So we just moved to our new apartment, it hasn’t even been a week yet but we’re already struggling with the noise from 1am. We can’t sleep well. If it’s just from our neighbor, I can really just complain about it but the noise is coming from the road side– to be exact, to the overpass. We didn’t know that trucks are even passing here in this place. Are there anything we can do? Like blocking the noise?
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/15t7k0w/we_made_a_wrong_choice/
32 comments
Ear plugs
A bit late now, but avoid apartments next to major roads (railways) and especially an overpass.
Don’t have any good advice but wish you all the best.
White noise machine can help – I had that while in Central London which tens to be noisy with traffic.
Unfortunately, if you’re only renting, there’s little you can do about noise. While the noise is probably an irritant, you really ought to invest in air filters that have replaceable HEPA filters in them. Living close to highways has proven to be a major contributor to short term and long term issues.
https://www.prb.org/resources/the-health-costs-and-benefits-of-living-near-roads-highways-and-light-rail/
How much is the rent?1DK?
Yeah, it is hard when it is relatively quiet and then something really loud passes.
I would try 2 things:
1. Talk to your neighbors. They have likely had the same issues. They might say you get used to it, or they might have some strategies to help.
2. White noise. I think it is probably the changes in volume that wake you, not the volume. By playing some white noise it might help reduce the perceived differences in volume.
Also:
3. Does the apartment have quieter apartments? Like on the other side of the building? The owner would be smart to let you move instead of seeing you leave, if they are as desperate for tenants as most. You should only have to pay the cleaning fee of a few hundred dollars.
4. Don’t feel trapped. The 2 year contract you signed doesn’t prevent you leaving. You can leave with a few weeks notice and only pay for the time you stayed. I mention this because I often see on American TV that a one year lease means you have to stay ( or pay) for the whole year. If leaving, you should only lose about $200 for cleaning, and whatever it costs you to move your stuff ( you have already lost any key money you paid and you should get your full deposit back unless they can point to specific damage)..
5. If moving into a new apartment, if it says 1 month key money, just ask for it to be removed, and they will usually remove it, in my experience. There is no need to pay key money, and in fact the opposite of key money ( where the tennant gets a month or a few weeks free) should be more common. Landlords are desperate, tennants aren’t. The bigger barrier is finding places that are n’t an automatic no to foreigners
6. It is inconvenient and I have not done it, but spending 10 minutes in silence at an apartment at night to see what noise is like is probably a good idea. Measuring volume is probably a good idea. There are free apps.
3 pane window? I live near highway and jr Train, plus in front is big street . Open window is craziness , close windows 0% sound lols.
Do you sleep on your back? Noise cancelling earphones.
If the sounds are consistent you will get used to them.
Unfortunately, other than a white noise machine and ear plugs, the only thing you could do is move. My first apt. turned out to be just above a small bottle recycling business so I got to hear larges bottles being sorted and resorted (outside on the street) for hours every weekday. I viewed the apt on a Sunday (big mistake). It was horrible.
Now on my third apt. in Tokyo one of the first things I learned do is check the quality of the windows. They need to be relatively modern, hopefully double-paned and well-fitting. If not, I pass. I also try viewing prospective apts on a Monday, midday when noise may be more noticeable.
not just ear plugs, LOOP earplugs (“quiet” model). these changed my life.
Hang thick blankets in front of the windows. Maybe even put stacks of books there at night.
Ear plugs/earbuds with white noise asmr
White noise machine
Good luck. This is advice from an overnight worker.
I’m sorry to hear that. When I moved to a new apartment, it was close (but not too close) to a railway. Cargo trains passed by, even at midnight, and I hadn’t considered it. In a few weeks, I just got used to the noise and could sleep as usual. Maybe you’ll get used to the environmental noise.
White noise machine may help at night. Noise cancelling headphones can help in the daytime.
Honestly – your body will adjust after a couple of weeks and you will sleep through it.
Not ideal, but I went through it before too.
Earplugs are a necessary thing in many big cities. Also could play white noise or something too.
I use an air filter to create some white noise that helps to cover up neighborhood noise when I’m sleeping.
Jeez I guess I got it good then. I’ve been moaning about some cars idling on the other side of the street at 7am, when my window is open.
Ear plugs, noice cancelling earbuds, white noise machine, air conditioner, fan, sound blankets, move out.
Your brain will get used to it and tune it out. Some people sleep like babies even though they live next to the train tracks.
In reply to people saying you’ll get used to it, you don’t get used to noise. You may adapt to noise, but that’s always at a cost to your health long term. Studies have proven that. Move if you can.
What city? I used to live in Tokyo/Meguro close to Shibuya. The noise from the traffic was crazy and we lived in a doorman type of building. Still not even close to NYC
Louder consistent noise, like a fan.
It’s tough and often uncomfortable to achieve complete silence. So try at least creating a rhythm your body will adapt to ignoring. Sleeping with a fan on is usually the best choice. You get cool airflow and a noise buffer. Setting music to play at a relatively low hum also helps. Not loud enough it bleeds through the walls, but loud enough it drowns out the little irritations.
I used to live in a house that backed into train tracks. I got used to it over time.
Good news: the brain is exceptionally good at blocking out recurring noise once it has identified them as such. Give it a week or two and you might not even notice those trucks anymore. Source: have lived close to a hospital, couldn’t sleep for about two weeks, then my brain did the magic.
Advice to anyone moving to a new home anywhere in the world.
After you’ve done the viewing, come back of your own accord at night time. This is when you can check if there’s any local kids practicing the drums, noisy restaurants or cafes clattering pans or screaming greetings, mad barking dogs etc.
Try a good white noise generator. It won’t help with the huge noises but it may help mask the overall road noises
You might be able to talk to a lawyer and go through the contract, as anything, such as continual noise or some other inconvenience, has to be revealed at the signing. (They even have to admit if anyone died or committed suicide in your apartment). If they did not mention it and you were not warned, you may get your money back minus a few yen for the attorney who made the call. Most places want you to return and rent again, so they are usually flexible. If not, the real estate agent gets to hire a lawyer and go to court, so unless you were warned about the noise, you have a potential out.
I wonder if you can get some of the foam noise dampening tiles and use those to help?
As some thing that a few other commenters have said, you might surprisingly eventually get used to it.
When I first moved to Japan I lived in the countryside in an apartment provided by my employer. And it was right next to one of the only train lines that ran to the city. But, JR freight trains also ran this line at around two and 4 o’clock in the morning, almost every night.
I remember the first night, being woken up at around two in the morning from what sounded like the freight train literally driving through my living room. It was insane how loud it was.
But, somehow, after about a week or two, I just got used to it, and slept through it. Somehow my body learned to just cancel that sound out. I knew it was still happening, because when I would have a girl stay over, she would be woken up in the middle of the night by the sound. And I seemed to just be sleeping through it.
I know it’s not the best solution, but you might be surprised in a few weeks, that you don’t even notice the noise anymore.
How many years is in your contract?
I’d say you’ll get used to it eventually ( some houses are located right next to the tracks and that’s crazy , people eventually stop noticing the noise)
Noise cancelling headphones have become pretty magical even on a low budget. You dont even need to connect it to a device or play music. Just turn it on and you’ll barely hear anything.