- Frequently asked questions

Sakura House is a real estate agency in Tokyo, providing monthly guest house, apartment and dormitory accommodations exclusively for foreigners.

Since 1992, we have expanded beyond the capital to Saitama and Kanagawa Prefectures, more than 1,800 rooms in over 210 locations.

Usually you need a large deposit (or key money, "shikikin" in Japanese) that is equivalent to 1 ~ 2 months’ rent (partially refundable), gift money to the landlord (or "reikin" in Japanese, 1 ~ 2 month's rent, not refundable) and commission (1-month rent, not refundable) to rent a room in Japan.

Along with the first month's rent, you may need to prepare an amount that could be reaching up to 6 months’ rent, which is thousands of dollars. Moreover, these apartments are not furnished, so you have to buy your own furniture and pay the utilities on your own (usually another 10,000 - 15,000 Yen/month).

But with Sakura House, you only have to prepare 30,000 Yen deposit and the first month's rent. Rooms are furnished and utilities are already included in the rent, so you don't have all the hassles of apply the services in Japanese.

Additionally, you don't have to look for a guarantor or a co-signer, which usually has to be a Japanese national with steady income.

Our office is in Shinjuku, Tokyo.
Please visit our office page for the detailed location and office hours.

No problem. Members of Sakura House staff have experiences of living abroad and are bilingual. You are always welcomed in English. We also have French, Korean, Chinese, and Spanish-speaking staff.

What are the differences between a guest house / an apartment / a dormitory?

Guest house is a partially shared accommodation. You will have your private bedroom (the door can be locked) while the kitchen, toilet, bathroom and living room will be shared. It is like sharing an apartment with other people. > More details

Needless to say, you will have all your dedicated facilities in an apartment. We have a wide range of selections from 1-room studio type to 3DK, ideal for small groups or families. > More details

In a dormitory, the bedroom as well as other facilities are shared. There are several bunk beds in a large room and you will stay with other people. > More details

Of course, monthly rent for an apartment is higher than that of a guest house and dormitories are the most affordable. Whatever your budget is, you could always find your suitable accommodation.

Are the rooms furnished?

Yes. There's either a bed or a Futon set (Japanese- style bedding) with clean linens (e.g. bed cover, sheets, etc.), basic furniture (e.g. bookshelf, desk, chair, trash can, mirror, etc., may differ from room to room) and dishes. You could pop in with a suitcase and kick-off your life in Tokyo immediately.

Are air conditioners equipped?

Yes, each room has an air conditioner. In guest houses, the living room is air-conditioned as well. You can stay comfortably at all year round.

What is included in the rent?

Utility expenses like electricity, water & gas supply are included. Internet connection is also provided without any additional cost. You don't have to go through all the troublesome procedures to apply for these services.

How about telephone?

Sorry, fixed telephone line is not included. Some guest house may have pay phones in the common area, but it would cost you certain amount for every call. Some rooms have a phone line jack, so it is possible to make your own contract with a service provider. But we find that most of our residents prefer the more versatile mobile phone for their communication needs.

I would like to know more about the reservation procedures.

Our procedures are very simple. Please refer to our system page.

Is it possible to reserve a room overseas?

You could check the availabilities on this website or simply contact us by phone. After confirming the vacancies, you could reserve the room by completing the deposit agreement and tranfer 30,000 Yen by wire or credit card. You don't have to pay the first month's rent at this moment. Please contact us for further payment information. (Please be reminded that any room or bed cannot be reserved without the deposit)

I’m planning to go to Tokyo in 6 months. Can I reserve a room now?

Yes, you can place a Quick Reservation (deposit first and select your room later) in order to secure a room. > More details

How long is the minimum rental term?

Our minimum rental term is just 1 month. If you will not stay that long, then we would like to recommend SAKURA HOTELS & HOSTEL that start from 3,600 Yen per night, located in downtown Tokyo.

I would like to take a look at the room. Can you arrange for me?

Of course, we would like you to take a look first. Please contact us to make an arrangement. You do not have to come over to our office; we can meet each other at the nearest station. If it is not available, you could visit our website or come to our office to check out the photos and video.

What else do I have to pay?

We only require a 30,000 Yen deposit for each person, which is partially refundable (up to 20,000 Yen). There is no need for you to pay reikin, shikikin, comission and other miscellaneous fees.

Do I need a guarantor?

No. We might ask for your parent's or relative's address if you don't have a permanent one in your country, plus the name of a person or a group that we can contact in case of emergency (both in Japan and your country). But we don't require a guarantor who have to guarantee you totally.

I want to share a guest house room with somebody, can you arrange that?

We have another type of rooms called "Shared Rooms" which are guest house rooms shared by 2 to 3 people. In other rooms, you will have to find your roommate on your own. If your budget is lower, you can choose a dormitory where you will be sharing a room with 4 to 6 people.

I am under 20 years old. Can I reserve a room?

No problem. But if you are under 20 years old, we would like to ask for your parents or guarantor’s written consent.

I am Japanese. Can I reserve a room?

Sorry, Sakura House is an agent exclusively for foreign passport holders.

What if I cancel my reservation?

We are very sorry but your deposit will not be refunded in that case.

After I paid the deposit, can I transfer my reservation to another room?

Again, we are very sorry that your reservation could not be transferred to another room.

But in order to protect your benefits, we have a Quick Reservation system which you could move to another room from the 2nd month onwards, without any extra cost. Please click the link above for all the advantages.

Where should I pick up my keys on the move-in day?

Please visit our Shinjuku office on the move-in day and your keys could be collected after signing the agreement.

I will arrive in Narita Airport at 5:00pm. Can I come to your office on the same day?

Because it would take around 2 hours to get to Shinjuku from Narita Airport, therefore if your flight will arrive before 5:00pm, then please come to our office on the same day.

If the arrival time is between 5:00pm and 6:00pm, then we suggest giving us a call (03-5330-5250) to see whether you could still make it to Shinjuku before we close for the day.

But if your flight will only arrive after 6:00pm, then we would like to recommend you not to hurry to our office with all your baggage, because it would not be an easy ride especially during rush hours. Instead please spend the first night in a hotel (or possibly best at Sakura Hotels), relax and come again on the next day.

What kind of documents do I need to sign the Lease Agreement?

Please bring the following with you when you come to our office:



We will make a copy of your passport and visa for filing purposes only. Please understand that, nobody would like to share a house with others who can't identify themselves. Please rest assured that we will never disclose your personal information to any 3rd party. Sakura house reserves the right to refuse reservations from individuals whom we consider not suitable.

There will be 2 of us. Is it possible to have an extra bed?

Depending on the size of the room, an extra bed could be installed upon your request. But under most circumstances, we recommend "Futon" sets (Japanese matress) that could be tuck away easily, which is versatile and efficient.

When will be your monthly cut-off date? When should I pay my rent for next month?

Your monthly cut-off date will be exactly 1 month from the day where you signed the lease agreement, inclusively. For example, if you sign the agreement on 15th January:

The TV / fridge / air-conditioner is not working properly...

Please contact us by email or call us.

What is "Sakura Event"?

We occasionally organize events and parties to provide our residents with opportunities to meet people from other houses.

During these events, you could also experience traditional Japanese culture and make friends from all over the world at the same time.
> Check out our event calender

Do I need to inform Sakura House before I leave? What exactly does the "3-week Move-out Notice" mean?

Before you move out of your room, please let us know at least 3 weeks in advance by completing the notification and bringing it to our Shinjuku office in person. Then we will calculate the remaining rent and arrange the move-out inspection beforehand.

Please be reminded that if we are informed about your check-out less than 3 weeks ahead, we are afraid that a 3-week rent will still be imposed from the day you inform us. Therefore please bring the move-out notification to us at your earliest convenience.

I am going to move out in the middle of a month, but do I still have to pay for the whole month?

Provided that we are informed at least 3 weeks ahead, we will calculate your daily rent and multiply it by the days you will stay before moving out. Therefore please confirm your exact move-out date so that we could calculate accurately.

What is "Move-out Inspection"? Is there anything I need to do beforehand?

On your move-out day, our staff will come to your room and check its condition together with you. If everthing is fine, then all the move-out procedures will be complete.

Before we arrive, please pack up your belongings, take out the garbage, vacuum the floor, wash and dry the sheets, etc. Details please refer to the documents you receive when you sign the Lease Agreement.

How much deposit will be refunded to me when I move out?

Under normal circumstances, 10,000 Yen of your deposit will be deducted for routine care and maintaince. The remaining amount of 20,000 Yen maximum will be refunded to you upon completing the normal check-out procedures.

But if the room has not been cleaned before our inspection, e.g. unwashed sheets, wear-and-tear due to improper use, etc., then we are sorry that a corresponding amount will be further deducted from the refund. Therefore please help us to tidy up your room ahead.

Can I reserve a specific timeslot for the check-out inspection?

Yes. Our inspection is available between 10:00am and 5:00pm everyday (except year-end and New Year holidays), please indicate your desired check-out time on the 3-week move-out notice.

Please also confirm your flight's departure time once again. Because Narita Airport is quite far away from downtown Tokyo, therefore if your flight back home is in the morning, we are afraid that it will be very difficult to catch if you check out on that day. Instead we suggest you to check-out 1 day before and spend the night in a hotel (again we recommend Sakura Hotels). This way you don't need to worry about being late and your journey would surely be a pleasant one.

Can I enter my room again after check-out?

We will collect all the keys to your room during the check-out procedure and we are sorry that you could not enter again.