This guide covers the best real estate agencies for expats in Tokyo, what they do well, and questions to ask before you commit.
If you’re a foreigner planning to move to Tokyo or already living here, you’ve probably discovered that finding an apartment is more difficult than it should be. A significant number of landlords still refuse to rent to non-Japanese tenants, and even those who accept foreigners often require Japanese-language communication throughout the process. If you don’t speak the language or understand the local rental system, you can waste weeks viewing apartments that were never going to approve your application in the first place.
A real estate agency that specializes in foreign clients can make a significant difference. These agencies know which landlords and management companies actually accept foreigners, they handle communication in English, and they understand the documentation challenges that come with different visa types. Instead of spending weeks chasing listings that were never going to work out, you get access to properties where your application has a real chance.
Foreigner-friendly agencies in Tokyo can vary widely in what they offer. Some focus on luxury apartments in central Tokyo, while others specialize in budget rentals or share houses. Some only handle rentals, while others can help you purchase property. English support ranges from fully bilingual teams to agents who rely on translation apps to get by.
In this guide, we’ll cover the best foreigner-friendly real estate agencies in Tokyo, with details on what each one does well and who they’re best suited for.
Tokyo Portfolio is a real estate platform that helps foreigners find apartments in Tokyo, both for rent and for purchase. The company also runs Japan’s largest English-language real estate YouTube channel with over 130,000 subscribers, where they post video tours of apartments across the city.
The brokerage side of the business operates under Blackship Realty, founded in 2021 by Yasuharu Matsuno and Alex Shapiro. The team is fully bilingual and works with both renters and buyers across Tokyo. While third-party websites often categorize them as a luxury-focused agency, they actually handle properties at various price points, from standard apartments to high-end units in central wards like Minato, Shibuya, and Meguro.
The team members are expats themselves, so they understand the challenges foreign clients face because they’ve been through the process personally. Their agents are known for being responsive and for walking clients through the paperwork and screening process step by step.
Alex Shapiro has been featured in The Japan Times, Business Insider, and on Abroad in Japan, one of the most popular YouTube channels about life in Japan. Tokyo Portfolio has also appeared on HGTV’s House Hunters International.
If you’re new to Tokyo and don’t know where to start, Tokyo Portfolio can help you figure out which neighborhoods fit your budget and lifestyle. They work with clients across different visa types, including students, working professionals, and business owners. For those looking to buy property, they can guide you through the purchase process from initial search to closing, including financing options for foreign buyers.
Plaza Homes has been in the Tokyo real estate market for over 55 years, making them one of the longest-established agencies serving foreign clients. They specialize in expat housing and corporate relocations, with a particular strength in helping executives, diplomats, and families find high-end apartments and houses.
Their bilingual agents provide private viewings by car, which is useful if you’re looking at multiple properties across different neighborhoods in a single day. They also offer relocation support services beyond just finding an apartment, including help with school searches for families with children.
Plaza Homes focuses primarily on upscale properties in central Tokyo areas like Minato, Shibuya, and Hiroo. If you’re on a tighter budget or looking for something outside the premium neighborhoods, they may not be the best fit. But for corporate transferees with housing allowances or families who need larger spaces in desirable school districts, they have deep experience in that segment of the market.
They handle both rentals and sales, and their website features English-language listings you can browse before reaching out.
Real Estate Japan is a listing platform rather than a traditional agency. The site aggregates properties from multiple agencies across Japan, so you can search thousands of rentals and properties for sale in one place. If you want to get a sense of what’s available and at what price points before committing to an agency, this is a good starting point.
The platform covers all of Japan, not just Tokyo, which makes it useful if you’re considering other cities like Osaka, Kyoto, or Fukuoka. Listings include detailed information in English, and you can filter by price, size, location, and whether the property accepts foreigners.
When you inquire about a listing, Real Estate Japan connects you with the agency handling that specific property. The experience from there depends on which agency you end up working with. Some are fully bilingual and experienced with foreign clients, while others may be less equipped to handle English communication.
For renters who want to do their own research before engaging with agents, Real Estate Japan provides a useful overview of the market. For buyers interested in investment properties or vacation homes outside major cities, it’s one of the few English-language platforms with nationwide coverage.
Ken Corporation has operated in Tokyo for over 50 years and maintains relationships with more than 1,600 corporations for employee housing. If your company is relocating you to Tokyo, there’s a reasonable chance they already work with Ken Corporation.
The agency focuses on the higher end of the rental market, with particular strength in serviced apartments and corporate housing. Their properties tend to be in central business districts and upscale residential areas. They offer concierge-style service, including bilingual support throughout the leasing process.
Ken Corporation is less suited for individuals searching on their own or those with modest budgets. Their strength is in handling corporate accounts where the company is footing the bill and expects a certain level of service and property quality. If you’re being relocated by your employer and they’re covering housing costs, ask your HR department if they have a relationship with Ken Corporation.
GaijinPot started as a jobs and classifieds site for foreigners in Japan and has since expanded into apartment listings. The platform is well-known in the expat community, and their apartment search tool connects users with foreigner-friendly properties across Japan.
The service works as a matchmaking platform. You submit your requirements, and their team sends you listings that fit your criteria. They also connect you with partner agencies who handle the actual viewings and contracts. This approach can save time if you’re not sure where to start or don’t want to contact multiple agencies yourself.
GaijinPot covers a wider range of budgets than some of the luxury-focused agencies. They list everything from share houses to standard apartments to higher-end rentals. The platform is particularly popular with English teachers and younger expats who are new to Japan.
One thing to note is that GaijinPot itself doesn’t show properties or negotiate leases. They facilitate introductions to agencies, so your experience will depend on which partner agency handles your search.
Sakura House specializes in share houses, guest houses, and furnished apartments for short to medium-term stays. If you’re coming to Japan for a few months and don’t want to deal with the traditional rental process, Sakura House offers a simpler alternative.
Their properties come fully furnished and don’t require a guarantor, key money, or the typical upfront costs that make Japanese rentals expensive to move into. Leases can be as short as one month, which works well for students, interns, working holiday visa holders, or anyone who needs flexibility.
The trade-off is that you’re not getting your own apartment in the traditional sense. Share houses mean shared kitchens and bathrooms with other residents, though private rooms are available. Their furnished apartments offer more privacy but come at a higher monthly cost.
Sakura House has properties across Tokyo as well as in Kyoto. For people who need a landing pad while they search for a permanent apartment, or those who prefer the social aspect of share house living, it’s a practical option that sidesteps many of the barriers foreigners face in the regular rental market.
Apts.jp focuses specifically on helping foreigners rent apartments in Tokyo. The agency is smaller than some of the others on this list but has built a solid reputation for personalized service and English-language support.
They work primarily with rentals rather than property purchases, and they cover a range of budgets from affordable apartments in residential neighborhoods to more upscale options in central Tokyo. Their website lets you search listings directly and includes helpful guides about the rental process in Japan.
Apts.jp is particularly useful for people who want more hands-on guidance through the application process. They help with document preparation, communicate with landlords and management companies on your behalf, and explain each step along the way. For first-time renters in Japan who feel overwhelmed by the system, this level of support can make a real difference.
The best agency for you depends on your specific situation. A corporate transferee with a generous housing allowance has different needs than a student on a tight budget or a freelancer with non-traditional income documentation.
Start by considering your budget. If you’re looking for apartments under ¥100,000 per month, agencies that focus on luxury properties in central Tokyo won’t have much to offer you. Platforms like GaijinPot or smaller agencies like Apts.jp tend to have more options at lower price points. If budget isn’t a constraint and you want a high-end apartment in Minato or Shibuya, agencies like Tokyo Portfolio, Plaza Homes, or Ken Corporation will have deeper inventory in that segment.
Your timeline matters too. If you need a place within a few weeks, you want an agency known for fast response times and efficient processes. If you’re planning months ahead, you have more flexibility to be selective. Agencies with larger teams can typically move faster because they have more agents available to show properties and process applications.
Think about what level of support you need. Some people want an agent who will walk them through every step, explain each document, and handle all communication with landlords. Others prefer to do their own research and just need help with the final transaction. Agencies vary in how hands-on they are, so match your expectations to their service style.
If you’re buying property rather than renting, make sure the agency has actual experience with foreign buyers. The purchase process involves different legal requirements, financing challenges, and tax implications. An agency that primarily handles rentals may not have the expertise to guide you through a property purchase.
Watch out for these warning signs when evaluating agencies:
A good agency should be transparent about costs and realistic about your chances of approval for specific properties. If something feels off, trust your instincts and look elsewhere.
Before you start working with a real estate agency, get clarity on a few things upfront.
About fees:
About the process:
About communication:
About experience:
If you have specific requirements like pets, musical instruments, home businesses, or an unusual visa situation, mention them early. A good agency will tell you upfront if your requirements limit your options rather than wasting your time on properties that won’t work out.
The Tokyo rental market can be frustrating for foreigners, but working with the right agency makes the process significantly easier. The agencies listed here all have experience helping foreign clients, but they serve different segments of the market and offer different levels of support.
Take the time to research which agency fits your situation before you start viewing apartments. A mismatch between your needs and an agency’s strengths can waste weeks of your time. The right agency will understand your budget, your visa situation, and your timeline, and they’ll focus your search on properties where you have a realistic chance of approval.
If you’re not sure where to start, reach out to a few agencies and see how they respond. The quality of their initial communication often reflects the level of service you’ll receive throughout the process.
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