Discussion Forum

#1

• ri____km
• mail
• 2024/08/21 13:30

I will be stationed in Irvine starting in January.
I live with my 4 children, ages 4 and 2.
We are currently living in Chicago and had no choice of a house but a townhouse because Chicago is very hard to shovel snow.
Do most expatriates living in Irvine live in townhouses, apartments, or single-family homes? ？
I know there are advantages and disadvantages to each, but I can't imagine what it would be like in a different climate than Chicago.
Also, any recommendations on areas?
I am looking for rent within $5500.
Thanks in advance.

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#2

• Owl
• mail
• 2024/09/03 (Tue) 23:53
• Report

I used to live in Chicago. It's a nice place, but cold. LOL
It depends on what part of Irvine you want to live in, how many bedrooms you need, and if you can drive … but the climate is pleasant and comfortable year round. There is a lot of entertainment, the beach is only 15 minutes away by car, and you can even go skiing in the snowy mountains if you drive 2 hours.

With houses, you have to do the renovations and maintenance on your own, which is inconvenient. With apartments and condominiums, it's easier because they take care of the maintenance. If you have young children, I recommend a place with a park.

I think it is by far the easiest place to raise children.

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#4

• ハテナ
• 2024/09/04 (Wed) 18:04
• Report

Rent means rent, so maintenance is the landlord's obligation.

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#5

• College
• 2024/09/09 (Mon) 04:00
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アーバインは結構暑くなりますよ
良いところに住みたいなら海に近い所？

日系幼稚園に入れたいならタスティン辺りが便利かもしれません
予算は十分あるようなのでアーバインカンパニー系の
年式の新しいアメニティの揃ったアパートが良いと思います
プールは当然、テニスコートなどがあるところが良いかも

夕方はどの高速道路も混むので下道で通勤できるところ、学校の送り迎え出来るのが便利でしょう
アーバインはアメリカじゃないアメリカです
治安は基本とても安全ですが車上狙いはあります

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#1

• nachichi
• mail
• 2020/05/29 11:28

６月末に免許が切れてしまい、レターには直接来るように。
視力検査とかしなきゃいけないみたいなのですが、オンラインで予約みたいなページに行ってもうまくできません。
DMVで再開しているオフィスに予約なしで免許の更新はコロナの状況で行えますか？
行った人いますか？教えてください。

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#2

• Mariah
• 2020/05/31 (Sun) 16:36
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私もDMVの自分のページにログインできなくなりました。

パスワードを変えてもだめで、電話したらわからないと。

何とかしてほしいです。

#3

• クリムト
• 2020/05/31 (Sun) 20:52
• Report

DMVが正常に戻ってからでも大丈夫でしょ。
コロナで閉鎖されているのだから
更新はお咎めなし。

#4

• 真面目な日本人
• 2020/05/31 (Sun) 21:31
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大丈夫ですよ。

#5

• コロナを理由にだらだら仕事をしている
• 2020/06/01 (Mon) 09:24
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私もレジストレーションのステッカーが期限を切れているのにまだ送られてこない。

#6

• N95
• 2020/06/01 (Mon) 11:50
• Report

↑
更新するのが遅いからだろ
うちは前月更新オンラインでやっていつもと変わらず２週間で来たぞ

#1

• daigosakamoto
• mail
• 2019/04/22 04:19

初めましてDaigoです。

9/1-2/28の6ヶ月間、
カリフォルニア州のアーバインに短期留学に行く予定です。

大学の友達と2人で留学に行くのですが、
せっかくアメリカに行くなら現地の生活を味わいたいということで、アパートを借りて自分たちだけで生活したいと考えています。

アメリカ人の従姉妹がアーバインに住んでいるのですが、「日本とは違い、海外からの留学生だと住むのに審査が厳しくて簡単に通らないから難しい選択では？」ということでした。

それでもどうしてもアメリカで家を借りたい気持ちは大きく、そこは折れたくないのです。
デポジットを多く支払ったり、
若しくは日系の企業を通したりすれば日本人留学生でも短期で家を借りることは可能なのでしょうか？

皆さんのアドバイスや情報、ご紹介などがあれば嬉しいです。
よろしくお願いします。
連絡待ってます！

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#8

• 元遊学生ユーチューバー
• 2019/04/22 (Mon) 12:49
• Report

アーバインにあるか知らないけど、
電気やガス、水が込みのアパートもあるからそこは住めそうですね。

#9

• ぴぴ
• 2019/04/22 (Mon) 13:36
• Report

短期でこちらに来てる人がアパートを借りるのに不動産屋を通して３ヶ月分の家賃を一括で払ったと話していたのを聞いただけなので、どういうやり方で公共料金の支払いを設定したのか知らないです。その人の話を聞いて何の疑問も持たなかったので。こっちに来て長いので生活するのに必要なIDはすべてあるし、周りも日本人含めて普通の勤め人だからIDなくてアパートの電気開通できないなんて話しを聞くことはないのでそういったことには疎いです。

#10

• 時代遅れな烏合の衆
• 2019/04/22 (Mon) 14:12
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半年くらいの短期ならAirbnbは？

#11

• oc
• 2019/04/22 (Mon) 14:46
• Report

Irvineではありませんが、学生ビザでOC内のアパート一年借りていました。
私の時は2ヶ月分のデポジットの支払いと、銀行の残高証明書を提出しました。
電気やガス、wifiも管理会社に渡された電話番号にかけたら、SSNなど無くても問題無く契約出来ました。ただ、電気とガスは確か数十ドル程のデポジットを支払ったと思います。
2年前の話ですので、他の方が仰っているように今はSSNが無いと契約出来ないのかもしれません。

私の友人は、2人でアパートを借りるのに2人分の残高証明書を出して半年間借りていました。
私がアパート探していた時はどこも12ヶ月以上の契約でしたので、半年契約で探すのは見つかっても少し割高になるかもしれませんね。

#12

• ただの留学生
• 2019/04/24 (Wed) 10:40
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4年前にパサデナに一人で留学生として渡米してアパートを借りて生活していたものです。
最初の数週間はモーテルに住んでいてその間にzillowやapartment.comなどのアパートの検索サイトで探し、大家さんと直接話しました。「クレジットカードヒストリーもSSNもアメリカに銀行口座もないけど、パスポート、ビザ、現金はあるからこの部屋貸してください。デポジットはキャッシュで払います。」などと言って交渉しました。
大体の物件は１年リースなので半年は難しいと思います。

ほかの方もおっしゃっているようにAirbnbを使うことをお勧めします。あとはホストファミリーを探すというのも手だと思います。
日本人の友達と一緒に住むというのは心強いことだとは思いますが、せっかくアメリカに来ているのにわざわざ日本人の友達と一緒住まなくてもいいのではないのでしょうか？
お互いでAirbnbやホストファミリーを探して違うところで暮らし、週末に会って話すというほうがより多くの体験ができると思います。留学準備、留学生活頑張ってくださいね。

#1

• yu2
• mail
• 2018/02/18 20:47

キッチン、バスルームを2ヶ所の見積もりをして頂きたいのですが、何方かリノベーションをされた方で、紹介して頂きたいです。
宜しくお願いします。

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#2

• ヘイ
• 2018/02/18 (Sun) 21:08
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間違ってもリフォームと言わないでくれて有難う！！

#3

• ヘイメン
• 2018/02/18 (Sun) 21:33
• Report

日本人価格になるのでは？

#1

• ペネロペ
• mail
• 2026/05/23 08:49

I will be returning home for 3 months to take care of my parents. I would like a cleaning person to clean my house during that time, if you have any recommendations please let me know ！.

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書き込めなくなるまであと61日

#2

• Kame
• 2026/06/02 (Tue) 13:18
• Report

There's a Japanese cleaning company called Kito Kito.

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#3

• ペネロペ
• 2026/06/04 (Thu) 20:23
• Report

I saw the Review and it looks good ！ Thanks for the introduction ！

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#7

• Cleaning
• 2026/06/16 (Tue) 22:01
• Report

I am paying $80 for above service once a month. But I do vacuum. I also detail cleaning by myself. Cleaning lady spends total 2 hours which is $40 per hour. I do not need to vacuum but I want help her as much as I can . I want ask her to stay at least 3 hours but I feel sorry since it takes 40 minutes to come to my house.

Previous cleaning lady was charging $120 for 2 hours which is $60 per hour.

Since I am retired, I do cleaning by myself too. Fake plants, stove, 4 Japanese dolls glass cases, window glasses, kitchen fan, refrigerator, kitchen cabinet door, sink.., and so on. Endless!!!

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#1

• koo
• mail
• 2026/04/11 23:59

The owner of the house I moved out of has not refunded my deposit.
It has been over a month since I moved out of my previous house and my deposit has not been refunded.
I have also contacted them on line and have not received a reply.
The owner lives in Japan and I have no address or phone number and am very confused.

What should I do in such a case ？
Also, if you know what to do if the LINE is blocked, please let me know.

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#2

• デポジット
• 2026/04/12 (Sun) 13:24
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Hello.
That is a very troubling situation.
I am an owner renting out a house in Hawaii.
Normally, you are obligated to refund the deposit within 14 days of the end of the contract.
It depends on what the rental agreement says.
If you don't have any contact information other than LINE, you were renting through an acquaintance
？
In the meantime, you should prepare the contract, proof of payment and messages you have exchanged
.
I think it would be a good idea if you prepare the proof of the contract, proof of the payments you have made and the messages you have exchanged .

You may also consult with the following places.
Hawaii Department of Commerce and
Consumer Affairs
General Consumer Affairs （ You can file a complaint online ）

Regulated Industries Complaints Office
Realtors ・ Licensed Contractor Trouble

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#1

• あーぼー
• mail
• 2026/01/27 04:06

Question about ADU's
Has anyone used the ADU system to build an addition or separation to their back yard ？
I am planning to build an addition to my house from the ADU program and would like some advice from someone who has done it before.

Please help me ！.

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#20

• たお
• 2026/03/04 (Wed) 14:37
• Report

Studio in 2024, 2bd in 2025, 1.5ba ADU built on home site.

Water will be shared, all other systems will be stand alone. We have also secured a parking space.
A city permit will be required at each step during construction. Real estate construction is done by a variety of contractors and the market prices vary, so we always recommend consulting with someone experienced in this field. If you would like to discuss this in more detail, please contact us.

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#22

• ごまぴん
• mail
• 2026/03/28 (Sat) 12:01
• Report

Illegal building should definitely stop. To begin with, building codes, Title 24 in CA, are written based on minimum standards for people's safety and should be followed.
Broadly speaking, safety, especially earthquake resistance and fire prevention, are the two main standards, and in CA, energy conservation is added to the list, with water saving, energy saving, and high airtightness.

ADU is a very powerful （ housing solution ） CA state law, so it can be used to override minor city ordinances, setbacks, etc.
The simple explanation is that it basically allows two houses to be built on a lot where only one could be built before.
To be more precise, you can now use SB-9 to split a lot in two and have one house
1+1(ADU) + 1 (JADU) x 2 = maximum 4 families plus ＋ 2 people can live in it.

Along the coast such as Newport Beach and other waterfronts or near them, you can easily sell it for MILLIONS or rent it for a higher room price, which is delicious.

Some American customers want to build ADUs as a stable income for their retirement.
It's one of the deepest and very good real estate investments if you dig it out.

Some Japanese people want to travel both ways between Japan and the U.S., but are worried if no one lives in the house, so they build an ADU and have people live there so it doesn't look vacant.
In Irvine, it's like $4,000 a month house rent, so building an ADU would help a lot financially.
If you already own a home, I highly recommend that you consider it as a way to supplement your stable income in retirement.


But it will take some money and time, so you should understand that as well.

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#23

• ごまぴん
• 2026/03/28 (Sat) 22:11
• Report

21When I wrote that I could design it, someone banned me and erased it ？
I'm not looking for customers, so that's fine.

As I mentioned in 22, the housing standards specify basic safety standards.
Meki's garage is not a good idea because it doesn't meet safety standards, it should have a bathroom at the very least, and it is either ignorant or a jerk to not build it according to the code ？

To turn a blind eye to the fact that he lives in a garage is, in a sense, to turn a blind eye to the abuse. ？
If it's near your house, you should report it because it's a bad environment.

In ADU, you can legalize your garage and turn it into a JADU.

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#25

• Box
• 2026/03/29 (Sun) 19:05
• Report

Mr. Gomapin
We are considering an ADU for guest use. 　My engineer/designer tells me that our home will likely require Soil Test due to city codes. We are considering a prefab like BOXABL to make the cost as predictable as possible, but I still think the Soil Test will be necessary ？.

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#26

• ごまぴん
• 2026/03/30 (Mon) 07:29
• Report

Regardless of the ADU, I don't think a Soil Report is usually required for a 500 SF addition on a single story building. You should ask the engineer carefully.
Wherever the city is, or where there are a lot of ups and downs, they may be more likely to require it.Soil is 4 ～ I think it's around $5,000. Not cheap, but it is one of the necessary expenses.

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#1

• Mee
• mail
• 2025/12/07 12:21

I want to move to Arizona. Which area is good and safe ？
I heard that Chandler.Scotlsdale and other areas are safe, but even there, which area is safe ？ Is there a Nikkei store ？?

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#1

• なな
• mail
• 2025/10/13 10:10

Hello.
We are a family with children living in the US.
I will be relocating to Los Angeles next year and would like to discuss the area where we will live.

We are considering
Redondo Beach
Cypress
Rancho Palos Verdes
Torrance
Culver City
El Segundo
I am thinking of

Preferences
• Not too many Japanese
• Some Asian presence
• Easy access to Asian grocery stores
• 6000-7000
• easy access to Century City where I work

From the above points, what is the best area to live ？ and what other areas should I look at? ！

Also, I know that many people recommend Torrance or Palos Verdes, but how many Japanese people are in each area? Can you tell me how many Japanese are in a class on average?

Thank you ！

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#3

• 不便
• 2025/10/14 (Tue) 20:22
• Report

El Segundo or Culver would be the best choice considering commuting.
The others are far from the freeway.
I don't know the Asian population of North Redondo, Torrance or El Segundo.
Manhattan Beach or Marina Del Rey.

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#4

• .倍金萬
• 2025/10/16 (Thu) 18:05
• Report

＞ Families with children living in the U.S.

Does that mean that your children are already living in the U.S.?

I don't know if they are studying abroad, but if so, they would probably be limited to within driving distance

of that school.

＞ • Asians must be present to some extent

Here in Los Angeles, "Asians" are everywhere, large and small.

＞ Easy access to Century City, where I commute to work

Morning and evening rush hours can be quite heavy, so

limited to a few miles radius from Century City. It will be limited to a few miles radius from Century City.

Not too far away, just over a mountain to the north, is San Fernando Valley

where I have lived for over 50 years.

Here in the valley, the mountains are about the same size as the hills above and the cool air from the ocean does not come here, so it gets very hot in the summer.

But since there is no humid wind from the ocean, the humidity is extremely low and the temperature is high but not so high that you sweat. However, in summer, the temperature sometimes exceeds 100F (38C).

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#5

• ハトヤ
• mail
• 2025/10/17 (Fri) 18:25
• Report

＞ It would be limited to about a few miles radius from Century City.

That's what anyone would normally think, even if they are not blessed with the intelligence of a former super elite expatriate like Mr. Double Kin Man.
Why is he even a candidate for Cypress, the next county over 30 miles away? It is like a person relocating to Tokyo renting an apartment in Ibaraki Prefecture. I am also surprised that Century City is not on the list. I would decide on Century City without hesitation.

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#7

• Lucy
• 2025/10/19 (Sun) 23:46
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I lived in WLA. Around here, there are a few Asian students per class, except in some schools.
Considering the morning and evening traffic jams, I think Culver City or El Segundo, as close as possible, would be a good choice. Other potential locations would take more than an hour each way to commute.
As for schools, you can check out Gratschools.
If it is a 4-5 bedroom, it would be a house, and rents are very high these days, so I don't know if you can rent it for $6000-7000.


The El Segundo school district is small and very nice, but too small to have much choice. I am told that it is mostly white.
Because it is a small community, there are few apartments or other rental properties, rents are high, and I think it would be difficult to find a suitable vacant house.

The Culver City school district is also small, but larger than El Segundo, and the schools on the north side are better.
Note that there are places where the address is Culver City but the school district is LASD.
Culver City has always been a predominantly black area, but there are also more Orientals on the north side, and more black as you go south.

The school district near Century City is not a candidate, probably because it is LASD.
LASD also varies quite a bit from school to school, and there are many good schools, so you could live within commuting distance of a school that meets your needs.
However, rent is also higher in the commuting area of good schools.

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#8

• プラヤ
• mail
• 2025/10/24 (Fri) 10:19
• Report

If you work in Century City, Culver City, West LA, Mar Vista area would be good.
There are Japanese markets and restaurants.
Torrance has a Japanese community and many Japanese, but Culver City, West LA, Mar Vista area has a good mix. （ I also live in this area ）

Depending on the age of your children, Culver City has a language immersion school elementary school where you can take classes in Japanese.

Torrance, Rancho PV, and El Segundo use the 405 freeway for commuting, and the northbound route toward Century City is congested in the morning.

Cypress is too far away.

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#1

• RinoRino
• mail
• 2025/05/13 02:41

I just arrived in J1.
I am in a dormitory right now, but
I am having a hard time finding a house and can't decide.
I found a room along the Ala Wai Canal that is available
but it is hard to fill, so I am considering whether it is popular or not.
Is it dangerous to walk home from work late at night ？?

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#22

• ひょろガリ(病気持ち癌)
• mail
• 2025/08/10 (Sun) 00:51
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I've been living in an old condo along Ala Wai for 10 years and I've never been in any danger, even at night ….
I think it's not popular or quiet, but it's nothing compared to Japan.
I would say it's just a matter of being on the lookout for danger, or at least being lightly vigilant.
In fact, there are as many Japanese as ogres living around here, but I haven't heard of any incidents.
Everyone is exaggerating, exaggerating, exaggerating. lol
Don't act like you know anything. lol

Please live your life in Hawaii with peace of mind.

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#24

• Amazonite
• 2025/08/10 (Sun) 23:53
• Report

#22 Hirogari

Maybe because you are a man.
Most of the victims are women. I can only recall a Japanese man wearing a Rolex watch who was the victim of a theft
on Kuhio Street.
I once had three young local women have their handbags stolen
from one local man on Ala Wai street, I guess they thought they were safe because there were only three of them.
I thought it was better for women not to walk around with others.
Even private lockers in Waikiki condos that are locked with security
are frequently broken into.
Hawaii has fewer incidents than other states, but I never felt safe and secure.
Tourists should be very careful.

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#25

• Lotus01
• 2025/08/11 (Mon) 13:53
• Report

Walking home late at night is dangerous anywhere in Hawaii. As a matter of probability, the Ala Wai area is high. But even around Ala Moana, where the probability is low, the probability is high in some places. And as for location, just like airplanes and car accidents, the more you ride, the higher the probability, and the more you walk around late at night, the higher the probability of encountering a bad guy. I think you can increase the odds of preventing it, though, by being a man, not wearing expensive things, etc.

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#27

• aikane
• 2025/08/19 (Tue) 01:26
• Report

I would recommend the Ala Moana area or Don Quijote area, as the streets along Ala Wai and from Kuhio to Kapahulu are not safe.

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#28

• 現
• 2025/09/19 (Fri) 00:27
• Report

Ala Wai street is dangerous. Rent is cheap though. Don't go there.

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