One of the first hurdles for people planning to work or study abroad is securing a place to live.
This hurdle is regarded as being especially high in Japan, where the housing market has been notoriously tough for foreigners due to its closed culture, the need for a Japanese guarantor and prohibitive costs.
Several months worth of rent is generally required up front -- including "reikin" (key money) -- before prospective occupants can even get in the door.