A thorough explanation of how subscription housing services like HafH and ADDress work and how to use them. We cover the benefits and drawbacks of multi-location living, cost comparisons, and practical tips for success.
Reviewed by: Nobuyuki MoriPresident, M-Assets Co., Ltd. / Licensed Real Estate Transaction Specialist (Miyagi #018212)
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Unlimited housing services are a new type of residential service that allows you to stay at multiple properties for a fixed monthly fee. Rather than living in a single property for a long period like traditional rental contracts, you can freely move between partner properties throughout Japan.
Major services include HafH and ADDress. These services have gained rapid attention against the backdrop of widespread remote work and diversifying lifestyles.
Traditional rental contracts require initial costs including security deposits, key money, agency fees, plus the cost of purchasing furniture and appliances. However, unlimited housing services are characterized by significantly reducing these costs. Additionally, properties are typically furnished with appliances and have Wi-Fi, so you can start living immediately.
HafH is a service with the concept of "living like you're traveling," offering access to over 1,000 properties both domestically and internationally. Plans start from ¥2,980 per month, with a system where you consume coins (points) based on the number of days you stay.
Multiple pricing plans are available, ranging from the Light Plan (¥2,980/month, 80 coins) to the Standard Plan (¥9,800/month, 300 coins), allowing you to choose based on your usage frequency. The properties are primarily in shared house format, with individual rooms as the standard.
A major feature of HafH is that you can use properties overseas as well. It primarily operates across Asia including Taiwan, Thailand, and South Korea, making multi-location living across borders possible.
ADDress operates under the concept of "live more freely" and features approximately 200 properties nationwide, primarily traditional houses and single-family homes. It operates on a fixed monthly fee, with the basic plan starting from ¥44,000 per month.
A major difference from HafH is that stays primarily involve houses and traditional residences, allowing you to live in a more serene environment. Many properties are in appealing rural areas, emphasizing work-cations in nature-rich environments and community interaction.
ADDress often has managers called "iemori" (house keepers) at each location who provide local information and support community building. Regular networking events are held for users, which can also serve as opportunities for making new connections.
The greatest benefit of multi-location living is the significant increase in lifestyle freedom. You can change where you live seasonally and switch between urban and rural areas based on work needs.
There are also significant economic benefits, as you don't need to pay security deposits, key money, or renewal fees required in traditional rental contracts. Costs for purchasing furniture, appliances, and moving expenses can be greatly reduced, making it especially attractive for young people and those in careers with frequent transfers.
By experiencing the cultures and people of various regions, your perspective broadens and you gain new ideas and values. It works well with remote work, allowing you to freely choose where you work, which also improves work-life balance.
On the other hand, multi-location living does have some drawbacks. First, administrative procedures can become complex, such as registering your resident status and receiving mail.
Additionally, since you must constantly carry your personal belongings, managing possessions becomes difficult and adaptation to a minimalist lifestyle is required. Building long-term relationships also becomes challenging, and participation in local communities may be limited.
It can also be difficult to secure reservations, especially in popular areas or peak seasons, with the risk that you may not be able to stay as desired. Therefore, it's important to plan flexibly and prepare multiple options.
With traditional rental contracts, a property with ¥60,000 rent requires initial costs of approximately ¥300,000, including security deposit, key money, agency fees, and advance rent. Additionally, approximately ¥500,000 for furniture and appliances and around ¥50,000 for moving costs are added.
In contrast, unlimited housing services require only the monthly fee as initial cost. You can start from ¥9,800 with HafH's Standard Plan or ¥44,000 with ADDress's basic plan. This difference is substantial and represents a major advantage for those wanting to minimize initial costs.
Monthly costs vary significantly depending on how you use the services. ADDress's ¥44,000/month is roughly equivalent to a 1R apartment in urban areas, but since utilities and internet are included, it's actually more economical.
With HafH, if you use it about 15 days per month, the ¥9,800/month plan is sufficient. This amounts to less than half the cost of traditional rental expenses.
However, if you use unlimited housing services daily, ADDress may require a higher plan costing ¥44,000 or more per month, which could be more expensive than traditional rentals.
Even with unlimited housing services, you still need to pay separately for transportation and food. Especially if you move frequently, transportation costs can exceed expectations. Additionally, extended stays at the same location may incur additional charges, so it's important to carefully review each service's pricing structure.
To successfully use unlimited housing services, choosing locations based on your goals is important. It's recommended to use the services strategically — choosing convenient urban properties when you want to focus on work and nature-rich rural properties when you want to refresh.
Consider seasonal factors as well. You can maintain a comfortable living environment by choosing summer retreats in cool areas and warm regions in winter. It's also a good approach to research local events and tourist seasons, timing your stays to coincide with cultural experiences you want to enjoy.
In multi-location living, managing your luggage is key to success. For week-long stays, aim to fit everything in one large suitcase; for month-long stays, aim for 2-3 boxes worth of belongings.
Digitization is also important. Scan documents and store them in the cloud, and use streaming services for music and video to significantly reduce physical luggage.
To make multi-location living enriching, participating in communities at each location is important. Actively participate in the user communities of unlimited housing services to exchange information and make friends.
Participating in events hosted by local tourism associations and chambers of commerce allows you to have unique local experiences and deepen connections with local people.
It's important to always have backup plans in case you can't secure a reservation. Register with multiple services and include traditional accommodations as options to maintain flexible response capabilities.
It's also important to secure an address at your parents' home or with a trusted friend to receive important mail. For resident status registration, it's reassuring to consult with your local municipality in advance.
Unlimited housing services are innovative services that significantly change traditional concepts of housing. With proper planning and preparation, you can achieve a freer and more fulfilling lifestyle. Start by trying it for a short period and discover the usage method that works best for you.
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