Rental self-check guides
Key Money in Japan: What Reikin Means Before Renting
Key money is one of those fees that can make a listing look very different once the estimate arrives. If you see reikin (礼金), take a moment to compare it with the deposit, total move-in cost, and other fees before signing.
Main points to check
- Reikin (礼金) is a one-time move-in fee that is different from shikikin (敷金).
- Key money is often shown as 0-2 months' rent, but the full estimate matters more than one label.
- A listing with no key money is not automatically the cheapest when other fees or monthly rent are added.
What is key money, or reikin, in Japan?
Key money, or reikin (礼金), is a one-time move-in fee commonly seen in Japanese rental listings. It is often shown as 0-2 months' rent, and 礼金1ヶ月 usually means an amount equal to one month of rent as key money. The useful move is to compare the full initial-cost estimate rather than judging the listing by key money alone.
Reikin vs shikikin
Reikin (礼金) and shikikin (敷金) are separate labels in Japanese rental documents. Reikin is usually not treated like a refundable deposit, while shikikin is deposit-like and may be settled later depending on unpaid rent, cleaning or restoration items, and contract terms. Keep both Japanese terms visible when you ask the real estate agency to explain the estimate.
A simple example
As a rough fictional example, if the rent is ¥80,000 and the listing says 礼金1ヶ月, the key money line may be roughly ¥80,000. The total move-in cost can still change depending on shikikin, brokerage fee, guarantor company fee, insurance, cleaning, key exchange, and support service fees.
Rough fictional example
- Rent: ¥80,000
- 礼金1ヶ月: roughly ¥80,000 as key money
- Then compare deposit, brokerage fee, guarantor company fee, insurance, cleaning, and key exchange
If the listing says no key money
礼金なし can make a listing look easier to start with, but it is still worth checking the whole estimate. Compare monthly rent, cleaning and support fees, guarantor company fees, brokerage fee, campaign conditions, and the total initial cost before signing.
Monthly rent
Is the rent higher than similar listings with key money?
Cleaning and support
Are cleaning, support, or service fees higher than expected?
Guarantor company
Check initial, monthly, and renewal-related guarantor company costs.
Brokerage fee
Compare whether the brokerage fee changes the total initial cost.
Campaign conditions
Ask whether a campaign changes the rent, free-rent period, or cancellation conditions.
Where it appears in listings
You may see expressions such as 礼金1ヶ月, 礼金なし, 敷金・礼金なし, or 敷/礼 in summary tables. On SUUMO, at home, LIFULL HOME'S, and similar sites, it can appear near the rent, deposit, guarantee deposit, or initial cost fields. If the label is abbreviated, keep the Japanese term in your question memo.
Useful public references
For background on move-in costs and rental customs, these public materials may be useful: Tokyo Metropolitan Government Guidelines for Preventing Tenant-Landlord Disputes and the MLIT Guidebook for foreign nationals renting housing in Japan. They are background references, not a final decision for an individual contract.
How Chintai Checker can help
If you paste a listing or estimate into Chintai Checker, it can help surface key money and nearby initial-cost items so you can compare the total before signing. The tool organizes points to check; it does not make a legal or payment conclusion and does not replace the important matters explanation or lease agreement.
FAQ
Is key money refundable in Japan?
Reikin (礼金) is generally different from a deposit and is often not treated like a refundable deposit. It is commonly shown as 0-2 months' rent, so check the exact amount in the estimate and lease documents because wording can vary by property.
Is reikin the same as a deposit?
No. Reikin (礼金) and shikikin (敷金) are different labels. Shikikin is deposit-like and may be settled later depending on unpaid rent, cleaning, restoration, and contract terms, while reikin is usually a one-time move-in fee.
What does 礼金1ヶ月 mean?
It usually means key money equal to one month of rent. Check whether the calculation is based only on rent and whether the same amount appears in the estimate, important matters explanation, and lease agreement.
Are apartments without key money cheaper?
Not necessarily. Listings with 礼金なし can reduce one upfront line, but other costs or different monthly conditions may change the total. Compare the full estimate, not only the key money line.
Why does key money exist in Japan?
Key money is a long-running rental custom often explained as a thank-you payment to the landlord, with roots in older housing-market practices after periods of housing shortage. Today, it is best understood as one fee in the total move-in cost, not as money that works like a deposit.
Where can I find key money in a rental listing?
Look near the rent, deposit, initial cost, or summary table fields. It may appear as 礼金, 礼, 礼金1ヶ月, 礼金なし, or reikin in English explanations.
Questions to ask before signing
- Is reikin (礼金) included in the initial cost estimate?
- How does the total move-in cost compare with similar listings?
- Are there other fees that offset the zero-key-money label?
- Do the listing and contract documents show the same amount?
Make a checklist from pasted rental listing text
Paste text from a rental listing page and Chintai Checker will organize items such as initial costs, renewal fees, cleaning costs, special clauses, and contract conditions. It does not fetch external websites or save the pasted listing text.
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Important note
This page is for general informational and self-check purposes only. It is not legal advice, real estate brokerage, or a final conclusion about any fee or clause. Please confirm the actual terms with the important matters explanation document, lease agreement, initial cost estimate, property manager, real estate company, or a qualified consultation service.