Best Share Houses Tokyo 2026: Oak House vs Sakura vs More

Tokyo has dozens of share house operators competing for the same pool of international residents. If you're choosing between Oak House, Sakura House, Gaijin House, Borderless House, or one of the smaller operators, this comparison gives you an honest breakdown of each in 2026.

The Main Players

Oak House

Properties: 300+ across Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Kanagawa

Price range: 55,000–120,000 JPY/month

Minimum stay: 1 month (some properties 3 months)

English support: Yes, dedicated English website and staff

Guarantor required: No

Oak House is the largest network by property count. Their main strength is volume: if you need housing in an unusual area, Oak House likely has something nearby. Their website is the most functional in English.

Weakness: popularity means waiting lists on central Tokyo properties, especially during the March–April and September–October moving seasons. Property quality is inconsistent across their 300+ units, some rooms are noticeably dated.

Best for: first-time Tokyo arrivals, short stays (1–3 months), people who want maximum neighbourhood coverage.

Sakura House

Properties: 200+ in Tokyo

Price range: 45,000–130,000 JPY/month

Minimum stay: 1 month

English support: Yes

Guarantor required: No

Sakura House competes directly with Oak House and offers slightly lower entry prices. Their guest house format (smaller, more private rooms with optional private bathroom) is a useful middle ground between full share house and private apartment.

Weakness: the cheapest rooms (45,000–60,000 JPY) are small (6–9 sqm) and in suburban locations. Central Tokyo rooms with good natural light and private facilities approach 100,000 JPY/month, at which point private apartments become competitive.

Best for: budget-conscious arrivals, those who want a social living environment, short-to-medium stays.

Gaijin House

Properties: 15–20 in Tokyo (smaller network)

Price range: 50,000–100,000 JPY/month

Minimum stay: 1 week (some properties)

English support: Yes

Guarantor required: No

Gaijin House is a smaller operator with a loyal following. Their shorter minimum stay (1 week on some properties) makes them useful for very short stays or as a bridge accommodation while searching for a longer-term option.

Best for: very short stays (under 1 month), arrivals who need immediate housing while searching for a private apartment.

Borderless House

Properties: 30+ in Tokyo

Price range: 65,000–100,000 JPY/month

Minimum stay: 3 months

English support: Yes

Guarantor required: No

Borderless House deliberately mixes Japanese and international residents (typically 50/50). If learning Japanese or integrating into local culture is a priority, this model is unique. The minimum 3-month commitment filters out short-term residents and creates a more stable community.

Best for: language learners, people who want genuine cultural exchange, stays of 3–12 months.

Share House vs Private Apartment: The Break-Even Point

The assumption that share houses are always cheaper than private apartments stops being true around the 90,000 JPY/month mark.

A furnished private apartment without a guarantor in Tokyo starts at 80,000–100,000 JPY/month for a 1K with private kitchen and bathroom. At that price point, the privacy and independence of a private space are available for the same cost as a central share house room.

For stays of 4 months or more, a private apartment almost always wins on total cost once you factor the deposit return.

How to Choose in 2026

If you've outgrown share house living or need to move in within two weeks without a waiting list, contact us here, we source private furnished apartments for Tokyo expats with English support end-to-end.

See also: [share house guide Tokyo 2026](/blog/share-house-tokyo-guide-2026) and [furnished apartments without a guarantor](/blog/furnished-apartment-tokyo-no-guarantor).