Toyo University's Hakusan Campus is about a 5-minute walk from Hakusan 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.
Since a 2005 reorganization, Toyo University's five humanities and social-science faculties have all been based at the Hakusan campus for the full four years, with no relocation along the way. The overwhelming favorite is Hakusan Station itself, valued for the one-seat ride on the Toei Mita Line toward Ikebukuro and Sugamo. Nishidai and Motohasunuma stations, both on the same line, are popular choices for students looking to save on rent.
The ranking below centers on cheap, far-out stations toward Adachi, Arakawa, and Kita wards, and Hakusan Station itself doesn't appear on it. That said, the broad direction — the same Toei Mita Line, out toward Takashimadaira — lines up. Use the rent level around Hakusan as your baseline, then browse the ranking for options further along the same line.
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