anotherfool@hotmail.com (another fool) wrote in message news:<44845040.0306160045.79c1ece9@posting.google.com>...
> kaz@ivebeenframed.com (Kaz) wrote in message news:<365fcc52.0306131800.5223623d@posting.google.com>...
> > mtfester@netscape.net wrote in message news:<bccp8n$i8a$2@news.Stanford.EDU>...
> > 
> > > think, but you will be discriminated against in terms of housing, 
> > 
> > Things about housing may not be racism. Japanese landlords are afraid
> > of if their housings for rent would be messed up by those non-Japanese
> > who don't know the Japanese life style. Japanese are extremely nervous
> > about people entering a house with shoes on, onto Tatami rooms or wood
> > floors. and unfortunately, Westerners are considered as typical people
> > who don't take off their shoes conventionally by the Japanese.
> >  
> > Nevertheless, I think those who refuse to rent out their housings to
> > non-Japanese would be rarely seen in the outside of Tokyo region. The
> > Japanese outside of Tokyo, especially rural area, or provincial cities
> > are rather tend to welcome foreigners, especially Westerners for their
> > international cultural exchange or something.
> 
> I don't know - the housing situation here is pretty open (lots of
> places for sale and rent).  And we hit it both in one house we were
> interested in and the one we eventually rented.
> 
> In case #1 when they found out that a foriegner was inquiring about
> the house they said they didn't want me because they were looking for
> a 'long term lease' - when asked if 3 years wasn't 'long term' the
> landlord said 'no I'm looking for someone for 5+ years'.  The realtors
> told us this had only become a problem when he found out I wasn't
> Japanese.
> 
> In case #2 the house we eventually leased the landlord wanted copies
> of our passport picture pages.  We faxed them over and the landlord
> wanted copies that were lighter since he couldn't see our faces.  When
> we asked the realtor they just sort of apologized that he was afraid I
> might be black.  I wasn't really thrilled (and after getting here and
> finding out the AC's they told us were working DON'T I'm less
> thrilled) but I needed someplace to stay - and the house is
> inexpensive and will let us keep the insane feline.

In my experience, it helps to have a referral. Actually this is true
for Japanes and foriegners alike, but we got our place through a
realtor a friend had used with much success.

John W.