Hey Creek Boy - is your quote from Tangerine Dream?
As for rent in Sapporo, you shouldn't have a problem. I know people in 2LDK's ranging from as low as 50,000 up to 70,000. About the rental agencies, you're right, most are morons. They'll try to get key money, or as one put it to me, "2man when you move in to remove little bugs from tatami, and 2man when you move out for the same thing"...huh!?! I walked out and told him it was b s. Both JOG and ABLE are leeches, I used one called LIFE, and the guy ended up only costing 1man for his fee.
