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Housing Guide: 3 Ways to Live in Tokyo, by Cost & Comfort

Move-in costs for a Tokyo apartment typically run 4.5–5 months' rent.
But a standard lease isn't your only option.
Here are three ways to live, ranked by the balance of cost and comfort.

Option	Move-in cost	Comfort / freedom	Best for
1. Furnished studio	◎ Low	◎ Private & comfy	Balance seekers
2. Share house	◎◎ Lowest	△ Shared spaces	Budget first
3. Standard lease	× High	◎ Full freedom	Long-term stays

Best of bothOption 1

Furnished studio apartment

A private room with bed, fridge, and washer included. Skip ¥100,000–200,000 of furniture costs; many units charge no deposit or key money.

Option 2

Share house

The cheapest way in: no deposit, no key money, no guarantor at most houses. Unbeatable value if you don't mind shared kitchens and lounges.

Option 3

Standard lease

The widest choice and full freedom — at 4.5–5 months' rent upfront. Smart contract choices and picking the right area cut the total a lot.

Not sure which to pick?

Most people want low costs but hesitate about living with strangers — start with the furnished studio. If budget rules everything, go share house. If you care most about the exact room and neighborhood, read the standard lease guide.

Once you've picked how to live, pick where: compare areas on the rent map, or find your neighborhood type with the quiz (Japanese).

Moving to Tokyo for university?

Results-to-move-in timelines are often tight, and international students face a few extra steps on top. Here's what to plan for:

From results day to move-in — a general timeline by admission route, and what to do when time is short
Dorm vs. apartment vs. share house — comparing move-in and monthly costs
Student housing in Japan: a guide for international students — dormitories, guarantors, key money, and timing
From acceptance to move-in: an international student's timeline — COE/visa basics, what to do before you arrive, and your first weeks in Japan

New to renting in Japan?

Three things trip up almost every foreign resident's first apartment search — here's what to know before you start:

Key money & deposits — what reikin and shikikin actually cost, and how to skip them
The guarantor problem — no Japanese guarantor? Here's what still works
Foreigner-friendly housing search — a practical, no-nonsense strategy

Rent and commute time, backed by data

How much does rent actually change per minute of commute saved? We analyzed our own measured rent data to find out — see the 2026 Rent vs. Commute Study before you settle on a neighborhood.

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