by property (some have zero key money, some add cleaning or support fees). Ask the agent for the shoki-hiyou (初期費用) breakdown before you commit.
Up-front cash to rent, by city
Renting a typical one-room, the cash you need up front runs from about ¥178,000 in Gifu to ¥592,000 in Tokyo — roughly four to five months of rent, assuming one month of key money.
| City | Typical 1R rent | Move-in cash (1mo key money) |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | ¥80,000 – ¥120,000 | ¥408,000 – ¥592,000 |
| Yokohama | ¥60,000 – ¥85,000 | ¥316,000 – ¥431,000 |
| Osaka | ¥55,000 – ¥80,000 | ¥293,000 – ¥408,000 |
| Nagoya | ¥50,000 – ¥75,000 | ¥270,000 – ¥385,000 |
| Saitama | ¥55,000 – ¥70,000 | ¥293,000 – ¥362,000 |
| Chiba | ¥55,000 – ¥70,000 | ¥293,000 – ¥362,000 |
| Kyoto | ¥50,000 – ¥75,000 | ¥270,000 – ¥385,000 |
| Kobe | ¥50,000 – ¥70,000 | ¥270,000 – ¥362,000 |
| Fukuoka | ¥45,000 – ¥65,000 | ¥247,000 – ¥339,000 |
| Sapporo | ¥35,000 – ¥55,000 | ¥201,000 – ¥293,000 |
| Hamamatsu | ¥35,000 – ¥50,000 | ¥201,000 – ¥270,000 |
| Tsukuba | ¥42,000 – ¥58,000 | ¥233,000 – ¥307,000 |
| Takasaki | ¥38,000 – ¥55,000 | ¥215,000 – ¥293,000 |
| Gifu | ¥30,000 – ¥45,000 | ¥178,000 – ¥247,000 |
| Yokkaichi | ¥40,000 – ¥56,000 | ¥224,000 – ¥298,000 |
| Hiroshima | ¥40,000 – ¥60,000 | ¥224,000 – ¥316,000 |
| Utsunomiya | ¥38,000 – ¥55,000 | ¥215,000 – ¥293,000 |
How this works: from the monthly rent you enter, we add the standard Japanese move-in items — deposit (shikikin), key money (reikin), the agency fee, guarantor-company fee, first month’s rent and insurance — to estimate the cash you need up front. It typically comes to four to six months of rent.
Move-in cost in Japan — common questions
How much cash do I need to rent an apartment in Japan?
Plan for roughly four to six months of rent up front. On top of the first month, you usually pay a deposit, key money, an agency fee and a guarantor-company fee. Enter your rent above to see the breakdown.
What is key money (reikin), and can I avoid it?
Key money is a non-refundable gift to the landlord, often one to two months’ rent. Many newer or foreigner-friendly listings now charge zero key money — set key money to zero in the tool to see the difference.
What do I get back when I leave?
The deposit (shikikin) is partly refundable, minus cleaning and any repairs; key money and fees are not returned. Budget as if only part of the deposit comes back.