Hi everyone,
I’ll be moving to Tokyo next week from Pakistan. For context, I’m a 26-year-old single guy, and my office is located in Midtown Tower (Akasaka, Minato).
My rental budget is up to 110,000 yen per month, inclusive of all costs (maintenance fees, etc.). I'm comfortable with a 10-minute walk to the nearest station and up to one train transfer during my commute. Ideally, I’d like to keep my total commute time under 50 minutes.
In terms of apartment preferences, I’m looking for something at least 30 m² in size. I’m open to 1K, 1R, 1DK, or 1LDK layouts.
While my company has assigned me a real estate agent, I'm facing some challenges. So far, all the properties he has shared are either above 110K or smaller than 25 m². He is insisting that it’s "impossible" to meet my requirements without increasing my budget. He’s also pressuring me to decide quickly, mentioning that it's a busy season and listings go fast.
I wanted to ask the community:
- Is his feedback accurate? Should I realistically consider raising my budget?
- Are there any websites or platforms you recommend for English-friendly apartment hunting? (For context, I don't speak Japanese yet, but I’m enrolled in a 4-month Berlitz course.)
I plan to stay in Japan for at least five years and have the relevant visa.
Any advice, tips, or experiences would be highly appreciated! Thank you so much in advance.
by Paki_Gaijin