Hmlet Japan | A Place to Call Home, for as Long as You Need

Flexible living with Hmlet, a Mitsubishi Estate Group company

We are delighted to introduce this piece by BCCJ member Hmlet Japan, introducing their Corporate Sales Team, led by Takashi Tamura. With exclusive rates for members, we warmly invite you to read on and learn how Hmlet Japan could support your organisational housing needs.

Hmlet Japan, part of the Mitsubishi Estate Group, offers fully furnished, flexible rental homes designed to make that transition simpler. With stays available from just one month, a dedicated corporate sales team and a growing portfolio of residences across Tokyo, Hmlet provides businesses with a considered alternative to conventional rentals and extended hotel stays.

A message from Takashi Tamura

Hello everyone! My name is Takashi Tamura, and I am the Corporate Sales Manager at Hmlet Japan.

I have spent 12 years working in real estate and flexible services, the first ten in the office sector and more recently in residential accommodation. Both an office and a home are essential foundations for people building their lives and businesses in Japan. If you ever need a little advice on finding office space, or an introduction to the right people, I would be equally delighted to help.

A home is a deeply personal part of life. It is where we return after a long day, where we establish routines and where we find the sense of security that allows us to feel settled. At Hmlet, we recognise that the quality of a person's living environment can have a meaningful effect on their wider experience in Japan.

While Hmlet is already enjoyed by many individual residents, our corporate team is working to make it better known as an option for businesses whenever the need arises. Whether you are welcoming a new colleague from overseas or arranging accommodation for an entire group, we are here to understand your requirements and make the process as straightforward as possible.

As members of the British Chamber of Commerce in Japan, I am delighted to extend preferential rates and exclusive offers through my team. 

For any inquiry, please contact myself directly at: [email protected] and inform us that you are a member of the BCCJ. Even if you are only interested learning more at this stage, I would be very happy to hear from you.

Please note that inquiries that do not come to me directly are not eligible for BCCJ rates.

What is Hmlet?

Hmlet provides fully furnished rental residences, complete with appliances and essential living infrastructure, for stays beginning at one month. The concept is built around three simple ideas: making moving in easier, giving residents greater freedom over the length of their stay, and enriching everyday life through opportunities to connect with an international community.

Residents can arrive at a prepared home without the usual need to purchase furniture or arrange basic utilities. Contracts can accommodate both shorter and longer-term requirements, while regular community events offer opportunities to meet fellow residents and discover more of life in Tokyo.

The challenge of finding the right stay

Traditional monthly apartments, hotels and conventional rental properties each have their place, but they can present difficulties when businesses need accommodation for a defined period. For HR and administrative teams, the process may involve searching for suitable properties, negotiating contracts, arranging utilities and internet access, and coordinating payments. Conventional rentals can also bring substantial upfront costs, while extended hotel stays in central Tokyo may become increasingly expensive.

For the person arriving, there is another consideration: the practical and emotional work of settling into an unfamiliar city. Furnishing an apartment, navigating a new language and establishing a comfortable daily routine can all add to the pressures of a new assignment.

Designed around the needs of businesses

A simpler process for corporate teams

My dedicated corporate sales team can coordinate the search, proposal and contract process through a single point of contact. Arrangements can typically be completed in approximately five days, depending on the requirements, with communication and documentation handled by email or online.

For organisations managing several employees or interns at once, multiple rooms can be consolidated into a single payment arrangement. Credit card payments and bank transfers against invoices are available.

How businesses are using Hmlet

More than 100 corporate clients have used Hmlet across a wide range of industries. The flexibility of the accommodation makes it particularly well suited to situations where the length of a stay is known, but the requirements of a conventional lease may be disproportionate.

International financial institutions and banks have used Hmlet as temporary accommodation for relocating employees. Consulting firms and law practices have arranged residences for summer interns and professionals on extended assignments, while public institutions and embassies have used the service for diplomats requiring temporary homes.

The portfolio has also supported international schools welcoming teachers recruited from overseas, as well as film production companies arranging accommodation for international productions shooting in Japan.

Greater clarity over costs

Hmlet's rental model does not require key money or agency fees. Furniture, appliances, kitchen equipment, Wi-Fi and utilities are included in the rent, creating a clearer picture of the overall accommodation budget.

For longer stays, this can provide a cost-effective alternative to central Tokyo hotels, particularly when businesses need accommodation that offers the practical facilities of a home rather than a hotel room.

Support for the people who stay

The experience of the resident remains central to the service. Hmlet's team can provide support in both Japanese and English, from contract documentation through to communication before and after move-in. This is particularly valuable for international companies and employees arriving from overseas.

Contracted apartments can also be used as an address for resident registration, an important practical consideration for those establishing their lives in Japan.

A growing collection of Tokyo residences

Hmlet currently operates more than 1,800 rooms, with plans to expand to 10,000 by 2030. Its portfolio is designed around accessibility, contemporary interiors and a variety of living requirements.

Approximately 95% of properties are located within a ten-minute walk of a station, while around 80% are less than five years old. Approximately 40% of the portfolio comprises one-bedroom or larger layouts, and around half of the properties offer pet-friendly options.

Well-connected neighbourhoods, with everything needed to settle in

Hmlet has residences across many of Tokyo's principal business and residential districts, allowing companies to consider locations close to offices, transport links and the neighbourhoods in which their employees would like to live.

In Minato-ku, options include Hmlet Premium Azabudai, Azabu-Juban, Shiba-Koen and Shirokanedai. Shinjuku-area residences include Shinjuku Tower, Nishi-Shinjuku and Shinjuku Gyoen II. In Shibuya-ku, the portfolio includes Harajuku, Ebisu and Shibuya Shoto.

Further options are available in Chuo-ku, including Nihonbashi Hamacho, Nihonbashi Kayabacho and Ginza Tsukiji, as well as Oimachi and Higashi-Gotanda in Shinagawa-ku.

The residences are equipped with a broad selection of everyday essentials, allowing residents to arrive with considerably less preparation. Furnishings and appliances include beds, desks and chairs, desk lamps, air conditioning, televisions, refrigerators, microwaves, kettles, washing machines, vacuum cleaners and irons. Each home is simply ready for you.

How to arrange a stay

The process begins with a conversation with me. Simply contact the Hmlet corporate team with your preferred area, dates, number of residents and any particular requirements. The team will then propose suitable available residences and provide a quotation.

Once a property has been selected, the application and contract process can be completed by email or online, typically taking approximately five days. Payment can be arranged by credit card or bank transfer, with consolidated billing available for multiple rooms.

On the agreed move-in date, residents can enter their accommodation at a convenient time and begin settling into their new home.

In closing

Thank you very much for taking the time to learn more about Hmlet.

For me, the most rewarding part of this work is knowing that we can help someone feel at home during an important period of their life. Whether a colleague is beginning a new role, a student is joining a summer internship or a family is finding its feet in Japan, the right living environment provides a quiet but essential foundation for everything that follows.

We understand that businesses are looking for more than a reduction in costs or administrative work. The satisfaction and wellbeing of the people staying in our residences matter just as much. This is why we have established a dedicated corporate team, with an emphasis on personal service, careful listening and finding arrangements that genuinely suit each organisation's needs.

If we have the pleasure of meeting at a future BCCJ event, please do come and say hello. I would be delighted to speak with you about Hmlet, finding a home in Japan, or even finding the right office space. I look forward to meeting more members of the BCCJ community.

Takashi Tamura
Corporate Sales Manager, Hmlet Japan

Email: [email protected]
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