Relocating to Sagamihara: A Step-by-Step Expat Checklist
so you're thinking about moving to sagamihara. good choice. it's not tokyo, it's not yokohama-it's that weird in-between city that feels like a small town but has enough going on to keep you sane. i moved here six months ago and still haven't figured out if i love it or if i'm just too lazy to leave. here's what i've learned so far, in no particular order and with way too many parentheses.
first things first: rent. you're not gonna find a shoebox in shibuya for the same price. sagamihara is chill. a decent one-bedroom in the city center will run you about ¥70,000-¥90,000 a month. if you're okay with a 15-minute train ride, you can drop that to ¥50,000. utilities? another £15,000 if you're not running the AC 24/7. groceries are normal-to-cheap depending on where you shop. aeon is your friend. don't even think about daiei unless you like paying double for milk.
now, the weather. it's japan, so expect humidity that makes your hair look like you stuck a fork in an outlet. summers are brutal (july-september), winters are mild but damp. bring a good rain jacket and a portable dehumidifier unless you want your clothes to grow mushrooms.
neighbors? you're surrounded by yokohama, hakone, and enoshima. all within an hour. so if you get bored of sagamihara's quiet streets and vending machines that sell more than just drinks (yes, umbrella vending machines are real), you've got options.
here's the messy part-the checklist. i'm not doing bullet points because that's too clean. instead, here's a scribbled list i found in my notebook:
- get a hanko (name stamp) immediately. you'll need it for everything.
- register at city hall within 14 days or risk being that foreigner who messed up.
- open a japan post bank account. it's the easiest and most widely accepted.
- download the "yayoi" app for trash separation rules. sagamihara is serious about recycling. mess it up and your neighbors will judge you silently.
- learn the difference between "burnable" and "non-burnable" or face the consequences.
i overheard this at a conbini: "sagamihara is where tokyo people retire to pretend they're still young." not sure if that's shade or a compliment. either way, it's accurate.
renting here is weird if you're used to western standards. no last month's rent. instead, you pay:
- deposit (1-2 months)
- key money (1 month, basically a thank-you gift to the landlord for letting you exist)
- agent fee (1 month, because someone had to show you the place)
- guarantor company fee (because no one trusts you yet)
so yeah, moving in costs about 4-5 months' rent upfront. bring cash. lots of it.
jobs? if you're teaching english, sagamihara has a few schools and eikaiwas. not as many as yokohama, but enough. if you're working remotely, internet is solid. co-working spaces exist but are kinda sparse. most people just work from starbucks or familymart.
food scene? it's not a foodie paradise, but it's honest. ramen shops on every corner, yakitori joints that smell like heaven, and supermarkets that sell sushi cheaper than your self-esteem after a bad date. try the local specialty: sagamihara ramen. it's soy-based, heavy on the garlic, and will make you smell like a walking clove for 48 hours.
random tip from a drunk guy at a bar: "if you want to meet people, go to the tsurugamine area on a weekend. it's where all the cool kids pretend they're not from sagamihara."
and now, the data table no one asked for but everyone needs:
| Expense | Cost (JPY) | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1-Bedroom Rent | ¥75,000 | $480 |
| Utilities | £15,000 | $95 |
| Groceries/Month | £30,000 | $190 |
| Transportation | ¥10,000 | $65 |
| Internet | ¤7,000 | $45 |
pro tip: use Hyperdia for train schedules. it's a lifesaver.
and here's the map so you don't get lost:
final thoughts: sagamihara isn't flashy. it's not trying to be. it's the kind of place where you can breathe, make a life, and still be close enough to the chaos when you need it. just don't forget to separate your trash.
for more real talk, check out Reddit's r/JapanLife or GaijinPot for housing leads. and if you're into local events, Meetup Japan has a sagamihara group that's surprisingly active.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/mrida-job-scene-where-the-money-actually-is-and-isnt
- https://topiclo.com/post/the-real-cost-of-utilities-and-bills-in-bangui-and-why-you-should-care
- https://topiclo.com/post/the-real-cost-of-living-in-dnipro-surviving-on-ramen-and-hope
- https://topiclo.com/post/finding-an-englishspeaking-doctor-in-shizuoka
- https://topiclo.com/post/nampos-crazy-past-why-its-still-worth-a-visit