Musashi University's Ekoda Campus is about a 6-minute walk from Ekoda 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.
Musashi University is based entirely at its single Ekoda campus, with no relocation across the four years. The real favorite is Ekoda Station, within walking distance, with a direct ride via the Fukutoshin and Yurakucho lines to Shibuya and Shinjuku-Sanchome, plus supermarkets and shopping streets clustered around the station. Shin-Egota and Shin-Sakuradai stations, along with the Sakuradai area, are also favorites, and the university partners with private real-estate agencies to introduce properties there.
The ranking below centers on cheap, far-out stations along the Seibu Ikebukuro and Tobu Tojo lines, and of these, only Shin-Sakuradai matches a real favorite. Ekoda Station itself, right next to campus, doesn't appear on the list, so treat everything besides Shin-Sakuradai as separate from the actual core area of Ekoda, Shin-Egota, and Sakuradai.
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.
Ukima-Funado opens onto a windmill-marked lakeside park, 10+ minutes to Ikebukuro with direct Shinjuku trains.
Tokiwadai's radial, tree-lined streets earned it the nickname 'Itabashi's Den-en-chofu' — planned-town beauty ~8 minutes from Ikebukuro.
Hikarigaoka is the Oedo Line's terminus — guaranteed seats to central Tokyo — beside a huge park and full shopping infrastructure.
Shin-Sakuradai rides directly onto the Fukutoshin/Yurakucho lines, with Ekoda's student-town eats a short walk away — low-profile, well-priced.
Kita-Akabane's platforms sit over a river, one stop from Akabane's famed eating streets — Akabane life at a discount, ~10 minutes to Ikebukuro.
Kami-Itabashi couples busy south-exit shopping streets with the big Johoku Central Park, ~10 minutes to Ikebukuro.
Tobu-Nerima centers on a big Aeon mall with a student crowd from Daito Bunka University, ~15 minutes to Ikebukuro.
Oyama is defined by its 560m Happy Road arcade and a ~5-minute ride to Ikebukuro — arguably Tokyo's best cost-performance for singles.
Shimo-Itabashi is two local stops — or a bike ride — from Ikebukuro, one of the cheapest ways to live within reach of the hub.
Hikawadai pairs cherry-lined riverside calm with direct subway rides to Ikebukuro (~8 min), Shinjuku, and Shibuya.
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