Temporary Accommodation Before Long-Term Apartment

Hello,

I'll be moving to Tokyo in mid-September for graduate school and I am trying to lock down an apartment. My program is two years long, so I want to sign a lease instead of going with something designed for shorter accommodations. Minimini has a relationship with my school (Todai) and I am working with an agent there.

I was hoping I'd be able secure something before I depart my home country, but there are a number of issues with this:

• Limited Number of Units: Restricting my search to apartments that allow for such an "overseas inspection" significantly limits the number of units available for my consideration.
• Increased Cost: Since such units are attractive to foreigners, I have to believe units that allow "overseas inspection" are more expensive than they otherwise would be.
• Furniture: It seems like there are basically zero apartments that are furnished and allow for "overseas inspection" – both of these are somewhat unusual criteria in their own right. As such, I'm looking to rent furniture, but I won't be able to engage that service until I have access to my apartment.
• Certificate of Eligibility Logistics: My COE (which I need to present to my real estate agent for them to initiate any prospective leasing process) won't be available until late-August, which is cutting it pretty close to my departure date.

As such, I'm thinking of getting a temporary accommodation while I go hunting for a longer-term apartment. A couple of questions pertaining to this:

1. If anyone has done something similar before, how long did you book your temporary accommodation for and how long the did apartment hunt take?
2. How long does it take from contacting a furniture rental company to getting your furniture delivered?
3. Any recommendations for furniture rental services? (I am looking at Muji currently but other suggestions are welcome.)