Private room, shared spaces
You rent your own room and share the kitchen, lounge and bathrooms. Rooms are usually furnished.
For a lot of people moving to Tokyo, a share house is the fastest way to stop feeling alone: you get a furnished room, no huge deposit, and housemates from day one. But not every share house is social. Here's how they work, what to look for if friends are the goal, and what to do when you eventually move out.
You rent your own room and share the kitchen, lounge and bathrooms. Rooms are usually furnished.
Many operators skip the key money and guarantor that regular Tokyo apartments need, which is why they're popular with new arrivals.
Most international share houses mix people from abroad with Japanese residents, often students and young workers.
Companies like Oakhouse, Sakura House and Borderless House run many properties across Tokyo, with English websites.
A share house is a great start, but your housemates' circles are small. One weekly activity helps. Hobby groups in Tokyo.
Many people feel lonely right after leaving a share house. Plan for it. Feeling lonely in Tokyo.
A short one-on-one coffee with someone new each week builds a circle that doesn't depend on your address.
Buy Me a Matcha helps you meet new people in Tokyo one at a time over a coffee or matcha. In English, friends only, free on iPhone.
Yes, especially in your first months. Pick one with a real common area, house events and a good mix of residents, and keep one activity outside the house too.
Prices vary a lot by area and room. Many cost less upfront than a regular apartment because there's often no key money or guarantor.
Well-known operators with English websites include Oakhouse, Sakura House and Borderless House.
Keep one regular activity, stay in touch with former housemates, and meet new people one-on-one. Friend apps like Buy Me a Matcha help you meet someone near your new home over a coffee or matcha, in English.