Housing and Garbage

Looking for an Apartment or House

Apartment/house rental practices in Japan are considerably different from those in most other countries, so research thoroughly when selecting a place to live. If you cannot speak or read Japanese well, then bring a Japanese speaker along when searching for an apartment, preferably an impartial and trustworthy person who can explain the terms of housing contracts clearly as well as convey your thoughts and questions to real estate agents (fudōsan 不動産).Be aware that some rental agencies will refuse to rent to foreigners, especially those who do not speak Japanese.

• Price (In Urasoe City ¥40,000 to ¥60,000 a month is average for a 1-2 person apartment.)
• Access to transportation, shopping, banks, workplace.
• Western flooring or Japanese-style straw tatami matting.
• Bathroom facilities: Japanese or Western-style toilet, shower and/or bathtub.
• Privacy and noise pollution (beware of public address speakers).
• Storage space
• Parking facilities (a separate charge for parking is not uncommon).
• Number of electrical outlets.
• Location for washing machine (inside or outside).
• Hook-up for an air-conditioner/heater.
• If you have a pet, check that the contract allows animals on the property.
• Orientation of the building (indoor temperature can vary greatly depending on whether sunlight shines directly in the windows or not)
• Natural ventilation (an apartment or house with good air flow is an incredible blessing when it gets hot and humid outside - a lesson to be learned from traditional Okinawan architecture)

Apartment/House Sizes
Apartment sizes are usually expressed in "DK" or "LDK."This refers to an apartment with dining room/kitchen and bathroom and then a number indicates the number of additional rooms (For example: a 2LDK includes two rooms plus a bathroom and a combined dining room/kitchen).

Sometimes the size is termed according to the number of straw tatami mats (jō 畳) that would cover the floor space. Standard size for a tatami mat is 90cm by 180cm (roughly three feet by six feet). Hence, a room of less than six mats is rather small. The average size of a Japanese room in an apartment is about six jō (6 畳).

Larger houses, office rental space, and land area are sometimes measured in tsubo (坪). One tsubo equals two jō (180cm by 180cm).

Furnishings and Amenities
In general, apartments are unfurnished. Only electrical outlets and bathroom facilities are supplied. Appliances such as gas ranges, refrigerators, and washing machines are usually the responsibility of the tenant. Central heating is a rarity, but some real estate agents lease air conditioners along with apartments. Rent for apartments with air conditioners is usually a little higher.

Renting

Deposit (Intent Money or Tetsukekin 手付け金)
Once you have found an apartment, you may pay an initial deposit in order to show your interest and hold the apartment in your name. If you decide to rent the apartment, the deposit money will go toward the first month's rent. However, if for some reason you decide not to enter the contract, this payment is non-refundable. Conversely, if the landlord were to back out of the agreement for some reason, you are entitled to a refund of twice the amount you paid.

Formalizing a Contract
Be sure to understand the contract completely. Important points to double-check include:

• Period the lease is in effect
• Amount of rent (yachin 家賃) and maintenance expenses (kyōekihi 共益費)
• Amount of deposit and how much will be returned when the lease expires.
• What utilities are included in the rent.
• How much notice is required before moving out.

Most real estate agents may require a Japanese sponsor or "guarantor" (hoshōnin 保証人). This person will co-sign your lease, and is responsible if you don't pay your rent.

A personal name seal (inkan 印鑑) may also be necessary.

Up-Front Costs
When you sign the contract, you will likely be charged a number of fees. These fees may add up to over ¥200,000. They include:

• First month's rent and maintenance fees
• Insurance (fire, theft, and earthquake insurance are the most common)
• Real estate agent's fee (usually equivalent to one month's rent)
• Deposit (shikikin 敷金) This will be used to clean and repair the apartment when you move out. A small portion may be returned to you. (usually equivalent to 1-3 months' rent)
• Reikin (礼金) This is a non-refundable fee to the landlord (Usually equivalent to 1-3 months rent)

Moving in can be very expensive. It is always worth trying to negotiate the above fees. Depending on the housing market, you may be able to get some of the fees reduced.

Moving In
In Japan, it is common for a person to greet their neighbors once they have moved into a new property. Often Japanese people will take a small gift (o-miyage お土産), but this is not really necessary if you do not wish to.

When moving in, don't forget to ask the landlord where and when the garbage is collected. Information and about garbage collection is available from the Environmental Conservation Section on the 8th floor of City Hall.

Also, find out about your Neighborhood Association (jichikai 自治会). These groups can provide you with useful information about living in your area, and community centers offer classes in various fields from computers to tea ceremony.

Living in a Japanese House

Genkan 玄関
When you walk into a Japanese house you will immediately enter the genkan, an area that is on a slightly lower level than the rest of the house. Here shoes are removed and people enter the house barefoot or wearing socks/slippers. Of course, you can do whatever you like in your own home!

Tatami 畳
Tatami are straw mats used as flooring in many Japanese homes. They consist of a thin straw sheet bound to a 4-5cm thick mat. These are usually laid on top of unfinished wooden boards. When a tenant leaves, the realtor will have a tatami shop come to put new straw sheets on the thick mats. This is called omotegae, and it costs about ¥4-6,000 per mat. If you have a 12 tatami apartment, this will cost you upwards of ¥60,000. This cost gets taken out of your deposit, and is the primary reason that you will see little of that money ever again.

Tatami mats are extremely easy to damage. If they get wet, mold will form, and they will have to be replaced. Placing heavy furniture on them may dent them.

To clean them, use a vacuum or a broom, but do not use any chemicals or cleaning agents.

Mold (Kabi カビ)
Okinawa is humid throughout the year, particularly in the warmest months. If you do not take care to ventilate your house or apartment, mold WILL form in dark, moist places. De-moisturizing agents (kansōzai 乾燥剤) can be purchased at grocery stores and placed around the house where mold is likely to form. Clothing and books are particularly susceptible to mold. A mold remover (kabitori カビ取り) can be used for bathrooms. Use of an air-conditioner can be helpful, but costly. Even in the winter it is very important that you leave the windows open as often as possible in order to prevent mold from forming.

Insects
Insecticides (sattchūzai 殺虫剤) are available in various forms at drug stores, supermarkets, and discount department stores. To get rid of tatami ticks (dani ダニ), try airing the mats or spraying the surface with insecticide. Next to getting rid of your tatami, the most effective way to eliminate these pests is to use the specially manufactured tick insecticide (dani taiji ダニ退治). Be careful not to leave food or pets indoors when you use these insecticides, and be sure to air out the room after using them.

Mosquitoes (ka 蚊) appear in large numbers during the summer. Various repellants can be used, including the incense-like (katori senk? 蚊取り線香) and a fumeless electric device called (denki katori 電気蚊取り). For hiking and other outdoor activities, personal insect repellant (mushi sasare yobō-zai 虫刺され予防剤) might be a wise precaution. Once bitten, try applying a lotion (kayumi dome 痒み止め) to stop the itching.

Heaters
Homes in Okinawa generally do not have a heating system. If you wish to buy a heater, options include: kotatsu (炬燵), oil heaters (sekiyu sutōbu 石油ストーブ), electric heaters (denki sutōbu 電気ストーブ), and electric blankets (denki mōfu 電気毛布).

A kotatsu is a low table with a heater attached underneath and two blankets: one under the table on which people can sit and another between the table frame and the detachable tabletop. Kerosene and oil stoves are inexpensive to purchase and operate, but one must keep a window or door partially open due to the dangerous fumes that they emit. Kerosene oil (sekiyu 石油 or tōyu 灯油) can be purchased at gas stations. A special container (pori yōki ポリ容器) and siphon (kyūyu ponpu 給油ポンプ) will be necessary for storing and transferring the oil. Electric space heaters and other heating devices are relatively inexpensive if purchased at discount department stores such as Daiei and Makeman.

Drinking Water
You may notice that the water here tastes different from the water in your home country. However, Japan's water supply system is extremely well monitored and there is no danger in consuming water taken directly from a water supply outlet, such as a household tap or faucet.

Some people find that a sudden change in water can cause an upset stomach and that it helps to drink bottled water for the first week or so until one's body gets used to the difference. If problems persist, please consult a doctor.

Note that fluoride and other chemicals are not added to the water here. Absence of fluoride may cause teeth to decay faster, so one should pay particular attention to oral hygiene.

Water quality may deteriorate due to typhoons. You should either boil your water or buy bottled water when such reports are made.

Water shortages may make it necessary to ration water, particularly during the summer months. Please do your best to conserve water.

Utilities
Ask your real estate company how to set up gas, electric, and water service to your apartment or house. For information about telephone service, please see the Telephone chapter.

City-Run Public Housing (Shieijūtaku 市営住宅)

If you have lived in Urasoe for a year, and have a monthly income of under ¥200,000 (¥268,000 for elderly or handicapped applicants), and plan to live with a spouse, fiance(e), or other immediate family member, you are eligible to apply for public housing. The rent in public housing is considerable cheaper than apartments for rent in the general market.

Applications are accepted every November, and a lottery is held to choose the recipients. When you apply, you must present a certificate of income (kyūryō shōmeisho 給料証明書).

Garbage Disposal

The city of Urasoe collects four types of garbage as described below. If you do not sort your garbage properly, it will not be collected. Please place your garbage outside for collection before 8 am.

Burnable Garbage (Moeru Gomi 燃えるごみ)

Burnable Garbage includes kitchen scraps, plastic bags, not-PET plastic bottles, Styrofoam packaging, plastic toys, video tapes and CDs, cloth, clothing, and rubber products. Burnable garbage is collected twice a week.

Disposal Method
Burnable garbage must be placed in designated burnable garbage bags. These garbage bags have orange writing on them. Garbage not put in the proper bags will not be collected. Designated burnable garbage bags are for sale at supermarkets and convenience stores. Garbage bags are different for different cities and towns, so make sure that you get ones for Urasoe.

Unburnable Garbage (Moenai Gomi 燃えないごみ)

Unburnable Garbage includes metal products such as pots and pans, umbrellas, and wire hangers; glass items such as cups, mirrors, and light bulbs; ceramic products; small appliances (e.g. vacuum cleaners) that weigh under 10kg and will fit into a garbage bag. Unburnable garbage is collect twice a month.

Disposal Method
Unburnable garbage must be placed in designated garbage bags. These garbage bags have blue writing on them. Garbage not put in the proper bags will not be collected. Designated unburnable garbage bags are for sale at supermarkets and convenience stores.

Recyclable Garbage (Shigen Gomi 資源ごみ)

There are three types of recyclable garbage: paper, containers (glass, metal, and plastic), and yard waste. Recyclable garbage is collected once a week.

Disposal Method - Paper
Paper must be sorted into four categories:

• Newspapers, leaflets, and plain paper
• Drink cartons (milk, tea, juice etc.)
• Cardboard
• Books and magazines

Paper should be bundled by type and tied with string. Food and drink cartons must be washed, dried, and flattened. These bundles can be placed outside for collection as is.

Disposal Method - Glass, Metal, and Plastic Containers
Recyclable containers include: metal containers such as soda and beer cans, cake and cookie tins, canned vegetable and meat tins, and spray cans; glass containers such as soda, beer, wine, whiskey, and awamori bottles, seasoning jars, and medicine bottles; and any plastic container bearing the triangular PET symbol.

Remove labels and caps and place containers together in a reusable box. The recyclables are collected, and the box used to put out the recyclables is returned to the owner. Each household is required to make its own "recycling box." Apartment buildings and co-operative housing units are asked to put their recyclable garbage together.

Disposal Method - Yard Waste
Recyclable yard waste includes sticks, leaves, and grass. Sticks should be cut to a length of 50cm and bundled. Grass and leaves should be place in clear plastic bags under 45 liters in size. If the leaves and grass are wet, poke small holes in the bottom of the bag. Do not dispose of more than six bags and bundles combined on any one day.

Oversized Garbage (Sodai Gomi 粗大ごみ)

Over-sized garbage includes furniture, stereos, book shelves, some household appliances, and bicycles.

Disposal Method
Oversized garbage is only collected upon request. Items can be placed outside as they are. To arrange pick-up, please purchase one Oversized Garbage Sticker (Sodai Gomi Shori-ken 粗大ごみ処理券) per item. Stickers are for sale at supermarkets and convenience stores and cost ¥300. Once you have purchased a ticket, please call the Environmental Conservation Section the day before collection (excluding weekends and holidays) before 4 pm to request pick-up. Paste stickers on the oversized items and set them outside for collection.

Establishing a Place to Discard Your Garbage (Cooperative Area)

Garbage NOT Collected by the City

Washing machines, refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, and televisions are all designated by law as recyclable household appliances. If you want to dispose of one of these items, please contact the maker to arrange for their disposal. If you are replacing an appliance, ask the store if they can dispose of the old appliance. If neither of these options is possible, you will have to find a private disposal company to dispose of the item. The Environmental Conservation Section can assist you with locating a disposal company. If an item is old but functional, consider donating it to charity or to a recycle shop.

The city also does not collect items such as pianos, LP gas canisters, fire extinguishers, tires, mopeds, batteries, and water tanks. For the disposal of these items please contact a private disposal company.

Recycle Plaza

Recycle Plaza is a facility maintained by Urasoe to promote the recycling and reuse of household items. They accept donations of used bicycles, furniture, clothing, dishes, and toys from anyone living in Urasoe. If you live in Urasoe, this is a way to get rid of used furniture without having to pay the oversized garbage fee. Donated items are then sold at low prices in the plaza's "recycle store." Although only Urasoe residents can donate items, anyone is free to shop at the store. Prices range from free to incredibly cheap.