Finding cheap apartments for a month in Japan and South Korea?
In these countries, if I decide on a whim that I would like a regular apartment for one month, what's the best method to find something cheap (less than 300 USD) no matter where I am?
Craigslist or something similar?
Or maybe find a CouchSurfing host first and then ask them for word-of-mouth apartment connections?
Best Answer
Have you tried airbnb.com ? It is possible to find some very good deals and have reviews of people that stayed in that place (just like hostels.com or other sites).
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How much is an apartment per month in South Korea?
On average, however, expect to pay about 500,000 KRW (425 USD) per month for this type of accommodation in big cities. Bigger apartments in Seoul average around 1 million KRW (850 USD) per month, yet it is not uncommon to see listings with 5\u20136 million KRW (4,300\u20135,100 USD) monthly price tags.How much is an apartment in Japan per month?
The nationwide average monthly rent, not including utilities, for a one room apartment (20-40 square meters) is between 50,000 and 70,000 yen. Rent for similarly sized apartments in central Tokyo and popular neighbourhoods nearby usually start from around 100,000 yen.What is the cheapest rent in Japan?
Hokkaido has the lowest one-room rent rate in Japan (approx. 35,600 yen), and Tokyo has the highest (approx. 60,000 yen). Even in prefectures where market prices and average rents are high, some places are low.Can foreigners rent an apartment in Japan?
In order to apply for rental housing, you will have to pass a background check. This background check is required regardless of whether or not you are a foreigner, Japanese, making an individual contract, or making a company contract.New Apartments for Less than $300 a Month in Korea! Budget Villas
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Answer 2
As for Tokyo area, check out http://www.sakura-house.com/en/
Depends on where you are planning to go, dormitory style may get you down around $500. If you are interested in another area, you might ask them for a referral. Possibly it could be less outside of major cities.
Also you can search on Google for "japan apartments "no key money"". In Japan, normal apartment renting for short term is not practical, because you have to pay traditional key money and various fees, in addition to rent.
Answer 3
I have staid for in Seoul (ROK) a few months in 2009/20. The cheapest option was to take a roomlet in a 'gosiwon'. The room was 5 sqm, (2m wide, 2m long + a 2 * 0.5m bathroom). for ~400k Won a month
Rooms included TV, Broadband internet, a small fridge, a bed (60cm wide, 2m long), a few cupboards and shelves.
some info might be found here: http://www.habang.co.kr/b_go_se_en
Answer 4
The key word for medium-term rentals in Japan is "weekly mansion", search for that on Google and you'll find a whole bunch of sites offering them in English.
That said, your expectation is not very realistic, as less than US$300/Y30k a month in any of Japan's major cities will be virtually impossible. You'd generally be looking at Y50k and up for some tiny shoebox in an inconvenient location (and when I say tiny, I mean tiny, there are apartments in Japan under 10 sq.m.!), and even doubling that won't get you very far.
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