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How do you start looking for accommodation if you are staying in Japan more than 3 months? - @SherryNY

Hey buddy, your question鈥檚 a bit unclear. Your title says buying property, but in the actual message, it sounds more like you鈥檙e asking about renting鈥攅specially if you鈥檙e staying for more than three months.

Luckily, we live in the age of the internet and AI magic (shoutout to my favorite, ChatGPT鈥攁hem ahem鈥攍ol), so finding a place has never been easier. Just look up fud艒san (real estate agencies), and you鈥檒l find plenty of options.

Back in the day, renting in Japan was a hassle鈥攜ou needed key money (which is basically a donation to the landlord), a guarantor, and a whole lot of patience. But now, it鈥檚 much simpler. Instead of a guarantor, you can just buy rental insurance. As long as you have a valid visa, you can rent an apartment. Typically, leases run for two years, but if you鈥檙e here for a shorter stay, places like Leo Palace offer furnished rooms for flexible durations. They鈥檙e a bit pricier than standard apartments but still way cheaper than hotels.

Now, if you鈥檙e actually looking to buy property, that鈥檚 a different story. You鈥檒l usually need eij奴ken (permanent residency) to qualify for a mortgage, plus a stable income history from the past few years.

So, which one were you actually interested in鈥攔enting or buying?