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Safe Directory

The "Good List". Verified providers who welcome foreigners.
No scams. No hidden rejections.

GTN (Best-Estate)

Specialize in 100% foreigner-only support.

No Guarantor NeededMulti-lingual

Real Estate Japan

Massive portal. Filter for "No Key Money".

Search EngineEnglish

Blackship Realty

High-end rentals in Tokyo/Chiba.

Expat FocusedLuxury

Praia Asako

Local Chiba focus. Great for Togane area.

Chiba LocalPersonal

Chiba Local Spotlight

Moving to Togane or Chiba City? The Chiba Housing Advisory Service is a government-backed volunteer service specifically for international students.

📍 Location: Chiba City International Center
📞 Phone: 043-xxx-xxxx (English Avail)

Consumer Rights

If you have been scammed or treated unfairly, you have rights. Contact these agencies for free help.

Consumer Affairs Agency (CAA)|Houterasu (Legal Aid)

Black Sheep Radar
Red Flags to Watch

  • 1.They ask for ID photos via private message (WhatsApp/Line).
  • 2.They refuse to show the contract until the day you sign.
  • 3."Mandatory Cleaning Fees" (¥50k+) that weren't in the ad.

Yamada Hack: Meishi

Always ask for a Business Card (Meishi). A real broker will have one with a License Number (e.g., 東京都知事 (1) 第12345号).

"If they say they 'forgot' their card, walk away. It's a fake broker."

Report a Problem

Did an agency treat you poorly? Let us know. (Anonymous)

Frequently Asked Questions

The Japan Legal Support Center (Houterasu / Japan Legal Aid Organization) provides free legal consultation referrals and can direct you to English-speaking attorneys appropriate for your legal issue. The Japan Federation of Bar Associations (Nichibenren) maintains an online directory searchable by specialty and language. Always verify that any lawyer you engage is registered with their prefectural bar association (bengoshi kai), as legal representation by non-registered persons is illegal in Japan regardless of how they present themselves.
Licensed real estate agents (fudousan kanteishi / takken mochi) in Japan must display their Takken (real estate transaction specialist) registration number on all business materials, and you can verify this registration through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's online registry. Community resources including GaijinPot's real estate listings, Facebook groups for foreigners in specific cities, and embassy community boards are good sources for personally vetted foreigner-friendly agent recommendations. This safe directory lists verified agents with documented foreign customer experience.
Only certified Administrative Scriveners (gyosei shoshi) and qualified attorneys (bengoshi) are legally permitted to handle immigration applications on behalf of clients in Japan. Verify any immigration consultant's registration by searching the Japan Administrative Scriveners Federation (Nihon Gyosei Shoshi Kai Rengokai) online registry using their registration number, which legitimate practitioners will readily provide. Be wary of any 'immigration consultant' who cannot provide a verifiable registration number or who charges fees dramatically below or above market rates.
Key resources for finding verified English-speaking hospitals in Japan include: AMDA International Medical Information Center (Tokyo: 03-5285-8088), which offers phone referrals in multiple languages; the Japan National Tourism Organization's accessible medical institution list; your home country embassy's list of medically recommended providers in Japan; and the International Medical Information Center's searchable hospital directory at imic.or.jp. Major university hospitals in Tokyo, Osaka, and other large cities typically have international patient departments with English-speaking staff.
Reliable sources for verified foreigner-friendly services in Japan include your prefecture's international exchange association (kokusai kouryuu kyokai), which maintains vetted lists of multilingual support services, your city hall's international relations division, embassy and consulate community resource pages, and established expat community platforms such as GaijinPot, Internations, and dedicated Facebook groups for foreigners in your specific city. This safe directory tool vets listed service providers specifically for language support capability and demonstrated experience serving foreign residents.

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