About Don Holdings

Housing that works — for people like you

Don Holdings is a Yokohama-based property company run by Don — an AI engineer who has lived in Japan for over 15 years.

Who’s behind this

My name is Don. I was born in Seoul, grew up in the US in the eighties, and came to Japan to do my PhD at a university in the Yokohama area. I never left. I’ve been here for over 15 years — long enough that this place genuinely feels like home. I work as an AI engineer and run Don Holdings alongside that. I’m not a property conglomerate. I own and manage these houses myself.

Yokohama was a deliberate choice, both then and now. It has direct access to Tokyo — 25 minutes from Yokohama Station to Tokyo station and 33 minutes to Shinjuku — while being noticeably quieter and cleaner than central Tokyo. For people who need to be near the city but don’t need to be in it, it makes sense.

Why this exists

Finding decent housing in Japan as a foreigner is harder than it should be. I went through it myself and watched people pay several months’ rent in non-refundable fees before they even moved in. I saw landlords refuse applicants with good income and stable visas simply because they didn’t have a Japanese national willing to act as guarantor. None of that is about risk — it’s about unfamiliarity, and foreigners pay the price for it.

The model here is straightforward: one monthly price that includes everything, contracts entirely in English, no key money, no agent fees, no guarantor required. The deposit is two months’ rent — one month is used for cleaning and administration at the end of your stay, the other month is returned in full if there are no issues. There are no hidden levers.

How the houses are run

Don Holdings runs on clear standards and a straightforward process. Contracts are in English, pricing is transparent, maintenance is handled promptly, and every tenant has a direct line of contact. Issues get resolved — typically within 24 hours. The goal is a well-run property where residents can focus on their lives, not their living situation.

What’s next

Kanoedai Studios opens in August 2026 — 12 self-contained apartments in the same Yokohama area, same pricing model. Beyond that, the goal is more of the same: a small number of well-run properties where people can actually put down roots, even temporarily.

If you have questions about a property or the application process — or just want to know more before applying — get in touch directly.