Can't Commit! Contract Hell...

It was seven months ago today that I happily moved into my first ever apartment! It happened to be in Japan. I was happy, birds were singing, it felt surreal.

Fast-forward to now, I am doing preparations to go home, just for a bit. I unfortunately have to go home for a bit for my university graduation before I come back. In short this means I have to get ready to move.

I knew that this was coming, and I knew I would have to pay some fees, but finding out how much as sent me into sticker shock. Not to mention the two year contracts are just frustrating me. Back in America there are contracts, but not every single contract is two years long. Yet, I feel like everything in Japan requires a two year contract, or some absolutely ridiculous fees. 

To move out of my apartment I have to pay one months rent, which is fine. But, I also have to pay of fee for the renters insurance. Well in better terms, I have to pay the full two years of renters insurance which adds up to around 40,000 yen, or 400 USD. Then to cancel my internet I have to pay two months worth of internet fees. All of it adds up to a pretty penny, around 900 USD. Yet, my monthly rent with fees is only around 290 USD. Talk about wanting to pull my hair out! (Important note, I am still only a university student.)

I know some of you might be thinking that I should have thought about it when I moved in, but to be fair, this is my first apartment. I learned the lesson about reading contracts. I knew about the one month of rent, but I had no idea about the renter's insurance. 

Worst part is, I have to do it all again when I come back. I have to knowingly sign the damned two year contracts again. There really aren't any options or ways around it, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't drive me crazy.

To any of you just moving to Japan, beware of these contracts, and know that there is really no way out.