Gakushuin University is about a 1-minute walk from Mejiro Station. Here are the 15 cheapest stations within roughly 30 minutes* of it, sorted by studio rent. Balancing rent and commute time is the key to a comfortable first apartment in Tokyo — start your search from this list.
At Gakushuin University, the five main faculties — Law, Economics, Letters, Science, and International Social Sciences — are all based at the Mejiro campus, with essentially no relocation across the years. The real favorite is Mejiro Station itself, a one-minute walk away, known as a leafy, safe, upscale residential area. Neighboring Takadanobaba Station has more of a lively student-town feel, while Shiinamachi Station, one stop from Ikebukuro, runs cheaper than Mejiro.
The ranking below centers on cheap, far-out stations toward the older downtown districts and outer suburbs along the Hibiya, Toden Arakawa, Saikyo, and Seibu Shinjuku lines, and it doesn't overlap at all with the real favorites of Mejiro, Takadanobaba, Shiinamachi, Zoshigaya, and Kaname-cho. Mejiro Station going unnoticed in the rent data is a pattern seen at other universities too — most students here simply live within walking or cycling distance of campus.
Iriya (Hibiya Line) is one stop from Ueno in classic shitamachi — morning-glory markets, old shops, new cafés, and surprisingly gentle rents.
Heiwadai offers direct Yurakucho/Fukutoshin Line rides to Ikebukuro (~10 min), Shinjuku, and Shibuya from a calm residential base — remarkable value for a subway station.
Arakawa-Shakomae is a Toden Arakawa Line tram stop beside the tram depot, in a relaxed old-town neighborhood between Oji and Machiya.
Sakaecho is a tram stop beside Asukayama Park, walkable to Oji's JR and subway lines — a quietly excellent pocket of Kita-ku.
Takano is a Nippori-Toneri Liner stop ~15 minutes direct to Nippori — Yamanote access at some of Tokyo's lowest rents.
Ukima-Funado opens onto a windmill-marked lakeside park, 10+ minutes to Ikebukuro with direct Shinjuku trains.
Adachi-Odai sits on a narrow strip of land between the Arakawa and Sumida rivers, with a direct Nippori-Toneri Liner ride to Nippori. Riverside openness at a modest rent.
Toda-Koen is known for its Olympic rowing course on the Arakawa, ~15 minutes to Ikebukuro with direct Shinjuku trains.
Shimo-Igusa is a quiet Seibu Shinjuku Line local stop, ~15 minutes to Takadanobaba, with Asagaya and Ogikubo in cycling range.
Iogi is a quiet Seibu Shinjuku Line local stop in Suginami, under 20 minutes to Takadanobaba — an affordable pocket of a pricey ward.
Miyanomae is a tram stop by Ogu Hachiman Shrine, walkable to Arakawa Yuen park — slow-paced shitamachi living.
Oku is one stop (5 minutes) from Ueno beside a famous rail yard — a connoisseur's pick with clearly discounted rents.
Tokiwadai's radial, tree-lined streets earned it the nickname 'Itabashi's Den-en-chofu' — planned-town beauty ~8 minutes from Ikebukuro.
Machiya offers three lines (Chiyoda subway, Keisei, tram) with a ~15-minute direct ride to Otemachi — old-town living with serious connectivity.
In Japan there are often only a few weeks between acceptance and the start of term. A furnished apartment cuts both the setup work and the upfront costs, so you can start student life right away. See the Housing Guide (furnished / share house / standard rental) →
See the results-to-move-in timeline →
Compare rents line by line on the line index, or explore the area map.
*Travel times are estimates based on local trains (plus ~6 min per transfer). Express services are often faster.
*Rents are market estimates based on SUUMO listings and vary by season and property. Station data: ©ekidata.jp