Rental House vs Furnished Rental vs Share House: What's the Difference?

When searching for housing in Japan on ShinHousing, you'll come across three main property types: Rental House, Furnished Rental, and Share House. They differ in contract length, upfront costs, furniture, and minimum stay. Picking the right type from the start can save you from unexpected costs.

Rental House — long-term lease, 2-year contract

A Rental House is the traditional way to rent in Japan, typically under a 2-year lease. It's a good fit if you plan to settle in for a while and want full control over how you set up your space.

Key points:

• 2-year lease contract, renewable.
• Comes unfurnished — tenants need to buy everything from a fridge and washing machine to furniture themselves.
• High upfront costs: security deposit (shikikin), key money (reikin), lock-change fee, agency commission, guarantor fee (if you don't have a Japan-based guarantor), and sometimes home insurance.
• Total move-in costs usually add up to around 4-6 months of rent.

Rental House suits people who've decided to live in Japan long-term, already have furniture or are ready to buy it, and don't mind the paperwork of a long lease.

Furnished Rental — fully furnished, flexible short-term stays

A Furnished Rental comes with furniture and basic amenities already set up, including wifi, plus appliances like a fridge, washing machine, microwave, table, and bed. You just bring your personal belongings and move in.

Key points:

• Can be rented short-term, usually from 1 month, without the 2-year lease a Rental House requires.
• No need to buy furniture, saving both money and setup time.
• Wifi and utilities are typically included or bundled into the rent.
• Upfront costs are usually lighter than a Rental House — many units skip key money and lock-change fees.

Furnished Rental works well for people on business trips, students, newcomers to Japan needing a temporary place while they search for a long-term home, or anyone who values convenience and flexible stay length.

Share House — shared living, private or shared rooms

A Share House means living together with other tenants, each with either a private room or a shared room (splitting a room with others), while the kitchen, living room, and bathroom are typically shared spaces.

Key points:

• Two room options: private room (higher price) or shared room (lower price, room-sharing with others).
• Furniture and shared amenities come fully set up, similar to a Furnished Rental.
• Lowest upfront costs of the three types — a good fit for newcomers to Japan, tight budgets, or anyone wanting to meet other people.
• Stay length is also flexible, usually without a long-term contract requirement.

Share House suits people looking to minimize costs, who enjoy a community living environment, or newcomers to Japan wanting social connections early on.

Quick comparison

Which one should you choose?

If you're settling in Japan for the long haul and want your own space set up your way, a Rental House makes sense despite the higher upfront cost. If you need a place quickly, plan to stay a few months, or don't want to commit to a long lease yet, a Furnished Rental saves time and effort. If budget is your top priority, or you want to make friends and build connections early in your time in Japan, a Share House is the most practical choice.

You can browse each property type and search by area on shinhousing.com.