Skip to content
Phrases to use when talking to a real estate agent in Japanese visualisation

Phrases to use when talking to a real estate agent in Japanese

Navigate the Market: Real Estate and Housing Vocabulary in Japanese: Phrases to use when talking to a real estate agent in Japanese
Learn with Comprenders App Join Telegram Courses About Comprenders

Here are useful Japanese phrases to use when talking to a real estate agent. They cover the most common points in apartment viewings and sharehouse inquiries: move-in dates, roommates, rent, utilities, house rules, and how to confirm the next step politely.

Basic phrases for apartment and sharehouse questions

  • いつから入居可能ですか？
    Itsu kara nyūkyo kanō desu ka?
    When can I move in?

  • ルームメイトは誰ですか？彼らの性別と大体の年齢、国籍を知りたいです。
    Rūmumeito wa dare desu ka? Karera no seibetsu to daitai no nenrei, kokuseki o shiritai desu.
    Who will be my roommates? I would like to know their sex, approximate ages, and nationality.

  • 私は日本語を勉強中なので、英語が喋れない人とのシェアを好みます。
    Watashi wa nihongo o benkyō-chū nanode, eigo ga shaberenai hito to no shea o konomimasu.
    I’m studying Japanese, so I prefer to share with non-English-speaking people.

  • 学校まで電車で何線でどれくらいかかるか教えて頂けますか？
    Gakkō made densha de nani-sen de dore kurai ka kakaru ka oshiete itadakemasu ka?
    Could you tell me what train line to take to my school, and how long it takes?

These phrases are especially practical because housing conversations in Japan often move quickly from the room itself to transport, shared facilities, and payment conditions. In a short viewing, a learner usually needs to ask about several concrete details in a row rather than one isolated question.

Money, deposits, and rent

  • 礼金、敷金はいくらですか？
    Reikin, shikikin wa ikura desu ka?
    How much are the deposits?

  • 家賃はいつ、どのように払いますか？クレジットでの支払いも可能ですか？
    Yachin wa itsu, dono yō ni haraimasu ka? Kurejitto de no shiharai mo kanō desu ka?
    When and how should I pay the rent? Can I pay it by credit card?

  • 初期費用は全部でいくらになりますか？
    Shoki hiyō wa zenbu de ikura ni narimasu ka?
    How much will the total move-in cost be?

  • 管理費や共益費は家賃に含まれていますか？
    Kanrihi ya kyōekihi wa yachin ni fukumarete imasu ka?
    Are management fees or common-area fees included in the rent?

  • 更新料はありますか？
    Kōshinryō wa arimasu ka?
    Is there a renewal fee?

In Japan, housing costs can include several separate items, so it helps to ask for the full amount rather than only the listed rent. 礼金 is a non-refundable “key money” payment, while 敷金 is usually a deposit that may be partly returned after move-out, depending on damage and contract terms.

Room, facilities, and shared items

  • 収納スペースは、どれくらいありますか？
    Shūnō supēsu wa, dore kurai arimasu ka?
    How much storage space is available?

  • 洗濯機と乾燥機は一回いくらですか？それらは、シェアハウスの中にありますか？
    Sentakki to kansōki wa ikkai ikura desu ka? Sorera wa, sheahausu no naka ni arimasu ka?
    How much are the washing machine and dryer? Are they in the sharehouse?

  • 食器や料理器具は揃っていますか？
    Shokki ya ryōri kigu wa sorotte imasu ka?
    Are there any plates and appliances that I can use?

  • エアコンは各部屋にありますか？
    Eakon wa kaku heya ni arimasu ka?
    Is there air conditioning in each room?

  • インターネットは料金に含まれていますか？
    Intānetto wa ryōkin ni fukumarete imasu ka?
    Is internet included in the price?

For a sharehouse, these questions matter because the room may be small and some essentials may be shared rather than private. Asking about appliances, storage, and internet avoids surprises after move-in.

Rules, roommates, and daily life

  • 何か特別なルールはありますか？
    Nani ka tokubetsu-na rūru wa arimasu ka?
    Are there any specific rules?

  • 門限はありますか？
    Mongen wa arimasu ka?
    Is there a curfew?

  • 騒音に関するルールはありますか？
    Sōon ni kansuru rūru wa arimasu ka?
    Are there rules about noise?

  • ゴミはいつ出せますか？
    Gomi wa itsu dasemasu ka?
    When can I take out the trash?

  • 共有スペースはどのように使えばいいですか？
    Kyōyū supēsu wa dono yō ni tsukaeba ii desu ka?
    How should the shared spaces be used?

These are practical, everyday questions, and they are worth asking even in small properties. Many sharehouses and apartments have rules about nighttime noise, trash separation, shoe storage, or kitchen use.

Move-in and key handover

  • それでは、８月１日から入居しても大丈夫ですか？良かったら引越の時間は、何時がいいですか？どのように鍵を受け取りましょうか？
    Sore de wa, hachi-gatsu tsuitachi kara nyūkyo shite mo daijōbu desu ka? Yokattara, hikkoshi no jikan wa, nan-ji ga ī desu ka? Dono yō ni kagi o uketorimashō ka?
    Could I move into the house on August 1st? If so, what time should I move in? How can I get the key?

  • 契約書はいつ読めますか？
    Keiyakusho wa itsu yomenmasu ka?
    When can I read the contract?

  • 入居前に必要な書類はありますか？
    Nyūkyo mae ni hitsuyō na shorui wa arimasu ka?
    Are there any documents needed before move-in?

  • もし問題があった場合、どこに連絡すればいいですか？
    Moshi mondai ga atta baai, doko ni renraku sureba ii desu ka?
    If there is a problem, who should be contacted?

In Japanese housing situations, the move-in schedule often depends on contract signing, key pickup, and whether cleaning or preparation has been completed. Asking these points together makes the process clearer and reduces last-minute confusion.

Polite closing phrases

  • 今日は、部屋を見せて頂きありがとうございました。
    Kyō wa, heya o misete itadaki arigatō gozaimashita.
    Thank you for showing me your room today.

  • 明日までに、入居するかを決めてメールでご連絡します。
    Ashita made ni, nyūkyo suru ka o kimete mēru de go-renraku shimasu.
    I will decide whether I move in or not by tomorrow and let you know by email.

  • いろいろ教えて頂き、ありがとうございました。
    Iroiro oshiete itadaki, arigatō gozaimashita.
    Thank you for explaining everything.

  • よろしくお願いいたします。
    Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
    I look forward to working with you.

These closing expressions are useful because real estate conversations in Japanese usually end with polite, forward-looking language. A simple thank-you plus a clear promise to follow up sounds natural and professional.

Useful pronunciation and usage notes

Japanese real estate vocabulary is full of words that learners often see in contracts and listings before they hear them in speech.

  • 入居 means “move in” or “take occupancy.”
  • 家賃 means “rent.”
  • 敷金 is a deposit.
  • 礼金 is key money, usually non-refundable.
  • 共益費 and 管理費 are extra monthly fees that may be separate from the rent.
  • 門限 is a curfew.
  • 収納 refers to storage.

A useful speaking habit is to keep the sentence short and focused on one point: 金額, 時期, ルール, or 設備. For example, asking 家賃はいつ、どのように払いますか？ is easier to process than a longer sentence with several unrelated questions.

Common mistakes to avoid

A common mistake is translating English too literally and using a sentence that sounds too direct. In Japanese housing conversations, polite forms such as 〜ですか, 〜頂けますか, and 〜お願いいたします fit much better than blunt commands.

Another common issue is asking about “deposits” as one general idea in English. In Japanese housing, 敷金 and 礼金 are different, so it is worth naming both separately.

A third pitfall is forgetting that some properties are fully furnished while others are almost empty. Questions about 食器, 洗濯機, 乾燥機, インターネット, and 収納スペース help reveal what is actually included.

Quick reference: the most useful phrases

  • いつから入居可能ですか？
  • 礼金、敷金はいくらですか？
  • 家賃はいつ、どのように払いますか？
  • 何か特別なルールはありますか？
  • 門限はありますか？
  • 食器や料理器具は揃っていますか？
  • 今日は、部屋を見せて頂きありがとうございました。
  • 明日までに、入居するかを決めてメールでご連絡します。

These are the highest-value phrases for a first apartment viewing because they cover timing, cost, rules, equipment, and follow-up in a polite, natural way.

References