Contracts, kerosene, rubbish days and the neighbour next door — the paperwork and small talk nobody teaches you.

Renting an apartment is one thing; turning the key and surviving the first month is another, and the first month is where most people get stuck.

By the end

You will be able to read a utility sign-up sheet, sort rubbish on the correct morning, introduce yourself to your neighbours in plain Japanese, and handle a noise complaint or a broken air conditioner without panicking.

Who this is for

Anyone moving into — or already living in — a Japanese apartment, from the person flying next month to the daydreamer who wants to know how it all actually works.