Furnished Apartment Tokyo: 5 Best Options for Expats in 2026

Finding a furnished apartment in Tokyo is one of the first urgent tasks for any expat arriving in Japan. You don't have furniture yet, you may not want to commit to a year-long lease immediately, and most traditional agencies require a Japanese guarantor you simply don't have.

Here are the 5 real options available to you, with their 2026 costs, pros, and limits.

1. Furnished Share House (40,000 to 120,000 JPY/month)

The share house is the most accessible option for expats arriving without a Japanese guarantor. Rooms are fully furnished, common areas are shared, and the deposit is minimal, zero at some operators.

Main operators in Tokyo:

• Oak House: 200+ residences across Tokyo, move-in possible within 1 week, from 55,000 JPY/month
• Sakura House: specialist in international residents, available in 5 Japanese cities, rooms from 42,000 JPY/month
• Borderless House: mixed JP/foreign flatshare concept, ideal for language immersion
• Global Agents: premium share houses in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Meguro (80,000-120,000 JPY)

Minimum stay: 1 month for most operators. Some accept 2 weeks.

Main advantage: no guarantor required, internet included, immediate availability.

Limit: private space is small (15-25 m²), communal living rules apply.

2. Monthly Mansion (80,000 to 200,000 JPY/month)

A monthly mansion is a fully furnished individual apartment available for short-term rental (minimum 1 month). You have your own kitchen, bathroom, and entrance. No shared common areas.

Known operators:

• Monthly.com (formerly Leo Palace 21): national network, furnished studio apartments
• Sakura House monthly: solo option for 1-6 month stays
• Maison Marchais (Shinjuku): premium apartments for corporate expats

Realistic budget in Tokyo: 100,000 to 150,000 JPY/month for a well-located studio (Yamanote line area).

Advantage: full autonomy, postal address usable for administrative procedures (bank account, residence registration).

Limit: higher price than share house, sometimes requires 1 month deposit.

3. Furnished Apartment via Specialist Agency (100,000 to 300,000 JPY/month)

Some real estate agencies specialising in international clients offer furnished apartments with flexible leases and no Japanese guarantor required.

Recommended agencies:

• Real Estate Japan (GaijinPot): filtered "foreigner-friendly" listings including furnished options
• Fontaine Relocation: specialist in French-speaking expats, full relocation support
• Tokyo Expat: access to 300+ furnished and unfurnished properties, full support in English from application to lease signing

What gets negotiated on your behalf: 3-12 month lease, furniture included, flexible break clauses, no human guarantor needed (rental guarantee company accepted).

Advantage: proper apartment in the neighbourhood of your choice, real floor space (30-60 m²).

Limit: 2-4 week process, 1-2 month deposit required, sometimes agency fees.

4. Airbnb and Short-Term Rentals (15,000 to 40,000 JPY/night)

For your first days in Japan or stays under 1 month, Airbnb remains a simple option. However, since the 2018 Minpaku law, many Tokyo apartments were pulled from the platform. The supply is thinner than it used to be.

What's still available: studios and apartments in residential areas (Shinjuku-ku, Sumida-ku, Koto-ku), at high nightly rates.

Budget for 1 full month: 400,000 to 600,000 JPY, not competitive compared to the options above.

When it makes sense: for a 2-3 week bridging period while you look for permanent housing, or for short company assignments.

5. Company Housing (Shataku) via Your Employer

If you're being seconded to Japan by a Japanese or international company, ask your employer whether they maintain a shataku (company housing) programme. Large corporations (Sony, Toyota, major banks) often have a portfolio of apartments reserved for expatriate employees.

Advantage: subsidised rent, no guarantor needed (the company acts as one), ready-to-move-in apartment.

How to access it: ask your HR department as soon as your transfer is confirmed. Spots are limited and usually allocated 2-3 months in advance.

Limit: no choice of neighbourhood or apartment, and you lose the housing if you leave the company.

Quick Comparison

How to Choose

Arriving in less than 3 weeks: share house (Oak House or Sakura House) or monthly mansion. These are the only options with guaranteed quick move-in.

You have 1-2 months to settle: agency-sourced apartment. You'll have a real choice of neighbourhood, floor space, and can sign a 6-12 month lease.

Coming for less than 3 months: monthly mansion or Airbnb for the first week, then a share house for the rest of your stay.

You have a Japanese employer: start by asking about shataku. It's the cheapest and simplest route if available.

For personalised help with your search, contact us: we handle the full process in English, from budget planning to lease signing.

See also: [apartment hunting in Tokyo from abroad](/blog/tokyo-apartment-hunting-from-abroad) and [furnished apartments without a guarantor](/blog/furnished-apartment-tokyo-no-guarantor).