Realistically, how long can I expect it to take to find and move in to an apartment after arriving in Japan (Tokyo)?

Hi all.

I’m set to move to Japan in just around a month’s time, and I’m trying to figure out what to do about finding an apartment.

My company is offering to help me look for one, but the ones they’re finding me have very expensive move-in costs and certain conditions that don’t fit my personal situation very well, so I’m weighing up my options and trying to decide whether it’s a better idea to just look for one myself after arriving.

My partner (Japanese, living in Japan currently) has said he thinks that it will be difficult for me to find an apartment on my own, but I know that for most people finding an apartment by themselves is their only option and I wonder if he just thinks this because of all the “rejected for being a foreigner” horror stories you see floating around. Of course, he’d help me with dealing with the real estate agents and any formalities, but I guess what he’s worried about is the lease length, me being a foreigner in general, etc.

I guess what I’m looking for are any timelines from people with experience finding an apartment by themselves, and advice on whether I should just be more firm with my company about what I want and have them help me instead.

Thanks in advance!