How to Pay the Rent in Japan | Quick and Easy!

Paying the rent is not anyone’s favorite thing to do. There are various ways you can choose to pay the rent in Japan but they could be stressful because of the language barrier. To avoid being lost when picking a payment method, knowing the options and their pros and cons will help you figure out which way suits your style.

1.Bank Transfer

Most people would like to go for the bank transfer because of their daily busy schedule. They also want to avoid rushing to the convenience store before the payment due date.

But there are advantages and disadvantages to choosing this option. To make the payment you need to have a Japanese bank account.

The payment via bank transfer is called 口座振込 (kouza furikomi) in Japanese. To set up these transactions you need to set up a bank account with internet banking. 

For those who are planning to start a new life in Japan, keep in mind that Japanese bank employees don’t have English Customer service. For a safe and smooth service, you better find someone who can help to translate. Following are the pros and cons of having a Bank transfer payment for rent.

2. Automatic withdrawal

Automatic withdrawal systems will be always easy and a time saver. No need to worry about the deadline or the due date. But you have to ensure that you will have enough credit balance to set up this system.

3. Convenience store

     The most effortless payment for the rent is paying at the convenience store. You just have to carry your bill to the nearest convenience store counter and you are all set for the month. 

4.Credit Card

     This process is quite similar to automatic withdrawal. Some apartment owners started to accept credit cards also. If you are holding popular credit cards like Visa, Mastercard etc there won’t be much trouble to pay the bill every month. However, since Japan is still a cash society, some apartments don’t accept credit cards. Thus, ask your agent whether it’s possible or not.

5. Direct payment at the store

 This option would be recommended only if you miss the payment before the due date. The convenience store’s bar code reader won’t accept the receipt when your credit limit is over or the payment is declined by the credit card company. You better contact the customer care support or visit personally to their office.

What if I cannot pay bills

   If you are planning to move to Japan for the long term of course you need to rent an apartment or house. Like every other country, paying rent on time is very important.

The most important thing you should keep in your mind is the language barrier and communicating with the apartment managers or landlords. it’s going to be a real challenge for your life. To avoid those kinds of dramatic situations, it would be better to pay it on time and follow the rules.

If you miss paying one monthyou may contact the apartment manager or landlord directly and ask if they have a partial payment option or not. Most of the time the landlord asks for a Japanese guarantor to avoid those kinds of situations. 

If you miss paying multiple timesbecause of your financial crisis then you are in trouble, like in every other country. The landlord or the property manager may put a notice on your door to vacate the house with immediate effect. Those are the worst scenarios. 

Don’t forget to pay the rent in Japan

There are several ways to pay the rent in Japan and the most recommended way is to use automatic withdrawal because it allows you not to worry about the monthly payment. 

When you cannot pay the rent, not only will you put your guarantor in trouble, but you would be kicked out of the apartment in the worst case. Thus, a proper financial plan is essential when renting an apartment in Japan.