When you enter into a contract to rent an apartment in Japan, you will probably have to pay (in cash or by bank transfer):
- the first month's rent,
- non-refundable "key money" (reikin) equal to one or two months' rent,
- a refundable deposit (shikikin), equal to one or two months' rent,
- a real estate agent's fee, equal to one month's rent, and
- fire and theft insurance, which is usually about 20,000 yen for two years.
You might also be charged about 10,000 yen for having the lock changed. The total amount that you have to pay up front will therefore probably be about five or six times the monthly rent, though the exact amount will depend on many factors. Note also, that in the Kansai region, the deposit and "key money" are sometimes combined and called shiki-biki. Shiki-biki may require a total of 8-10 months' rent, of which you may receive only 50-80% back when you vacate the apartment.
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Off-Campus Housing 
