Pet Friendly Places

[meikyuu]

[Taro Toporific]

... I need to find accommodation for 2 cats and myself.
Can anyone point me towards pet friendly apartments in Tokyo that are also gaijin friendly (while I can pay key deposits and such, I may not have a Japanese apartment sponsor to help me sign a lease)?

In one word: LIE!

That's what Gomi Girl and I do about our "illegal alien" cats.

Have you really thought this through? Being a nama gaijin is bad. Not having a "sponsor" is double bad. Having a cat is real bad. Having two cats is TWO BAD.

The gods-that-walk-the-earth, gaijin on the corporate "Package" can do this. Throw lots of money at your problems and they'll go away. I would suggest to get settled in Japan for a few months and then sneak the kitties into your abode. Choose a big apt. build WITHOUT live-in management or landlord. That's what I do and as long as my cat stays indoors it's kool.

Bottom Line: Don't say nothing 'bout no cats. Fark 'em.

[meikyuu]

I'll be working at Nova but I'm really weary of taking up their housing offer and I think they may not sponsor my alternative accommondations (though this is still up in the air). Friends have recommended lots of ex-pat housing that doesn't require sponsors (just working visa, passport, and key money). I'll have a good sized monetary safety net when I get there because I'm expecting high rent and low pay. I just haven't found pet friendly, ex-pat housing.

And I might have problems lying. But thank you for the advice.

IN RESPONSE TO: Have you really thought this through? Being a nama gaijin is bad. Not having a "sponsor" is double bad. Having a cat is real bad. Having two cats is TWO BAD.

I realize this "me+2cats+Japan-sponsor" thing is a tough problem to get around, but I have 8 months to figure it out. In my experience, if one does enough research and networking in 8 months, they can solve almost any problem (minus the giant universal ones).

Does anyone else know of any sites or realtors who could help me?

[kamome]

I'll be working at Nova but I'm really weary of taking up their housing offer and I think they may not sponsor my alternative accommondations (though this is still up in the air). Friends have recommended lots of ex-pat housing that doesn't require sponsors (just working visa, passport, and key money). I'll have a good sized monetary safety net when I get there because I'm expecting high rent and low pay. I just haven't found pet friendly, ex-pat housing.

And I might have problems lying. But thank you for the advice.

IN RESPONSE TO: Have you really thought this through? Being a nama gaijin is bad. Not having a "sponsor" is double bad. Having a cat is real bad. Having two cats is TWO BAD.

I realize this "me+2cats+Japan-sponsor" thing is a tough problem to get around, but I have 8 months to figure it out. In my experience, if one does enough research and networking in 8 months, they can solve almost any problem (minus the giant universal ones).

Does anyone else know of any sites or realtors who could help me?

Century-21 exists in Japan and is usually pretty good about finding gaijin-friendly housing. Do a google search for them in Japan and see what advice they can offer you (if any).

However, bringing animals to Japan is a big headache, from what I hear. Be ready to quarantine them for weeks. Are you sure you want to put your kitties through that torture?

[meikyuu]

Century-21 exists in Japan

Thanks. I'll check it out.

However, bringing animals to Japan is a big headache, from what I hear. Be ready to quarantine them for weeks. Are you sure you want to put your kitties through that torture?

I've read up on this problem, and I think I can get them quarantined at my home. My cat's have a medical condition in which they can easily develope stress induced urinary tract infections (which are very expensive to treat). Therefore I have to be extremely anal about both their diets and their atmosphere. They are from the same litter and this condition is hereditary, and I've got vet orders confirming this. I'll be visiting the quarantine office on a vacation before I move to Japan, so hopefully I can talk to a real person and get some okays.

This medical condition of theirs is another reason why I have to take them with me. The vet and I are pretty sure that a change in owners might be a lot more stressful than drugging them up for a plane ride and transporting them in to a new apartment. It makes things a little more challenging, but they're worth it.

[GomiGirl]

Unfortunately, with NOVA as your employer, you may not have as many options as with, say, another employer. I have personally never worked in NOVA but my many friends who have, say that they are not very flexible as staff tend to use them for the visa and then take off..

However, apparantly if you are going to be in inaka they are so grateful that you can really do anything you like.

But if you do not take their dormitary living arrangements (which is highly recommended) you may be able to negotiate a private deal.

Alternatively, look out for an ex-pat roomie.. ie somebody who has a HUGE apartment and is willing to rent out a room for cash and will take your cats.. not as unlikely as you may think. You can save your key money and move into a ready furnished apartment.

Something to think about.

[Big Booger]

I'll be sort of in the same boat next year. I have a dog and have been keeping the dog at the inlaws.. but it gets annoying when you have to drive 20 minutes everyday, sometimes two or three times a day to walk the dog, feed the dog, wash the dog.. take the dog to the vet and so on...

When we move, I'll be looking for a dog-friendly place.. whether it be a house to rent or a doggy friendly apartment complex (do they even exist?)