Japan Women's University's Mejiro Campus is about a 15-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.
Japan Women's University used to run two campuses — Mejiro and Nishi-Ikuta in Kawasaki — but the Faculty of Human Sciences moved to Mejiro in 2021, and all four faculties are now based entirely at the single Mejiro campus for the full four years. The real favorites are Mejiro, Zoshigaya, and Gokokuji stations, all within an 8-15 minute walk of campus. As at other women's universities, safety comes up repeatedly as a selling point for each of these stations.
The ranking below centers on cheap, far-out stations in Adachi Ward and western Suginami Ward, and it doesn't overlap at all with the real favorites of Mejiro, Zoshigaya, and Gokokuji. Several Seibu Shinjuku Line stations on the list also point in a different direction from the Mejiro campus, so it's best to start with rent levels at the three walking-distance stations near 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) →
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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