Hi everyone! 👋
I have a question about housing in Japan.
I’ve traveled to Japan several times — mainly to Fukuoka, Osaka, Kyoto, and Tokyo. During those trips, I noticed something interesting about the housing options. Whenever I searched for places to stay with my parents, it was surprisingly difficult to find apartments with two or more bedrooms. Most listings were small studios or one-bedroom units.
If I wanted something with more space (like 2–3 bedrooms), it almost always had to be a house, not an apartment.
I’m curious — why is that the case in Japan?
• Is it because land and space are limited, especially in big cities?
• Are most people living alone or as couples, so larger apartments aren’t common?
• Do Japanese families generally prefer to live in houses rather than apartments?
• Is there a difference between how rental markets work in large cities vs smaller towns?
• Are multi-bedroom apartments mostly for long-term leases rather than short-term stays?
• And if I want to rent a larger apartment as a tourist, are there any websites or areas where that’s more common?
Would love to hear your insights or local experiences. I find Japan’s housing culture really fascinating!
by Mazda3_ignition66