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Japan’s “rent a middle-aged man service” marks its 10th year in business

The service’s founder shares reasons for its decade of success and typical examples of why people, mainly women, might rent an ossan.

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Ikea Japan offering fully furnished apartment to rent for less than a dollar a month

The apartment, which comes complete with Ikea furniture, is being leased by a giant shark.

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Top 10 areas in Japan’s capital region where women who live on their own want to live

Survey also asks for women’s ideal places to live if money weren’t an issue.

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Japanese landlord’s touching gesture to tenants during coronavirus crisis goes viral

If only we could all have landlords like this.

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New cat-friendly homes in Japan come specially designed for felines

Features like built-in kitty litter boxes under the floor let furbabies truly rule the house you live in.

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Handy portable battery charging service now available in downtown Tokyo for just 108 yen

Forgot to charge your phone or tablet before leaving home? This useful service has you covered.

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Five of the worst areas to live in and around Tokyo

While they might look appealing to visitors, according to residents, these suburbs can be hell to live in.

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Tokyo “couple-busting” company finds who your spouse is cheating with, becomes friends with them

What better way to convince your spouse to stop cheating than by hiring a “friend” to tell them to quit?

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We tried Tokyo’s “rent a middle-aged Japanese man” service, and it was awesome!

You can rent pretty much anything in Japan. Even people, it would seem.

With so many people working long hours and not having the time to devote to cultivating real relationships, it’s just easier to hand over some cash and pay someone to act as your boyfriend, girlfriend, or just a friend to hang out with for the day.

But what about when you’re looking for something different? What if you’re in need of life advice that only a middle-aged Japanese man can provide? Well that’s where the ossan (middle-aged/old) rental service comes in!

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Living with ghosts: The rising popularity of ‘death rooms’ in Japan

In Japan, places where people have died are considered bad luck, so unsurprisingly apartments where there has been a suicide, murder, or other death are rented at much cheaper prices than usual due to a lack of demand. However, real estate agencies are seeing a surge in people specifically seeking these kinds of ‘death rooms’. That may sound horribly morbid, but usually it’s not out of a desire to be close to death. Rather, for those who can put aside their culturally-ingrained reservations, it’s a way to  save money during tough times.

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Looking for a new pad? How about living in a refurbished love hotel?

When it comes to finding a new place to live, most people spend weeks, even months trying to find somewhere that’s just right for them. In urban Japan, where rented accommodation is usually both more compact and in higher demand than in the West, finding an apartment can be even trickier, and prospective renters often have to make snap decisions or risk missing a good deal; opting for a ground-floor apartment and paying a little less; choosing a place with an all-in-one bath, sink and toilet unit rather than separate facilities; getting a place a little further from the station if it means living in a nicer area–you see “close enough” and you grab it.

But would you really feel comfortable living in an apartment knowing that it was once used exclusively for sexy shenanigans every single night of the week? Welcome to the world of love hotel renovation!

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Quite common in Western countries, the concept of shared accommodation in Japan is still relatively new. However, according to Oak House, a guest house and apartment operator in Tokyo, such accommodation is gaining in popularity. Fifteen years ago, the company managed about 150 units; today that figure has risen to 2,300. Shunned by some as being inconvenient and a hassle, others are being drawn to added-value properties featuring amenities such as yoga studios and home theater facilities. Oak House said there is a waiting list of 100 people at its most popular location.

Shared accommodation also has the benefit of being cost effective as no key money (a mandatory, nonrefundable payment, typically equivalent to two months’ rent, given to the landlord for the privilege of being able to live in the unit) or security deposit (typically two months’ rent, and though technically refundable, is seldom returned in full as apartment cleaning fees and other expenses are deducted) are required. Additionally, furnishings are provided, something else that is not common in Japan, meaning initial outlays can be kept to a minimum.

With the popularity of this type of housing increasing, companies in Japan are concocting various inducements in an effort to draw in renters.

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