Monthly Apartments in Tokyo: The Complete 2026 Guide

A monthly apartment in Tokyo is a furnished home you rent for 30 days or more on a simple contract, usually with no key money, no Japanese guarantor and utilities folded into the rent. In 2026, expect roughly ¥125,000 to ¥280,000 (about US$830 to US$1,870) a month for a one-room unit from a mainstream operator, depending on the ward. Our own monthly homes in Ekoda, Nerima and Toda run from ¥90,000 (about US$600) for a studio to ¥350,000 (about US$2,330) for a whole three-bedroom house.

We run nine furnished homes in northwest Tokyo, six of them rented by the month. This page is the long answer: what the options are, what they really cost, how the contracts work, which areas make sense, and when a monthly apartment is the wrong choice. We compare our homes with the rest of the market as honestly as we can, including where others are the better fit.

What is a monthly apartment in Tokyo?

In Japan, the industry name is monthly mansion. "Mansion" here just means an apartment in a concrete building, not a luxury home. The idea is simple: a furnished unit with bedding, a kitchen, a washing machine and Wi-Fi, rented by the month on a short contract. You arrive with a suitcase and start living.

The 30-day line matters. Japanese operators treat a stay of under one month as lodging, which needs a hotel license or a private-lodging (minpaku) registration. A stay of one month or more can be a residential lease. That is why almost every monthly apartment in Tokyo has a 30-day minimum, and why a listing that offers "monthly" rates for 10 nights is really a vacation rental with a discount.

It also explains why the standard Japanese rental market is so hard for newcomers. A normal lease (called chintai) is unfurnished, typically runs two years, and asks for a stack of move-in payments: shikikin (a refundable deposit), reikin (key money, a non-refundable gift to the landlord, often one to two months' rent), an agency fee capped by law at one month's rent plus tax, and a guarantor company fee that is often 50 to 100 percent of a month's rent. Add the first month and fire insurance and you can pay four to six months of rent before you get the keys. Monthly apartments exist because that system does not fit anyone staying for weeks or months.

What are your options for a furnished monthly stay in Tokyo?

There are five realistic choices. Each wins in a different situation.

1. Monthly-mansion operators

Large companies run hundreds of identical furnished units, mostly compact 1K and 1R rooms (one room plus a small kitchen). They are predictable, well located and quick to book. The trade-off is size: a typical unit is 20 to 25 square meters (about 215 to 270 square feet). One renter guide puts all-inclusive 1K rents at about ¥125,000 to ¥160,000 in outer areas, ¥140,000 to ¥180,000 in mid-tier wards such as Suginami and Toshima, and ¥185,000 to ¥280,000 in Shibuya and Shinjuku. Watch for a separate move-out cleaning fee and utility caps.

2. Share houses

A private bedroom with a shared kitchen, bathroom and lounge. This is the cheapest furnished option: private rooms commonly run about ¥50,000 to ¥90,000 (about US$330 to US$600) a month, plus a common-area or utilities fee. Big operators such as Oakhouse and Sakura House are used to foreign tenants. Good for solo travelers who want company and a low budget. Less good for couples, families, or anyone who works on video calls all day.

3. Serviced apartments

Hotel-style buildings with a front desk, weekly housekeeping and larger units, mostly in Minato, Shibuya and Shinagawa. They are built for companies paying relocation budgets. A studio in a well-known serviced-apartment brand in Shinagawa lists from ¥390,000 (about US$2,600) a month, and some central studios list well above ¥500,000. If your employer pays and you want a concierge, this is the comfortable option.

4. Vacation rentals and hotels

Fine for one to three weeks. Past that, the nightly price adds up. Tokyo business hotels averaged ¥21,400 a night in April 2026 according to MetroEngines data, which would be over ¥600,000 for 30 nights. Hotels also charge Tokyo's accommodation tax, and the room usually has no real kitchen or space to unpack.

5. Local operators renting whole homes (like us)

Small hosts rent out furnished houses and apartments directly, often in residential neighborhoods away from the center. You get more space for the money and a person who answers your messages. You give up the brand-name front desk and, usually, a central address. Our six monthly homes are in this group.

Quick comparison

How much does a monthly apartment in Tokyo cost?

Three things set the price: the ward, the size, and what is bundled in. Location dominates. The same 1K costs far more in Shibuya than in Nerima, and the gap is often bigger than the gap between a studio and a one-bedroom in the same area.

Here are our real monthly prices as concrete examples. Rent on our monthly homes includes electricity, gas, water and internet.

Layout codes are worth learning. "1R" is one room with a kitchenette in it. "1K" adds a separate kitchen. "1LDK" is one bedroom plus a living, dining and kitchen area. "2DK" is two rooms plus a dining kitchen. The number is the count of bedrooms.

Two budget points stand out. A single person who wants privacy at the lowest price will do well with the studio or a Hasu House room, which compete with a share-house room on price but come with more privacy. A group of four sharing the Ekoda Monthly House pays about ¥87,500 (about US$580) each, which is less than most solo 1K units in central Tokyo.

Beyond rent, budget for groceries, a commuter IC card (Suica or Pasmo), and a phone plan. Ask every operator about one-time charges: a contract fee, a move-out cleaning fee (our Sengawa House lists ¥20,000, about US$130), and any cap on utilities. A full cost breakdown with more examples is coming in our dedicated monthly apartment Tokyo cost guide in early November.

What is included in a furnished monthly rental?

A good monthly apartment is ready to live in on day one. Expect, at minimum:

• Bed and bedding, curtains, air conditioning (which also heats in winter)
• A kitchen with a fridge, microwave, stove and basic cookware and dishes
• A washing machine in the unit or on the balcony
• Wi-Fi, ideally unlimited fixed-line rather than a pocket router
• Electricity, gas and water, either included or billed separately

What varies is consumables and cleaning. Most long-stay homes, ours included, stock shampoo, soap, detergent and toilet paper for the first few days only; after that, you buy your own. Towels are usually for first use, and you wash them yourself. Weekly housekeeping is normal in serviced apartments and rare everywhere else.

Our homes add a few details that matter on a long stay. Hasu House has a desk and chair in every bedroom and a 55-inch smart TV in the living room. The Cozy Studio has its own kitchen with a three-burner gas stove and a private washing machine. The Ekoda Monthly House has a steam iron, a handy vacuum and a bidet toilet with a heated seat.

How do monthly apartment contracts work?

Monthly contracts are short and simple compared with a standard lease. The typical pattern:

• Minimum term: 30 days. Some operators price by the calendar month, others by the day after the first month.
• No reikin (key money), no guarantor, no agency fee on most monthly rentals, including all of ours.
• Payment: usually the full term up front or month by month in advance.
• Documents: a passport copy, your dates and the purpose of your stay. Some operators ask for a residence card, proof of work or study, or an emergency contact.
• Extensions: possible if the next tenant has not booked. Ask early.
• Early exit: many contracts charge the full minimum even if you leave sooner. Read this clause.

Your visa sets the outer limit, not the apartment. Citizens of the US, UK, Canada and Australia normally enter Japan as temporary visitors for up to 90 days, which covers a one- to three-month stay. Japan's digital nomad visa allows up to six months for remote workers who meet an income threshold of ¥10 million a year; check the current rules on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website before you plan around it. If you are moving on a work visa and need to register an address at the ward office, confirm with the operator in writing that their contract allows it before you sign.

Which Tokyo areas are best for a monthly apartment?

Think in commute minutes, not distance. Tokyo's rail network means a quiet residential station 15 minutes from a major hub can be more convenient than a noisy central address with a long walk to the platform.

Central wards: Shibuya, Shinjuku, Minato

Highest rents and smallest units. Worth it if your office is there or you want nightlife at the door. Expect the top of every range above.

Mid-tier wards: Toshima, Nakano, Suginami

A step down in price and noise, with fast trains to Shinjuku and Ikebukuro. Many monthly-mansion operators cluster here. Our guide to the Ikebukuro monthly apartment market covers the stations around Ikebukuro in detail.

Northwest Tokyo: Ekoda, Nerima, Tokiwadai

This is where our homes are. It is residential, with shopping streets, supermarkets, parks and universities, and it is close to the center by train. From our listings: Sengawa House is a 3-minute walk to Ekoda Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, about 6 minutes by train to Ikebukuro and 17 minutes to Shinjuku. Tokiwadai House is an 8-minute walk to Tokiwadai Station, about 10 minutes to Ikebukuro and 22 minutes to Shinjuku. Read more in our guide to where to stay in Ekoda and Nerima and our Ekoda Tokyo local guide.

Saitama, just across the river: Toda

Rents drop again once you leave the 23 wards. Our Toda 3DK House is a sixth-floor corner unit with an elevator, a bus stop 6 minutes' walk away, and the JR Saikyo Line at Musashi-Urawa and Kita-Toda stations for trains toward Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Shibuya. It is the most space per yen we offer, and a fit for families who do not need to be in central Tokyo every day.

Who is a monthly apartment right for, and who should skip it?

Good fit

• Relocating professionals waiting one to three months for a long-term lease to start. A furnished home with a kitchen beats living out of a hotel suitcase.
• Remote workers and digital nomads staying one to six months who need a desk and stable Wi-Fi.
• Families who want bedrooms, a washing machine and a kitchen. See our guide to family apartments in Tokyo.
• Groups splitting a whole house. Our Tokyo house rental for a large group guide covers the nightly side.
• Students and researchers on a one-semester program who cannot get a Japanese guarantor.

Probably not a fit

• Stays under 30 days. Book a nightly home or hotel instead. Our nightly houses near Ekoda and Nerima take bookings from one or two nights, and they are popular with visitors heading to the Harry Potter Studio Tokyo one or two stops away.
• Anyone staying more than a year with a stable job. A standard lease costs more up front but less per month over two years.
• People who want daily housekeeping and a front desk. Pay for a serviced apartment.

Planning around a peak season? Monthly homes book up ahead of spring. Our where to stay in Tokyo for cherry blossom guide explains how far ahead to look.

How do you book a monthly apartment in Tokyo?

1. Fix your dates and visa. Know your arrival date, your latest possible departure, and whether you can extend.
2. Pick the commute first. List the two or three places you will go most (office, school, coworking space) and search stations within 30 minutes of them.
3. Set a total budget, not a rent budget. Rent plus one-time fees plus anything not included.
4. Shortlist three options from different types. For example, a monthly-mansion 1K, a share-house room and a local whole-home operator. Compare total cost per person.
5. Ask the questions below in writing.
6. Book four to eight weeks ahead. March and April are Japan's moving season, and good units go fast.

Questions to ask every operator

• Which utilities are included, and is there a cap?
• Is there key money, a guarantor requirement, a contract fee or a move-out cleaning fee?
• What happens if I leave early, or want to extend?
• Is the Wi-Fi a fixed line or a mobile router? Is it unlimited?
• How far is the walk to the station in minutes, and which lines stop there?
• How does check-in work if I land late at night?

Our homes use self check-in with a keypad code, and the code is sent the day before arrival. That matters when your flight lands after 9:00 p.m.

Our monthly homes at a glance

• Cozy Studio near Ekoda monthly apartment: a renovated studio in a traditional wooden house, 8 minutes' walk from Ekoda Station and 12 minutes from Kotakemukaihara Station (Tokyo Metro Yurakucho and Fukutoshin lines). Private kitchen and washing machine. One person. ¥90,000 a month, 30-night minimum.
• Hasu House monthly rooms: a 60 m² two-story house rented by the room or as a whole. Each bedroom has a desk, chair, closet and air conditioner. Rooms from ¥90,000 a month for one person, ¥110,000 for two. Minimum one month.
• Sengawa House monthly 1LDK: third floor with an elevator, separate bedroom and living room, separate toilet and bath, 3 minutes from Ekoda Station. Up to two people. ¥160,000 a month.
• Tokiwadai House monthly 2DK: two bedrooms on the first floor, 8 minutes from Tokiwadai Station. Up to two people. ¥180,000 a month.
• Nana House Ekoda Monthly House: a whole three-bedroom house, kitchen and bath downstairs, bedrooms upstairs, 8 minutes from Ekoda Station. Up to four people. ¥350,000 a month.
• Toda 3DK monthly house: 63 m² plus a southwest balcony, near the AEON STYLE Kita-Toda mall. Up to eight people. ¥150,000 a month.

All six are rented directly by us: no key money, no guarantor, no agent fee, and English support. You can browse every home, nightly and monthly, on our Tokyo rooms page.

FAQ

What is the minimum stay for a monthly apartment in Tokyo?

Usually 30 days. Under one month, a stay counts as lodging in Japan and needs a hotel or minpaku license, so monthly operators set their minimum at one month. Our monthly homes follow the same rule.

Can I rent a monthly apartment in Tokyo as a tourist?

Many operators accept guests on a temporary-visitor stamp, which allows up to 90 days for US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens. Ask the operator before you book, and make sure your departure date fits inside your permitted stay.

Do I need a guarantor or key money?

Not for most monthly rentals. Those costs belong to standard two-year leases. Our monthly homes have no key money, no guarantor and no agent fee.

Are utilities included in the rent?

Often, but not always, and some operators cap usage. Rent on our monthly homes includes electricity, gas, water and internet.

Is a monthly apartment cheaper than a hotel?

For 30 nights or more, almost always. Business hotels averaged about ¥14,500 a night across major Japanese chains in fiscal 2025 and ¥21,400 in Tokyo in April 2026, which is roughly ¥430,000 to ¥640,000 for a month, while a furnished 1K in a mid-tier ward is closer to ¥140,000 to ¥180,000.

Ready to look at dates?

If you are relocating and need a quiet base 6 minutes from Ikebukuro, check dates for the Sengawa House monthly 1LDK near Ekoda. Bringing a family or a team? See availability for the Ekoda monthly house with three bedrooms.

Market ranges come from published operator and renter guides (A-Realty, serviced-apartments-tokyo.com, MetroEngines via HotelBank) and were checked in October 2026; prices change, so confirm with each operator. Dollar figures use ¥150 = US$1.