TokyoExpat
Last updated: June 2026

Tokyo Rent Index

Median rent by ward and layout, computed from 528,660 real active listings across Tokyo's 23 wards. Updated Q2 2026.

Methodology: median monthly rent (JPY) from 528,660 deduplicated active listings (LIFULL + AtHome), Tokyo 23 special wards, by layout. Median is more robust than average against outliers.

528,660
Listings analysed
23
Wards covered
8
Layouts (1R-3LDK)
2
Sources (LIFULL, AtHome)

Median Rent by Ward and Layout (JPY/month)

Ward1K1LDK
Edogawa-ku¥74,000¥125,000
Adachi-ku¥76,000¥125,000
Katsushika-ku¥81,000¥118,000
Nerima-ku¥82,000¥135,000
Suginami-ku¥84,000¥159,000
Setagaya-ku¥87,000¥169,000
Itabashi-ku¥88,000¥143,000
Nakano-ku¥88,000¥174,000
Kita-ku¥90,000¥152,000
Arakawa-ku¥91,000¥150,000
Ota-ku¥93,000¥155,000
Toshima-ku¥96,000¥173,000
Sumida-ku¥105,000¥174,000
Meguro-ku¥107,000¥201,000
Bunkyo-ku¥108,000¥195,000
Koto-ku¥112,000¥175,000
Shinagawa-ku¥112,000¥190,000
Taito-ku¥115,000¥180,000
Shinjuku-ku¥120,000¥195,000
Shibuya-ku¥127,000¥230,000
Chuo-ku¥130,000¥223,000
Chiyoda-ku¥137,000¥230,000
Minato-ku¥140,000¥260,000

Housing Types: Cost Comparison

Share House
Most accessible
35,000 - 90,000 JPY
  • All bills included
  • No guarantor needed
  • Available in 1-2 weeks
  • Community living
Monthly Mansion
Best balance
80,000 - 200,000 JPY
  • Fully furnished
  • Short-term contracts
  • No guarantor
  • Private space
Standard Rental
Long-term (2 years)
60,000 - 250,000+ JPY
  • Unfurnished typically
  • Guarantor required
  • 4-8 weeks process
  • Full autonomy

Average Time to Find Housing

Housing TypeAvg. Weeks to Find
Share House1 - 2
Monthly Mansion (furnished)2 - 4
Standard 2-year rental4 - 8

Required Documents by Housing Type

Share House / Monthly Mansion
  • Valid passport
  • Visa or residence card
  • Proof of funds (bank statement or credit card)
  • Move-in date confirmation

No Japanese bank account or guarantor required

Standard 2-year rental
  • Residence card (zairyu card)
  • Employment contract or payslips
  • Japanese bank account
  • Japanese guarantor (or agency guarantor service)

Process takes 4-8 weeks from application to key handover

Rental Market Seasonality

Feb - Apr
Peak season
Company transfers + university start
May - Aug
Quiet season
Best time to negotiate
Sep - Oct
Active season
Foreign arrivals, new academic year
Nov - Jan
Moderate
Year-end slowdown

Foreigner Approval Rate

30-45%
Without agent (standard rental)
Language barrier + guarantor + documentation gaps
70-80%
With bilingual agent (standard)
Agent bridges language and process gaps
90-98%
Share House / Monthly Mansion
Designed for foreign tenants, minimal requirements

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Tokyo in 2026?

Median rent for a 1K studio ranges from ¥74,000 (Edogawa) to ¥140,000 (Minato). A 1LDK for a couple ranges from ¥118,000 to ¥260,000. These medians come from 528,660 active listings across Tokyo's 23 wards.

What is the cheapest ward in Tokyo to rent?

For a 1K studio, the cheapest wards are Edogawa (¥74,000 median), Adachi (¥76,000), Katsushika (¥81,000), Nerima (¥82,000) and Suginami (¥84,000), all eastern or outer wards.

What is the most expensive ward in Tokyo?

Minato is the most expensive (¥140,000 median for a 1K, ¥260,000 for a 1LDK), followed by Chiyoda, Chuo, Shibuya and Shinjuku.

Why does this index use median rent instead of the average?

The median resists outliers: a few luxury listings do not distort it, unlike the average. It better reflects what a normal tenant actually pays.

How often is the Tokyo Rent Index updated?

Quarterly, from fresh active listings. This edition reflects Q2 2026 data.

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Tokyo Rental Market Data 2026 | Tokyo Expat