Tokyo housing guide for exchange students.

Bunkyo is a residential, academic ward: University of Tokyo is here, plus many campuses from Waseda, Toyo, etc.

Students describe it as:

• calm, very safe
• lots of small restaurants, supermarkets
• not the craziest nightlife, but well connected to Shinjuku and Ikebukuro

Experiences:

• Colivings & dorms in Bunkyo: * Wakeijuku (traditional male dorm, “very Japanese experience, pricy but unique”). * Hakusan House (Uninest Hakusan House) – huge international building with shared and private rooms, cinema, rooftop, etc. * University-affiliated residences and sharehouses around Hakusan/Myogadani.

Good for you if: You’re at Waseda, Toyo, Rikkyo, Meiji, TIU, etc. and want a student-heavy but fairly calm area that’s not too far from the center.

Kagurazaka (Shinjuku ward) is often described by students as a little “French quarter” with bakeries, cafés and narrow streets. It sits between Iidabashi, Waseda and central Tokyo.

Nearby, Waseda itself is a calmer “campus town” between Takadanobaba and Kagurazaka, with cheaper eateries and lots of students.

Good for you if: You’re at Waseda or Sophia and want central access + a charming neighborhood feel.

Shinjuku and Shibuya are the names everyone knows.

Shibuya is the global nightlife image of Tokyo – crossing, neon, clubs, and international bars. Shinjuku mixes skyscrapers, nightlife, and quieter residential pockets.

Rents in central Shibuya and Shinjuku wards are higher (average 1K studios ~¥70,000–¥90,000+ depending on exact area and building).

Students still find ways to live there:

• A sharehouse near Shinjuku Ake­bonobashi, ~€640/month: > “Best location ever. Quiet residential street 15 minutes from Shinjuku, 20 minutes to Meiji. Tiny room, big shared space, and you walk out straight into amazing food and nightlife.”
• Dormy+ Café in Nakano (one stop from Shinjuku), with private rooms and shared kitchens, was about €900/month but got rave reviews for location and modern facilities.

Most students, though, party in Shibuya/Shinjuku but live one or two neighborhoods away to keep rent lower.

Good for you if: Budget is higher and you want to be right in the action – or if you find a smart compromise one or two stations away.

Ikebukuro (Toshima ward) is a major hub with:

• Rikkyo University’s main campus
• huge shopping streets and arcades
• easy train access in all directions

Students report:

Dorms and sharehouses around Shiki (one stop outside Tokyo in Saitama), Hakusan, and in northern wards are commonly used for Rikkyo students – often cheaper but 30–45 minutes from campus.

Suginami ward, west of Shinjuku, is often described as green, residential, and creative, with great access to Shinjuku and the rest of the city.

Students living in Ogikubo or Nishi-Ogikubo (Chūō Line) say:

Another student lived in a women-only dorm in Suginami, 15 minutes by train from Shinjuku:

Good for you if: You want a more local, calm Tokyo with cheaper rent but still one train away from Shinjuku.

Kasai is in Edogawa ward, on the Tozai line towards Chiba. It’s more suburban and family-oriented, but trains to central Tokyo are fast: Kasai → Otemachi in about 15–20 minutes.

One Sophia student:

Good for you if: Your budget is tight, you’re okay with longer commutes, and you like quieter, more residential surroundings.

Some universities aren’t central Tokyo at all:

• Soka University is in Hachioji, about an hour from downtown.
• Some Rikkyo, Toyo, or other campuses are a bit outside the center.
• A few students even live in Yokohama or nearby cities and commute in.

Key idea: if your campus is outside Tokyo, decide whether you prefer:

• living near campus (easy for classes, much cheaper, more nature) and going to Tokyo for weekends
• or living in Tokyo and commuting a long way to class

You will live on trains.

• Get a Suica or Pasmo IC card as soon as you land. You tap in/out and the fare is deducted automatically; you can also pay in konbini and many shops.
• Apply for a student commuter pass between your home station and campus station once you’re enrolled; you’ll need a certificate from your university.
• Most lines’ last trains are around midnight. If you miss it, taxis and late-night Ubers are expensive, especially from central to far suburbs.

Students’ strategies:

A few Tokyo basics that matter for housing:

• Cash vs card – Japan is getting more cashless, but many small restaurants, temples, or old shops are still cash-only. Multiple students insist: “Cash is king here.”
• Safety – students, especially women, repeatedly describe Tokyo as extremely safe, including walking alone at night in most neighborhoods.
• Food – eating out can be cheaper than cooking if you stick to local spots: many students report full meals for ¥700–¥1,000 (€4–€6).
• Big costs – rent and transport. Once those are under control, daily life can feel cheaper than in many European cities.

• Target: big international sharehouse or dorm
• Areas: Bunkyo (Hakusan House), Shinjuku/Nakano sharehouses, Rikkyo dorms, Sophia dorms, Modern Living Tokyo sharehouses
• You’ll pay €600–€900, but meet people from day one.
• Pack earplugs; you may not sleep early.

• Target: classic apartment or small sharehouse in: * Ogikubo / Nishi-Ogikubo / Suginami * residential Bunkyo * Kasai / Edogawa (cheaper but further)
• Look on Modern Living Tokyo, Sakura House, or agencies that support foreigners.
• Expect €500–€800 for 1R/1K, plus higher upfront fees for local contracts.

• Target: university dorms a bit outside central Tokyo (Shiki, Suginami, Yokohama, etc.).
• You might find €200–€400/month rent, sometimes with meals.
• You’ll spend time on trains, but you’ll have a strong community on site.

• Target: large coliving / sharehouse (Hakusan House, Modern Living, Sakura House) or serviced apartment.
• Pay a bit more monthly to avoid guarantor companies, key money, and buying furniture.

Be cautious if:

• The landlord/agency refuses all foreign students (sadly still common).
• Contract length is 2 years with heavy penalty if you leave after one.
• They ask for cash under the table.
• The only available room is in a sharehouse with awful reviews or where you’d be the only non-Japanese person and you don’t speak any Japanese and you really want a social life.
• There is a strict curfew and you know you want to enjoy nightlife.

Use Studcasa students as your filter: if two or three of them independently say “this company is sketchy”, walk away.

• Check uni housing deadlines and apply on time.
• Join your Studcasa group and introduce yourself (university, semester, rough budget).
• Start reading Feedback for your school and message a few students.

• Shortlist 2–3 housing scenarios (e.g. dorm vs. sharehouse vs. apartment).
• Browse platforms (Modern Living, Sakura House, Uninest, etc.) to understand prices.
• If going for private housing, prepare documents (passport, CoE, maybe bank statements).

• Confirm your spot in a dorm/sharehouse, or
• Start applying for apartments (agencies move quickly; places can be gone in days).
• Coordinate with future classmates in the Studcasa group: who lives near whom, any roommate plans.

• Pick up Suica/Pasmo and later your student commuter pass once enrolled.
• Walk your neighborhood: nearest konbini, supermarket, station exits, cheap eats.
• Say yes to everything the first weeks: dorm dinners, Waseda Connect events, karaoke, random izakaya invites.

Your housing choice will influence how easy all that becomes.