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.

Quick answer: For most expats, the best furnished apartment option in Tokyo is a share house (40,000-120,000 JPY/month, no Japanese guarantor, move in within a week). For more privacy, a monthly mansion (80,000-200,000 JPY/month) gives you a private studio with an address usable for admin. For longer stays, a specialist agency arranges a full furnished apartment (100,000-300,000 JPY/month). None of these require a Japanese guarantor.

Short-term apartment options in Tokyo at a glance

None of these require a Japanese guarantor; a passport and visa are enough.

Here are the 5 real options available to you, with their 2026 costs, pros, and limits. For the full picture beyond these five, see our complete guide to furnished apartments in Tokyo.

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.

What expat-specialist networks offer:

• Move-in possible within 1 week, online booking from abroad
• Rooms from 42,000 JPY/month, up to 120,000 JPY for premium central locations
• Community options: pure international or intentionally mixed Japanese/foreign residents
• Premium properties available in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Meguro

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.

Monthly mansion features:

• Fully equipped studios (kitchen, washing machine, TV, internet)
• National network, available across all central Tokyo neighbourhoods
• Premium options available for corporate expats (Shinjuku, Minato)

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:

• 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 these arrangements typically include: 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 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.

Furnished apartment in Tokyo for a long stay

If you plan to stay a year or more, a furnished apartment in Tokyo still works, but the maths change. Beyond about 12 months, a monthly mansion or serviced apartment costs more than an unfurnished standard lease plus one-off furniture. The break-even is usually around 9 to 12 months. For a long-term furnished apartment, a specialist agency (option 3) is the best route: you get a 12-month furnished lease, a real apartment of 30 to 60 m2, and no Japanese guarantor, while keeping the flexibility that furniture-included brings. If you are certain you will stay two years or more, ask us about an unfurnished lease instead, as the total cost is usually lower.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a furnished apartment in Tokyo cost? From around 40,000 JPY per month for a furnished share house room to 100,000 to 300,000 JPY for a private furnished apartment through an agency. A monthly mansion sits in between at 80,000 to 200,000 JPY.

Can a foreigner rent a furnished apartment in Tokyo without a guarantor? Yes. Share houses, monthly mansions and specialist agencies all rent to foreigners without a Japanese guarantor. A rental guarantee company is accepted where a guarantor would normally be required.

What is the minimum stay for a furnished apartment in Tokyo? Usually one month for a share house or a monthly mansion, and three months for an agency-sourced furnished apartment. Airbnb covers shorter bridging stays.

Are furnished apartments in Tokyo worth it long term? For stays under about a year, yes. Beyond 12 months, an unfurnished standard lease plus furniture is usually cheaper, so weigh the break-even before committing.

Furnished or unfurnished in Tokyo? Furnished wins for speed, flexibility and no guarantor, ideal on arrival. Unfurnished is cheaper monthly for long stays but needs a guarantor, a bank account and a two-year commitment.

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

For health coverage during your relocation, SafetyWing Nomad Insurance offers monthly insurance with no commitment. For cultural activities in Tokyo, GetYourGuide offers guided tours bookable online. (affiliate links)

See also: apartment hunting in Tokyo from abroad and furnished apartments without a guarantor, Furnished Apartment in Tokyo for Expats: 5 Quick Options (2026), Gaijin House Tokyo: Complete Guide for Foreigners (2026), Expat Apartments in Tokyo: How to Find One in 2026.