UNIT 9
Housing, Home & Garbage Rules
Housing, Home & Garbage Rules
Lesson 2: Asking About Rooms, Rent, and Facilities
やちんはいくらですか — Questions Before You Move In
⏱️ About 25 minutes ／ 📊 Level: Beginner (N5) ／ 🗣️ Speaking + Reading
Before You Start
Whether you are searching for a new apartment or already renting, you will need to ask questions about rent, facilities, and room viewings. Japanese real estate agencies and landlords expect clear, polite questions — and the phrases in this lesson give you exactly that. Knowing what to ask before signing a lease can save you from unexpected costs and inconveniences.
What you will learn:
- Ask the rent — 家賃はいくらですか
- Ask the management fee — 管理費はいくらですか
- Ask if the room is spacious — 部屋は広いですか
- Ask minutes from the station — 駅から何分ですか
- Ask about Wi-Fi and air conditioning — Wi-Fiはありますか / エアコンはありますか
- Ask to view a room — 見学できますか
- Ask when you can move in — いつ入居できますか
1. Key Phrases ／ きほんのフレーズ
家賃はいくらですか。
Yachin wa ikura desu ka.
How much is the rent?
管理費はいくらですか。
Kanrihi wa ikura desu ka.
How much is the management fee?
部屋は広いですか。
Heya wa hiroi desu ka.
Is the room spacious?
駅から何分ですか。
Eki kara nanpun desu ka.
How many minutes from the station?
Wi-Fiはありますか。
Waifai wa arimasu ka.
Is there Wi-Fi?
エアコンはありますか。
Eakon wa arimasu ka.
Is there an air conditioner?
見学できますか。
Kengaku dekimasu ka.
Can I view the room?
いつ入居できますか。
Itsu nyuukyo dekimasu ka.
When can I move in?
2. Phrase Notes ／ ポイント
① 〇〇はいくらですか — asking the cost
いくら = how much. This pattern works for any cost-related question. In Japan, rents are quoted per month and written in 万円 (ten-thousand yen). 6万円 = 60,000 yen.
家賃はいくらですか。How much is the rent?
管理費はいくらですか。How much is the management fee?
敷金・礼金はいくらですか。How much are the deposit and key money?
② 〇〇はありますか — asking about facilities
〇〇はありますか = “Is there 〇〇?” Use this to check whether a specific feature or item is included. The answer will be はい、あります (yes, there is) or いいえ、ありません (no, there isn’t).
Wi-Fiはありますか。Is there Wi-Fi?
エアコンはありますか。Is there air conditioning?
駐輪場はありますか。Is there a bicycle parking area?
洗濯機置き場はありますか。Is there a space for a washing machine?
③ 見学できますか — asking to view
〜できますか = “Can I 〜?” / “Is it possible to 〜?” 見学 = viewing / visit for inspection. You can add a time: 今日、見学できますか (“Can I view it today?”) or 今週末、見学できますか (“Can I view it this weekend?”).
⚠️ Common Mistake
In Japan, 管理費 (management fee) is often separate from the rent and can be 3,000–10,000 yen or more per month. Always ask about it specifically — advertisements often display only the base rent. Also ask about 敷金 (deposit) and 礼金 (non-refundable “key money”) as these are significant upfront costs.
In Japan, 管理費 (management fee) is often separate from the rent and can be 3,000–10,000 yen or more per month. Always ask about it specifically — advertisements often display only the base rent. Also ask about 敷金 (deposit) and 礼金 (non-refundable “key money”) as these are significant upfront costs.
3. Apartment Vocabulary ／ へやのことば
💰 Costs ／ おかね
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 家賃 | yachin | rent |
| 管理費 | kanrihi | management fee |
| 敷金 | shikikin | security deposit |
| 礼金 | reikin | key money (non-refundable) |
🛏️ Facilities ／ せつび
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| エアコン | eakon | air conditioner |
| Wi-Fi | waifai | Wi-Fi |
| 駐輪場 | chuurinjoo | bicycle parking |
| オートロック | ootoro kku | auto-lock entry system |
4. Conversation Practice ／ かいわ
💬 Conversation 1 — Asking the Rent
💬 Conversation 2 — Checking Facilities
💬 Conversation 3 — Asking About the Room
💬 Conversation 4 — Viewing and Moving In
5. Vocabulary ／ たんご
| Japanese | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|
| 家賃 | yachin | rent |
| 管理費 | kanrihi | management fee |
| 広い | hiroi | spacious / wide |
| 狭い | semai | small / cramped |
| 何分 | nanpun | how many minutes |
| 見学 | kengaku | room viewing / inspection visit |
| 入居 | nyuukyo | moving in / taking up residence |
| できます | dekimasu | can / is possible |
6. Check Your Understanding ／ クイズ
Think about each question first. Answers and explanations are shown below.
Q1. What does 「家賃はいくらですか。」 mean?
A. Is there an air conditioner? B. How much is the management fee? C. How much is the rent? D. When can I move in?
Answer: C
家賃はいくらですか = “How much is the rent?” 家賃 = rent. いくら = how much. The most important question before renting any apartment in Japan.
家賃はいくらですか = “How much is the rent?” 家賃 = rent. いくら = how much. The most important question before renting any apartment in Japan.
Q2. How do you ask “Is there Wi-Fi?”
A. Wi-Fiはいくらですか。 B. Wi-Fiはどこですか。 C. Wi-Fiはありますか。 D. Wi-Fiはいつですか。
Answer: C
Wi-Fiはありますか = “Is there Wi-Fi?” The pattern 〇〇はありますか works for any facility or item: エアコン、駐輪場、etc.
Wi-Fiはありますか = “Is there Wi-Fi?” The pattern 〇〇はありますか works for any facility or item: エアコン、駐輪場、etc.
Q3. What does 「部屋は広いですか。」 mean?
A. How much is the room? B. Is the room clean? C. Is the room near the station? D. Is the room spacious?
Answer: D
広い = spacious / wide. Opposite: 狭い (semai) = small / cramped. Room sizes in Japan are often given in 畳 (tatami mats) or 平米 (square metres).
広い = spacious / wide. Opposite: 狭い (semai) = small / cramped. Room sizes in Japan are often given in 畳 (tatami mats) or 平米 (square metres).
Q4. How do you ask “How many minutes from the station?”
A. 駅はどこですか。 B. 駅から何分ですか。 C. 駅から近いですか。 D. 駅は何時ですか。
Answer: B
駅から何分ですか = “How many minutes from the station?” 何分 = how many minutes. The answer will be like 歩いて7分です (7 minutes on foot).
駅から何分ですか = “How many minutes from the station?” 何分 = how many minutes. The answer will be like 歩いて7分です (7 minutes on foot).
Q5. What does 「見学できますか。」 mean?
A. Can I move in? B. Can I view the room? C. Can I park my bicycle? D. Can I use the Wi-Fi?
Answer: B
見学できますか = “Can I view the room?” 見学 = inspection visit. Always ask this before deciding on an apartment — never rent without seeing the room first.
見学できますか = “Can I view the room?” 見学 = inspection visit. Always ask this before deciding on an apartment — never rent without seeing the room first.
Q6. How do you ask “When can I move in?”
A. いつ見学できますか。 B. いつ引っ越しましたか。 C. いつ入居できますか。 D. いつ家賃を払いますか。
Answer: C
いつ入居できますか = “When can I move in?” 入居 = moving in / taking up residence. A typical answer: 来月から入居できます (you can move in from next month).
いつ入居できますか = “When can I move in?” 入居 = moving in / taking up residence. A typical answer: 来月から入居できます (you can move in from next month).
7. Match the Meaning ／ れんしゅう
家賃はいくらですか。 → ______
管理費はいくらですか。 → ______
部屋は広いですか。 → ______
駅から何分ですか。 → ______
Wi-Fiはありますか。 → ______
見学できますか。 → ______
いつ入居できますか。 → ______
Choices: A. Is there Wi-Fi? B. When can I move in? C. How much is the rent? D. How many minutes from the station? E. Can I view the room? F. How much is the management fee? G. Is the room spacious?
Answers: 家賃はいくらですか = C ／ 管理費はいくらですか = F ／ 部屋は広いですか = G ／ 駅から何分ですか = D ／ Wi-Fiはありますか = A ／ 見学できますか = E ／ いつ入居できますか = B
🚀 Mini Mission
Today’s mission: Practice the apartment enquiry conversation in Japanese.
Role-play with your teacher — one person is the agent, one is the prospective renter. Ask at least 5 of these questions:
家賃はいくらですか。／ 管理費はいくらですか。／ 部屋は広いですか。／ 駅から何分ですか。／ Wi-Fiはありますか。／ 見学できますか。
📘 Review ／ まとめ
In this lesson you learned how to ask all the key questions before renting an apartment in Japan.
家賃はいくらですか。(How much is the rent?)
〇〇はありますか。(Is there 〇〇?)
見学できますか。(Can I view the room?)
いつ入居できますか。(When can I move in?)
〇〇はありますか。(Is there 〇〇?)
見学できますか。(Can I view the room?)
いつ入居できますか。(When can I move in?)
💡 Always ask about 家賃 (rent) AND 管理費 (management fee) separately — advertisements often show only the base rent. The total monthly cost is what matters.
FAQ
Q. What is 礼金 and do I have to pay it?
礼金 (reikin) = “key money” — a gift to the landlord that is not refunded. It is typically 1–2 months’ rent. Many newer listings in Japan are 礼金ゼロ (no key money) — always check by asking: 礼金はいくらですか.
Q. What does ペット可 mean, and how do I ask about pets?
ペット可 = “pets allowed.” If you have a pet, always confirm before signing a lease. Ask: ペットは飼えますか (“Can I keep a pet?”). Many apartments in Japan do not allow pets, so this is an important question.
Q. How do I say a room size in Japanese?
Room sizes in Japan use two systems: 平米 (heibei = square metres) and 畳 (joo = tatami mats, approx. 1.62㎡ each). A 25㎡ studio is typical for a single person. You can ask: 何平米ですか (“How many square metres is it?”) or 何畳ですか (“How many tatami mats?”).
🏠 Practice with a real teacher
Want to Practice with a Teacher?
Apartment searching in Japan is a real-life skill you will need from day one. Try a free trial lesson and role-play the full enquiry conversation with a professional teacher.
Online or in-person — both available on request.