HiroshimaHub resident guide
How to rent an apartment in Hiroshima
A practical guide to initial fees, guarantor companies, documents, contract keywords and trust checks before signing.
Typical upfront cost items
- Rent: 家賃
- Management/common fee: 管理費 / 共益費
- Deposit: 敷金
- Key money: 礼金
- Agency fee: 仲介手数料
- Guarantor company fee: 保証会社 / 保証料
- Fire insurance: 火災保険
- Lock change or cleaning: 鍵交換 / クリーニング費
Before paying
Do not transfer money based only on chat messages. Confirm the agency name, license/registration if applicable, physical office, contract, cancellation rules, move-in condition checklist and receipt method.
Documents often requested
| Document | Why | Japanese |
|---|---|---|
| Residence Card | Identity and residence status. | 在留カード |
| Resident record | May be requested after address registration or for certain contracts. | 住民票 |
| Income / employment / school proof | Screening and guarantor company review. | 在職証明, 収入証明, 在学証明 |
| Emergency contact | Contact person in Japan or overseas, depending on landlord. | 緊急連絡先 |
| Bank account | Rent payment or automatic withdrawal. | 銀行口座, 口座振替 |
Guarantor company basics
Many rentals use a guarantor company instead of a personal guarantor. Ask what the first-year fee is, whether renewal fees apply, what happens if rent is late, and whether the guarantor company has English/Chinese support.
Red flags
- No written cost breakdown before payment.
- Pressure to pay immediately before seeing contract terms.
- Unclear move-out cleaning, renewal or cancellation costs.
- No explanation of whether pets, guests, subletting or business use are allowed.
- Service provider cannot explain whether they are verified, paid, sponsored or just introducing a third party.
Official checks
Use HiroshimaHub for plain-language planning, then confirm current rules, forms, offices and deadlines on official pages before submitting documents or making payments.
Last updated: June 14, 2026