Taisho University's Sugamo Campus is about a 2-minute walk from Nishisugamo 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.
Taisho University is based entirely at its single Sugamo (Nishi-Sugamo) campus, where all seven faculties study for the full four years with no relocation. In student surveys, the top choice is Itabashi Station, a 10-minute walk away, valued for its three-minute train ride to Ikebukuro. Nishi-Sugamo Station, just two minutes from campus, has an excellent safety reputation and is favored by students who prefer a quiet residential setting.
The ranking below centers on cheap, far-out stations along the Toden Arakawa Line and the Toei Mita Line, and it doesn't overlap at all with the real favorites of Itabashi and Nishi-Sugamo. If central-Tokyo access matters most, Itabashi Station is the pick; if safety and quiet matter more, Nishi-Sugamo right by campus is the one to consider.
Iriya (Hibiya Line) is one stop from Ueno in classic shitamachi — morning-glory markets, old shops, new cafés, and surprisingly gentle rents.
Sakaecho is a tram stop beside Asukayama Park, walkable to Oji's JR and subway lines — a quietly excellent pocket of Kita-ku.
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.
Machiya offers three lines (Chiyoda subway, Keisei, tram) with a ~15-minute direct ride to Otemachi — old-town living with serious connectivity.
Kitasenju is a five-line mega-hub mixing Lumine/Marui malls with retro drinking alleys and new campuses — still reasonably priced for its power.
Kumanomae is where the Toden tram crosses the Nippori-Toneri Liner — shitamachi charm with a direct line to Nippori.
Itabashi-Honcho keeps its old Nakasendo post-town feel, with direct Mita Line rides to Sugamo and Otemachi at Itabashi-level rents.
Oyama is defined by its 560m Happy Road arcade and a ~5-minute ride to Ikebukuro — arguably Tokyo's best cost-performance for singles.
Ekoda is a classic student town (Musashi Univ., Nihon Univ. College of Art) with cheap eats and lively shopping streets, ~10 minutes to Ikebukuro.
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