A Day Dedicated to Real Estate in Japan

Today, and September 23rd annually, is Real Estate Day in Japan. Like my previous post (Tennis Day), this anniversary is not registered with the Japan Anniversary Association, but it is a widely promoted, accepted and acknowledged anniversary - even more so than Tennis Day. 

The commemoration was established by the National Federation of Real Estate Transaction Associations. They chose September 23rd for the commemoration because autumn is traditionally a busy period for property transactions in Japan. In addition, 23rd when broken down as two tens and a three, can be read as "Fu (2) do (10) san (3)", the Japanese for Real Estate. On this day they host real estate fairs and consultation events.

For many foreign residents, real estate is one of the first challenges of life in Japan. Apartment hunting often introduces concepts such as key money, guarantor companies, renewal fees, and surprisingly compact living spaces. Finding a place to live can be stressful, but it is also an important step in creating a home and building a life in a new country.

How have your experiences with Real Estate been?