Need adivice on appartments in Kyoto area

[Charliehsv]

Hey,
so I'm leaving for Kyoto for studying purposes in about 3 weeks time (course is 1 year long, although I do plan to enter an university after that) and I'm still undecided about where I should live. I'm going to attend a japanese language school and through them I've got the possibility to book various already furnished guesthouses but I'm a bit reluctant about that option since I'd rather see for myself how the appartments are before booking anything. Also most of those guesthouses don't seem to have the best reputation...

So, I was thinking that maybe I should live in a simple hotel for a few weeks first and search for an appartment myself through the local agencies during that time. Is this a valid plan, or should I go for the guesthouses anyway?

Thanks in advance

[tksensei]

Go with the guest house through the language school.

[Charliehsv]

Hmm I see. Any specific reasons?

I'm not sure how well foreigners are received in the real eastate market there, although my language study agency said that a lot of their students book a hotel first and then search for an appartment there by themselves, so I thought that it might not be that hard. Oh, and while I'm not fluent in japanese I'm far from a beginner aswell.

[GTJ]

Originally Posted by Charliehsv

Hmm I see. Any specific reasons?

Plenty. It's cheap, guarunteed, and probably close to the school. Better than you'll get with an apartment.

I'm not sure how well foreigners are received in the real eastate market there

Sometimes not very well, sometimes very well. Century 21 is putting out commercials letting people know that they train their agents to help foreigners find housing, and explain all the nooks and crannies to them. Areas that have had many English teachers will probably turn you away, as many JETs or ALTs are scumbags that give foreigners a horrible name through partying, wrecking places and generally disrespecting the neighborhood. It's hit-or-miss sometimes, but I feel that the majority of foreigners get fair treatment and the negative side is the exception. In Kyoto I doubt you'll have any problems, though, since the place is crawling gaijin.

Oh, and while I'm not fluent in japanese I'm far from a beginner aswell.

Good, you have a foundation. If youw ant to get an apartment, study up on the vocabulary you'll need for that.

I think it'll be more hassle than you'll be ready for. There's fees, and then fees for the fees, and then you have to give the landlord money just because they want you to, and then there's bribes and fees for the bribes, and then the "key money" which nobody knows what the hell it is but it's stupid expensive and you have to pay it anyway, and then probably a fee and bribe for that.

Good luck!

[hirashin]

Hello, Charlie. My name is Hirashin. I live in Kyoto.

Here's a link for searching accommodations in Kyoto.

http://web.travel.rakuten.co.jp/port...=hotel_kin_low

Where are you going to study?

I hope you enjoy your stay here. (^_^)

Hirashin

[mamamam]

Hi Charlie, my wife has become totally addicted to japanese way of housing, thus nowdays we´re going to build a japanese house (in Europe!). I´m always looking for new ideas of interiors, their solutions and genius loci, thus if there is a will from your side i would very much appreciate few pictures from your japanese housing experience. You can place them for example at www.SeeMyLiving.com , or anywhere else, or i can of course send you my email.

Good luck in Japan. Don´t forget to visit the famous Tokyo National Museum and the town of Bepu, where the most brilliant Onsens are.

Regards

Robert

[Charliehsv]

@GTJ: Thanks for the information, it really was helpful.

Do you recon that renting an own appartment is better in the long run though?
I was considering to maybe book an guest house appartment for a few months, get used to life there and then start out searching again (if I'm not satisfied with my appartment there of course)

@hirashin: Thank you for the link!

I'm going to study at the Nihongo Center in Kawaramachi. ^^

@Robert: If my student appartment can be of any help...sure.


As for the guest houses, the one which the school offered are either one of the Leo Palace buildings or a place called Sugi Heights which is affiliated with a guesthouse called A-Yado. Any recommendations?

[ozkai]

Originally Posted by mamamam

Hi Charlie, my wife has become totally addicted to japanese way of housing, thus nowdays we´re going to build a japanese house (in Europe!). I´m always looking for new ideas of interiors, their solutions and genius loci, thus if there is a will from your side i would very much appreciate few pictures from your japanese housing experience. You can place them for example at www.SeeMyLiving.com , or anywhere else, or i can of course send you my email.

Good luck in Japan. Don´t forget to visit the famous Tokyo National Museum and the town of Bepu, where the most brilliant Onsens are.

Regards

Robert

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[joeyj]

If its a guest house with common areas, you may have to deal with messy neighbors. I never stayed in one but I've been to a few in Tokyo and I was really surprised how messy the common areas were.

[MMM]

I would start at the guest house and look for other housing if you don't like it. Renting an apartment in Japan can be an expensive affair, with security deposits and "key money" which is basically a gift to the landlord...often several months rent.