Should You Rent a LEOPALACE 21 Apartment? The Real Pros and Cons for Vietnamese Residents
A practical review of renting a Leopalace 21 apartment in Japan: costs, pros and cons, soundproofing, and the latest information on Monthly and Chintai contracts as of August 2026.
Aug 7, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 11 min read
A practical review of renting a Leopalace 21 apartment in Japan: costs, pros and cons, soundproofing, and the latest information on Monthly and Chintai contracts as of August 2026.
When you first arrive in Japan or need to find a new place to live quickly, almost every Vietnamese person — from international students and technical interns to engineers and young families — has heard of Leopalace 21 (レオパレス21) at least once. This is an extremely popular rental housing network because its rooms come furnished, do not require a Japanese guarantor, and can be approved quickly. However, rumors circulating in Vietnamese communities in Japan about “paper-thin walls,” poor soundproofing, sky-high cancellation penalties, and loft rooms that become ovens in summer have left many people unsure. Is Leopalace 21 really worth renting? This OlaChill article provides the most detailed and practical analysis as of August 2026 to help you make the right decision.
1. Overview of Leopalace 21: Why Do Vietnamese Residents Both Love and Fear It?
Leopalace 21 is a real estate company specializing in the management and rental of studio apartments distributed across Japan’s prefectures and cities. Its main customers are students, single professionals, and especially foreign residents.
The reason Leopalace 21 is so popular is its convenience: you can simply move in with your suitcase because the room already comes equipped with everything from a TV, refrigerator, and air conditioner to a bed and desk. For Vietnamese people who have just arrived in Japan, lack a credit history, or are not yet comfortable with Japanese, renting a traditional home through a Japanese real estate agency often results in an outright rejection. Leopalace 21 is the easiest “lifeline” available.
However, the company has also faced its share of criticism. The 2018-2019 scandal involving buildings that failed to meet soundproofing and fire-safety standards seriously damaged the brand’s reputation. Although the company has reinforced and renovated many buildings, real-world experiences with noise and unexpected costs remain hard-learned lessons for many previous tenants.
2. The Major Advantages That Make Leopalace 21 Popular with Vietnamese Residents
Fully furnished with appliances and furniture (Kaden / Kagu)
If you rent a conventional home in Japan, you will receive a completely empty room — no refrigerator, no washing machine, and sometimes not even a ceiling light. Buying the necessary items at the beginning can cost between 100,000 JPY ~ 150,000 JPY (approximately 16,5 - 24,7 million VND). With Leopalace 21, the room already includes:
- Air conditioner (エアコン - eakon)
- Refrigerator (冷蔵庫 - reizouko), washing machine (洗濯機 - sentakki)
- Microwave oven (電子レンジ - denshi renji), TV (テレビ - terebi)
- Bed, desk, and wardrobe
Low initial costs, with no deposit or brokerage fee
A typical rental agreement 賃貸契約 (chintai keiyaku) in Japan requires 3-5 months’ rent to be paid upfront. Leopalace 21 significantly reduces this burden:
- Security deposit 敷金 (shikikin): Usually 0 JPY.
- Key money / Initial fee 礼金 (reikin): Usually 0 JPY or one month’s rent, depending on the room and promotional program.
- Brokerage fee 手数料 (tesuuryou): 0 JPY, since you rent directly from the management company.
Simple procedures and easy approval for foreign residents
You do not need a personal guarantor (保証人 - hoshonin) who is Japanese. Instead, Leopalace 21 works with Plaza Rental Management Guarantee Co., Ltd. Paperwork support is available in multiple languages. The basic documents required are:
- Residence card 在留カード (zairyu card)
- Passport (Passport)
- Student ID or employment certificate / payslips
- Certificate of residence 住民票 (juminhyo) when signing the official contract
3. Disadvantages and Cost “Traps” to Watch Out For
Soundproofing issues (壁の薄さ - kabe no ususa)
This is the most frequently criticized drawback. Leopalace 21 buildings are constructed using lightweight steel frames (軽量鉄骨 - keiryou tekkotsu) or wooden structures (木造 - mokuzou). If you happen to choose an older building:
- You may hear the neighboring tenant’s alarm, TV, and even toilet flushing.
- Footsteps from the upstairs tenant walking across the wooden floor can be very loud.
- Advice: Vietnamese residents often have a habit of gathering to eat and talking on the phone late at night, which can easily lead to neighbors calling the police or filing a complaint with the management office.
Loft apartments can become extremely hot in summer
Many Leopalace rooms feature lofts to save space. However, heat accumulates near the ceiling, making the loft extremely hot and stuffy in July and August. Even when the air conditioner is running at full capacity, cool air may not reach the sleeping area on the loft, resulting in significantly higher electricity consumption.
Early cancellation penalty 違約金 (iyakukin)
Many people mistakenly assume they can move out of a Leopalace 21 apartment whenever they want. In reality:
- 賃貸 (Chintai - long-term) contract: If you cancel within the first year, you will be charged one month’s rent as a breach-of-contract penalty 違約金 (iyakukin).
- Free Rent promotional plans (1-2 months of free rent): If you receive this benefit but cancel within the first 8-12 months, the entire discounted amount will be reclaimed.
Monthly service fees and additional charges
In addition to the listed rent, which includes Rent and the management / environmental maintenance fee 環境維持費 - kankyou iji hi, you are required to pay the following charges as of August 2026:
- LEONET Internet fee: approximately 2,640 JPY/month (~435,000 VND).
- Annual guarantee renewal fee 保証委託料 (hoshou itakuryou): 5,000 JPY - 10,000 JPY/year.
- Lock replacement fee 鍵交換費用 (kagi koukan hiyou) when moving in: approximately 16,500 JPY (~2,7 million VND).
- Professional move-out cleaning fee 退去時清掃費 (taikyoji seisouhi): approximately 33,000 JPY - 45,000 JPY (before tax, depending on room size).
4. Comparing Leopalace 21 with Traditional Rentals (賃貸 - Chintai)
For easier reference, here is a detailed comparison as of August 2026 (reference exchange rate: 1 JPY ≈ 165 VND):
| Criteria | Leopalace 21 (Chintai Contract) | Traditional Rental (Real Estate Agency) |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture / Appliances | Fully furnished (TV, refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner, bed...) | Empty room; you must purchase everything 100% yourself |
| Security deposit 敷金 (shikikin) | Usually 0 JPY | 1 - 2 months’ rent (~50,000 - 120,000 JPY) |
| Brokerage fee 手数料 | 0 JPY | 0.5 - 1 month’s rent + 10% tax |
| Guarantee fee & Insurance | Paid to Plaza (~100% of the first month’s rent + 5,000-10,000 JPY/year) | Depends on the guarantee company (~50%-100% of rent + annual renewal fee) |
| Approval for foreign residents | Very easy, with streamlined online procedures | Difficult; high rejection rate if your Japanese is limited |
| Soundproofing | Average to poor, especially in older steel-frame/wooden buildings | Better, if you choose a reinforced-concrete RC/SRC building |
| Early cancellation penalty 違約金 | One month’s rent if you stay for less than 1 year | Depends on the contract, usually a penalty applies if you leave within 1-2 years |
| Total long-term cost (>2 years) | More expensive because monthly rent is slightly higher for the space | Cheaper, with more spacious living areas |
5. Tips for Choosing a Room and Telling Monthly and Chintai Contracts Apart
Leopalace 21 offers 2 main types of contracts. Choose the right one based on your actual needs:
1. Monthly Contract (マンスリー契約 - Mansuri keiyaku)
- Target tenants: Business travelers, short-term international students, and interns staying from 30 days to 365 days.
- Features: Payment is made in full upfront. The cost includes the room, electricity, water, gas, and Internet. You do not need to register electricity and water contracts yourself with utility companies.
- Example cost (standard Rank, 30-day Short-term plan): Approximately 150,000 - 200,000 JPY/30 days (including cleaning, life support service, and lock fees).
2. Chintai Contract (賃貸契約 - Chintai keiyaku)
- Target tenants: People staying for 1 year or more, including engineers, international students, and families.
- Features: Monthly rent is paid through a bank account. You pay electricity, water, and gas bills directly to the respective providers.
- Term: 2-year contract, with a renewal fee of 16,500 JPY (tax included) every 2 years.
💡 Tips for choosing a “high-quality” Leopalace 21 room for Vietnamese residents
- Prioritize a first-floor or corner unit (角部屋 - kadobeya): This helps minimize noise affecting surrounding neighbors and reduces the chance of being disturbed.
- Avoid rooms with lofts if you are sensitive to heat: If you still want a loft, make sure the room has a ceiling circulation fan or well-ventilated windows.
- Check the building’s construction year: Buildings constructed from 2019 - 2020 onward generally have much better soundproofing than older buildings built between the 2000 - 2010 period.
- Ask carefully about Free Rent promotions: Always read the penalty terms thoroughly if you may move out before 1 year.
6. Detailed Cost Breakdown for Renting a Leopalace 21 Chintai Apartment (As of August 2026)
Suppose you rent a Leopalace 21 apartment for 50,000 JPY/month (~8,25 million VND) in an area on the outskirts of Tokyo or in a neighboring prefecture:
| Expense | Payment timing | Estimated cost (JPY) | Approximate cost (~VND) |
|---|---|---|---|
| First month’s rent + maintenance fee | Upfront | ~53,000 JPY | ~8,7 million VND |
| Key money 礼金 (reikin) | Upfront | 0 - 50,000 JPY | 0 - 8,2 million VND |
| Lock replacement fee 鍵交換費用 | Upfront | ~16,500 JPY | ~2,7 million VND |
| Fire insurance 火災保険 | Upfront (for 2 years) | ~19,890 JPY | ~3,3 million VND |
| Guarantee company fee 保証委託料 | Upfront | ~50,000 - 60,000 JPY | ~8,2 - 9,9 million VND |
| Estimated total initial cost | When signing the contract | ~140,000 - 190,000 JPY | ~23,0 - 31,3 million VND |
| Monthly rent + management fee | Monthly (bank transfer on the 27th) | ~53,550 JPY | ~8,8 million VND |
| Internet fee (LEONET) | Monthly (optional) | ~2,640 JPY | ~435,000 VND |
| Move-out cleaning fee 退去時清掃費 | When moving out | ~33,000 - 45,000 JPY | ~5,4 - 7,4 million VND |
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Can 2-3 people live together in a Leopalace 21 apartment?
Answer: Most Leopalace 21 1K and 1R apartments are registered as single-occupancy rooms (1 person). If you want 2 people to live there, you must notify the company in advance and choose an apartment that allows cohabitation (同居 - doukyo), along with paying a monthly management surcharge for the second resident. Unauthorized cohabitation may result in a fine or unilateral termination of the contract if discovered.
Q. How are electricity and water bills paid under a Chintai contract?
Answer: With a Chintai contract, you must call or register online with local electricity, water, and gas providers when you move in. Bills will be sent to your mailbox each month or automatically deducted from your card or bank account.
Q. How do I terminate my contract when I want to move out?
Answer: You need to submit a cancellation notice (退去申込み - taikyu moshikomi) at least 1 month in advance through the Leopalace 21 app/website or by visiting a branch in person. If you give notice late, you will still have to pay the rent for the following month.
Q. What can I do to reduce noise if the walls are too thin?
Answer: You can use thick floor rugs, add soundproofing foam panels to the walls, and place a wardrobe or bookshelf against the shared wall with the neighboring apartment to reduce sound transmission.
8. Summary & Advice
In summary, LEOPALACE 21 IS STILL A VERY WORTHWHILE OPTION TO CONSIDER if you:
- Have just arrived in Japan and need a room immediately without spending a large amount on furniture and appliances.
- Are not yet comfortable with Japanese and want to avoid the complicated screening process used by Japanese real estate agencies.
- Plan to stay short-term, from 6 months to 1.5 years.
On the other hand, if you plan to settle in Japan long-term (>2 years), are sensitive to noise, or want a spacious home for your family, be patient and look for a traditional reinforced-concrete (RC) rental.
For more useful tips about life, renting, and transportation in Japan, you can read more articles on the same topics at Blog OlaChill or check the housing procedures guide at Japanese Real Estate. Don’t forget to visit OlaChill for the latest information to help you confidently manage your life in Japan!
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